TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Umair Patel]

Good evening everyone. Does anybody have any advice on how to genuinely make a personal connection with facts about the firm and yourself? I find that I can get loads of stats and info about a firm, but it ends up reading like a shopping list in my answer. For example, with energy deals (I’m very interested in the sector), I usually make the connection with a firm’s excellence in a particular area to my heritage (APAC/ South Asia) and being interested in that region. But with more ‘drier’ deals or facts such as PE, real estate, M&A I struggle to find a meaningful personal connection beyond ‘I did a Forage programme on it’. Would be grateful for any tips

Hey, this is a great question! It can be very difficult to try connect yourself to firms, especially when legal experience is so difficult to come by. Often it is the case that your answers might be missing just one extra point or sentence.
You can make a good point e.g. "I am interested in x firm for their strength in Disputes", and then give the evidence for that. But the key is to then link this back to you.
Why do you find a firm's excellence in a specific practice area important? Take Disputes for example, you might enjoy work that is research intensive and strategic. Perhaps you've had experiences (not necessary legal!) that require such skills - that can provide a slight edge and make it much more personalised to you. Whenever writing the application, read it back and ask "why is that important to me?". This will help you stay on track, hope that helps somewhat!

 

[Umair Patel]

any tips on how to talk about previous vac schemes in work experience sections

Generally with work experience sections, I tend to keep it quite short (perhaps 40-70 words per experience max). I focused on the practice area I sat in on my vacation scheme, types of tasks I had worked on (e.g. drafting a research note on x), and any other tasks part of your vacation scheme (e.g. presentations, negotiation tasks etc). Hope that helps!

 

[Umair Patel]

Hi, does anyone know whether Skadden has a harsh academic requirements, whether in A-levels or undergraduate degree? For context, I obtained a 2:1 from a RG but i completed my secondary school in another country and my a-level equivalent was kinda sh*t.

Also, speaking of academic requirements, i heard linklaters and HSF Kramer needs 60% in every single module of your degree. Are they really strict with this as well? Because i think one or two module just 1 or 2 marks below 60% (((((

Sorry I can't speak for Skadden or Linklaters, but with HSF Kramer, they are quite strict on it. However, if it is just a couple marks off, it's definitely possible! If you have a strong application and good experiences you'll still be in a great position. I had a module where I scored 58% but still managed to get on the vac scheme!

 

[Umair Patel]

Hi all, for the work history section, should I collate open days/first-year schemes into 1 experience, or discuss each separately? Thank you!

Hi, this is a great question! I would usually have open days/insight evenings as one experience and list them out in the description. As for first year schemes, if you've had an amazing cycle and completed loads then feel free to bunch them together, if you have a lot of other experiences you want to put down. If not, then I would list them individually. A good rule of thumb is trying to stick to around 7 total experiences as an upper bound, according to various early careers staff that I've spoken to - hope that's useful!

 

[Umair Patel]

Hey guys, I am beginning to apply for Vacation Schemes again, and I was just wondering if you had any advice for applications where you have no direct legal work experience. I have volunteered for numerous charities, and also had a part time job throughout university, but as I decided I wanted to apply for law in my last year of a non-law undergrad I am concerned that my lack of legal experience will mean I am unable to land a Vacation Scheme.

Any advice would be massively appreciated!

Hey! Don't let being non-law deter you, it's absolutely not a disadvantage! Law firms value non-legal experience quite highly, perhaps more than other industries do. I would suggest going to open days/insight evenings/law fairs and completing Forages to showcase that initial 'legal interest'. That should complement your strong extracurriculars and non-legal experience. AllAboutLaw often run various online insight sessions with law firms that are easily accessible if that helps!

 

[Umair Patel]

At least one firm I am applying to has 'numerical and verbal reasoning questions' as part of their application process. Can people recommend some good resources/websites to practice and improve?

I am looking at AssessmentDay's numberical and verbal resources. But any other suggestions would be appreciated.

JobTestPrep is also quite useful! I wouldn't underestimate how valuable AI tools, like GPT can be to practice. Provide it an example question and prompt it to generate some further practice questions and give them a go!

