TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Wompycapy]

Con

It was about 4-5 questions all strength based and motivational, not competency or scenario based questions at all.

Hi, is this for spring or summer?

 

[elle woods]

guys I think i flunked my arctic shores hahahaah

 

[boots pharmacy]

I don't know if being ghosted by Sidley Austin is good or bad 😭 Should I assume PFO?
December, please be kind to us all 🙃

Their deadline is in Jan so I don't expect a reply until mid Dec at the earliest. Applied back in Oct but haven't heard a whiff since, hahah

Big respect to Sidley GR though, they seem to be one of the very few firms in London not relying on psychometrics/WG's, which IMHO have been gamed to death and are deeply flawed methods of filtering the applicant pool.

 

[wooliewoo]

omg the latham VI was an absolute nightmare

 

[jojo23]

guys I think i flunked my arctic shores hahahaah

Someone forgot to play call of duty beforehand 😭

 

[elle woods]

Someone forgot to play call of duty beforehand 😭

🥹 LMAO
It's saying I prefer independent working but that couldn't be further from the truthhhhh I LOVE people...
I'm actually so sad, is this how the world views me...

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Their deadline is in Jan so I don't expect a reply until mid Dec at the earliest. Applied back in Oct but haven't heard a whiff since, hahah

Big respect to Sidley GR though, they seem to be one of the very few firms in London not relying on psychometrics/WG's, which IMHO have been gamed to death and are deeply flawed methods of filtering the applicant pool.

I saw someone mention on the forum that Travers Smith introduced a new online test for their recruitment process. They made a huge deal during their insight evening about their ‘simple’ process (application and interview). It’s even on their website and marketing stuff. Hopefully it’s not true but would be a shame if it is. Next thing will be Slaughters using the WG lmao. 😂​

 

[shays]

anyone has any insights on Latham VI?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

for the field fisher work exp section - am i right not to include any society positions as there is a seperate section for extra curriculars? - feeling as though my section is lacking as there is also a diff section for insight days etc so i only have 3 entries

Hi!

I'd say that in this case you're right to keep society positions in the extracurricular section if the application separates things out (although I can't imagine it would impact you negatively if you did it another way). As there are separate sections for extracurriculars and insight days, it's normal for the work experience section to look shorter. Therefore, three entries is absolutely fine - the graduate recruitment team will care more about how clearly you explain what you learned and the skills that you developed, rather than the number of experiences you list.

As long as each entry is reflective and shows growth, your application won't feel lacking! I'd focus on quality over quantity and let the other sections round out your candidate profile

 

[Apple]

I saw someone mention on the forum that Travers Smith introduced a new online test for their recruitment process. They made a huge deal during their insight evening about their ‘simple’ process (application and interview). It’s even on their website and marketing stuff. Hopefully it’s not true but would be a shame if it is. Next thing will be Slaughters using the WG lmao. 😂​

Pretty sure thats just for the apprenticeship, no?

 

[MeWantTCPlz]

reed smith test/VI invite 🤩 applied on the 3rd of dec
would really appreciate any insights if anyone has any!

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Pretty sure thats just for the apprenticeship, no?​

No idea I saw someone mention earlier it’s part of Travers’ DTC process and they were asking if it also applies to their VS route. It might be for the apprenticeship route but I’m just going by what I saw posted on the forum. 🤷🏾‍♂️​

 

[yk1906]

No idea I saw someone mention earlier it’s part of Travers’ DTC process and they were asking if it also applies to their VS route. It might be for the apprenticeship route but I’m just going by what I saw posted on the forum. 🤷🏾‍♂️​

I applied to travers DTC and it was only the app I had to do… PFO received 😁😘

 

[yk1906]

🥹 LMAO
It's saying I prefer independent working but that couldn't be further from the truthhhhh I LOVE people...
I'm actually so sad, is this how the world views me...

No test was ever right about me, it’s just an automated program that has NOTHING to do with reality… 😁

 

[marisachr]

WFW VI invite 👍

 

[elle woods]

No test was ever right about me, it’s just an automated program that has NOTHING to do with reality… 😁

good to know, but it's sad the firm will never know... petition to bring back straight in-person interviews please 😆

 

[yk1906]

good to know, but it's sad the firm will never know... petition to bring back straight in-person interviews please 😆

Too many of us to interview I guess 😁 Hence the crazy tests

 

[elle woods]

Too many of us to interview I guess 😁 Hence the crazy tests

😣 fr they just keep adding more and more rounds with each application cycle... soon we'll be on par with IB with 5-6 interview rounds after all the crazy tests and hirevues haha...

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Damn!! I was planning on sending a spring app for dechert today, do you reckon it's too late?

 

[DavidJC]

Damn!! I was planning on sending a spring app for dechert today, do you reckon it's too late?

I'd say no, it's not too late. I'm planning to send mine in the next week. They review on a rolling basis and they've still got the ongoing WVS to manage so I wouldn't worry and just try and submit the best possible application and see what happens.