Think it depends which AC they will put you on - for the ones on the 9th they said beginning of this week but nothing yet
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hi!Is anyone else feeling really scared about their vac scheme? I have one in a few days and I’ve been feeling so scared. It’s not the kind of fear I’ve been able to work through it just feels kind of crippling
This is completely normal, and I felt exactly the same before my first vacation scheme. I remember in the days leading up to it I felt properly sick with nerves, and it wasn't the kind of anxiety that you can logic your way out of (as my nervous system seemed to be ignoring my brain!). I think it is because it does feel like there is a lot riding on that one or two weeks, so the pressure can build up quite a bit beforehand.
However, what helped me with my later schemes is that I realised it changes once you are actually there on the scheme. As soon as you get into the firm, start chatting with the graduate recruitment team and other vacation schemers, and get to know your team, the nerves do start to ease quite quickly. You are usually so busy with inductions, talks, work tasks, and social events so you don't have much time to sit and overthink everything. Everyone at the firm is super supportive and genuinely wants you to succeed, so it is definitely more encouraging once you are there!
It is also worth remembering that firms do not expect you to come in knowing everything or be "perfect". The scheme is designed for you to learn and get exposure, and they are much more interested in how you approach things. For example, are you engaged with the tasks and people on the scheme? Do you show curiosity and ask questions? Are you proactive and pleasant to work with? Those things matter far more than getting every task exactly right.
It also helped me to reframe it slightly, and instead of seeing it purely as an assessment, try to treat it as an opportunity to figure out whether you like the firm as well. That shift in mindset can take a bit of the pressure off and make it feel more like a two-way process. I think it is very easy to spiral about things such as conversion rates and whether you'll receive a TC offer at the end, which is completely valid, but even if it doesn't work out the way you'd like it to, it is still amazing experience. You are clearly a strong candidate if you are capable of receiving a VS offer, so there is no reason why you wouldn't have more success in the future too!
Practically, a few other things that helped me feel 'prepared' when it felt like I couldn't do much in advance:
- Having a rough understanding of the firm and (if you know it in advance) the team you'll be in. However, don't panic about trying to know absolutely everything about the team - aim for a baseline understanding, and you'll learn the rest on the scheme.
- Preparing a few questions in advance so that you are not put on the spot
- Reminding yourself that everyone else on the scheme is probably feeling very similar, even if they don't show it.
You are definitely not alone in feeling like this, and the fact that you care this much is a good sign (as it shows you'll do your best!). The nerves will settle once you get started, so I would try to take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself over the next few days.
Wishing you the very best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!
Hello!
Congratulations on the VS!!
I wrote a post on any advice I had for final TC / post-VS interviews last night on the TCLA Spring & Summer Vacation Scheme Thread 2026 - I have quoted it below. I hope that it assists, but just shout if you have any follow up questions. Best of luck with the vacation scheme and interview!!
Hey!
Congratulations on the vacation scheme!!
Generally speaking, I'd say that the format is quite similar to a normal interview - you'll usually get a mix of motivational, competency, and some commercial questions. The main difference is that the bar is higher at this stage, particularly when it comes to your motivations.
You really want to show that you have used the scheme to properly get to know the firm and that you made the most of the opportunity. That means going beyond the more research-heavy reasons you may have given at application stage and instead grounding your answers in tangible experiences and insights from the scheme. For example, you can draw on specific pieces of work that you were involved in, conversations you had with trainees / associates / partners, talks or workshops that you attended, or even smaller conversations that gave you insights into the firm's culture and ways of working. Whilst you can still talk about aspects of the firm that you have researched and not necessarily experienced first-hand, I would always recommend referring to specific instances from the VS where you can - ultimately, the main difference between the pre-VS and post-VS interview is the experience of the scheme itself!
For motivational questions especially, it is important to clearly link these experiences back to why the firm appeals to you. Therefore, rather than just saying that you enjoyed the scheme, I'd try to articulate what you enjoyed, why it stood out to you, and how that aligns with what you are looking for in a training contract and your longer-term legal career. The more specific and reflective you can be, the better! This is why I'd recommend keeping a journal (of some sort!) during the scheme, so you can note down specific insights or information that you learn each day - it makes it a lot easier once it comes to preparing in the days before the post-VS interview!
For competency questions, you can still drawn on examples outside the scheme, but don't be afraid to use experiences from the vacation scheme where relevant - it can be a good way of showing how you operate in a legal environment. Again, this is something you could jot down in a journal so that you can quickly refer to skills and competencies that you have displayed during the scheme.