 

[Umair Patel]

Does anyone know if any law firms actually look at the content of your submitted tasks on Forage virtual work experience programmes?

They don't tend to view them!

 

[0livia.pope]

has anyone been able to fill the education section for the NRF application?

 

[studenttolawyer]

Same! They were really quick since I did mine on the 1st.

Their page says "If successful, you will be invited to complete a second stage online assessment."

same here — now i’m wondering what does the video response part involve i’d love to know at least if the videos can be re-recorded at all…

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

@vera.mekhonoshina Hi Vera! I‘m an international student doing a MA Law in the UK, there will be 3 terms. In the term3 there is no lectures/ workshops and I need to write the dissertation, is it ok to do a vacation scheme? Student visas has a 20 hours restrictions. I'm confused because although there is no lectures/ workshops, it is still within term time..

Hi @TC seeker,

That's a great question.

Generally, you are not allowed to work full-time during term time at your university. Based on what you have described, it appears to me that the time when you are writing your dissertation in Term 3 will still fall under term time under your visa restrictions.

Therefore, if possible, I would try and obtain a vacation/ work permission from your university for the vacation scheme dates. When I was completing my first Master's and applying to vacation schemes/ TCs at the same time, I had the option of requesting a 'vacation leave' in order to complete a work placement, such as a vacation scheme.

I hope this helps!

 

[radssss]

Same! They were really quick since I did mine on the 1st.

Their page says "If successful, you will be invited to complete a second stage online assessment."

Yes same I did mine on the 1st as well

 

[radssss]

same here — now i’m wondering what does the video response part involve i’d love to know at least if the videos can be re-recorded at all…

Same Please do let me know if you figure it out. I think it’s unlikely they’ll allow us to re-record and I’m assuming it’s timed

 

[Loki25]

Has anyone else managed to get invited to the second stage assessment for Macfarlanes Vacation scheme? This is the one after the application and the initial assessment. This one has a video segment to it.

 

[radssss]

Has anyone else managed to get invited to the second stage assessment for Macfarlanes Vacation scheme? This is the one after the application and the initial assessment. This one has a video segment to it.

Yes, a few of us did and are now wondering what this test entails

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

same here — now i’m wondering what does the video response part involve i’d love to know at least if the videos can be re-recorded at all…

Hey there!

While I cannot say for a fact what the second stage would involve in this case, I would try and prepare for it under the assumption that there is no opportunity to re-record your answers.

The best way to go about it is by practising as many questions as possible and recording your answers, even if you don't feel 100% sure that you are answering the question in the right way.

And here's the most important part - you also want to watch your answers back and review your performance! I personally found this type of practice to be the most useful for second stage assessments that may involve a video interview element.

Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

To all those who work in graduate roles/9-5 roles outside law, I have a question:

How do you take time off to actually do vacation schemes? Do you just take annual leave or quit the role to actually complete the vac scheme once you get an offer? Do you solely apply for training contracts alone?
I ask as I've heard some firms only recruit from the vacation scheme cohort, and I am aware we are currently into the new cycle of applications.

I also recognise this might not be the right forum for the question so please feel free to direct me to another if necessary

Hi @studentgrad,

While I have not personally been in this position, quite a few candidates on one of my vacation schemes were employed full-time and requested annual leave for the duration of the scheme

Hope this helps!

 

[Loki25]

Yes, a few of us did and are now wondering what this test entails

Who will go first and find out? I am wondering if these are sent to everyone or can people fail the previous stages?

 

[FAS444]

Hi all

Has anyone completed the current / previous Macfarlanes online assessment? Wondering about structuring for the video portion of interview

 

[Lawlife5]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina please could you provide any guidance on how to approach answering open day application questions like what do you hope to gain from attending etc? Are you meant to do the why the firm and link to you type answers by researching the firm in the same way you would for vacation scheme applications? Thanks for any advice you have

 

[Lawlife5]

Hi @Amma Usman for Gibson Dunn did you attend the open day or any others events with the firm before applying? I am quite cautious with waiting as they are rolling. Thank you!