TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BealMcAlly]

I think you have misunderstood what I am saying. People are currently speculating and discussing University bias / the extent to which firms care about academic credentials over the application itself. I myself am quite interested as the applications are very long winded, often include lots of tests and frankly it would be a real shame if those elements weren't the heavy lifters. I'm simply just saying, I am not personally sure, but maybe my experience will be informative and I will share how things go. (Why exactly would this go down badly??).

I just don't see how that is helpful when your friend has previously said you submitted generic applications and relied on your profile? Clearly other candidates who don't have a similar profile will not see the same success and will rely on other aspects of the application process, such as the motivational and competency based questions to succeed? Hell, maybe they're just really good at the tests like you say.

I don't see how saying 'I stopped tailoring my apps because they took time and I got through anyway' is in any way helpful? Of course someone with an insane list of extracurriculars and a degree from an elite university will be looked at favourably, not sure it constitutes as sound advice... I will agree and say it's a very interesting topic of discussion and it just shows the unconscious bias majority of firms have towards Oxbridge, but it does not help anyone.

 

[Icantstopeatingfood]

skadden written exercise invite.

 

[Somefriendlyadvice]

People applying to Kirkland, could you please tell me if you're answering the open question at the end? "Is there anything else you would like to add in support of your application?"

I've just noticed this and not sure whether they are expecting an answer

Hey

When firms ask this, don't worry about filling it. If nothing comes to mind, that means you probably wrote a strong application, hence nothing needs to be said!

I hope that helps!

 

[Madison Pinewall]

I just don't see how that is helpful when your friend has previously said you submitted generic applications and relied on your profile? Clearly other candidates who don't have a similar profile will not see the same success and will rely on other aspects of the application process, such as the motivational and competency based questions to succeed? Hell, maybe they're just really good at the tests like you say.

I don't see how saying 'I stopped tailoring my apps because they took time and I got through anyway' is in any way helpful? Of course someone with an insane list of extracurriculars and a degree from an elite university will be looked at favourably, not sure it constitutes as sound advice... I will agree and say it's a very interesting topic of discussion and it just shows the unconscious bias majority of firms have towards Oxbridge, but it does not help anyone.

I'm so confused. I don't have a friend on here. I haven't been submitting generic applications or relying on my profile. This is my first application cycle? I've not gotten through anywhere yet. I was just saying that I had a similar profile to the person they had mentioned and was rejected from a lot of first year schemes. I have no idea how my current applications will go down, but that I would feed back.....

 

[oliviabeijing]

Hey Olivia,
First of all, congrats on getting through to the VI stage. From what I remember last year, there were four questions covering a mix of commercial, situational, and strength or attribute based topics. One key difference compared to other VIs is that the talking time is only one minute (thinking time is also 1min I believe), so make sure you are as direct and concise as possible. Best of luck!

This is brilliant advice, thank you so much! Good luck in your applications!

 

[user55998384]

HSF PFO after passing the benchmark, lol, when it rains it pours doesn't it?

so sorry to hear, would you mind saying what date you passed the benchmark?

 

[BealMcAlly]

I'm so confused. I don't have a friend on here. I haven't been submitting generic applications or relying on my profile. This is my first application cycle? I've not gotten through anywhere yet. I was just saying that I had a similar profile to the person they had mentioned and was rejected from a lot of first year schemes. I have no idea how my current applications will go down, but that I would feed back.....

Sorry, I think that other person saying they know an Oxford student on track for a first submitting generic apps and getting through and you then saying you are the Oxford graduate in question confused me.

thanks for clarifying. I just saw red hahah

 

[elle woods]

Guys I was up at like 2am and tell me why I had these unfathomable bouts of severe hunger like I was in the Sahara desert or something 😭 it’s come back now at 11am

I should go eat breakfast 😂

 

[BobThebIlly]

Skadden PFO. Caught me pretty off guard as it was my best application so far and sent it to get reviewed😭. I also have a decent amount of legal experience and hold a few positions of responsibility

Really sucks. That’s my 5th rejection out of the 8 firms I’ve applied to currently

 

[oliviabeijing]

Very interesting that you are willing to tell them how things go...

Your experience is your experience and will look completely different to the next person's? Maybe consider that others have seen success by doing the complete opposite of what you have done?

Not sure how and why you thought this would go down nicely.

