TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TortillaTC]

I told you that?

No, I meant the other user, ahaha sorry. Hence my confusion about how they got the AC.

 

[solicitor_2028]

those who completed the DACB critical thinking test..is it timed? also are there any numerical/mathematical questions or it more like the WG?

 

[summersun]

those who completed the DACB critical thinking test..is it timed? also are there any numerical/mathematical questions or it more like the WG?

Hi yes it is timed. It is more WG style (some of it reminded me of TW if you applied to them).
You have three minutes I think (or 2?) per set of three questions and you have 8 set of questions if I remember correctly. Did it last week so don't fully remember.
Good luck !

 

[asplawyer100]

Mines on the 4th in London

For the business stream or individual stream?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Yes, I recall you told me you didn’t even apply to Orrick this cycle? @Laurel Lance - Black Canary Would you clarify please?

I told you on chat I didn't apply LAST cycle, not this cycle. Got it yesterday evening.

 

[PrayingforaTC2026]

Hey, I still havent heard back. I did the TI on the 11 of feb. Have you heard anything yet?

No and had my TI end of Jan!

 

[johnsmith]

Had my AC today. Interview and presentation went fab but just have a question on group presentation.

Unfortunately we were a group of 4 and one of the members took the timekeeper. She failed to keep the time and we didn’t get to finish. She dominated the whole group and didn’t let anyone else speak. Somehow I got my points in somehow but the other person ( I feel so bad for him, with ADHD) didn’t get his points across because she kept cutting him off.

What happens in this situation? Do you all fail the group presentation because of a member who failed to lead properly? ‍

Thanks

Firstly, sorry to you and your fellow participants for that experience; it sounds awful.

The assessors will be briefed for these situations and will not hold the person's behaviour against you or the rest of the team. The only thing that one of you could have done that was perhaps in your control was to challenge and say where are we for time, or take on the role if the person was not performing it properly/forgotten to do so, but you would still need to be diplomatic and also find a way to mention this to the dominating individual.

Stay positive about it, as it will only be one part of your overall AC tasks.

 

[TortillaTC]

I told you on chat I didn't apply LAST cycle, not this cycle. Got it yesterday evening.

I mean congratulations if that’s actually the case! Not trying to undermine you, but you made it sound like you’ve never taken Orrick’s WG but had information from others + you gave me information on the test that turned out completely wrong when I took it IRL, so I assumed you never applied.

If it was just a misunderstanding, my bad and best of luck with the AC!

 

[TCLAuser2002]

NRF peeps are we expecting anything today?

 

[trainee4u]

Had my AC today. Interview and presentation went fab but just have a question on group presentation.

Unfortunately we were a group of 4 and one of the members took the timekeeper. She failed to keep the time and we didn’t get to finish. She dominated the whole group and didn’t let anyone else speak. Somehow I got my points in somehow but the other person ( I feel so bad for him, with ADHD) didn’t get his points across because she kept cutting him off.

What happens in this situation? Do you all fail the group presentation because of a member who failed to lead properly? ‍

Thanks

I had pretty much this exact thing in my last AC as well.

This one girl just talked and talked.

I said "maybe we could take five minutes to each write a script", and she just ignored me and kept talking.

A couple of times I said "I think we're going to run out of time".

I didn't find it great because she was just waffling and saying nothing of any relevance, I couldn't understand how she could have got through the application process, so I tried to focus her on the actual topic, but I felt kinda bad for interjecting.

As in your case there were four of us - the one waffly girl, me, a third person (who contributed appropriately), and then a girl who was naturally quiet. I think I asked the girl who was quiet what she thought once, but mostly I was focusing on stopping Miss Waffle from wrecking the thing for all of us, because I knew that if we ended up wasting all our time and not achieving anything, we'd ALL got rejected.

 

[silonthesofa]

I had pretty much this exact thing in my last AC as well.

This one girl just talked and talked.

I said "maybe we could take five minutes to each write a script", and she just ignored me and kept talking.

A couple of times I said "I think we're going to run out of time".

I didn't find it great because she was just waffling and saying nothing of any relevance, I couldn't understand how she could have got through the application process, so I tried to focus her on the actual topic, but I felt kinda bad for interjecting.

As in your case there were four of us - the one waffly girl, me, a third person (who contributed appropriately), and then a girl who was naturally quiet. I think I asked the girl who was quiet what she thought once, but mostly I was focusing on stopping Miss Waffle from wrecking the thing for all of us, because I knew that if we ended up wasting all our time and not achieving anything, we'd ALL got rejected.

I don't usually comment on things like this, but this sounds intriguing. What was the outcome?

