TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[billyonthespeeddial]

Hi all! Does anyone have any advice for the Debevoise Open Day e.g. how to prepare, what will they ask? Thank you so much!

Try reading some commercial articles really in depth to get used to the feeling. You can meet up with a friend who is also brushing up on commercial awareness and talk about some articles. If this is not an option, maybe use AI to do the same by uploading the article on it.

Read your application form again and make sure you're ready to talk about any of the answers you gave.

Good luck!

 

[thedonnabrief]

Hi, has anyone heard back from Skadden post interview??

 

[LH4]

Hey guys i was wondering if anyone had insight into firms that use the disability confident scheme. Basically, they say that if you opt in and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be given an interview.

How does this fit into firms that have multiple stages (written application, amberjack/video interview/AC)?

 

[Maria56]

Are any of you that received Debevoise’s OD internationals? Sorry for the question, Ik that they don’t sponsor vac schemes,however, I wonder if they rly consider people who are on a student visa (i am on one)

 

[tc2026]

hii has anyone heard from dla post ti for AC lately, please?

 

[HopefulTC]

Got a debevoise AC but im not a final year law student (im penultimate year). This was in my application but their website says i wont be eligible. Any advice on what to do?

 

[tc2026]

hi does anyone have latham AC advice please, that they could share? I would really appreciate it

 

[HopefulTC]

Got a debevoise AC but im not a final year law student (im penultimate year). This was in my application but their website says i wont be eligible. Any advice on what to do?

Meant non law*.

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Meant non law*.

Email them and check it's okay?
I dont specitically know if they require a GDL (most law firms do), but if they do you'll need to complete a GDL and SEQ before doing the training contract which usually takes 2 years, so if you applied for a 2028 TC it might not be possible. Not every firm requires a GDL though so email and check?

 

[trainee4u]

Hey guys i was wondering if anyone had insight into firms that use the disability confident scheme. Basically, they say that if you opt in and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be given an interview.

How does this fit into firms that have multiple stages (written application, amberjack/video interview/AC)?

it doesn't really mean anything.

"minimum criteria" might mean 'a score of 90/100 or higher'.

Therefore, if you simply claim d-c, it is unlikely to be helpful.

IMO, it's more likely to be effective if you can identify why a particular stage in the process has an unequal impact on you because of your disability, and then to ask for a reasonable adjustment in respect of that stage.

This can for example mean, "no SJT", or "telephone rather than VI", etc.

 

[HopefulTC]

Email them and check it's okay?
I dont specitically know if they require a GDL (most law firms do), but if they do you'll need to complete a GDL and SEQ before doing the training contract which usually takes 2 years, so if you applied for a 2028 TC it might not be possible. Not every firm requires a GDL though so email and check?

Yeah they do require GDL however this was all on my application so ill be very frustrated if making AC was in vain

 

[PFO Final Boss]

Is there a general benchmark for Amberjack out of 36

I think they wont look at the overall score, but the spread across the pillars

 

[SamiyaJ]

The ultimate VS final boss of a bossman has spoken. No infinity stones left for us. We shall all try again next year, close this thread asap!!

 

[Bread]

Yeah they do require GDL however this was all on my application so ill be very frustrated if making AC was in vain

Why did you apply if you knew you weren’t eligible?

 

[HopefulTC]

Why did you apply if you knew you weren’t eligible?

Their website when i applied just stated penultimate year students and didnt clarify law vs non law. On my app I clearly put penultimate year. They asked my graduation date and my degree . Im happy to make it to the last 100 applicants but cant lie it is frustrating.

 

[trainee4u]

Just got home to find letter from CMS. Huh? A PFO by post?!

Open it and turns out they're representing an airline I'm suing for a modest three figure sum.

(They want an extension to file defence, ok whatever guys, can I have that for my TC application too?)

 

[legal18]

Just got home to find letter from CMS. Huh? A PFO by post?!

Open it and turns out they're representing an airline I'm suing for a modest three figure sum.

(They want an extension to file defence, ok whatever guys, can I have that for my TC application too?)

Hahahahahahaa

 

[Novaa]

The ultimate VS final boss of a bossman has spoken. No infinity stones left for us. We shall all try again next year, close this thread asap!!

WOAHHH! Ok so my parents CANNOT catch wind of this post!

“Do you know _____?” Nope

 

[radssss]

Yeah they do require GDL however this was all on my application so ill be very frustrated if making AC was in vain

Honestly this might be a bad opinion and ideally you should email grad rec but I would selfishly attend the ac (only because this process is so hard and DBP is a great firm). The grad rec should have spotted this in your application and it’s not your fault (but why did you apply in the wrong year?).

Like even if you attend the ac and are successful and do the vac scheme and worst case scenario, they realise their mistake and don’t offer you a tc, atleast you have a great firm vs experience on your cv. Best case scenario, maybe they noted this and think it won’t be an issue? Or they defer your tc offer to the next year should you be successful in getting one?

Guys pls don’t attack me, I know it’s bad and unethical advice but this person has worked hard and made it so far in the process and it would be so sad for them to lose it

Best of luck anyways!

 

[givemeaTCalreadyT^T]

Can someone clarify if this should be disclosed as a resit or not? Due to clashing moot commitments, I was permitted to write my exams later but as per exam policy it shows on my transcript as an I (Improvement) since I gave it alongside others who wrote it as improvement, even though it was my first attempt. Do I say it was a resit simply because it shows it as such even if it was a first attempt?