-
Register on Zoom →WIN: Lunch with Willkie Trainees!15 Oct 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)Put your knowledge of Willkie Farr & Gallagher to the test in this interactive quiz session. The winner will enjoy lunch with Willkie trainees!
-
Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
Search results
-
Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025-26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)
Hey everyone, Vacation Scheme application season is upon us! To make things easier for those of us preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates for the Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation...- Thread
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Thanks @Jaysen! As I sign off from the forum, just wanted to say it's been such a privilege to watch so many of you grow in confidence, share advice, and support one another through what is admittedly a pretty tough process. As some of you head into the next cycle, my hope is that you keep...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #336
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
So many retail jobs....
Hiya @theintellectualpropertygirl If those are the only experiences you have right now, I’d list them individually in your work experience section. They’re valuable, and it’s worth showing that you’ve been working consistently since school, it speaks to resilience, commitment, and time...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
grades, mitigating circumstances, and applications
Hiya @LauraMelo I really don’t think this will be a problem for you. Overall, your academics are excellent and the 59% in second year is likely to be seen as a blip, especially given the mitigating circumstances and the fact you went on to perform strongly in your final year. Recruiters will...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
-
67% overall in Physics with inconsistent module grades - Likelihood of US/MC/SC?
Hi @mg42guy32 These are outstanding grades (especially in physics!) and you should feel confident applying to any firm you’re interested in. They will not be a problem at all. If anything, your degree shows strong intellectual ability, particularly when compared to most law graduates (there's...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Firms that don't have high academic requirments
Hiya @William Langford Thanks for sharing. Balancing caring responsibilities alongside your studies is a huge achievement, and it’s important to recognise that. Right now, I think open days are a smart focus; firms tend to be more forgiving with grades here, and they’re still a good way to...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Law Firm Deadlines
-
1st year law student @uni of kent!!
Hi @eke.mily Welcome to the forum and I hope your first few weeks at Kent have been going well :) Feel free to post any questions you have around applications or firms. The community assistants and other users will be more than happy to help. Although first year students are generally...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Introduce Yourself Here!
-
VS offer post direct TC app
Hi @t-0147 This is definitely an unusual outcome, but I actually think it speaks really well of you as a candidate! The firm has clearly seen potential and are keen to get to know you better. So although it's quite rare, it does happen. One option is to accept the offer for now and revisit...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
LLM SQE preparation?
Hiya @Hazzyb786! Hope you’re enjoying your summer and managing to get some well-deserved rest before the LLM SQE starts. You've got a big year ahead! If you’re keen to get ahead, I’d really recommend focusing on the underlying law, i.e. things like contract, tort, criminal law, equity and...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) Forum
-
need some advice on what to do
Hi @iram06x Well done on securing offers from both Aston and Liverpool. That’s great and I hope you enjoy your degree, regardless of where you end up. Just wanted to get a few thoughts for you. First, please don’t let your A-level results knock your confidence. What matters now is how you...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Introduce Yourself Here!
-
I got a 2.1 🎉 What now?
Hiya @elixo First of all, I just want to say that it is SERIOUSLY impressive of you. Balancing your LLB alongside full-time work and raising your daughter as a single mum is no small feat, and the fact that you came out with a 2.1 from Bristol speaks volumes about your resilience...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #2
- Forum: Introduce Yourself Here!
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Hiya @ohnoselim You definitely don’t need direct experience in litigation to apply for HSF’s disputes open day; that’s exactly what the open day is for :) It’s more about showing that you’re genuinely curious about the work and willing to learn. You could mention a case or investigation the...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #313
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Hiya @ELSA19 It’s true that some firms are stricter than others when it comes to academics (you’re right to flag firms like Slaughter and May, which tend to take a more rigid view of grades), but there are many more who are flexible, especially when you can contextualise your 2.1 with...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #307
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Hiya @PlscanIhaveaTC In my experience, a lot of UK firms do change their application questions from year to year (particularly those outside the Magic Circle where the application formats/questions tend to be more consistent from year to year). Stephenson Harwood is a good example of a firm...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #306
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
hiya @TCLA All firms will have a fixed number of places for each of their vacation schemes. Sidley do seem to review applications on a rolling basis, so there can be an advantage to applying sooner rather than later. As the winter scheme applications are already open, it’s quite possible...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #305
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Hi everyone, I’d just like to remind us all to be mindful of the way we respond to one another here. The forum is meant to be a supportive space, and it can be disheartening when replies come across as dismissive. Even if a question feels straightforward or we disagree with a point, it’s always...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #303
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Becoming Jessica Pearson (An International Student's TC Journey)
Hiya @Jessica Pearson that’s amazing news! I’m really glad to hear it. My own view is that any kind of experience (legal or non-legal) is a win. What matters is your ability to draw out the connections between this role, your other experiences, and your motivations for commercial law. In...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #5
- Forum: My Training Contract Journey
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
Hey everyone! Just wanted to give you all a heads up and say that McDermott Will & Schulte is now accepting training contracts for their 2027 cycle. You can apply here: https://mws.grad.allhires.com/app/ Good luck- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #6,095
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025-26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)
Hiya @robertg22 There isn’t an automatic notification when the list is updated, but you can always check by scrolling to the bottom of the post where it says “Last Edited” in small font. I’d recommend bookmarking the page and checking it once or twice a week; I usually update it at the...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #17
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
Hey @👩🎓 First off, huge congratulations on your TC offer! What a brilliant way to end the summer, and I’m really glad to hear the forum has been helpful along the way. On your question about working while studying for the SQE full-time, I’d say it’s certainly not impossible, but it does...- Ram Sabaratnam
- Post #6,087
- Forum: Applications Discussion