TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TortillaTC]

Wondering if its too late to submit dechert and sidley spring/summer considering the rolling nature of both

I’d say Sidley definitely yes, they probably won’t start assessing spring and summer apps until after the winter scheme

 

[emily3827]

Wondering if its too late to submit dechert and sidley spring/summer considering the rolling nature of both

my friend secured a vac scheme and tc at sidley last year and literally applied the day of the deadline, so I think they defo review every application even if they're rolling, also with dechert I applied a week before the deadline for winter and got an ac so I would recommend applying to both if you care about the firms

 

[maylawwww]

Omg bird & bird virtual AC??? i stg never count yourself out because i have never passed a VI before and i thought that one in particular was a bit of a car crash

 

[Andrei Radu]

Would you say a similar thing for slaughters? Their deadline is 05/12 and I’m almost ready but I feel I’m cutting it a bit fine…

Yes - although it is closer to date, Slaughter and May has never had a reputation for caring a lot about how early an application was submitted. If anything, the firm is know to look for a particular "type" of academics-focused applicants and to often depart from common recruitment practices when targeting them. As such, if the firm sees you as having a desirable candidate profile, I doubt they would reject you simply because you have not submitted your application earlier.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Omg bird & bird virtual AC??? i stg never count yourself out because i have never passed a VI before and i thought that one in particular was a bit of a car crash

Huge congratulations @maylawwww 🥳 🥳 🥳 ! I also definitely agree with your sentiment, having been progressed after some VIs I thought I had completely flunked. I believe a general principle people should try to internalise is that if you are finding an assessment really difficult, it is likely that so are many other people; and that even quite imperfect efforts to deal as well as you can with such nerve-raking experience can show a firm many of your desirable qualities even you may be unaware about.

 

[Andrei Radu]

thank you so much this is really helpful, in my planned answer i talked about how it would be difficult to organise and co-ordinate with laywers in offices in different time zones and these lines of communications might not always be smooth but said how this is a challenge that excites me - would you say this is steering too far from the q and it should literally focus on something that wouldn't be enjouable

I think you should indeed try to actually pick out a feature that you believe would not feel very enjoyable to experience, at least when comparing it to the other features of working in commercial law. I do not think your example is necessarily implausible, as I have heard a number of lawyers complain about the way cross-border communication on some deals would really mess up their schedules and require them to pull all-nighters. Thus, I think you can make this point work for you, but you need to ensure you actually "sell" the idea that this would not be something you will enjoy; as you want to avoid making the impression you are just dodging the real question and make yourself look like you like everything about commercial law.

 

[msclm]

Wondering if its too late to submit dechert and sidley spring/summer considering the rolling nature of both

I applied an hour before the deadline for the Sidley winter vac scheme … and I’m doing the wvs in a few weeks. They 100% will look at your app.

 

[user55998384]

I think you should indeed try to actually pick out a feature that you believe would not feel very enjoyable to experience, at least when comparing it to the other features of working in commercial law. I do not think your example is necessarily implausible, as I have heard a number of lawyers complain about the way cross-border communication on some deals would really mess up their schedules and require them to pull all-nighters. Thus, I think you can make this point work for you, but you need to ensure you actually "sell" the idea that this would not be something you will enjoy; as you want to avoid making the impression you are just dodging the real question and make yourself look like you like everything about commercial law.

thank you!!

 

[i-want-a-tc]

For those who go Pinsent London AC invite, are you free to share the wording of your feedback? Eg, how many traits did they say you did well and how many did they say you need to work on. Also your verbal and numerical scale.


Any insights will help, I am waiting to hear back and I did the test on 5th November. My friends who did it on 5th and 4th got rejection, and some are still waiting to hear back.

 

[NLegal]

Mishcon chat based interview invite.

Congrats! How did it go if you don't mind me asking?

 

[hanahana]

Bird & Bird AC!!!

 

[tball]

Just finished Weil SJT and VI. Got low on the Applied Intellect (3), reading the description of it, it makes sense as I'm autistic so struggle with these skills anyway. Is it worth emailing them and saying this?