-
Paul, Weiss's Insight Days are now open! Apply to the first Insight Day by 7 September 2026.
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
- Status
veryyy unfair for a VI i think, lowkey feel like they’ve set us up for failure here
Hello!@Abbie Whitlock I hope you are well! I'm in a bit of an odd situation and would love your advice on how to proceed.
Last Tuesday, I was fortunate to receive a VS offer from Firm A. They gave me until COB the next Tuesday (tomorrow 17/02) to accept. On Wednesday, the day after, I had an AC at Firm B whose VS dates would clash with those of Firm A. At the end of my AC, I told gradrec at Firm B about my circumstances and they said that they would contact me either end of that week or by Monday (today). However, I have not heard back yet and I doubt gradrec will still be working at this hour.
Should I send an email to Firm B to ask for a follow up, or should I just wait until COB tomorrow? I don't want to give the impression to Firm B that I'm rushing their processes, as I do genuinely really like Firm B. But I'm also not sure how to word the email without sounding like I'm too anxious for a response?
I would be greatly appreciative of any insights you could offer! Thank you for your time
I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too!
First of all, huge congratulations on the VS offer!! In terms of the situation, I would say that you have handled it well so far by flagging it to Firm B at the AC.
I would send a short and polite email to Firm B either this evening or first thing tomorrow morning - it is unlikely that they will view this as pushy, as they understand that you have a deadline and are simply enquiring on whether they are able to provide an update. It helps to keep it brief and factual - you could reiterate your strong interest, re-mention the expiring offer, and ask if they could give any indication of timing.
If needed, you might be able to ask Firm A for a brief extension - firms are used to these kinds of requests, and even if they can't grant the extension, they won't view it negatively!
I hope you are able to get a response soon, and congratulations again!
Hi! Does anyone have insights on the Gibson Dunn first-stage interview? Any tips would be really appreciated!
Thank you!Hey!
I'm doing well, thank you - I hope you are too!
That is a great question! I would always recommend checking out this list of Training Contract Interview Questions from TCLA, as it is very comprehensive (though I wouldn't try to prepare for every question!) and should give you an idea of what to expect. From my experience with strengths-based interviews, I would say that the Character and Personality section and the Scenarios and Ethical questions are most similar.
I have also found a list from Prospects, who list the following as potential questions:
Overall, there isn't generally a right or wrong answer for strengths-based questions - I would focus on being transparent and honest, and include examples to back-up and illustrate your points.
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- What energises you?
- How would your close friends describe you?
- Do you most like starting tasks or finishing them?
- Do you prefer the big picture or the small details?
- Describe a successful day. What made it successful?
- What are you good at?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What did you enjoy studying at school or university?
- When did you achieve something you're really proud of?
- What do you enjoy doing the least?
- Do you find there are enough hours in the day to complete your to-do list?
- What tasks are always left on your to-do list?
- How do you stay motivated?
- How do you feel about deadlines?
- Have you ever done something differently the second time around?
- Do you think this role will play to your strengths?
Best of luck with the interview!!
Thank you so much, Abbie! This is really helpfulHello!
I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too!
First of all, huge congratulations on the VS offer!! In terms of the situation, I would say that you have handled it well so far by flagging it to Firm B at the AC.
I would send a short and polite email to Firm B either this evening or first thing tomorrow morning - it is unlikely that they will view this as pushy, as they understand that you have a deadline and are simply enquiring on whether they are able to provide an update. It helps to keep it brief and factual - you could reiterate your strong interest, re-mention the expiring offer, and ask if they could give any indication of timing.
If needed, you might be able to ask Firm A for a brief extension - firms are used to these kinds of requests, and even if they can't grant the extension, they won't view it negatively!
I hope you are able to get a response soon, and congratulations again!
For a firm that was once at the top of my list, Addleshaw Goddard has left a bad impression. This year was my first time applying to them - I completed the WG in October and didn’t even receive a simple confirmation email. We’re now in February and there’s still been absolutely nothing. Not even a holding email to acknowledge the application or offer some reassurance, which all firms I have applied to this cycle have had the courtesy to do.
What makes it worse is seeing people who applied much later progress to VIs, ACs and even offers, while there’s just been complete silence on my (any many other applicants) end - which leaves me to think there may be other (potentially discriminatory) factors at play.
It honestly feels disrespectful. Candidates put a huge amount of time, effort, and emotional energy into these applications, and the complete lack of communication shows a real lack of regard for that.
What makes it worse is seeing people who applied much later progress to VIs, ACs and even offers, while there’s just been complete silence on my (any many other applicants) end - which leaves me to think there may be other (potentially discriminatory) factors at play.
