TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[EzeLaylor]

Similar to the questions earlier - does this mean that the prospective date for starting the SQE for a March 2027 TC would be September 2026 or even earlier?

Also has anyone continued working full time alongside doing the SQE sponsored by the firm? Or is that not allowed?

 

[EzeLaylor]

1) Yes - if you are applying in the autumn/winter, then most likely you wouldn't start the SQE until September 2026. You could potentially join a January/Feb SQE intake, but given most firms are recruiting for intakes at least 30 months ahead at that point, you would have plenty of time to start the SQE in September 2026 (or even later).

2) For the next cycle, firms will be generally recruiting for September 2028 or Feb/March 2029 TCs. If we take September 2028 as a minimum, your timeline is likely to be:

• October 2025 to July 2026 - Recruitment process
• August/September 2026 - SQE prep
• January 2027 - Sit SQE1
• April 2027 - Sit SQE 2
• August 2027 - Receive SQE2 results
• August 2027 - September 2028 - Gap year

The gap year and SQE period could potentially be swapped over.

3) Yes - unless a firm recruits exclusively or exceptionally heavy from their VS

4) I wouldn't worry about this as TC roles won't close as early as September. It would be November by the earliest (and for some it will be as late as July 2026) and by then you would have many months of experience.

Sorry I thought I quoted this - This is the message I’m referring to

 

[Chris Brown]

Similar to the questions earlier - does this mean that the prospective date for starting the SQE for a March 2027 TC would be September 2026 or even earlier?

Also has anyone continued working full time alongside doing the SQE sponsored by the firm? Or is that not allowed?

The SQE would begin at least a year before the TC start date. If the prospective date for starting the TC is March 2027, the latest you would begin the SQE is Feb/March 2026. 😅

You could start the SQE in September 2025 and finish it in September 2026. This would mean a 6 month gap between finishing the SQE and commencing the March 2027 TC.

I think some firms stipulate you can’t be in full time employment whilst studying the SQE full time. I think these firms would offer bigger grants to future trainees to compensate. 🥲​

 

[Jessica Booker]

Similar to the questions earlier - does this mean that the prospective date for starting the SQE for a March 2027 TC would be September 2026 or even earlier?

Also has anyone continued working full time alongside doing the SQE sponsored by the firm? Or is that not allowed?

Most firms will expect you to do the SQE in the 12 months before starting your TC. Some may allow you to do it earlier if you have spare time between your offer and your TC starting though.

I would not advise working full-time while doing the SQE unless it was a highly flexible job in terms of hours and the time off you can get. Many firms are paying you a tax free maintenance grant to ensure you don't have to work full-time during this period. Many firms will allow you to work part-time though. We have heard of a couple of firms that don't allow you to work at all, because they want you to focus on your studies, but I would say working part-time during your SQE is possible and manageable (many of our past and present TCLA team have done exactly this).

 

[EzeLaylor]

The SQE would begin at least a year before the TC start date. If the prospective date for starting the TC is March 2027, the latest you would begin the SQE is Feb/March 2026. 😅

You could start the SQE in September 2025 and finish it in September 2026. This would mean a 6 month gap between finishing the SQE and commencing the March 2027 TC.

I think some firms stipulate you can’t be in full time employment whilst studying the SQE full time. I think these firms would offer bigger grants to future trainees to compensate. 🥲​

Most firms will expect you to do the SQE in the 12 months before starting your TC. Some may allow you to do it earlier if you have spare time between your offer and your TC starting though.

I would not advise working full-time while doing the SQE unless it was a highly flexible job in terms of hours and the time off you can get. Many firms are paying you a tax free maintenance grant to ensure you don't have to work full-time during this period. Many firms will allow you to work part-time though. We have heard of a couple of firms that don't allow you to work at all, because they want you to focus on your studies, but I would say working part-time during your SQE is possible and manageable (many of our past and present TCLA team have done exactly this).

