TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Isobel.liddle]

Did anyone hear back from Mishcon yesterday? As they said end of January do you recon they will reply on a weekend?

 

[summersun]

For anyone who has received an Osborne Clarke virtual assessment centre invite, are you able to login to the TopScore platform? I just tried clicking the link to make sure it works and realised its a platform I've never been asked to sign up for and therefore don't have an account on. Pressing "reset password" simply gave me a message saying the account username (my email) does not exist.

Hi last year I think they gave us a password closer to the virtual assessment (not fully sure).

 

[sbbusybee]

Not that I am in any way in this position, but if you guys received loads of non-clashing vac scheme offers, would you do them all?

I just saw a linkedin post of a guy who received 4 vac scheme offers and intends to do them all. I think it was one spring scheme and 3 summer schemes. I can't even begin to imagine the exhaustion, especially of summer, 2-3 straight months pretty much of vac schemes. And honestly if the Spring firm offered me a TC I'd be so tempted to just accept and withdraw from the other three.

If I was fortunate, then yes I would. I’ve already been full time in a law firm since last July (placement year during degree) and so I’m used to it. Obviously it would be more demanding hours wise and trying to get a TC out of it etc, but it’d be great experience!

Hypothetically, I would only withdraw from the others if I got a TC from my dream firm.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

For anyone who has received an Osborne Clarke virtual assessment centre invite, are you able to login to the TopScore platform? I just tried clicking the link to make sure it works and realised its a platform I've never been asked to sign up for and therefore don't have an account on. Pressing "reset password" simply gave me a message saying the account username (my email) does not exist.

When is your AC? The email said we’ll receive a login at least 24 hours before our AC, and to email them if we haven’t received it by 12pm the day before

 

[EfficientBag123]

When’s a good time to assume pfo if a firm says they will get back to you within a certain time frame and fail to live up to it?

 

[LegallyBrunette_]

Does anybody have any insights into the 2026 WFW AC? I am happy to help out with ACs at a range of US, MC, SC and international City firms.

 

[trainee4u]

just working through some GPT slop for an application, jeez once you notice "rule of threes" in the AI's output you can't unnotice it, absolutely bloody everywhere.

 

[Deleted member 43292]

just working through some GPT slop for an application, jeez once you notice "rule of threes" in the AI's output you can't unnotice it, absolutely bloody everywhere.

I love the power of three…our English teacher used to encourage us to use it in our writing…I still do AI needs to stop writing so similarly

…I used to love em dashes too

 

[trainee4u]

I love the power of three…our English teacher used to encourage us to use it in our writing…I still do AI needs to stop writing so similarly

…I used to love em dashes too

my prompt for my application check is

"check my spelling and grammar. do not use em-dashes."

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

I love the power of three…our English teacher used to encourage us to use it in our writing…I still do AI needs to stop writing so similarly

…I used to love em dashes too

I use the power of 2 + 1 now

There are two main examples of this....

At end of paragraph: in addition...

 

[soph107048]

So W&C is App -> VI -> WE -> Interview -> VS -> TC (lol)

have u heard back?

 

[soph107048]

white and case keeps on breaking my heart... why does the firm hate me thought 3rd time is a charm. ALSO HFW PFO....

im so sorry to hear.. can I ask if W&C sent you a PFO or if youre anticipating one?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

just working through some GPT slop for an application, jeez once you notice "rule of threes" in the AI's output you can't unnotice it, absolutely bloody everywhere.

Application for what?

 

[soph107048]

W&C WE!

summer or spring? and may I ask when you've completed the VI

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Not that I am in any way in this position, but if you guys received loads of non-clashing vac scheme offers, would you do them all?

I just saw a linkedin post of a guy who received 4 vac scheme offers and intends to do them all. I think it was one spring scheme and 3 summer schemes. I can't even begin to imagine the exhaustion, especially of summer, 2-3 straight months pretty much of vac schemes. And honestly if the Spring firm offered me a TC I'd be so tempted to just accept and withdraw from the other three.

Depends on if I was set on one firm and they offered me a TC. If I was even slightly uncertain I would do as many as I could. I've worked full time before so I'd be down for back to back vac schemes & auditioning the firm.

 

[soph107048]

has anyone heard back from W&C earlier in the week/ today? I saw some people heard back on Friday but was wondering if anyone got a reply before/after to confirm WE invites were not sent in batches or if anyones gotten a PFO yet

 

[jj238]

baker mckenzie vi insights, can trade with weil, sidley, MB, paul weiss insights

I need Baker McKenzie VI insights too. Let me know if you receive any and I'm happy to trade insights from Hogan Lovells VI, Freshfields AC, A&O Shearman VI, Vinson & Elkins VI, and more.

 

[alphabravocharlie]

anyone else feel so defeated, legit thought my debs application was so good,

 

[trainee4u]

Application for what?

Ropes

 

[Hopeful applicant]

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether Debevoise or HSF or Gibson Dunn or King & Spalding or W&C are better in international arbitration and also public international law? Thanks! What might be the subtle differences between them in these areas?

For arbitration you can look at a pretty solid analysis in GAR30. TL;DR; King & Spalding is top IA rn (but there is much more nuance -- if you are interested in IA, it's a good read.