It honestly feels disrespectful. Candidates put a huge amount of time, effort, and emotional energy into these applications, and the complete lack of communication shows a real lack of regard for that.
I've always gotten the vibe that is is maybe less overt, and slightly more fair nowadays, but the above post is definitely still a huge part of legal recruitment. So much of the process is handled by HR and split between multiple components and exercises. But in partner interviews, rapport goes a long wayGreat point!! You’ve just reminded me of a Reddit post I saw which said:
View attachment 8007
Makes me wonder what the mindset truly is amongst senior associates & partners nowadays who were trained on this mentality.
Vacation schemes are where it's most evident. Again, there are usually a couple of assessments happening throughout the scheme, but I've always been told feedback from your supervisor and other colleagues is the most important thing. You might be rocky in a group presentation, but if multiple lawyers will go to bat for you, saying "that one is the perfect future trainee!" it holds weight. Which, unfortunately, does advantage those from similar backgrounds to an extent.
reminds me of a scheme i did last summer. we had a whole vac scheme chat on whatsapp which was quite active (people sending lunch pics, office pics, pics from the socials and generally chatting, was quite nice). this one guy, in addition to the scheme socials, had gone for after work drinks with the guys in his team like 3 times in a two week scheme, and one time sent a picture at like 1am from some bar/club lol. he was also a pretty nice guy and really bright so he deffo deserved it regardless, but when I saw he got the TC i just remember thinking "that's how you get the TC!"
Did anybody receive two emails from Shoosmiths separately near/after the deadline - one telling us we would hear by 23rd February and the other saying we would only hear back by 23rd March?
and dont want to keep doing dtc if i just get PFO'd
Once I was chatting to a partner at an AC, he clearly wasn’t engaged in the conversation but was being mildly polite. Another boy joins in on the conversation and the partner goes “aren’t you (insert partners son’s name)” the boy confirms he is indeed friends with the partners son and they start having a full blown conversation about how the two boys were in the same dormitory in boarding school growing up. I sat there twiddling my thumbs watching the full conversation go on. In the time me and the partner were talking I don’t think I heard him belly laugh as much as he did with the boy. Anyway it was just an interesting situation that always left an impression on mereminds me of a scheme i did last summer. we had a whole vac scheme chat on whatsapp which was quite active (people sending lunch pics, office pics, pics from the socials and generally chatting, was quite nice). this one guy, in addition to the scheme socials, had gone for after work drinks with the guys in his team like 3 times in a two week scheme, and one time sent a picture at like 1am from some bar/club lol. he was also a pretty nice guy and really bright so he deffo deserved it regardless, but when I saw he got the TC i just remember thinking "that's how you get the TC!"
lol had a very similar experience at a us firm, its quite common unfortunately
when did their apps close? just checked and ive not heard anything since December :/
Radio silence from firms is very frustrating and I definitely feel your pain, but I do think it is slightly unfair and uncharitable to jump straight to discrimination as a reason that your application hasn't been progressed as of yet. It isn't over 'til it's over, and although you may unfortunately be expecting a rejection, I think that it is important to acknowledge that grad rec teams are incredible stretched by these processes. I think the firms that update with holding emails and confirmations of tests certainly go about the cycle in a better way, but in my experience these firms are in the minority. At the end of the day, you may not have performed as well as you had hoped in the WG which is super frustrating (I can count on one hand the amount of times I've actually passed it!) but I would say its counterproductive to think too much about other factors such as discrimination. It's quite a serious accusation to make, and I think its worth remembering that behind each email from grad rec there are real people. I do hope they get back to you soon though!
If it helps, I applied on the deadline and sat the WG test on the same day. I got PFOd 2 days later cos I must’ve done terribly on the WG lmao. AG were like this Harvey lad is a joke look at his trash WG score (probs 0/40) let’s PFO him asap hehehe…
So I guess no news is good news until it’s bad news cos I’ve seen some AG post WG PFOs.
So I guess no news is good news until it’s bad news cos I’ve seen some AG post WG PFOs.
Last edited:
I did my TI on the 30th of December and still waiting. They gave some offers, hopefully they will have more ACs
congrats!!! could i ask when you completed their test?gibson dunn first stage interview?! rly unexpected as theyve already given out so many offers but so happyyy
any insights would be very appreciated, i can share white & case final interview, morgan lewis TI and more
- Status
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Sticky
Top Members
Posts
-
This leaderboard is empty.
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +97
- 154
Novaa
- +219
- 21
user55998384
- +111
- 14
Non Billable
- +95
- 14
Jaysen
- +95
- 9
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +100
- 991
Novaa
- +385
- 433
Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner
- +646
- 371