Thank you both! That’s is very helpful info

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you both! That’s is very helpful info

I should have been clearer that you will need around 12 months to do the SQE (unless you have an exemption from either SQE1 or SQE2). You will need 4-5 months of prep before SQE1, you then will have to wait 3-4 months for the next SQE2 sitting (if you were to start an SQE course in February, you would sit SQE1 in July, sit SQE2 in October/November), and you will then need 4 months to wait for your SQE2 results.

 

[sc13]

Hi @Ram Sabaratnam! I have the CRS pre AC assessment coming up and I’m not sure how to go about preparing for the task.

I was wondering if you had any tips (is it a case study, memo format etc)?

Thank you!

 

[V2002]

Any updates re michelmores for anyone?

Hi have you heard back?

 

[TCseeker101]

I got a VS offer! Turns out I was a reserve 🥺 Would love to receive any tips please!

 

[wz_13]

Anyone heard about samsung dpo paralegal?

 

[Amehta1]

Anyone heard back from Browne Jacobson post AC for any office?

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Faegre pfo

 

[Tangcy]

Hi guys! Just wanted to ask is it worth to apply to firms that has an A-level requirement, when my A-level result did not meet the requirement?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys! Just wanted to ask is it worth to apply to firms that has an A-level requirement, when my A-level result did not meet the requirement?

Generally the rule would be not worthwhile applying unless:

- you have mitigating circumstances

- the firm uses language like “we typically look for candidates who have achieved” rather than “candidates must have achieved”

- you think you would have multiple flags in a contextualised recruitment process and you are marginally off the criteria the firm has.

 

[V2002]

I got a VS offer! Turns out I was a reserve 🥺 Would love to receive any tips please!

Was this for Bristol or Exeter?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, I've received a TC offer from a huge US firm in my first cycle of applications, and I'm quite happy about it! Couldn't have done it without TCLA and this forum!

However, I wanted to wait until after my summer VS at an MC to see which one might be a better fit. So I asked them to extend my signing period, and they've given me until after the SVS.

This might sound a bit funny, but I just keep thinking “what if they suddenly rescind it?” since technically I haven’t signed the contract yet. Has anyone heard of this actually happening? I'm terrified of this happening during the wait for the SVS in case all their slots fill up or something. Just wondering if this fear is normal or if I’m overthinking. 🥲

After putting all the effort into recruit you, a firm isn’t going to rescind an offer just because you have asked for time to consider another vacation scheme. They want you to make an informed decision, and if anything are probably thinking more about how they can convince you to join them over another firm.

In 20 years I have never heard of a firm rescinding an offer while someone has been given time to decide on the offer or not.

If you wanted to be very cynical about it, there would be no real difference in a firm rescinding an offer even if you had accepted it. Technically they could do this as easily as if you were still deciding.

And before everyone’s paranoia kicks in, that doesn’t happen either. TC offers are not retracted post acceptance without there being some serious issues for the business (only time I have seen it happen since 2008 is when a firm has gone bust).

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Ram Sabaratnam! I have the CRS pre AC assessment coming up and I’m not sure how to go about preparing for the task.

I was wondering if you had any tips (is it a case study, memo format etc)?

Thank you!

Hi there,

Congrats on getting to that stage! Such a wonderful achievement.

One of the most important things to understand about law firm assessment centres is that how you prepare mentally often matters more than what you produce on the day. That might sound counterintuitive, but solid preparation puts you in a position where you're no longer scrambling for structure or ideas — you already know how to break down the task, filter out what matters, and get your points across under pressure. For case study-type tasks especially, people tend to get overwhelmed because there’s a lot of information and very little time. That’s where your prep really kicks in. If you’ve trained yourself to quickly identify what’s relevant and ignore the noise, you’ll automatically be more efficient and more confident when it counts.

When you’re given a time-limited task — let’s say 20 or 30 minutes — your first instinct might be to dive into the documents and start reading everything. But the smarter move is to stop and read the actual question or task instruction first. That tells you what you’re supposed to be solving. Once you know what you’re looking for, the rest of the reading becomes purposeful. You’re no longer reading just to understand — you’re reading to extract. You begin to actively look for the risks, issues, commercial angles or client concerns that relate to the task you’ve been set. That saves time and stops you from becoming overwhelmed by irrelevant detail.

