TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Saul_specter]

does anyone know what firm's policies tend to be re travel reimbursements for transport to ACs if I take a flight from abroad? The firm explicitly states they are willing to reimburse £90 for standard-class transport. Am I stretching it if I ask for that same £90 to cover part of my flights?

you shld be fine. my mates who are on years abroad all had their flights reimbursed for acs and even insight evenings as long as is under the cap
(flights were inter europe ofc)

 

[Saul_specter]

has anyone heard from macfarlanes post 2nd online assessment recently? submitted 2nd online assessment 2,3 months and still nothing

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

has anyone heard from macfarlanes post 2nd online assessment recently? submitted 2nd online assessment 2,3 months and still nothing

Is this for the VS or DTC? If it’s for the VS I saw a bunch of VS offers on LinkedIn recently but idk if they were for spring, summer or both.​

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock

I hope you are well! Thank you for answering my question last week by the way.

Another silly question, but it's been on my mind a lot and haven't found an answer to it online but I genuinely love the idea of working late to close deals and thrive on the long hours of commercial law - it’s actually something I find exciting rather than draining. I know many people don’t feel this way.

If asked in an interview, “Why this firm?”, would it be appropriate to say something like: after speaking to a trainee at [Firm X], I learned they often work late on M&A transactions, and for me personally, that’s exactly the kind of work I enjoy. I’m happy to put in the extra hours and work hard because I find it engaging and fulfilling.

I know this might sound a bit unusual, but I’ve genuinely experienced this during a vacation scheme, often working until 1–2am, and I loved it. Would sharing that experience come across positively in an interview, or could it seem strange to a Partner?

Thank you so much in advance and I hope I make sense in this question!

To be completely blunt, the interviewers will think you're chatting nonsense ahaha.

I'm a workaholic myself and completely understand your rationale - but it definitely needs reframing for a trainee level role.

If you're a deal junkie, draw on your interest in the fast-paced nature of transactions and the collaborative aspects of helping to close said transaction.

These two motivations already imply that you're willing to sacrifice your first-born for the billables anyway.

The first rule of being a psychopath is do not admit you are a psychopath.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock

I hope you are well! Thank you for answering my question last week by the way.

Another silly question, but it's been on my mind a lot and haven't found an answer to it online but I genuinely love the idea of working late to close deals and thrive on the long hours of commercial law - it’s actually something I find exciting rather than draining. I know many people don’t feel this way.

If asked in an interview, “Why this firm?”, would it be appropriate to say something like: after speaking to a trainee at [Firm X], I learned they often work late on M&A transactions, and for me personally, that’s exactly the kind of work I enjoy. I’m happy to put in the extra hours and work hard because I find it engaging and fulfilling.

I know this might sound a bit unusual, but I’ve genuinely experienced this during a vacation scheme, often working until 1–2am, and I loved it. Would sharing that experience come across positively in an interview, or could it seem strange to a Partner?

Thank you so much in advance and I hope I make sense in this question!

Why were you working till 1-2am as a vac schemer LMAOOOOOO

 

[Lord Sumption]

Why were you working till 1-2am as a vac schemer LMAOOOOOO

Because my supervisor was too and the rest of the team haha - so I couldn't just say okay guys, I'm off now lol
Plus the time of the VS, we were actually closing a deal which I got to be part of and oh my gosh the client dinner we got the day after was just beautiful. The bill came up to like £3,500 just for food and drinks 😂

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Because my supervisor was too and the rest of the team haha - so I couldn't just say okay guys, I'm off now lol
Plus the time of the VS, we were actually closing a deal which I got to be part of and oh my gosh the client dinner we got the day after was just beautiful. The bill came up to like £3,500 just for food and drinks 😂

Light work, @Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner bills £3,500 per hour.

Get your numbers up broski

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Why were you working till 1-2am as a vac schemer LMAOOOOOO

Because my supervisor was too and the rest of the team haha - so I couldn't just say okay guys, I'm off now lol
Plus the time of the VS, we were actually closing a deal which I got to be part of and oh my gosh the client dinner we got the day after was just beautiful. The bill came up to like £3,500 just for food and drinks 😂

That’s acc insane in this normal for a VS? Maybe it was a US firm (me thinks Milbank or Sidley)…

Do you not think staying till so late might’ve left a bad impression though at the same time?

