• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now 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.
    Join Premium →
  • How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)
    1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    In this interactive session, Maya Shah, Senior Early Careers Specialist at Ropes & Gray, will walk you through every stage of the firm's application process.
    Register on Zoom →
  • How to Stand Out in Law Firm Interviews (Willkie)
    3 Dec 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Willkie’s new graduate recruiter and two trainees will break down what the firm looks for at the interview stage, common pitfalls to avoid, and how you can demonstrate confidence, clarity, and genuine motivation throughout an assessment centre.
    Register on Zoom →

Search results

  1. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi Kirsty, I submitted my application form recently and the GCSE section asked for the school name and the dates I attended. There was no space to include my GCSE subjects and/or results. Will this have an impact on my application?
  2. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I got into their open day and went to a RG uni not in London or Oxbridge. I asked them about it and they encouraged me to apply for the VS. Wonder if they were just being nice though. 🥲
  3. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It is automatic but sent out in batches manually, so it might be possible they will send it to you in the next batch of test invites.
  4. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think Willkie has their assessments before the VS (written app, video interview, written exercise and partner interview). Candidates are judged solely on their VS performance. Most firms have a range of assessments during the VS and/or a final interview afterwards.
  5. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Stephenson Harwood London open day PFO, but been offered the virtual open day instead. Going to assume it’s non-selective. Thought I had written a decent application. Guess it is indicative of the entire process being either hit or miss. 🥲
  6. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I’m going to their open afternoon next week so I can ask them about the final details of the VI, as their VS deadline is on 12/12/25.
  7. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Weil online test invite, submitted app 4th Nov!
  8. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    They have a direct training contract route which I think law finalists and graduates can apply for. Not sure what the ratios are between candidates the firm takes from the vac scheme or direct training contract route, but imagine it’s fairly similar.
  9. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Has anybody heard back from Weil or Willkie yet who applied in November? Been almost 3 weeks since I applied to Weil and over a week since I’ve sent off my Willkie application.
  10. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think it’s probably worthwhile contacting firms to see what their policies are. Assuming they are happy to accept the A* from 2024 alongside the BBB in 2025, your top 3 A-levels would be A*BB (equivalent to AAB), which is what most firms are after anyway, with the exception of a handful of US...
  11. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    White & Case WVS PFO post app & test. Idk if it was down to the app, the test or both.
  12. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    How do you even manage to submit that many in such a short time frame? Think I have sent 8 to 9 applications so far and I am working on 3 currently to submit by the end of November. Bro is just built differently, I need to up my game! 🥲
  13. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    To make things worse, they made sure to email me three separate rejections with the following text as the header in all capitals: CLIFFORD CHANCE REJECTION: FAILED WATSON GLASER. That did rub salt in the wound for real lmao. 😂
  14. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Clifford Chance PFO post WG. These online tests are hit or miss for me. 🥲
  15. Harvey Specter

    Open Day Experiences

    I was at the Meet Cooley event that took place today (20th Nov). It was really good. Definitely one of the better open days I’ve been to. Next up will be BCLP, Covington and Goodwin.
  16. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Will this have an impact on Willkie’s recruitment process and approach to hiring future trainees? I believe Gemma introduced the CV blind process to their graduate recruitment process. It’s sad to hear she has left Willkie. Looking forward to the future of Willkie with the new graduate recruiter...
  17. Harvey Specter

    Open Day Experiences

    In my experience I would say Skadden too. Liked the speed networking aspect of it. I also admired how the Akin, Weil, HSF Kramer and Reed Smith insight days were delivered. The Reed Smith one had an introduction by the managing partner! The Akin one had an interactive session on their...
  18. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It will most likely be after the deadline. They look at the applications on a rolling basis but they review all applications before making decisions.
  19. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It’s automatic. Received mine the day after I sent my application for the DTC. Possible there could be slight delays since the deadline is tomorrow and a lot of people apply last minute.
  20. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Guess that means I failed the WG. Not surprising though to be honest.

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.

    Share this page

    Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2022 XenForo Ltd. | Style and add-ons by ThemeHouse | Community services from Audentio
    XenCarta 2 PRO © Jason Axelrod of 8WAYRUN
    Top Bottom