TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Cookiemonster]

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?! 😀

Helloo

Honestly, I think this feeling is incredibly common as a graduate, especially if you’re comparing yourself to people who seem to have everything lined up already.

For what it’s worth, I didn’t get a TC until two years after I graduated, and I applied consistently during that time. I felt like I was “behind” pretty much the whole way through. But when I did a vacation scheme, the age range was much wider than I expected. The oldest person on mine was 33. It really put into perspective how artificial the pressure is to have everything sorted at 20–21.

The reality is the average age of qualification is late 20s, so not securing a TC straight out of university is completely normal, even though it doesn’t feel that way when you’re in it.

I also think the years after graduating can be genuinely valuable. I worked in a graduate role that wasn’t strictly legal, but because of the industry, I ended up learning a lot about areas like IP, alongside developing commercial awareness and confidence. Firms do care about what you’ve done outside academics, including work experience, interests, and how you’ve spent your time.

There’s also so much you can do post-uni that isn’t “wasted time”. Travel, grad jobs, different industries, even just figuring out what you enjoy and what you don’t. Looking back, I’m actually glad I didn’t get a TC during university because of the experiences and people I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and those things have definitely helped me since.

It’s much easier said than done, but comparing timelines really doesn’t help. Everyone’s path looks different, and yours doesn’t need to match anyone else’s to be valid.

From a fellow graduate 🤝​

 

[elle woods]

I've already done all of your advice, esp abt using the max word count, but I do believe for my case I was not aware of:

• Transactional focus, at the end of paragraph of 'why Skadden' I linked it back with my regulatory aspect of my work at the UN, I should have highlighted more of the non-contentious work and London office in this section.
• I made 2 abbreviations like my CC's TC & GD's OD apps. I knew I wrote things like 'don't' or "it's" which is grammatically correct, but I've realised that some firms don't like this type of writing, especially for bigger firm. I made to Goodwin, Cooley, and Taylor Wessing Open Day with these mistakes, but they care more about your topic than sort of aspects.
• I do believe I've also had some unmatched to their expectations on different part of other Essay Qs 😭 I am glad that by written TCLA that advices you won't lower your chance to pass as I didn't request for one on one paid session like others prev said, but just general tips for everybody on this forum esp Abbie and Andrei. 🥲

Now I am wondering "WOULD KIRKLAND DUMB ME TOO" as these firms share common value lmao I applied on Friday (2 days before deadline), yet no VI invite

Hmm sorry correct me if I’m understanding you incorrectly …

But yes, Skadden is very much known for their transactional practice areas I would say, so perhaps mentioning other areas might be a weaker link. And absolutely, the rule is to never use contractions (it’s, I’m etc) and abbreviations unless you’ve expanded on it once beforehand (e.g. Clifford Chance (CC)).

In terms of aligning with what the question asks or with the firm’s expectations, I would say you can choose to pay for services if you wish to, but I personally don’t. Honestly, whenever I don’t fully understand what the question is asking of me, I put it into ChatGPT or something and discuss it with them to ascertain what the question is trying to get at (sometimes questions can have implicit expectations as well).

Don’t worry about Kirkland - I haven’t heard back either 😂 hopefully we’ll hear back favourably soon!

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

gosh I just did my Hogan Lovells test and found the video questions so hard and unnatural. I spoke about the topic of the third question in my second question so it felt a bit too repetitive too, though I did shift focus. I am usually a good speaker but it feels too artificial

That’s a very normal reaction, so try not to be too hard on yourself. A lot of people who are usually confident speakers find video interviews awkward and artificial, especially when you’re talking to a screen with no feedback. It often feels much worse than it actually comes across.

On the repetition point, that’s also very common. These questions are often designed to overlap, so some crossover in themes is almost unavoidable. As long as you shifted the angle slightly, that’s not a bad thing at all. Grad rec expect candidates to reinforce key motivations across answers rather than produce completely siloed responses.