Idk like would they have been thinking about time management and work efficiency etc? Idk I haven’t done a VS before to know what the partners and associate supervisors expect lmao.

This was the reaction of the deal team seeing that a vac schemer was staying till past 12am…

 

[Donna Paulsen]

That’s acc insane in this normal for a VS? Maybe it was a US firm (me thinks Milbank or Sidley)…

Do you not think staying till so late might’ve left a bad impression though at the same time?

Idk like would they have been thinking about time management and work efficiency etc? Idk I haven’t done a VS before to know what the partners and associate supervisors expect lmao.

This was the reaction of the deal team seeing that a vac schemer was staying till past 12am…

I can’t see how staying late to help out would leave a bad impression, particularly when they’re trying to see if you fit in with the team/culture and if you can handle the demand

 

[Lord Sumption]

That’s acc insane in this normal for a VS? Maybe it was a US firm (me thinks Milbank or Sidley)…

Do you not think staying till so late might’ve left a bad impression though at the same time?

Idk like would they have been thinking about time management and work efficiency etc? Idk I haven’t done a VS before to know what the partners and associate supervisors expect lmao.

This was the reaction of the deal team seeing that a vac schemer was staying till past 12am…

However mate, don't you think it would leave a worse impression if as a Vac Schemer, I just casually leave the office when my assigned supervisor and Partner were in the same room working on the deal? That would definitely come across worse than staying late, even past 12am.

 

[TCLAuser2002]

However mate, don't you think it would leave a worse impression if as a Vac Schemer, I just casually leave the office when my assigned supervisor and Partner were in the same room working on the deal? That would definitely come across worse than staying late, even past 12am.

It looks like you didn’t end up getting the TC in the end. If you’re comfortable sharing, what feedback did they give you? I’m curious to know what they focused on

 

[trainee4u]

Anyone heard from boodle Hatfield wedlake bell?

people got PFOs on Monday

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock

I hope you are well! Thank you for answering my question last week by the way.

Another silly question, but it's been on my mind a lot and haven't found an answer to it online but I genuinely love the idea of working late to close deals and thrive on the long hours of commercial law - it’s actually something I find exciting rather than draining. I know many people don’t feel this way.

If asked in an interview, “Why this firm?”, would it be appropriate to say something like: after speaking to a trainee at [Firm X], I learned they often work late on M&A transactions, and for me personally, that’s exactly the kind of work I enjoy. I’m happy to put in the extra hours and work hard because I find it engaging and fulfilling.

I know this might sound a bit unusual, but I’ve genuinely experienced this during a vacation scheme, often working until 1–2am, and I loved it. Would sharing that experience come across positively in an interview, or could it seem strange to a Partner?

Thank you so much in advance and I hope I make sense in this question!

Hello Jessica Pearson here. Lovely to see you Lord Sumption.
I would say that if you wanted to state something like this, frame it as some motivation to engage in complex work that intellectually stimulates you. Don't necessarily say that you want to stay past 1am but imply that you are dedicated and committed. I might save working late for a STAR question (Tell us about a time when...) rather than saying you applied to this firm because they have terrible hours and no work-life balance lol.
IMO that is something partners may prefer dancing around rather than outright stating.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock

I hope you are well! Thank you for answering my question last week by the way.

Another silly question, but it's been on my mind a lot and haven't found an answer to it online but I genuinely love the idea of working late to close deals and thrive on the long hours of commercial law - it’s actually something I find exciting rather than draining. I know many people don’t feel this way.

If asked in an interview, “Why this firm?”, would it be appropriate to say something like: after speaking to a trainee at [Firm X], I learned they often work late on M&A transactions, and for me personally, that’s exactly the kind of work I enjoy. I’m happy to put in the extra hours and work hard because I find it engaging and fulfilling.

I know this might sound a bit unusual, but I’ve genuinely experienced this during a vacation scheme, often working until 1–2am, and I loved it. Would sharing that experience come across positively in an interview, or could it seem strange to a Partner?

Thank you so much in advance and I hope I make sense in this question!

I'd use that story on a question of how you manage a lot of work, or experienced a set back, then in your final few sentences, show how the experience taught you that you actually like working late hours because the team comes together, you are solving problem, you find it rewarding etc. but don't introduce it for a question on why law or why this firm.