TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Florencejones]

Would it be wrong to say you are excited by the opportunity of client secondments? As although this is true does it sound like I want out before i'm in?

 

[Shiv Lawy]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu (and everyone else), I could really use some honest advice, and sorry in advance for how long this is.

Last year (after graduating) I focused fully on TC applications. I made 7 applications and reached 3 assessment centres, but was ultimately rejected. The feedback was mainly that my answers were too long and I lacked commercial awareness.

I was upset, but also encouraged bc I believed that 3 ACs from 7 applications suggested my academics/profile were competitive. So I moved to London, tried to secure a paralegal/legal role, and when that didn’t work out I took a part-time retail job and dedicated my time to improving for this cycle.

This year I submitted 17 applications and only got 1 interview and then got rejected (Skadden). I’m still waiting for feedback, but honestly I feel crushed. It genuinely feels like I went backwards despite putting in far more effort.

Since last year I have:
• completed an internship at Barclays
• paid for application review support + mock interviews
• refined my CV/ work experience section multiple times
• improved my answers and structure
• actively worked on commercial awareness

I truly believe this year’s applications were significantly stronger than last year’s, yet the results were dramatically worse.

I also had interviews last year with Gibson Dunn and White & Case and was told reapplying would be fine and prior applications/ interview performance wouldn’t affect any future ones. However, Gibson Dunn (applied November) hasn’t responded at all despite follow-ups, which has been particularly discouraging as they and Skadden are my top firms. I also completed the VI for White & Case in December and still haven’t heard back, even though candidates who completed it later have already been invited to ACs/ received PFOs.

At the same time I’m struggling financially in London on a part-time retail salary and cannot seem to land a paralegal role. Everything requires experience. I’ve applied through agencies, cold-emailed, called firms, sent speculative applications and nothing has worked.

So I’d really appreciate advice on three things:

1. How can I realistically obtain a paralegal/legal role with no past experience?
2. What should I be doing between now and next cycle beyond daily commercial awareness study + interview practice + completing TCLA courses?
3. Do firms genuinely review your application if you have previously interviewed? I am especially concerned about Skadden and Gibson Dunn, as these are genuinely my dream firms.
4. I know this is wrong and not advisable, but could I apply with a new email and not disclose that I have previously interviewed? Since I’ll be changing my last name this year (for unrelated reasons, I promise I am not crazy), would that make it harder for firms to connect me to my previous applications? I appreciate this may not be the right approach, I’m just feeling stuck and trying to understand my options.

I want to be clear: I’m not looking for sympathy, just honest guidance on what to change because clearly something isn’t working.

Thank you to anyone who reads all of this/ offers any advice, I really appreciate it

How's your networking game fam? I legitimately cold messaged a partner on LinkedIn for a chat and got invited to have a coffee in person. I've messaged trainees on behalf of my friends too and they almost always land some sort of video call.

 

[lawstudent2]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu (and everyone else), I could really use some honest advice, and sorry in advance for how long this is.

Last year (after graduating) I focused fully on TC applications. I made 7 applications and reached 3 assessment centres, but was ultimately rejected. The feedback was mainly that my answers were too long and I lacked commercial awareness.

I was upset, but also encouraged bc I believed that 3 ACs from 7 applications suggested my academics/profile were competitive. So I moved to London, tried to secure a paralegal/legal role, and when that didn’t work out I took a part-time retail job and dedicated my time to improving for this cycle.

This year I submitted 17 applications and only got 1 interview and then got rejected (Skadden). I’m still waiting for feedback, but honestly I feel crushed. It genuinely feels like I went backwards despite putting in far more effort.

Since last year I have:
• completed an internship at Barclays
• paid for application review support + mock interviews
• refined my CV/ work experience section multiple times
• improved my answers and structure
• actively worked on commercial awareness

I truly believe this year’s applications were significantly stronger than last year’s, yet the results were dramatically worse.

I also had interviews last year with Gibson Dunn and White & Case and was told reapplying would be fine and prior applications/ interview performance wouldn’t affect any future ones. However, Gibson Dunn (applied November) hasn’t responded at all despite follow-ups, which has been particularly discouraging as they and Skadden are my top firms. I also completed the VI for White & Case in December and still haven’t heard back, even though candidates who completed it later have already been invited to ACs/ received PFOs.

At the same time I’m struggling financially in London on a part-time retail salary and cannot seem to land a paralegal role. Everything requires experience. I’ve applied through agencies, cold-emailed, called firms, sent speculative applications and nothing has worked.