If you do want to feel more comfortable with the format, it can really help to practise in conditions that mimic the real thing. Portals like Assessment Day (https://www.assessmentday.co.uk) are useful for this, as they let you get used to structuring answers under time pressure and speaking naturally to a camera rather than an interviewer.

That said, it’s also worth noting that if you genuinely dislike video interviews, you’re not alone and you’re not stuck with them. There are plenty of firms that don’t use video interviews at all in their recruitment process. Such as Fried Frank, Addleshaw, etc.

I hope this helps​

 

[Cookiemonster]

Does anybody have any tips on how to write about a different firm's vacation scheme that you have completed in the work experience section of job apps?

Hi, I’m a bit late to this message but hopefully I can shed some light 💡

I was in a similar position. I completed two vacation schemes in my first cycle and didn’t convert either, and I was definitely apprehensive about including them in my next round of applications.

What helped was keeping it factual and reflective, rather than defensive. Focus on:​

• the teams or practice areas you sat in​
• the type of work you did (research, drafting, due diligence, etc.)​
• what you learned about how firms operate and what kind of work you enjoy​

You don’t need to mention non-conversion or justify anything. Firms expect people to have prior schemes, and not converting is very common.

Used properly, previous vacation schemes show that you understand the role and have tested your interest in commercial law, which is a positive rather than a negative.

Good luck 😄​

 

[Amgrad]

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?! 😀

I experienced this before joining TCLA last year, I was the only student at my college to pass through the screening stage at JPMC Geneva to an interview. I got invited to unsolicited app through DMs by many MNCs (10+ offers) through LinkedIn, yet I've experienced some burnouts and imposter syndrome.

For me of course being an underdog isn't that easy, but ikr it's hard if your closest one and surroundings can't understand you. Just said that we're all here for you even though it's far away and virtual, don't hesitate to ask anything as it could comfort you or gaining your confidence back. Many people in the same boat.

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

A bit of a silly question... for Cooley's summer programme, one of the questions is 'Please tell us about interests and activities you pursue and positions of responsibility that are relevant for the role.' I was wondering if I should place advising at my university's legal clinic in this section instead of the work experience section as I have done previously? Also, would this count as a position of responsibility?

I ask this because its probably my strongest point, but I don't want to repeat what I have said in the work experience section. My other positions of responsibility largely come from my paid employment, so I don't want to mention them in this question. I also have a couple of positions of responsibility from Year 11 but I am very reluctant to use these seeing as it's been four years since then and it seems a little juvenile... 😓​

Hi Ilikelaw,

Don't worry, it is Not a silly question at all – this is actually a really sensible thing to be thinking about, and it comes up a lot with many other firms wording.

If I were you, I wouldn’t move the legal clinic experience out of the work experience section if it’s already there. Advising in a university legal clinic is very clearly work-experience-type content, and Cooley will expect to see it there. Moving it risks making the work experience section look thinner, and it can also feel a bit like you’re forcing it to fit a different box just because it’s strong.

That said, yes – legal clinic absolutely does count as a position of responsibility. You’re dealing with real clients, managing confidentiality, giving advice under supervision, and often taking ownership of matters. That’s exactly the sort of responsibility firms like value.

The key thing here is not repetition, but how you decide to angle it.

What I would do is:​

• Keep the legal clinic in the work experience section, where you focus on what you did and what you learned.​
• In this “interests/activities/positions of responsibility” question, you can briefly reference it from a responsibility/skills angle, but without rehashing the same description.​

For example, instead of explaining the clinic again, you might say something like:​

• taking responsibility for client interviews,​
• managing competing deadlines,​
• exercising judgement in advising clients,​
• being accountable for the quality of your work.​

That way, you’re adding new information, not repeating yourself.

On your other point, I agree with your instinct not to use Year 11 positions – four years on, may certainly to feel a bit juvenile at this stage.

I hope this helps! Feel free to DM me for anything relating to this.​

 

[Amgrad]

Hmm sorry correct me if I’m understanding you incorrectly …

But yes, Skadden is very much known for their transactional practice areas I would say, so perhaps mentioning other areas might be a weaker link. And absolutely, the rule is to never use contractions (it’s, I’m etc) and abbreviations unless you’ve expanded on it once beforehand (e.g. Clifford Chance (CC)).