Overall, it is about demonstrating that the scheme has confirmed the firm is the right fit for you, while also reinforcing that you would be a good fit for them. Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!!
Thank you so much Abbie this means a lot!!Hi!
This is completely normal, and I felt exactly the same before my first vacation scheme. I remember in the days leading up to it I felt properly sick with nerves, and it wasn't the kind of anxiety that you can logic your way out of (as my nervous system seemed to be ignoring my brain!). I think it is because it does feel like there is a lot riding on that one or two weeks, so the pressure can build up quite a bit beforehand.
However, what helped me with my later schemes is that I realised it changes once you are actually there on the scheme. As soon as you get into the firm, start chatting with the graduate recruitment team and other vacation schemers, and get to know your team, the nerves do start to ease quite quickly. You are usually so busy with inductions, talks, work tasks, and social events so you don't have much time to sit and overthink everything. Everyone at the firm is super supportive and genuinely wants you to succeed, so it is definitely more encouraging once you are there!
It is also worth remembering that firms do not expect you to come in knowing everything or be "perfect". The scheme is designed for you to learn and get exposure, and they are much more interested in how you approach things. For example, are you engaged with the tasks and people on the scheme? Do you show curiosity and ask questions? Are you proactive and pleasant to work with? Those things matter far more than getting every task exactly right.
It also helped me to reframe it slightly, and instead of seeing it purely as an assessment, try to treat it as an opportunity to figure out whether you like the firm as well. That shift in mindset can take a bit of the pressure off and make it feel more like a two-way process. I think it is very easy to spiral about things such as conversion rates and whether you'll receive a TC offer at the end, which is completely valid, but even if it doesn't work out the way you'd like it to, it is still amazing experience. You are clearly a strong candidate if you are capable of receiving a VS offer, so there is no reason why you wouldn't have more success in the future too!
Practically, a few other things that helped me feel 'prepared' when it felt like I couldn't do much in advance:
The anticipation is honestly the worst part - once you are in it, it feels so much more manageable than you expect (and I genuinely enjoyed all of my vacation schemes!).
- Having a rough understanding of the firm and (if you know it in advance) the team you'll be in. However, don't panic about trying to know absolutely everything about the team - aim for a baseline understanding, and you'll learn the rest on the scheme.
- Preparing a few questions in advance so that you are not put on the spot
- Reminding yourself that everyone else on the scheme is probably feeling very similar, even if they don't show it.
You are definitely not alone in feeling like this, and the fact that you care this much is a good sign (as it shows you'll do your best!). The nerves will settle once you get started, so I would try to take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself over the next few days.
Wishing you the very best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!
Hi!
I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too!
I don't have much experience with these types of assessments, so my advice is slightly more general - apologies!
I wouldn't necessarily move the slider to the extreme every time, as that might come across as a bit unrealistic. I'd use the very end for traits that are clearly important in a professional setting (e.g. integrity) or for traits that I personally find important, but for more situational / nuanced things, it is completely fine to show some balance.
A good rule of thumb might be to ask yourself whether you would genuinely act that way 100% of the time - if not, a more moderate position is likely to make more sense. Overall, I'd just aim to be consistent and authentic rather than trying to max out every answer.
Hi!
No worries at all!
I personally haven't done a formal presentation like that on any of my vacation schemes, but I can share some general advice that should hopefully still be helpful based on other presentations I have completed.
I'd focus on keeping things clear, structured, and concise. A simple structure usually works best for these types of things - brief introduction (what you are going to cover), your main points, and a short conclusion. One of my old university lecturers used to say that, during a presentation, you should: "Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them" - this used to frustrate me as advice, but I do think it is useful as a baseline structure! Try not to overload any slides (if you have them) with information, and make sure that you are explaining things in a way that is easy to follow rather than overly technical.
In terms of delivery, clarity and confidence often matter more than being perfect. Things like speaking at a steady pace, signposting your points, and showing that you understand what you are talking about goes a long way. I always used to struggle with talking really really quickly (which was probably because I wanted it to be over, haha!), but you should really take the time to pause and make sure you are going at a steady pace, otherwise the presentation won't be as strong. It is also completely fine to pause briefly and glance at notes, if needed. However, I would avoid reading from a script and instead have a few bullet points as your notes, just so they are there to jog your memory if needed.
Content-wise, this'll depend on the specific task that you are given, but I'd try to bring in a bit of analysis or insight, rather than just describing information - even small points on why something matters or the implications can help to strengthen your presentation.
I hope that assists, and best of luck with your presentation - I'm sure you'll do great!!
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