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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

really idk I have 2.2 Bec of few mit circumstances...
I have a few 2:2s with mit circs but I managed to progress with several US firms e.g., Weil, Gibson Dunn, Skadden, Debevoise, Akin and others too.

There are several US firms that are probs much harder to succeed with if you have 2:2s like Jones Day, Davis Polk, Cleary Gottlieb and SullCrom.

If the rest of your written app is strong, I can’t see why a firm would pass over your app simply due to a few 2:2s. A strong 2:1 overall (65%) helps!​
 
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Does anyone know how many people make it to Ropes AC and subsequently the vac scheme?
I believe it’s 80 people for the ACs (5 ACs total so probs 16 per AC), 30 VS spaces and 15 TCs.

So it’s like a 35-40% chance of converting AC to a VS, although it’s 8-9 hours long so it’s rough! 😬​
 
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floral.tcla

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Aug 15, 2024
274
432
realistically how possible is it to get a vacation scheme as a graduate, especially at a magic circle + top US firm? I’ve had multiple
assessment centres at international firms, but I unfortunately haven’t got any, I only have a first-year insight scheme. Obviously I’d be so grateful for any training contract, but the fact that I have been profiled does show that I literally can become a trainee at the top firms (and pay off my student loans quicker!).

There is so much competition, of course, and I have heard that these top firms may prefer students who haven’t graduated yet - in general and especially on LinkedIn, it seems that most trainees got their training contract while they were still at university, a paralegal or changing to Law from another corporate career, but I literally don’t have anything lined up for when I graduate and I’m really worried. I hope this does not come across as negative or ungrateful but I just do you want to adjust expectations and think about future steps
 

LegallyBrunette_

Distinguished Member
Jul 11, 2023
55
103
realistically how possible is it to get a vacation scheme as a graduate, especially at a magic circle + top US firm? I’ve had a multiple
assessment centres at international firms, but I unfortunately haven’t got any, I only have a first-year insight scheme. Obviously I’d be so grateful for any training contract, but the fact that I have been profiled does show that I literally can become a trainee at the top firms (and pay off my student loans quicker!).

There is so much competition, of course, and I have heard that these top firms may prefer students who haven’t graduated yet - in general and especially on LinkedIn, it seems that most trainees got their training contract while they were still at university, a paralegal or changing to Law from another corporate career, but I literally don’t have anything lined up for when I graduate and I’m really worried. I hope this does not come across as negative or ungrateful but I just do you want to adjust expectations and think about future steps
I've recently graduated and I completed a vacation scheme with a US firm this winter and have ACs lined up with other US firms. On my vac scheme I would say that more than half of the people on the scheme were graduates. What's worked for me so far (bearing in mind I've not actually secured a TC yet) is to apply to as many firms as possible with quality applications so I don't think its unrealistic to apply to magic circle and top US firms. It is such a competitive process, I agree, but I think we've just got to keep on chipping away at it and hopefully we'll get where we want to be!
 

TCchaser

Esteemed Member
Feb 8, 2025
79
127
@Abbie Whitlock, I hope you're well!

If a firm asks why you want to train at that firm, and you want to talk about the breadth of experience you can get and the fact that you can work in more diverse areas like leisure and retail, how would you recommend approaching this? I was thinking of linking this to my modules this year at university and how I picked them to broaden my thinking and experiences, but I'm unsure if that would even work and, if so, how to write a cohesive answer. I hope this makes sense haha, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
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floral.tcla

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Aug 15, 2024
274
432
I've recently graduated and I completed a vacation scheme with a US firm this winter and have ACs lined up with other US firms. On my vac scheme I would say that more than half of the people on the scheme were graduates. What's worked for me so far (bearing in mind I've not actually secured a TC yet) is to apply to as many firms as possible with quality applications so I don't think its unrealistic to apply to magic circle and top US firms. It is such a competitive process, I agree, but I think we've just got to keep on chipping away at it and hopefully we'll get where we want to be!
Thank you and congrats! This is so reassuring and I agree and it will be nice to not be switching mindsets between academic work and law firm research!! So you don’t need that much experience or internships to secure a VS as a grad?
 

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