In terms of aligning with what the question asks or with the firm’s expectations, I would say you can choose to pay for services if you wish to, but I personally don’t. Honestly, whenever I don’t fully understand what the question is asking of me, I put it into ChatGPT or something and discuss it with them to ascertain what the question is trying to get at (sometimes questions can have implicit expectations as well).

Don’t worry about Kirkland - I haven’t heard back either 😂 hopefully we’ll hear back favourably soon!

Unless if I met them in person maybe I could understand them better, virtual OD is lack of this detailed anyway. My additional resource is coming from my American friends which is quite different to London office, yet there is very prestigious ranks highly on Amlaw and Vault, especially after advising Netflix. This year Skadden' London has gained more popularity than before, so the application pool is skyrocketing!

And yeah I did ask LLM for feedback post written by my own to generate authentic ideas before submitting my app! I used Grammarly to proofread my app too. I think I should add extra prompt to avoid contractions!

 

[elle woods]

Hi, I’m a bit late to this message but hopefully I can shed some light 💡

I was in a similar position. I completed two vacation schemes in my first cycle and didn’t convert either, and I was definitely apprehensive about including them in my next round of applications.

What helped was keeping it factual and reflective, rather than defensive. Focus on:​

• the teams or practice areas you sat in​
• the type of work you did (research, drafting, due diligence, etc.)​
• what you learned about how firms operate and what kind of work you enjoy​

You don’t need to mention non-conversion or justify anything. Firms expect people to have prior schemes, and not converting is very common.

Used properly, previous vacation schemes show that you understand the role and have tested your interest in commercial law, which is a positive rather than a negative.

Good luck 😄​

Hiii, thanks for sharing your experience! Do you have any advice as to how to convert a vac?? And maybe what not to do, or any insight as to why people might not convert one? I’m super nervous for mine and not sure what to expect and how to act lol 😭

I’m a little scared that my written work/ tasks won’t be up to standard, or if I will know how to even approach the task in general (I guess the best approach is to clarify with the supervisor, but still)

I’ve done a one-week vac at a smaller firm but I wasn’t too nervous for it since it wasn’t convertible anyways and it was quite informal.

But since this vac is one with a much larger firm and one I really want, I’m just extra jittery! Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

I experienced this before joining TCLA last year, I was the only students at my college to pass through the screening stage at JPMC Geneva to an interview. I got invited to unsolicited app through DMs by many MNCs (10+ offers) through LinkedIn, yet I've experienced some burnouts and imposter syndrome.

For me of course being an underdog isn't that easy, but ikr it's hard if your closest one and surroundings can't understand you. Just said that we're all here for you even though it's far away and virtual, don't hesitate to ask anything as it could comfort you or gaining your confidence back. Many people in the same boat.

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?! 😀

Hi Novaa,

Honestly, this feeling is incredibly common, even if it feels like everyone else is somehow calmer or further ahead. A lot of the pressure comes from comparing yourself to the loudest voices, the people posting about offers or multiple interviews, when in reality most graduates are quietly feeling the same uncertainty. The legal career timeline is much longer than it feels right now, and even those with offers will not qualify for years, so not having everything wrapped up as a graduate does not mean you are behind, it just means you are still in the process.

What really helps is narrowing your focus to what you can control in this cycle and taking things one application, one deadline and one improvement at a time rather than spiralling about the future. Feeling nervous does not mean you are failing either, it usually just means you care, and that level of investment is something firms value when it is channelled well. It is also worth remembering that there is no shame in stepping off the conveyor belt for a bit if you need to, as plenty of strong candidates secure offers later, often when they are calmer and more confident. You are not running out of time, you are just in the uncomfortable middle, which almost everyone goes through even if they do not talk about it.

