• Hey Guest, Have an interview coming up? We’ve opened new mock interview slots this week. Book here
  • TCLA Premium: Now half price (£30/month). Applications, interviews, commercial awareness + 700+ examples.
    Join →

Search results

  1. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Sidley Austin please respond before that orange guy drags us all into WW3 and chaos erupts… It’s either that or my outlook and gmail crash out and self-destruct from the constant refreshing…
  2. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    For Sidley I applied to all 3 VSs. I ranked Spring as 1st choice, Summer 1 as 2nd and Summer 2 as 3rd. I don’t even meet their A-level requirement so idk why it’s not an auto PFO they sent 5 PFO rounds alr and loads of TI/ACs went out since early Feb.
  3. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    What’s up with these firms that say they’re rolling basis yet take months to update applicants?! Why do they ghost most people for months lmao?! So far I’ve seen Simmons, Slaughters, W&C, BCLP, Gibson, Dechert and Sidley who are all rolling basis but taking ages to respond… Still waiting on...
  4. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Cappfinity >> Amberjack >> HSF SJT >> WGs >> NRF Arctic Shores >> Ropes Thrive test. Idk if I’ve missed any but these are my rankings atm.
  5. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Since I’ve had no response yet from several firms I’ve decided to update the league tables post: 1st place: Freshfields (55 days) RECORD HOLDER 2nd place: Sidley (54 days) CATCHING UP??!! 3rd place: Milbank (38 days) RUNNER UP??!! 4th place: Travers Smith (37 days) [PFO post app] 5th place...
  6. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I thought there wasn’t a test worse than the CC or Orrick WG. Then I took Ropes’ Thrive test… I think it’s just used to feed into the questions we get asked during the partner interview tbh. I don’t think it influences post AC decisions tbh but who knows anything could happen.
  7. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Depends what you consider low. Usually it seems firms set the benchmark to at least 50% so 18/36. I got 24/36 and got the Weil AC. If the SJT has a VI with it, more weighting is probs placed on the VI than the SJT. But it probs differs between firms as far as cutoffs go. So 20/36 could be...
  8. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think Baker McKenzie is pretty good. My mate did their DTC AC last year got an offer and said that apps they took c30-50% from the DTC route. Firms like Paul Hastings, King & Spalding and Fried Frank only hire via the DTC route (12, 4 and 4 TCs respectively). Idk about other US firms though.
  9. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    Harvey’s Horror Story (TC journey edition) 👻 🎃

    Hi guys, Looks like it’s time for another app status update so this is the latest version for this thread: Apps that were rejections: Winter VS apps: Jones Day VS post app HSF Kramer VS post app and test Paul, Weiss VS post app Cleary Gottlieb VS post app White & Case VS post app and test...
  10. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    They didn’t specify the year so it could just end up being by the beginning of March 2029… 🫠
  11. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Has anyone else heard from Sidley recently either PFO or TI? It’s been 53 days post deadline and app submission what’s going on over there?!
  12. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Can’t the orange guy wait until after ACs are done before he wreaks havoc and starts WW3…
  13. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I’m gna be the next guest speaker. We’re gna talk about my latest brand deal with Harvey AI and the future of US law firms so tune in guys! https://www.harvey.ai/blog/gabriel-macht-partners-with-harvey
  14. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Their grad rec brochure indicates they’re after 6 months of paralegal experience and that you will need to have completed or currently completing the SQE course. It might be worth emailing them to see if the experience you have is enough to be seriously considered for their TC, over spending a...
  15. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    The Ropes AC is insane they’ve squished the entire W&C grad rec process into a single day like I didn’t know that was humanely possible lmao. It’s gna be tough but hopefully we smash it!
  16. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I believe it’s 80 people for the ACs (5 ACs total so probs 16 per AC), 30 VS spaces and 15 TCs. So it’s like a 35-40% chance of converting AC to a VS, although it’s 8-9 hours long so it’s rough! 😬
  17. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I have a few 2:2s with mit circs but I managed to progress with several US firms e.g., Weil, Gibson Dunn, Skadden, Debevoise, Akin and others too. There are several US firms that are probs much harder to succeed with if you have 2:2s like Jones Day, Davis Polk, Cleary Gottlieb and SullCrom. If...
  18. Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    It’s been 50 days since I applied to Sidley (I sent my app on deadline day), and I still haven’t heard anything back from them (TI or post app PFO)… Can people react to this post with ‘✅’ if they’ve heard back with a TI or PFO (who applied on the deadline) and ‘❌’ if you’ve heard nothing. I’m...

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.