TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TortillaTC]

Anyone that has got the first HL test who applied on 29 September or after?

Got it now!

 

[nbjani]

Hey

I totally get that, and I felt a similar way when I was first applying a few years ago as I generally didn’t have many hobbies or extracurriculars outside of study / work. I tried to discuss things I did when I had some spare time, and that I enjoyed occasionally - for example, reading!

I’d say it’s totally fine to draw on past experiences if needed - you can still discuss the transferable skills that they gave you, as that will absolutely still be relevant

Wishing you the best of luck!

Thanks! That does help a lot.

 

[a1024]

does anyone know if the freshfields test has a video questions in it?

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Hi!

Great question - in this context, “deal” is likely referencing transactional work, so things such as M&A, private equity, project finance, capital markets (e.g. IPOs), etc. These are typically the types of matters firms highlight as “deals” on their websites.

Litigation and arbitration wouldn’t usually fall under “deals”, since those are contentious matters rather than transactions.

So I’d recommend choosing something from White & Case’s transactional work - M&A is a solid option, but IPOs or major infrastructure or project finance deals are just as valid. I would go with whichever you are most interested in!

I hope that helps

Thought as much. Thank you so much 😊

 

[amayad2004]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock , I am applying to both an Open Day and VS for one firm but one of the questions for the Open Day and VS is exactly the same, how should I go about answering this, is it fine to copy and paste?

 

[TCComingSoon]

Those who got B&B wg did you apply for spring or summer.

 

[berocca567]

anyone got insights for the second HL test?

 

[ACHat8r]

anyone got any advice for A&O Shearman AC. scenario and case study exercises pleaseeeeee

 

[legallybrunnette]

I think they send them out in batches? I got 4332 as well, some people here seem to think there will be no other VIs given out, but last year I got 4443 and got my interview 4 days after everyone.

It is equally plausible that they will just not send anything else out though. can I ask what u got?

Yes, I got the same as you actually thats why I was wondering haha. the fact that last year you got an interview 4 days later than everyone is somehow reassuring so thanks for the info it helped!

 

[TheSlapDotCom]

For those that haven’t got the first HL test yet, I emailed grad rec and haven’t heard back (I applied 29th September). Will keep you updated

thank u sm!!

 

[Bbhu19]

I applied and I’m a graduate. I made it to video interview, so if that was the case I think I would have been screened out. On the website it says first year onwards

Hey could I ask if the online test are similar to any law firms one you have taken?

 

[johnsmith]

For those who did the first test for Hogan Lovells, was it essentially a WG, SJT and a proofreading exercise? Also, did it have a VI element to it?

For White & Case, is there a VI with the test, once the application is sent off?

Thank you!

HL - yes!
W&C - no!

 

[Amgrad]

Sounds silly, PFO from Legal Cheek Webinar for STEM students. I had undergrad in Business STEM designated program (BS/BSc), but perhaps they thought my degree title is BBA/BCom/BA🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[TCComingSoon]

HL - yes!
W&C - no!

HL had no VI.

 

[johnsmith]

HL had no VI.

Sorry, missed that part, the VI is in the Job Sim, which is the next step.

 

[baj5]

has anyone heard from Milbank post-submission (confirmation of application receipt aside)

 

[mg42guy32]

Anyone heard back about the Hogan Lovells non-law open day? They said this week…

Have you heard back?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock , I am applying to both an Open Day and VS for one firm but one of the questions for the Open Day and VS is exactly the same, how should I go about answering this, is it fine to copy and paste?

Hello!

I'd say it depends a lot on what the question is - usually it's fine if your core answer is the same for both applications, especially since the question is identical. However, I'd make sure that you are tweaking it slightly to reflect that they are different opportunities. An Open Day application should be focused on what you are hoping to learn, whereas the vacation scheme application is focused on why you like the firm and how you can contribute.

I hope that answers your question!

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu Hi Andrei! I have been enjoying your responses and I wanted to ask you on some guidance in how to answer this question for DLA Piper's Discovery Day application. I found it particularly hard in how to answer why I am interested in one of their regional office specifically.

The question for your reference: In no more than 300 words, please tell us how you believe attending a Discovery Day at the Birmingham office will enhance your knowledge of both DLA Piper and the legal industry. We’re particularly interested in what attracts you to DLA Piper specifically and which aspects of the firm, and office, you are most excited to explore further during the event.

I think the right approach to this question is similar to the way you should structure a normal Open Day application - the only differentiating factor is that you will also have to address your interest in the Birmingham office specifically. As such, while you are researching the firm, I think you need to both identify:

• Unique Selling Points (USPs) of DLA Piper at a firm-wide level: as the global Swiss Verein giant and/or of DLA Piper UK as firm that is strong both in the City and in its regional offices;
• USPs DLA Piper's Birmingham's office, likely tied to the particular work the firm excels in there. On a quick search, I already found that Legal 500 ranks the office highly for its commercial and corporate litigation work.

Then, as you are writing your answer, I would advise you to implement the following structure:

Paragraph 1:

1. Identify one of the firm's/office's USPs and express your interest in learning about it.
2. Explain why you are interested in it, illustrating your point with an example of your experiences (which you should aim to describe using the STAR structure)
3. Discuss what you currently know about the firm's/office's USP (i.e. the benefits of a Swiss Verein model or of a large network or offices/the cases and clients the firm's office advised on) and explain that attending the open day would give you the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of it.

Paragraph 2:

• The same structure, but ensure that if you initially discussed a firm-wide USP, now you discuss an office-specific USP; or if you initially discussed an office-specific USP, that you now discuss a firm-wide USP.

 

[User2640]

Is WFW rolling or non rolling?