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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    In my experience (I've tested this approach a few times with non-law grad schemes that I wasn't very interested in) and from some research and online discussions, it looks like you do better if you're decisive/polarising in your answers as it shows that you're not trying to "please" by sitting...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I'd say I hope they all move to something more like Amberjack if they really wanna keep online assessments. The options are more sensible and not as much of a false dichotomy as they are in Cappfinity imo but as long as VSs/TCs remain this competitive, they're gonna use whatever they can to...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Based on the announcement website, they will continue as is until Q3 next year (think June-Sept) when the partners vote etc on whether to complete the merger. If anything, it's about continuity after the recruitment process, would be a question for Grad Rec I think as to whether they will still...
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    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It's only been a week since the deadline and I think there's only three of them in the team manually going through every application so I wouldn't say so.
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Seems like it, I got the same, and had an identically worded email for the one last month too
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    P,W Open Day rejection :cool: (but it means I can probably attend an event with a different firm instead!) and I didn't make it to the ASCAC Grand Finals (Go win it for us @johnsmith !), still feeling pumped about my momentum with writing applications though so probably a productive weekend...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I'm just finalising my application at the moment. I was about to send it off until I read through the Dos and Don'ts section on their website again which indicated that they want you to link every experience back to a career in law and, where possible, A&O Shearman itself to show you understand...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I'm not them but I personally use podcasts like FT News Briefing, Unhedged, and Non-Billable, and just read the Business news section of The Guardian (others recommend BBC and other outlets too) everyday and generally scroll LinkedIn for a shrot few minutes each day which helps me keep quite on...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Broadly speaking, seeing as both events are next Tue/Wed, respectively, is everyone who applied still waiting to hear back about Davis Polk and Paul, Weiss Nov Open Days?
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    Road to a TC 2025-26

    Bit overdue for an update, I've had a really busy period with classes, applications, and mock assessments! I think I'm really getting into the full swing of the application season now, as most Open Day opportunities are pretty much gone, but I think I've benefited greatly from the practice...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Curious what everyone's thoughts are but if you've submitted a successful Open Day application with a firm and the VS application asks the exact same question with the same word limit, is there fundamentally anything wrong with resubmitting the exact same answer?
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hey, I spoke to Grad Rec a couple of weeks ago and was pretty candid about my own grades (albeit with mit circumstances) and they encouraged me to apply anyway, so I'd say to give it a shot, the tests may take some time but I think overall their application process still takes less time than...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hey, I spoke to them at an event a few weeks ago and they said they want to see how you have interacted with Hogan Lovells through these events or how they relate back to Hogan Lovells. So for example, in my application, I talked about attending Skadden's Open Evening and a discussion I had...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Honestly worst part re Vantage Work Exp is that the firm will ask you to fill it in with newest experiences at the top but when I exit Vantage and return to it later to complete and submit it, it reverses the order and puts oldest experiences at the top :rolleyes:
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    :oops: <---- certainly my face when I saw Simmons' app form ask how I've used AI and stating that it's encouraged! :D
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I assume this might be to do with Paul, Weiss striking a deal with the Trump administration to remove DEI initiatives and DEI sections from their websites and provide $100m worth of pro bono services, followed by a bunch of other US firms under pressure. Totally support Perkins Coie and...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Similar to everyone else, I don't think this is an issue. I've submitted a 2nd application for the Open Day with significant changes this time and one of those changes includes noting their stated objective of providing a full-service offering in London which inevitably includes Litigation. I...
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    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I join my fellow aspiring solicitors in our collective experience of W&C Open Day rejections. Ironic that I'm attending the Legal Cheek event with them in about 20 mins too 🤣 Starting to wonder if Open Day applications are just way more competitive and maybe targeted given how many Open Day...
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    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hey, I spoke with Grad Rec on a number of different occasions this cycle and they have highlighted each time that you're welcome to reapply in the same cycle as long as you haven't made it to the interview and you've made substantive changes in your application, hope that helps to clear things...
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    Road to a TC 2025-26

    Hey, it was really good! If I'm honest, I think I noticed a clear personality difference between other attendees and people actually working at the firm. The people from the firm were all really down-to-earth and nice, with plenty of insight to share about their work as well. One thing in...

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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.

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