TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[LawAspirer]

Cooley is one of the strictest firms in terms of visa as they only prioritise international students who are currently study in the UK and/or graduate with visa as they solely recruit from vac scheme.

Why tf shortlist in the first place then

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

This Cooley pfo also just kills me, it’s esp disheartening knowing how well the Watson glaser went

Its weird cause I felt strangely confident. To fall apart here is a lot right now. And the last week has been back to back PFOs or just silence.

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Why tf shortlist in the first place then

At the open day they said still consider international if the locals were not fit (eg failed AC, did messy interview, or poor WG) in case if you got invite the WG and you got PFO definitely they will choose local as maybe your result/score came out similarly with new invites, so if someone invited imminently after you got the WG, that's the case of you are replaceable after in the pile of reserve list. They aren't going to reveal your score tbh which is irksome at some point, but yes that's how they approach.

 

[James Wakefield]

Goodwin AC! For Spring

 

[stilltrying]

does anyone have experience at a goodwin ac?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Osborne Clarke AC!!!! Wtf I absolutely BOMBED the tests…

Office: Bristol
Applied: 2 October
Did I do well on the tests: probably not

 

[Novaa]

OC AC!!!! Wtf I absolutely BOMBED the tests…

OH DONNA!!!

 

[LawAspirer]

At the open day they said still consider international if the locals were not fit (eg failed AC, did messy interview, or poor WG) in case if you got invite the WG and you got PFO definitely they will choose local as maybe your result/score came out similarly with new invites, so if someone invited imminently after you got the WG, that's the case of you are replaceable after in the pile of reserve list. They aren't going to reveal your score tbh which is irksome at some point, but yes that's how they approach.

Wow. Thanks for this. Very disheartening nevertheless

 

[Donna Paulsen]

OH DONNA!!!

I am gobsmacked rn… I totally wrote off OC because the tests were AWFUL

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Wow. Thanks for this. Very disheartening nevertheless

Yh lol ikr. Their retention is only 80% as locals tend to leave for bigger firms and better salary and they're easy to brag if got NQ. Consider a firm which value international more, like those which open TC route. If you still wants Cooley def you can reapply to 20% left once qualified lol (many did this, esp the associates who presented VC at the open day)

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Osborne Clarke AC!!!! Wtf I absolutely BOMBED the tests…

Congratsss when did you apply?

 

[georgianprincessmwuah]

Osborne Clarke PFO (((

 

[johnsmith]

Osborne Clarke AC!!!! Wtf I absolutely BOMBED the tests…

Also got an AC and thought the same - congrats! This is for Bristol as I am sure people will ask.

 

[dannyp123]

So awkward got a PFO from OC and my mate texts me saying they got the virtual AC. Got to that stage last year with a much worse app, think might have to just do a masters at this point.

Edit: also we both applied around the deadline

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Congratsss when did you apply?

I think the day after applications opened!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Also got an AC and thought the same - congrats!

Woohoooo congrats!!

 

[Applicationally-challenged]

Osborne Clarke AC!!!! Wtf I absolutely BOMBED the tests…

Congrats! Is this for summer?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Congrats! Is this for summer?

Yes

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Congrats! Is this for summer?

Applicationally-challenged this username is funny asf lmao. Yous are creative with names ngl!