So I’d really appreciate advice on three things:

1. How can I realistically obtain a paralegal/legal role with no past experience?
2. What should I be doing between now and next cycle beyond daily commercial awareness study + interview practice + completing TCLA courses?
3. Do firms genuinely review your application if you have previously interviewed? I am especially concerned about Skadden and Gibson Dunn, as these are genuinely my dream firms.
4. I know this is wrong and not advisable, but could I apply with a new email and not disclose that I have previously interviewed? Since I’ll be changing my last name this year (for unrelated reasons, I promise I am not crazy), would that make it harder for firms to connect me to my previous applications? I appreciate this may not be the right approach, I’m just feeling stuck and trying to understand my options.

I want to be clear: I’m not looking for sympathy, just honest guidance on what to change because clearly something isn’t working.

Thank you to anyone who reads all of this/ offers any advice, I really appreciate it

I would recommend online resources such as aspiring solicitors or grow mentoring

 

[Lawyergyal123!]

D&P rejection ( they said in my rejection my application was " was certainly impressive" , do they put these in all responses LOL need something to feed my ego abit as i am saddd!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FutureTrainee100]

D&P rejection ( they said in my rejection my application was " was certainly impressive" , do they put these in all responses LOL need something to feed my ego abit as i am saddd!!!!!!!!!!

Got the same email(( sorry

 

[trainee4u]

Got the same email(( sorry

me too, and I guarantee mine was absolute crap.

 

[ABC234]

Anyone heard from Morgan Lewis post TI for summer?

Bumping in case anyone’s heard?

 

[hawkins19]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu - just wondering if either of you have any insight on how to answer questions like 'how would you pitch X firm to a client' in an AC? Thank you !

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Bumping in case anyone’s heard?

Someone posted that Morgan Lewis said we’d hear back by the end of next week so by Fri Feb 20. I’m assuming a PFO from them ngl lmao.​

 

[trainee4u]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu (and everyone else), I could really use some honest advice, and sorry in advance for how long this is.


So I’d really appreciate advice on three things:

1. How can I realistically obtain a paralegal/legal role with no past experience?
2. What should I be doing between now and next cycle beyond daily commercial awareness study + interview practice + completing TCLA courses?
3. Do firms genuinely review your application if you have previously interviewed? I am especially concerned about Skadden and Gibson Dunn, as these are genuinely my dream firms.
4. I know this is wrong and not advisable, but could I apply with a new email and not disclose that I have previously interviewed? Since I’ll be changing my last name this year (for unrelated reasons, I promise I am not crazy), would that make it harder for firms to connect me to my previous applications? I appreciate this may not be the right approach, I’m just feeling stuck and trying to understand my options.

I want to be clear: I’m not looking for sympathy, just honest guidance on what to change because clearly something isn’t working.

Thank you to anyone who reads all of this/ offers any advice, I really appreciate it

hi, I think that if you've previously interviewed you will be a "no" for many firms.

applying with a new email is IMO a good thing, but I would always disclose that you've applied previously if they ask - most of the time you can just say "applied unsuccessfully" and they don't ask the specific stage. lying would be a fatal error though.

if you're struggling to get into American firms, you will be more attractive as a candidate at some lower ranked firms.

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

I need positive progressions next week! Comeon, let's go!!!!

 

[ABC234]

Someone posted that Morgan Lewis said we’d hear back by the end of next week so by Fri Feb 20. I’m assuming a PFO from them ngl lmao.​

Same but I’ll be gutted 😭all the other firms I’ve applied to are blanking me

 

[hxnnahrobinson]

Any tips please on the CMS case study exercise? Would be very much appreciated, thank you

 

[A worried paralegal]

My Sidley is 132 days and McDermott is 107 days. RIP.

I had 5 months from AG once who then gave me 3 days to do their VI

 

[A worried paralegal]

Has anyone here heard back from any Liverpool firms as I have applied for a few there (DLA rejected me a few weeks back)

 

[FutureTrainee100]

hi, I think that if you've previously interviewed you will be a "no" for many firms.

applying with a new email is IMO a good thing, but I would always disclose that you've applied previously if they ask - most of the time you can just say "applied unsuccessfully" and they don't ask the specific stage. lying would be a fatal error though.

if you're struggling to get into American firms, you will be more attractive as a candidate at some lower ranked firms.

Wow I really appreciate this! I hadn’t realized you could just be vague about the stage you reached. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that lol. I’ve interviewed at four American firms so far, so some of my applications are okay, but I definitely need to work on my interview skills. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what to do next to improve.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Debevoise PFO finally

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Does anyone have solid WG tips or practice tests. I feel like I have done so many and I am still not really improving.
Really desperate for any help lmao