• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • From AI to Energy Deals: Inside a Full-Service Law Firm with Osborne Clarke
    8 Dec 2025 · 6pm (UK) Zoom · Registration Required
    You want to write a strong Osborne Clarke application — but what really makes the firm different, and how do trainees experience the work day-to-day? In this session, you’ll hear directly from current trainees and Recruitment Advisor Patrick Fermin Ryan, so you can speak with clarity and specificity in your applications and interviews.
    Register →

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Would still deeply appreciate this, especially since there are many more applicants who are also curious!
Applied to Freshfields October 19th, received and completed stage 1 October 19th, received stage 2 November 6th and completed November 8th. Was called to AC November 28th. They told me they're running 5 ACs of 6-7 people per AC in December (mine is the 3rd AC, held this Thursday) and 2 in January, but this might just be for the specific summer scheme I applied for (20 July 2026 - 7 August 2026) and not for both. And I did include extra-curriculars in the work experience section! I found stage 2 really hard, and honestly didn't think I would be called to AC at all (I literally didn't watch the video tutorial as I assumed all video questions would be in that section, so when I inevitably was faced with a VI, I waffled incoherently for 30 seconds and then didn't know how to end the video lol.) So don't lose hope!
 

AP2000

Distinguished Member
  • Feb 22, 2021
    68
    117
    FYI, I did Latham stage 1 assessment yesterday evening and got the invite for stage 2 invite just now. I know some people were asking yesterday, so please don't get too stressed if you don't immediately get the invitation to stage 2. I had pretty much ruled myself out of this process, but it's a good reminder not to read into what people are saying in online forums like this.
     
    Last edited:
    • 🏆
    Reactions: SamiyaJ

    Rads

    Well-Known Member
    Sep 1, 2025
    23
    9
    Hello, would anyone have inputs on Latham Stage 2 as in whether the questions are competency based or what kind? Can help with Macfarlanes Stage 1, FF Stage 2
    FYI, I did Latham stage 1 assessment yesterday evening and got the invite for stage 2 invite just now. I know some people were asking yesterday, so please don't get too stressed if you don't immediately get the invitation to stage 2. I had pretty much ruled myself out of this process, but it's a good reminder not to read into what people are saying in online forums like this.
    Congratulations! Would you mind sharing when you applied? Is Stage 2 automatic if anyone knows?
     

    llblawstudent

    Distinguished Member
    Jul 27, 2025
    52
    22
    Applied to Freshfields October 19th, received and completed stage 1 October 19th, received stage 2 November 6th and completed November 8th. Was called to AC November 28th. They told me they're running 5 ACs of 6-7 people per AC in December (mine is the 3rd AC, held this Thursday) and 2 in January, but this might just be for the specific summer scheme I applied for (20 July 2026 - 7 August 2026) and not for both. And I did include extra-curriculars in the work experience section! I found stage 2 really hard, and honestly didn't think I would be called to AC at all (I literally didn't watch the video tutorial as I assumed all video questions would be in that section, so when I inevitably was faced with a VI, I waffled incoherently for 30 seconds and then didn't know how to end the video lol.) So don't lose hope!
    Having applied at pretty much identical times (including for the tests) I’m assuming pfo then haha
     

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

    Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.