TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[WillKitchen]

What a result, Will, congrats to you - it seems you're making awesome progress. Looking at your intro post, though, I'm not surprised, as you have a super relevant background that law firms will feel fits their work excellently!

Thank you - I'm hoping that recruitment teams will agree!

 

[Amgrad]

Thank you!

Yes, it is very useful to gain a sense of US/City culture for myself, and see which firms replicate that sense of intellectual curiosity and global collaboration that I know from my university teaching and academic publishing work.

In the past, I've been a project manager for international research teams (supervising professionals from Japan, Canada and Sweden), so the larger firms with a portfolio of cross-border work make the most sense. I also have some sector knowledge around commercial media. Aside from that, I'm keeping an open mind!

That's cool. I am currently drafting for my VS applications and will submit them after the open days:

• Taylor Wessing
• Skadden
• Goodwin
• Shoosmiths
• Reed Smith

Planning to apply/Waiting for the open day outcome:

• Gibson Dunn
• Stephenson Harwood
• Cooley
• Clyde & Co

Hope to get more insights to get well-polished app!

 

[Lawlife5]

For those that passed Freshfields 1st stage assessment how long did you spend on the Watson Glaser section and overall? Just trying to gauge as I feel like it took me ages😂

 

[johnsmith]

For those that passed Freshfields 1st stage assessment how long did you spend on the Watson Glaser section and overall? Just trying to gauge as I feel like it took me ages😂

I'd say around 30 minutes, but I'd done quite a few CappFin tests by that point.

 

[Lawlife5]

I'd say around 30 minutes, but I'd done quite a few CappFin tests by that point.

30 minutes overall?

 

[johnsmith]

30 minutes overall?

Oh with SJT perhaps 40-45 mins?