TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[pepsicola96]

Tips on how to stop stressing over vac scheme conversion rates

Potentially my last shot this cycle in April, and it seems to have a 40-50% conversion rate. Call it imposter syndrome but I'm sitting here thinking over and over "oh there's no way I'll be top 40% on this scheme."

 

[User093269823]

I think she meant the grad rec will have to look at the scores of all interviewees and invite the highest scorers to the vac scheme!

lol if everything is scored and they've done all the interviews why do they need to take so long with them then

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock I hope you're well. I was just wondering how long after your VI last year did you hear back from Stephenson Harwood? If you don't remember then that's okay.

Thank you

Hi!

I completed the VI on the 11 March and received the VS offer on the 17 March However, I did apply on the deadline, and they might be working on slightly different timelines this cycle, so I wouldn't panic if you haven't heard yet!

 

[soph107048]

Don't stress, was in the last AC and they told us we can expect to hear back the week of the 16th!

just out of curiosity how many people were in your AC in total? For TW

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Tips on how to stop stressing over vac scheme conversion rates

Potentially my last shot this cycle in April, and it seems to have a 40-50% conversion rate. Call it imposter syndrome but I'm sitting here thinking over and over "oh there's no way I'll be top 40% on this scheme."

Hey!

I can totally get where you are coming from, as I obsessed over the conversion rates last cycle as well! However, I ended up being closest to converting for the firm that had a conversion rate of around 15%-20% despite the fact I had almost convinced myself I had no chance. Sometimes raw percentages don't tell the full story, as some candidates will have other offers or decide that the firm isn't right for them.

Ultimately, try to focus on what you can control and go into the scheme engaged, reliable, and genuinely interested in the firm. You have every chance of being in the top 40%!

 

[msclm]

Tips on how to stop stressing over vac scheme conversion rates

Potentially my last shot this cycle in April, and it seems to have a 40-50% conversion rate. Call it imposter syndrome but I'm sitting here thinking over and over "oh there's no way I'll be top 40% on this scheme."

Hi!! I was in your shoes in winter - all I heard was horror stories that Sidley’s conversion rate is <20%. I had convinced myself going in that this was a no shot. The conversion rate ended up being closer to 35% and I did get the tc.

My feed back call focused a lot on personality and how my team thought id fit in - GR told me they look more so to who they’d want to work with as opposed to perfection (i definitely made mistakes in my vac). Best advice is to be kind to everyone you meet (feedback is by no means limited to just your team) and act interested in everything!!! My supervisor told me there is nothing worse than a vac schemer who is very obviously disinterested.

For the assessment tasks - assuming you have a written/group component (or both like I did), my feedback for both of these had good and bad elements. Again, GR told me they aren’t looking for perfection but looking for someone who can be taught. Lots of the skills we are being tested on on vacs are skills that you inevitably learn during the sqe/during your actual tc. You aren’t expected to be trainee ready during the vac.

Something I had to remind myself a lot of was that I deserved my place there just as much as anyone else

Good luck! You got this !

 

[soph107048]

Has anyone gotten a W&C PFO post WE?

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Does anyone know what the basics of Capital Markets are that I should know prior to an interview?

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

 

[uraijom]

has anyone heard from either hogan or hsfk for summer? or are they giving out more acs

 

[Applicant3728299643]

Is anyone else still yet to hear anything back from travers smith?

 

[asplawyer100]

Has anyone else had the OC assessment centre today?

 

[Legalfreak212]

Is anyone else still yet to hear anything back from travers smith?

Still haven’t got an interview or pfo post application lol

 

[TCComingSoon]

Does anyone know what the basics of Capital Markets are that I should know prior to an interview?

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

I usually ask ChatGPT to give me basic terminology with definitions. I did this for a M&A interview.

 

[TA04]

anyone heard from squire after the vi?

 

[trainee4u]

Forsters reserve list

Did you make it off the list? Tomorrow last AC, just marked it "PFO".

 

[lawcool]

Did you make it off the list? Tomorrow last AC, just marked it "PFO".

Nope sadly not, bye bye forsters

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Do you mean Hogan or Harbottle x? I'm waiting to hear back from Harbottle so just wondering if you mean you got an interview with them

Yeah Harbottle & Lewis

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

When did you get the AC?

Sorry I meant Harbottle & Lewis.

 

[Hopeful applicant]

does anyone know when Debevoise is supposed to get back to us post ac?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone know what the basics of Capital Markets are that I should know prior to an interview?

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

Hey!

I would advise that you check out an article such as this one from Investopedia! Overall, I'd say that you should know what Capital Markets are, why they are important, and how it relates to law firms. I can't imagine that they would expect you to have in-depth, technical knowledge of Capital Markets for an interview - knowing the basics should be more than enough!

Best of luck with the interview!