 

[EMB]

CMS Bristol AC invite

 

[S1kumo]

gosh I just did my Hogan Lovells test and found the video questions so hard and unnatural. I spoke about the topic of the third question in my second question so it felt a bit too repetitive too, though I did shift focus. I am usually a good speaker but it feels too artificial

Hey @Madison Pinewall,

Firstly, congratulations on reaching the job simulation stage at Hogan Lovells, as I'm aware many people failed at the first assessment stage!

As a future trainee at Hogan, I thought it would be useful to offer some advice here. I had some of my mentees in a similar situation, where they ended up discussing the same topic across both questions two and three due to the similarity between them. Despite this, they still managed to reach the assessment centre stage for the winter vacation scheme, so this isn't something to worry about at all.

I recently spoke with graduate recruitment at my university's law fair, and they mentioned that they understand how artificial it can feel during a video interview, speaking to a screen. They also mentioned that candidates are looked at holistically across their performance on all the different stages, so you have nothing to worry about!

If you think it might be useful, I'd be happy for you to reach out and share what you remember from your answers, and I can provide you with some helpful feedback.

 

[S1kumo]

Does HL second test have VI?

Hey @tball,

The job simulation for Hogan Lovells does, in fact, have a video interview, and you'll be tasked with answering three questions within a 2-minute time period for each. You'll also be required to complete a situational judgement test and a written task.

I'd advise you to look at the candidate preparation hub on the firm's website for the practice tests, as I'm aware many people have found it useful, but if you do have any other questions, then feel free to reach out!

 

[Cookiemonster]

Finally a human response 🤯

How did you overcome rejection after your vacation schemes?

Hi Trophy!

Honestly, I won’t sugarcoat this. Being rejected after a vacation scheme really hurt.

My first non-conversion hit me hard. I struggled with imposter syndrome throughout the scheme and put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to convert. When I got feedback, it was clear that nerves and lack of confidence came through in my interview, even though I knew the content. Hearing that was devastating at the time, and I did need space to process it.

What helped, eventually, was allowing myself to step back. I took time away from applications, LinkedIn, and constant comparison. That distance mattered more than I realised. When I came back the following cycle, I was clearer on what I needed to work on and less consumed by the fear of failure. I ended up securing further two vacation schemes as a result.

One thing I’ve learned is that rejection after a vac scheme doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough for the profession. Often it comes down to timing, confidence on the day, or very fine margins between candidates. Putting “everything” on converting can actually make it harder, because the pressure can stop you performing as you normally would.

What grounded me most was perspective. I’m the first in my family to go to university, from a low-income background, with no real understanding of the legal process around me. Getting to university, completing my degree, and even being in the position to do vacation schemes were achievements in themselves. I couldn’t let one firm’s “no” be the thing that ended a career I’d worked years towards.

I understand winter vacation schemes are slowly wrapping up so If you’re going through this now, be kind to yourself. Take time if you need it. Rejection feels personal, but it doesn’t define your ability or your future in law. 🤗​

 

[qaz99]

For everyone asking regarding the CMS AC, it is for the London office, and I completed the VI on the 26th nov

 

[S1kumo]

Any tips for a written exercise? What can we expect?

Hey @CharlesT47,

In my experience with assessment centres last year, written exercises tend to fluctuate between drafting emails and proofreading exercises. If you're lucky, you'll get the latter, which will ultimately be a test of your SPAG skills.

Some key things to look out for when it comes to the email tasks are getting the basics right, eg have I addressed this email to the correct person? Another key metric that's tested is your structure. When working in law, it's usually good practice to include an executive summary at the top of your email, which should be two bullet points summarising the key points of the email, in case the partner you're working for wants a quick answer before reading through the entire email.

I actually failed the Latham AC last year due to my performance in the written task. However, the feedback I received from graduate recruitment suggested that, for practice, I should consider using ChatGPT to generate draft written tasks and then provide feedback on my performance. I was a little sceptical at first, but decided to try it out, and in the end, it helped massively, and I ended up landing two training contract offers!

 

[S1kumo]

DLA Piper TI invite, if anyone has any inisghts I would

Hey @janiicemyla,

One of my mentees did the DLA telephone interview the other day, and it seemed quite straightforward!