 

[balegde]

anyone heard back from ashurst post-ac yet?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

I mean congratulations if that’s actually the case! Not trying to undermine you, but you made it sound like you’ve never taken Orrick’s WG but had information from others + you gave me information on the test that turned out completely wrong when I took it IRL, so I assumed you never applied.

If it was just a misunderstanding, my bad and best of luck with the AC!

TQ, I am not being mean, just gave a capslock to highlight it so you could understand it better. Similarly yesterday someone replied to my thread about firms policy for reapplications, one was confused so I emphasise again with capslock :

"You can't reapply to XX firms in any stages in the same cycle, but you can apply if you failed an AC in the PREVIOUS cycle, many firms won't consider your app if you failed AC last cycle at XX firms"

I'm tired to give clarify, so sometimes being silent is the best medicine , I also attached my screenshot of our chat in case someone is confused:

 

[TortillaTC]

TQ, I am not being mean, just gave a capslock to highlight it so you could understand it better. Similarly yesterday someone replied to my thread about firms policy for reapplications, one was confused so I emphasise again with capslock :

"You can't reapply to XX firms in any stages in the same cycle, but you can apply if you failed an AC in the PREVIOUS cycle, many firms won't consider your app if you failed AC last cycle at XX firms"

I'm tired to give clarify, so sometimes being silent is the best medicine , I also attached my screenshot of our chat in case someone is confused:

Okay let’s refer this to @Jaysen in PM, as he requested before several times You gave me directly false instructions on Orrick’s WG + your English makes me think something is off here. But let’s keep it private and not mess with the public forum, shall we?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Okay let’s refer this to @Jasen in PM, as he requested before several times You gave me directly false instructions on Orrick’s WG + your English makes me think something is off here. But let’s keep it private and not mess with the public forum, shall we?

Well done, I am open for investigation, just chat me, would reply in my free time.

Idk what you mean by my English, I said it in a simple way and straightforward. Many also got passed/at least improved their WG post my feedback at different firms here and group chat. So, def it's not my fault

 

[trainee4u]

I don't usually comment on things like this, but this sounds intriguing. What was the outcome?

Haven't heard back yet.

 

[Jennifer2003]

I have vac scheme at bird and bird but I currently live in Leeds and my family live in Durham, so I was wondering if anyone knows if firms generally provide accommodation or funds for accommodation for those who can't commute in? I have contacted the firm about it but was just curious as to whether anybody had previous experience with this sort of thing!

 

[aliiiisonxooox]

I had pretty much this exact thing in my last AC as well.

This one girl just talked and talked.

I said "maybe we could take five minutes to each write a script", and she just ignored me and kept talking.

A couple of times I said "I think we're going to run out of time".

I didn't find it great because she was just waffling and saying nothing of any relevance, I couldn't understand how she could have got through the application process, so I tried to focus her on the actual topic, but I felt kinda bad for interjecting.

As in your case there were four of us - the one waffly girl, me, a third person (who contributed appropriately), and then a girl who was naturally quiet. I think I asked the girl who was quiet what she thought once, but mostly I was focusing on stopping Miss Waffle from wrecking the thing for all of us, because I knew that if we ended up wasting all our time and not achieving anything, we'd ALL got rejected.

Thanks so much. Sounds like the same person.. what was the outcome? I couldn’t even say that we are short on time because she had the last say. And she interrupted people so I didn’t wanna interrupt her cause it’s bad When being asked the questions by the partner, I said I started from the back pages to make sure that we meet in the middle, but we didn’t get to discuss the last task

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I have vac scheme at bird and bird but I currently live in Leeds and my family live in Durham, so I was wondering if anyone knows if firms generally provide accommodation or funds for accommodation for those who can't commute in? I have contacted the firm about it but was just curious as to whether anybody had previous experience with this sort of thing!

Hey!

Congratulations on the vacation scheme!

This usually differs between firms, so contacting them was the right thing to do! On previous vacation schemes that I have completed, some arranged accommodation directly for those who lived outside of London, and another contributed a certain amount to the cost of it (on top of what you were paid for the vacation scheme). However, another firm expected you to cover the costs of your accommodation out of the money that they paid you for the scheme (however, they did pay the most out of the VS' I did, so it made sense!).

Firms are generally very understanding that people will need to stay in London during the scheme, so I'm sure they'll do all they can to sort something for you!

 

[amb303]

Anyone heard from CRS London post-VI?

I think even if people do they will be asked not to share for a week or so after they’ve heard (have been anxiously analyzing past cycles haven’t heard from them myself )