• 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 →

Search results

  1. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I’m just going based off of what Akin’s grad rec manager told us directly at Akin’s open day. She advised to submit apps before Xmas cos they’re not gna be screening all apps submitted on the deadline. If that’s incorrect take it up with their grad rec team lad. I’d like to think Akin’s grad rec...
  2. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Alongside Dechert, Akin is also super rolling and they said at their open day they were aiming for ACs to be held in January. I’d try get their app in before or on Xmas day latest, cos I saw someone mention that Akin didn’t get through all the apps last year as well. Idk about W&C, JD or Bakers.
  3. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    The questions are all motivational and competency based. The first VI question has a longer response time so utilise it as best you can.
  4. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I saw someone posted on the forum recently about their commercial awareness resources and they’d referenced a podcast on Spotify called Wake Up To Money (BBC Radio 5 Live). I’ve been listening to it and ngl it’s lowkey good asf (better than trying to decipher the FT’s complicated jargon imo).
  5. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    This might be a reach but in my VI with the early careers team, they’d mentioned I’d hear back by the beginning of the new year, as atm they’re working through everyone’s VI, but they didn’t mention if they’d be reviewing SJT scores. My guess is the firm has a benchmark and only review VI for...
  6. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    When did you apply to Akin Gump? I sent my app around a week ago but haven’t heard anything. I did receive a request from an arbitration partner at Akin Gump on LinkedIn though so at least there’s that small W. Maybe we will hear back now after the Xmas and NY period has passed?
  7. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    They use rare recruitment so whilst they do have pretty high expectations it’s not strictly AAA and a high 2:1. I know of someone who had neither who went to Royal Holloway and did the Cleary VS.
  8. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Some of these firms are asking for too much imo cos Akin and Debevoise both have 6 x 250 word questions. Apps Orrick asks 5 questions and even a cover letter. It’s soo unnecessarily looong. 🫠
  9. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    https://www.clearygottlieb.com/locations/london/legal-landing-page/opportunities-and-application-information It’s on this page under current opportunities. Their deadline isn’t until Jan 31 2026.
  10. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Damn have I just been demoted from name partner to a student brand ambassador?… 👀😂
  11. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    You can be the TCLA LLP in-house Supreme Court Justice, the first for any law firm! That’s gna be the firm’s main USP for marketing! 😂
  12. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Idk cos nobody knows whether every applicant received the AI test (not every applicant is here on TCLA), so what if only 25% of yous got the AI test and grad rec just decided that reviewing them all individually was simply time consuming? Lowkey makes sense cos some ppl have said they spent...
  13. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Maybe they realised the chat based interview was a complete flop and they’ve decided to bin it and so now they’re gna use their amberjack to do all the filtering work for them. Baso yous were made to do that AI assessment for nothing? Idk that’s what seems to be the case with this. I do rem...
  14. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Ayy congrats rkid! Next stop DLA AC. 🥳
  15. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Paul, Weiss to Paul, McCartney. Maybe Paul is acc stepping into a singing career next… 😮 Can’t forgot his comma so I’ve included it in both cos that’s very important!
  16. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    They just sent me an email confirming reasonable adjustments and gave me the option to do stage 2 in Jan, so I’m assuming it’ll be the new year to hear back with ACs but PFOs from now until then.
  17. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Finally after waiting 193950 years Freshfields got back to me about the reasonable adjustments for stage 2. I thought I was hallucinating for a sec but it’s real! Gna do it in Jan.
  18. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    This is the same for me. I applied for HSF Kramer WVS and despite going to several open days, AS events, online webinars, etc. I got rejected. Then here comes Skadden with a written exercise and I’ve only been to one event with them and that’s the insight evening they did cpl months ago. 😂
  19. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It’s probs not automatic cos I did my first test on Wed (late night) and have heard nothing. Although I did apply for Summer VS so idk whether that’s the reason for it.
  20. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Seems like Paul forgot to take his , with him for his new position at Paul, Hastings… , Weiss’ reboot is a great marketing move tho!

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.