Some of the questions that came up were:

Why Commercial Law?
Why DLA?
Why Manchester?
What do you think you'll gain the most from the Manchester internship?

I'd advise you prepare for some questions about yourself too such as the typical tell us about a time you demonstrated X but otherwise, you should be fine and I'm sure you'll do well!

 

[S1kumo]

Anyone know when we should hear back from Latham post stage 2 Tests?

Hey @JasmineM9,

If this is regarding applications for the summer vacation scheme, last year I received the invitation in mid-December for an assessment centre at the start of January. So, if things are working the same way this year, you should hear back soon.

I'm aware they run ACs for the first-year scheme students and campus ambassadors who get fast-tracked first before the end of the year, and then progress onto the general applicants after the new year!

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Applied to Simmons & Simmons last night for the summer scheme, and 40 minutes later I received an email saying: "In addition to the application form you have already submitted, the second part of this stage of our recruitment process is an online judgement test" with instructions on how to take the test via the CVMail platform.

However, an hour after that, I received another email, this time saying: "The next stage in the application is to complete our online blended assessment which combines situational judgement, applied intellect and video interview questions. You will receive an invite to the assessment with full instructions within two working days."

Did everyone get these two emails? So you have to take the "online judgement test" first, and then the "blended assessment"? Or is it just the one test, the blended assessment, and the first email was an error?

Cheers!

 

[S1kumo]

Skadden rejection 😔

Hey @DavidJC,

I wanted to drop a few words of encouragement and just say congratulations on submitting the application in the first place!

From my experience, I've found that every application submitted and every rejection is genuinely a stepping stone to the acceptance email that you'll eventually receive, so hold on to the hope that acceptance is coming soon!

It might be worth reflecting on the application and identifying where you may have fallen short to ensure you build yourself up for the next firm you apply to. However, last year I went through multiple rejections before securing four assessment centres in a row, so keep pushing!

Wishing you the best

 

[Cookiemonster]

Hiii, thanks for sharing your experience! Do you have any advice as to how to convert a vac?? And maybe what not to do, or any insight as to why people might not convert one? I’m super nervous for mine and not sure what to expect and how to act lol 😭

I’m a little scared that my written work/ tasks won’t be up to standard, or if I will know how to even approach the task in general (I guess the best approach is to clarify with the supervisor, but still)

I’ve done a one-week vac at a smaller firm but I wasn’t too anxious for it since it wasn’t convertible anyways and wasn’t a firm I was too interested in pursuing at that time.

But since this vac is one with a much larger firm and one I really want, I’m just extra jittery! Any advice would be appreciated!!

Hey Elle,

Completely normal to feel this nervous, especially when it’s a firm you really want.

A few practical things that really helped me, especially with written tasks:

Written work / tasks
One big thing: set your own timers. Don’t rely on just the final deadline.

For example:​

• 10–15 mins to read the brief properly​
• a few minutes to identify exactly what you’re being asked​
• then plan before you start writing​

A lot of people panic because there’s loads of information, but not all of it is relevant. Take time to work out what actually matters for the question. Also, make sure you’re answering every part of the question. Often one question has multiple elements, and people accidentally only answer one.

If you want to practise, Forage tasks are genuinely useful for getting into the habit of structuring answers and working under time pressure. Even just doing one or two helps.

On converting generally
Try not to treat the scheme like a competition or fixate on conversion the whole time. That pressure can make nerves worse. Focus on learning, asking questions, and being yourself. You got the vac by being you, so don’t suddenly try to act like someone else.

Keeping a daily log of what you’ve worked on, who you’ve spoken to, and what you’ve learned can also be really helpful. Firms often ask what you’ve taken away from the scheme, and it’s much easier to answer when you’ve reflected as you go.

You already have vac scheme experience, which is a big plus. Feeling nervous doesn’t mean you’re unprepared, it just means you care. That’s very normal.

Good luck and I’m sure you’ll smash it in the summer 🙌​