If the task ends up being a memo — and often these pre-AC exercises are framed as an internal note or advice to a supervisor — formatting will matter too. Pay attention to structure, clarity and tone. Use headings to break up the content, write in plain English, and get to the point quickly. One piece of feedback candidates often get is that their writing is dense or difficult to follow. Making things easy to read is not about dumbing it down — it’s about being clear and professional. A good memo anticipates what the reader wants to know and delivers it in an accessible format. Also, remember to check how you're addressing the recipient. "Dear Name" or "To: Supervising Associate" is usually safe, and you can sign off with your name or "Trainee Solicitor" depending on the context you're being asked to adopt.

The last thing I’ll say is don’t stress if you’re unsure of the exact format beforehand. You can’t control that. But you can control how familiar you are with common tasks (like internal memos or client emails/case studies too), how well you manage your time under pressure, and how confident you are in identifying key issues quickly.


Best wishes on the AC. I just know you’re gonna nail it

 

[Amma Usman]

Faegre pfo

I‘m really sorry about this. I know how discouraging a rejection can feel, especially when it's from a firm you were genuinely excited about like Faegre. It’s completely normal to feel deflated after putting in so much effort and getting a “no” at the end. But let me say this clearly: this is not a reflection of your worth, potential, or ability to become a brilliant lawyer. Use this as a stepping stone. Reflect on what you learned, note what you’d improve for next time, and then move forward with intention. You’re not starting from scratch… you’re starting from experience. Keep applying, keep refining, and most importantly, keep backing yourself. There are still so many opportunities ahead, and you only need one "yes" to change everything.

You've got this.

 

[Amma Usman]

does anyone have any tips on how to prep for critical reasoning tests and group exercises? At the end of my VS I will have to do a critical reasoning test and a group exercise and I'm not sure what resources there are out there.

Hey!

So critical reasoning tests will usually be Watson Glaser or some variation of it. But it’s not just that. Firms sometimes include verbal reasoning or situational judgment tests (SJTs) as part of their critical thinking assessments too. All of them test how you process information, make judgments, and spot inconsistencies, so it’s worth being familiar with each type.

In terms of resources, there are loads online. I found the practice tools on Amberjack assessments, JobTestPrep, and AssessmentDay really helpful. They all offer mock tests that mirror the real thing quite well. That said, it's always best to go straight to the source when you can. For example, if you check Clifford Chance’s grad recruitment site, they’ve got a practice Watson Glaser that you can try out, and I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.

For group exercises, I don’t think there’s a ton you can actively prepare in advance. I’d say make the most of your group members opinions too - you’ll find working in a team is great as many people’s ideas help bolster the final outcome. 2 heads are better than 1. Also, what helps most is knowing what’s going on in the world. If you're familiar with pressing topics like ESG, US tariffs, AI developments, or anything similar, you’ll usually find a way to link them to whatever discussion you're given. Those aren’t the only topics, though, but the point is most of these exercises are testing how you think on your feet and apply commercial logic. M&A and private equity are also good areas to study, and there are loads of resources on TCLA for that — both on the forum and in the Premium or Gold content.

Let me know if you’ve got any other questions at all.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

I‘m really sorry about this. I know how discouraging a rejection can feel, especially when it's from a firm you were genuinely excited about like Faegre. It’s completely normal to feel deflated after putting in so much effort and getting a “no” at the end. But let me say this clearly: this is not a reflection of your worth, potential, or ability to become a brilliant lawyer. Use this as a stepping stone. Reflect on what you learned, note what you’d improve for next time, and then move forward with intention. You’re not starting from scratch… you’re starting from experience. Keep applying, keep refining, and most importantly, keep backing yourself. There are still so many opportunities ahead, and you only need one "yes" to change everything.

You've got this.

Thank you Amma