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📅 Vacation Scheme & Open Day Applications 2025–26
Planning to apply for vacation schemes, open days or insight schemes? Join our dedicated threads for support, deadlines, and discussion:
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
Includes winter, spring and summer deadlines + a handy rolling/non-rolling checklist. -
2025–26 Open Day & Insight Scheme Deadlines
Comprehensive list of open day and insight scheme application deadlines across top law firms. -
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread
Ask questions, share tips, and support each other through the application cycle.
Let’s make this your strongest application season yet 💼
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
Search results
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
And indeed it is Thank you for your recent application to our Trainee Solicitor Programme for 2027. As I am sure you will appreciate, firms such as Penningtons Manches Cooper receive many more applications for our trainee lawyer programme than we have to offer. The calibre was extremely high...- trainee4u
- Post #5,914
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
appears not Can only assume its PFO for those of us who actually know how to spell Penningtons ;)- trainee4u
- Post #5,906
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
it's unclear, I think possibly their level of WDGAFery was that high - I said that I was open to any location, so IDK if this is actually the PFO for Southampton but they reused the same email.- trainee4u
- Post #5,904
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
Just received a belated WDGAFO from Blake Morgan after six months. Thank you for your application for a Training Contract with Blake Morgan and please accept our apologies for the delay in responding. Having reviewed our needs and approach to selection for future intakes, we decided to only...- trainee4u
- Post #5,900
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Depends what you mean by "not having" - EE is different from ABB, say, and depends which law school, if you went to a reputable one or one that's not particularly rated. There are no formal "deal breakers", but chances for candidates with a first from Oxford are much much higher than those with...- trainee4u
- Post #83
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Not really sure it would have much impact on postgraduate education, and it seems less arguable that it is unlawful, because any indirect discrimination (which there also might not be -workers can take time off) is more likely to be justifiable in that a VS is, I believe, a more effective way...- trainee4u
- Post #81
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Interesting, from an equality law perspective. Under EA 2010 positive action is legal https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/159 I saw recently for example that the Law Society provide eight-week (!) paid internships under the 10000 Black Interns scheme. This I understand is...- trainee4u
- Post #75
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
mini pupillages are good. you don't need any legal experience to get a vac scheme - working in a tech career for several years is highly relevant. I guess there's a question of whether you actually want to be a barrister or solicitor, so if you feel your CV looks bar-focused you could always...- trainee4u
- Post #38
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
so the tech company you put "Lead Developer" or whatever your current role is, and within the description you describe the different roles you've done. this is one job. the 3 mini pupillages you enter each individually the forage you don't enter because it's not work experience, not competitive...- trainee4u
- Post #32
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
new thread, first page poster, let's go!- trainee4u
- Post #14
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
I likewise did two. Not sure I'd say "survived". More like failed. Ok, technically I have six live applications, and one more still to make. But I'm no longer hopeful that I will get anywhere. Next year will kick ass. Or something.- trainee4u
- Post #5,816
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Great comments. Just wondering if you have any examples of how specific you got? I find it a bit tricky to know when I'm being superficial; for example, I might write that I have experience of Sharia finance and admire the firm for their leading practice, but I'm not sure if it's sufficiently...- trainee4u
- Post #22,453
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
You're either a trainee or you're not, they wouldn't pay some trainees more than others. If you want to enter as a NQ then you'd need to find another role & pass SQE.- trainee4u
- Post #22,443
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
graduate visas have these features: * non-settlement route (so counts towards possible 10-year ILR but not towards the preferred 5-year route) * no requirement to actually be in the UK, except during application - you can treat it as a 2-year holiday visa; this differs from settlement route...- trainee4u
- Post #22,428
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
No. And particularly the "buy now the price goes up on Wednesday" thing is very sneaky.- trainee4u
- Post #22,427
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
yeah you're right - I actually have two free years, lol.- trainee4u
- Post #5,769
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
last year I applied for Taylor Wessing VS and they have a me a free year's access to AssessmentDay. I think you might have to pass the first sift - they sent me access three days after applying.- trainee4u
- Post #5,767
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
scroll up two posts.- trainee4u
- Post #5,766
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
From what I've seen the percentile will be relative to a reference group set by the provider rather than applicants to the firm. (It is possible to pay to request a personalised reference group, but this doesn't seem useful for law recruitment). Getfeedback provide a "law graduates" reference...- trainee4u
- Post #5,759
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Getting a paralegal role can be tough too though.- trainee4u
- Post #22,377
- Forum: Applications Discussion