TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[mrebeccafr]

CRS chelt SVS offer after being on reserve list! Just wondering if anyone has heard back from BJ post AC? need to give CRS confirmation by Friday eee

 

[summersun]

CRS chelt SVS offer after being on reserve list! Just wondering if anyone has heard back from BJ post AC as need to give them confirmation by Friday eee

congrats that's amazing !!!

 

[legal world]

Hi! Has anyone gotten any updates regarding Stephenson Harwood's Dubai VS?

 

[Jaysen]

Hi, do people know whether it is possible to extend a TC offer? I've been fortunate to be offered one by a US firm. I have 2 other VS that I'm interested in doing for the experience. It would also help confirm that this TC firm is the one I truly want to be at.

How do I go about doing this? Do I ask to extend the deadline? If they don't permit this, what are my options?

Yes, and I'd arrange a call with graduate recruitment.

In particular, some US firms give offers with short time frames ('exploding offers'). This is partly because they don't want strong candidates to accept offers from other firms.

But it's also okay to push back on this and be clear about why it's important to you to extend the deadline. It just depends on how willing the firm is to do this.

 

[Jaysen]

Hey guys I have a slight conundrum! I am interviewing for several paralegal jobs as I can’t be sure I’m going to convert my VS. I got an offer but I had to tell them I was going to take 2 weeks off in June (practically when I started) and so they said it’s not going to work. I now have another final stage Interview for one tomorrow, but I’m unsure whether I’m going to be able to do the VS and the job. I think the person is leaving in June so I’d need to do a handover before then etc. could I just ask for annual leave for a medical procedure or something? I can’t miss the VS, I worked so hard for it, and I have no idea what to do - but I know it’s not a great look to be starting a job and immediately taking annual leave.

Yes I'd take this as annual leave.

One thing to be aware of is that they could say no to the dates you'd like to take leave. This is why I think it is better to tell them upfront that you've already got these dates booked out. But personally I'd wait until you get the offer to tell them (and then tell them straight away).

 

[Jaysen]

Hey guys!

How do you usually answer “ tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision” I always get caught out by this question as I don’t know exactly what they’re looking for!!

Thank you very much!

I usually find this question easier if you've worked before. I'd then think about situations with competing objectives. For example, situations where you had to:

1. Prioritise one person's task over another
2. Push back on a customer/client for the benefit of the business/a team member
3. Drop one area of focus to pursue something else

 

[Donna Paulsen]

CRS reserve list (Cheltenham)!! Let’s pray lol xx

 

[Lawlilly]

Anyone done the attention to detail & excel test for Simpson Thacher paralegal role?

 

[applepeach]

Has anyone heard from W&C FYS?

 

[MZJxLadha]

CRS chelt SVS offer after being on reserve list! Just wondering if anyone has heard back from BJ post AC? need to give CRS confirmation by Friday eee

Congrats!!!

 

[hazza04]

Received an email for the Blake Morgan phone interview invite.

Hi, Have you had yours yet? If so, what was it like and what were the sort of questions asked? Hope it went well!

 

[hazza04]

CRS reserve list (Cheltenham)!! Let’s pray lol xx

Well done!! have you had your Blake Morgan Interview if you dint mind me asking? thank you

 

[alanshore]

Has anyone heard from W&C FYS?

I'm convinced they're just not gonna respond at this point.

 

[haribolover]

Hi all, hope you are all doing well. I know this has been asked before in the forum but, as an introvert and someone who second guesses every interaction, I wanted to ask how important is it to do a coffee chat or is it something you do not have to do (i.e., could it be a thing on which conversion of the scheme could turn on)?

In previous posts people have said to have talks with people you find interesting or practice areas that stand out to you but, not to sound boring, there is not one person or practice area that I would want to talk about as I am generally interested in all of it rather than just one specific thing. I also also worried that if I do a coffee chat I will fluff it up, say something stupid or just not come across well. As you can tell this is definitely a massive worry of mine!

If anyone has any advice or support, please reach out as I have been thinking about this too much for a while and would love some help/reassurance.

 

[Kakaboo]

Anyone heard back from the gov legal dept yet?

 

[LH4]

has anyone heard from dacb post vi

Hey I heard back today

 

[8law]

Hey I heard back today

What did they say

 

[WillKitchen]

I've shared a few SQE and legal networking tips on a separate TCLA thread. Hope this will be interesting for some!

Post in thread 'SQE Journeys / Tips (July 2026 Exam)'

May 7, 2026

Nothing to do with SQE, but this was a fun event that expanded my legal horizons...

I spent yesterday at the Inner Temple volunteering with the archive team. I had a fascinating interview with a KC who is a leading expert on sexual violence, and the barristers made me very confident in my decision to follow the solicitor route - it might be hard to find a TC, but pupilage sounds even more challenging!

• WillKitchen

• 

 

[LH4]

What did they say

I got sent the critical thinking test, I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone else posting about it- maybe they’re doing batches

 

[8law]

I got sent the critical thinking test, I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone else posting about it- maybe they’re doing batches

Congratulations! Yes I am confused by how they are doing it because I saw on Linkedin someone getting a vacation scheme offer