TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[asplawyer100]

Irwin Mitchell AC! London office for individual stream. If anyone has any advice as it is specifically service for individuals that would be great as I’ve only ever done ACs catered towards the business route

Congrats! When is the AC?

 

[TortillaTC]

Damn, really thought getting someone internally to recommend me would move the needle. Guess my grades really are too shit for TCs

Sorry to hear that! But if there is something I’ve learned this cycle, grades really aren’t the end of all. I attended a non-UK uni for undergrad so I always thought that only a First class degree would offset that; yet I keep progressing at top US and UK firms with my low/mid 2.1, including Orrick whose graduate recruitment literally said that “a 2.1 isn’t a dealbreaker” I did their open day though, so that probably helped since I understand their practices much deeper than other firms + they knew me already.

Sadly, I wouldn’t overestimate talking to lawyers from firms you’re applying to. They’re really busy and often forget or tell HR too late (or just tell the wrong person), not to mention that soo many applicants have all sorts of connections and internal references.

Good luck with the rest of your applications! And don’t get disheartened if you don’t secure a TC immediately, it’s only your first cycle.

 

[Mvla]

Guys does WFW call to reject??? I missed a call from them today. omg this process is helllllllll

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Dechert

Lol sorry. Still waiting on a response from them for summer

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

I must be going wrong in the written applications then, since it is my first cycle. Maybe I'm not portraying my work experience or desire to go from founding/PE consulting to legal advisory in the correct way. I tend not to use AI to draft, I always use specific examples from the firms work and tie it extensively to my experience/education or founding examples.
I got a 2:2 in my second year uni so it's not just my A levels but I had mitigating circumstances that actually motivated me to get legal work experience and committee positions in law societies during my third year.

The come down is hard from being told in person from every lawyer I get coffee with that I would do a great job in their specific area of law, and then being rejected from the firms they work for that are strong in that practice area 🫠

I've gotten rejected from loads of firms post-app. My thinking is that some is likely to do with my grades and some firms are stricter than others but you just need one yes

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Guys does WFW call to reject??? I missed a call from them today. omg this process is helllllllll

This is crazy!

 

[radssss]

Hey @Abbie Whitlock

I’ve messaged you privately about a doubt - I would be very grateful if you could look at it when you have some time

Thank you!

 

[sagekensuke]

Does Winston & Strawn's WG close tonight or tomorrow night?

 

[AryanAgg]

Does Winston & Strawn's WG close tonight or tomorrow night?

In the email I have it says 13th Feb to 18th Feb (closes at midnight)

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Ik this has been answered before but I can't find it - does anyone have any tips on how to do better on the applied verbal/numerical for amberjack? My scores are all over the place - sometimes v good and sometimes they're abysmal, would really appreciate some guidance

 

[trainee4u]

Ik this has been answered before but I can't find it - does anyone have any tips on how to do better on the applied verbal/numerical for amberjack? My scores are all over the place - sometimes v good and sometimes they're abysmal, would really appreciate some guidance

applied verbal and numerical are both often quite verbal - they tend to try to make it ambiguous for the numerical and include unnecessary information.

for applied verbal you're not providing legal advice, so the most conservative answer isn't usually right (getting things wrong catastrophically just costs you one mark, no big deal) - you do need to read carefully and find the answer that best fits.