TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[trainee4u]

I have an upcoming spring vacation scheme in London and as part of the onboarding the firm has said they don't want finances to be a barrier to attending. So one of the questions asks us if we need additional financial support beyond the £500 per week, and to provide details on this.

I will be coming from Scotland. I have only had a quick look but accommodation for two weeks too will be well over £1000 it seems, and trains for me will probably be a few hundred. Then of course living costs too and it all adds up to quite a sum. I am also from a working class background with no family support, and will be going unpaid at my job for these two weeks.

Does anybody have any advice on basically asking for as much money as possible but in a professional and polite way haha? I don't wanna seem like a beg 💀

p.s: anybody know of cheap accommodation in London in April?

It depends where you stay tbh and how elite the firm is, but e.g., Glasgow - London off-peak return (flexible ticket) is £125 with a rail card.

Accommodation you can easily find £50/night in somewhere like Barking or Romford in a Travelodge (or Premier Inn but probably more expensive)

 

[tc2026]

I have an upcoming spring vacation scheme in London and as part of the onboarding the firm has said they don't want finances to be a barrier to attending. So one of the questions asks us if we need additional financial support beyond the £500 per week, and to provide details on this.

I will be coming from Scotland. I have only had a quick look but accommodation for two weeks too will be well over £1000 it seems, and trains for me will probably be a few hundred. Then of course living costs too and it all adds up to quite a sum. I am also from a working class background with no family support, and will be going unpaid at my job for these two weeks.

Does anybody have any advice on basically asking for as much money as possible but in a professional and polite way haha? I don't wanna seem like a beg 💀

p.s: anybody know of cheap accommodation in London in April?

hey. usually they can cover accommodation and travel costs - actual living costs, you would be expected to use the salary to cover. I would 100% mention the cost of your transport and also would be good for the firm to recommend any accommodation for you and if they could cover it (my previous vac scheme sent me a list of accom options and paid for it all!)

 

[Justin]

Irwin Mitchell AC but its the same day as another! 😢

 

[qwerty!]

bird & bird vac scheme!!!! i’m so happy

 

[EfficientBag123]

Sidley, Travers and Covington are probs gna break Milbank’s current world record for longest wait for a post app PFO. These are the league tables for longest wait post app I’ve got currently:

1st place: Milbank (38 days) - RECORD HOLDER
2nd place: Sidley (35 days) - CATCHING UP???
3rd place: Travers (31 days) - RUNNER UP???
4th place: Covington (28 days) - HURRY UP???

I’d include FF on this list but that would be unfair cos they’d smash it out the park (took 62 days for my stage 2 adjustments and currently at 36 days post stage 2 job sim and VI).

Does anyone have any league tables of their own of firms that are taking a long time? I saw a post saying Simmons was at 100 days??!! I really want to have a stint in grad rec or HR lmao.​

Simmons Bristol 111 days and counting. I got into and out of a relationship all during this period.

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

bird & bird vac scheme!!!! i’m so happy

The Latham legend strikes and scores again!! 🤩

 

[qwerty!]

The Latham legend strikes and scores again!! 🤩

ahh thank you sm!!

 

[Novaa]

bird & bird vac scheme!!!! i’m so happy

Now that’s what I’m talking about! 😍

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Does Cleary have any AC's left for Summer?

edit: SOMEONE RESPOND!!!!!

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Winston & Strawn summer WG invite! Yeay first one this year to progress in a white shoe US firm.

Edit: Just realised it's rescheduled for spring. It's ok as Sidley ain't get back to me post app yet, so I can consider the Summer 2 VS for them.

 

[Novaa]

I do love the TCLA, because this is how it feels watching notifications from the Commercial Awareness Group come through without adding my two cents 😭😭🤣

 

[jj238]

Has anyone heard anything from Travers Smith yet?

Anything yet?

 

[jj238]

Anyone heard from Vinson & Elkins post-app for their Summer vac scheme?

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Seeing many posts re Winston & Strawn makes me think what if any candidate receives an offer from both Taylor Wessing and Winston & Strawn 😂😂

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Does Cleary have any AC's left for Summer?

edit: SOMEONE RESPOND!!!!!

@RSK hi - i noticed you left a thumbs up - is that a yes by any chance???

 

[Applicant7874652]

Anything yet?

Don’t think so - I haven’t at least lol

 

[trainee4u]

Seeing many posts re Winston & Strawn makes me think what if any candidate receives an offer from both Taylor Wessing and Winston & Strawn 😂😂

double pay!

 

[trainee4u]

Winston & Strawn WG
Any one know if it’s automatic?

did anyone receive a PFO from them, or apply but NOT receive an WG ?
It's looking increasingly like a delayed automatic or very high level filter.
I expect to receive PFO post-WG despite doing well on it.

 

[Isobel.liddle]

Has anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood/ know when they got back to people last year?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Simmons Bristol 111 days and counting. I got into and out of a relationship all during this period.

I was about to apply Simmons Bristol, but your post made me holding back (the deadline is TMRW)