TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Donuttime]

Has anyone completed an AC on cappfinity before? I am not really sure what to expect

on cappfinnity, as in you do the assessment centre online?

 

[floral.tcla]

I second this🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Moms side of the family are all doctors and dads side of the family are all engineers/investment bankers - I’m too bad at science and don’t like math🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Doctor ❌ engineer ❌ lawyer ✅,

But jokes part, having worked in this profession I’m so glad I picked it and cannot see myself doing anything else now!

Oooo that variety sounds so interesting! Yes for sure!! Ahhh I can’t wait to start

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Hi! Have you heard back from Trowers & Hamlins post app?

Hi, I received an email from them a few days ago that they'll start getting back to people from the second week of Feb.

 

[floral.tcla]

speaking of practice areas how would you go about developing your interests especially if they changed? Just by keeping up with trends and researching? I’ve been quite ambivalent about litigation and other contentious areas but have an interest in corproate and litigation as my non-law degree matches onto both quite nicely

 

[Legalfreak212]

wasn't hard, it really goes by quickly though. I honestly found it ok especially if you know your motivations, don't overthink it too much it's just 2 questions

Oh only 2?? That’s so chill wth

 

[Jessica Pearson]

DAC Beachcroft VI (DTC). For reference I applied on the 18th Dec and received the invite this morning. If anyone has any insights please help. I seemed to have flopped all the VI's I've done so far so if there's anyone that can help me out, I'll really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[adblawstudent]

Mayer Brown AC invite! I applied and did the online assessment on the 27th of October

 

[Legalfreak212]

Mayer Brown AC invite! I applied and did the online assessment on the 27th of October

Hey did the invite just come through?

 

[Heartofglass]

wondering the same question - unfortunately I’m the same with this forum now too🤣🤣

I have both Outlook and Gmail on my phone to separate the personal and professional emails. For example, I only use Outlook to access the email I used to apply to firms. This way when I see the Outlook notifications, I know I need to check it immediately and ignore the Gmail notifications.

Side note, I never sign up for any newsletter, ads with the professional email so I dont get spam.

 

[lawstudent2]

Mayer Brown AC invite! I applied and did the online assessment on the 27th of October

Well done! Is this for spring or summer?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

speaking of practice areas how would you go about developing your interests especially if they changed? Just by keeping up with trends and researching? I’ve been quite ambivalent about litigation and other contentious areas but have an interest in corproate and litigation as my non-law degree matches onto both quite nicely

Yeah, showing an active ongoing interest by researching is good. Keeping up to date on what's going on. Even doing some writing can help.

 

[adblawstudent]

Hey did the invite just come through?

Yeah, it just came through.

Well done! Is this for spring or summer?

Thank you! I put down either in the application, so I'm guessing they are assessing for both at the ACs

 

[PinkZebra67]

My bclp application defo got lost in the post… right ?

 

[anon78365222111]

My bclp application defo got lost in the post… right ?

Same lol

 

[TS.Law]

Yes, that's right.

Its a bit of a shame: You've managed to establish a great rapport with several members of staff, who talk enthusiastically about the contribution you could make to the firm, identify casework you'd be perfect for, and the firm initiatives that you could support, and the clients who be really glad to have you on their team...

...and then you fail the Watson Glaser test.

Smaller firms are more likely to have flexible recruitment policies, of course, but I like the idea of working at bigger, global firms. They replicate that culture of innovation and international collaboration that I love about university roles.

Being a career changer myself, I second this.

There's also another point that crosses my mind with every rejection I face: as UK law graduates, we might be eligible to sit the NY Bar without further education or work experience in America. Last year, my transcripts were sent to the Bar, and they approved my eligibility in a few days.

This means that if I pass the Bar exam on my first attempt (as plenty of people do, including friends from my cohort), I could qualify within six months or so and start building my own clientele from day one. The catch is that for this plan to work, a US work visa isn't simple to obtain, nor is finding an American sponsor.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

 

[RVD23]

Completely bombed the Mishcon SJT 😭

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

has anyone heard from DWF?

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

I kinda gave up on work life balance as a choice after I realised how few firms that left me 😂 (My niche interest in life sciences already narrows it down). It is still really important to me and is a way of ranking my law firms alongside NQ salary (also helps when I get a PFO from a firm I wasnt excited to work at anyway because of their work life balance).

It's why I'm so excited about my TW AC because I ranked them as an A-tier firm for their life science area and reputation for having a good work life balance.

For context, I'm a fresh graduate with a partner of 3 years, which did make me re-evaluate my priorities in terms of realising I may not want to come back at midnight every night and sacrifice all my relationships 😂.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

For me, I don't really care about work-life balance when reviewing firms. I don't think I would ever say this to a firm, but viewing this pragmatically, I have always enjoyed working a lot especially on complex things. I don't really tend to do much now and I have no dependents. I'm in my 20s so this is a prime time to earn a lot & save a lot. Of course, I would like to have some free time but working past 9 (and maybe the occasional weekend) would not necessarily stop me from going out in London.