TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[cookedlawstudent]

For anyone who has been invited to the Freshfields AC, I would really appreciate insight into when you applied, whether you included extracurriculars within the work experience section, and how you found the stage 2 assessment. Feel free to either PM or reply here!

Would still deeply appreciate this, especially since there are many more applicants who are also curious!

 

[safari3]

Hello! New poster and I have some questions if anyone can answer:
1. I got PFO from Covington's winter vac scheme ages ago, but also applied to their summer scheme using the same application (because the application seemed to allow it? ). The rejection was for the Winter scheme, but should I consider the summer one a lost cause too?
2. I have not heard back from Bird & Bird in three weeks about the WG. Should I expect a PFO incoming?
3. I completed the Simmons & Simmons VI/SJT on the 28th of November and haven't heard back (I know it has not been long). Given that it is rolling, should I also consider this one a PFO?
4. Am I shooting myself in the foot by not getting a job right now (unemployed graduate) and trying to focus on applications? It feels like everyone I see is becoming a paralegal, and that I may have done better this cycle if I had an ongoing job right now (I have only progressed past one initial screening and gotten PFOed from 6 firms).

I secured a vac scheme last year whilst travelling SEA post uni and my interviewers loved the fact that I was dedicated enough to attend a virtual AC whilst backpacking i.e. you don't need to be working straight out of university and all work / life experience is valuable, not just paralegalling

 

[applicant457]

does anyone have insights for WFW VI?

 

[theintellectualpropertygirl]

Sorry I made a separate thread and now realising that maybe(?) I should have posted this question here!

Currently writing a covering letter. I find myself every few sentences saying something like '...and I want to explore this during the scheme' or 'this is why I want to do the scheme'... Feels like I am repeating myself and wasting words but if I don't say it I feel a bit like I'm just listing a bunch of facts that don't really have a clear relevance to the application (even though it should be fairly easy to infer). Does anyone have any advice here? Should you keep linking back to the scheme? If so, is there a less boring way to do it? Thanks so much!

 

[RJ Ruban]

Hey guys, applying to White and Case! I need some help, and I have two questions:
1. The Extra-Curricular Activities - if I spoke about things i added to my work experience section , would it matter, and is there a specific structure they're looking for in this question
2. The app question - what sort of structure are they looking for, and what did you use to help your research?

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

How long do you typically wait for the immersive assessment of Mayer Brown to come through or is it automatic? Is it a 7 day window too complete it? I know it’s rolling but wanted to know timelines so I don’t overwhelm myself