I think Madison was just offering insight on their experience as someone from Oxbridge with high grade credentials. Whether they think, from their experience, firms are swayed by the uni prestige or not. Not a brag on the forum but rather just to add some nuance to the conversation? I, myself, am not from Oxbridge/ Durham/ Exeter/ St Andrews/ Bristol etc but I would be interested to hear from Madisons experience too!

 

[BealMcAlly]

I think Madison was just offering insight on their experience as someone from Oxbridge with high grade credentials. Whether they think, from their experience, firms are swayed by the uni prestige or not. Not a brag on the forum but rather just to add some nuance to the conversation? I, myself, am not from Oxbridge/ Durham/ Exeter/ St Andrews/ Bristol etc but I would be interested to hear from Madisons experience too!

Yeah, I understood this in the end.

I think what ruffled my feathers was actually the other person implying tailoring apps doesn't matter if you have the right credentials. I think the correlation between the posts probably got the better of me there.

 

[Giannis_218]

Skadden PFO. Caught me pretty off guard as it was my best application so far and sent it to get reviewed😭. I also have a decent amount of legal experience and hold a few positions of responsibility

Really sucks. That’s my 5th rejection out of the 8 firms I’ve applied to currently

Hey, I know the feeling. This happened to me many times in the past. Unfortunately, sometimes there really is nothing more you can do. For Freshfields, I attended their workshop, which required an application, spoke to many lawyers, and spent a lot of time on my application, yet I still did not make it past the first stage. It is also a numbers game. You just have to stay consistent with the quality of your applications, and I am sure the results will come. Onwards and upwards!

 

[Lexie Ni]

Does anyone have Kennedys vi questions? Can exchange with Latham/CC/Macfarlanes

 

[oliviabeijing]

I just don't see how that is helpful when your friend has previously said you submitted generic applications and relied on your profile? Clearly other candidates who don't have a similar profile will not see the same success and will rely on other aspects of the application process, such as the motivational and competency based questions to succeed? Hell, maybe they're just really good at the tests like you say.

I don't see how saying 'I stopped tailoring my apps because they took time and I got through anyway' is in any way helpful? Of course someone with an insane list of extracurriculars and a degree from an elite university will be looked at favourably, not sure it constitutes as sound advice... I will agree and say it's a very interesting topic of discussion and it just shows the unconscious bias majority of firms have towards Oxbridge, but it does not help anyone.

The person who said they had a friend who submitted generic applications was someone else. Madison was just piggybacking off of the conversation. The person your referring to made the point that this friend had generic answers to questions, but presumes the uni prestige and grade credentials was what got them through. And that if someone from a non-Russel group uni put the same, they wouldn't have. Not my views, just hoping to clarify the conversation!

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Sorry, I think that other person saying they know an Oxford student on track for a first submitting generic apps and getting through and you then saying you are the Oxford graduate in question confused me.

thanks for clarifying. I just saw red hahah

OMG nooooo! I was just saying I have this profile and so far I definitely have not been able to do that (righty so lol, there's more to being a lawyer than grades for sure + what a waste of time the rest would be) I have really been trying to make my apps specific and tailored but tbh I don't know what I am doing. I just meant I will keep updating when I hear back from places and give my opinion on how much it helped lol

 

[futuretraineeihope]

Anyone got an Dentons VI tips?

 

[oliviabeijing]

Hey

I would say the best piece of advice for VI's generally is to speak clearly, and not to speak too fast. Graduate recruitment knows you will be nervous, and that is ok! I would say the best VI's are delivered in a composed, and thought through manner. In terms of CMS specifically, I would say their scale and sheer number of offices are worth mentioning, but make sure you substantiate this with the numbers!

Here is a link to what CMS have put out, it will be helpful for you to take a look over!

Hints & tips · CMS Emerging Talent

cmsemergingtalent.com

All the best for the VI

This certainly was some friendly advice! Thank you so much! Have a lovely day

 

[TortillaTC]

A guy I know with top grades from Oxford Law just got rejected from Skadden soooo...

No way, sorry to hear that! My point proven though, prestige of uni+academics aren’t everything

 

[oliviabeijing]

Anyone got an Dentons VI tips?

When did you hear back? Is this for VS? I did my assessment yesterday for Spring VS!

 

[Amgrad]

Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps