TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BealMcAlly]

Guys which firms don’t have an online test/VI? getting desperate now😭🥲

Smaller boutique firms usually don't.

Simkins, Wiggin(I think).

Travers Smith do online interviews with actual people.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi all! Is there any list on TCLA yet about firms that sponsor international candidates for vacation schemes? I do understand that Reed Smith does, are there any others that have expressly mentioned/with prior history of sponsoring or indicating to any candidate that they are sponsoring? Thanks!!


@Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

hi @yuktiverma96 I have quoted here two excellent recent posts from forum members who have researched the topic:

Confirmed! These firms would not sponsor visa for vac scheme at all cost (no direct TC route):

• Vinson & Elkins
• Akin
• Jones Day
• Ropes and Gray
• Latham & Watkins
• Katten
• Squire Patton Boggs
• Pinsent Masons
• Bird & Bird
• NRF
• CMS
• DLA Piper
• Covington
• Debevoise & Plimpton
• Simmons & Simmons

For international applicants outside of the UK, don't waste your time to apply as they don't offer Visa if you don't have right to work in the UK

These firms recruit solely from VS as well, but have very slight chance to get sponsored (case by case basis) and/or have DTC, but got cancelled in the last few years:

• HSF Kramer*
• Mishcon de Reya
• Gibson Dunn
• Osborne Clarke*
• Sullivan & Cromwell
• Orrick
• Kirkland & Ellis
• K&L Gates

Potentially sponsor visa for VS since don't have DTC/alternatively offer DTC if your profile during process stand out and from emerging markets:

• Cooley
• Milbank
• Weil
• Cleary
• Dechert
• Skadden
• Davis Polk (PGDL/Law Students only)

Clearly stated on the FAQs or events that they will sponsor VS for anybody without exception of nationality

• Taylor Wessing
• Macfarlanes
• Freshfields***
• Clifford Chance**
• Stephenson Harwood**
• White & Case**
• Paul, Weiss
• Sidley Austin
• Reed Smith
• Willkie

Notes:
* Sponsor Indian candidates for the scheme in India
** Sponsor Arabic speakers for their Dubai/Middle East Vacation Scheme
*** Sponsor Mandarin, Korean, and Indonesian speakers for their Hong Kong Scheme

Hi, just found this thread and from my experience almost all international firms will sponsor visas for TCs, but not necessarily a VS. Though VS application season is almost over, I have gathered the below information from asking grad rec over email and at events. Hope this helps any international applicants out there, both this year and next!

(Blanks are just information I don't have)

Firm	Sponsors visa for TC	Sponsors visa for VS	Virtual Interview and AC
Vinson & Elkins	Yes	No
Ropes & Gray	Yes	No (no Direct TC route)	No
Skadden	Yes	No	Yes (for TC process)
Gibson Dunn	Yes	Potentially	Yes
Goodwin	Yes	No	Potentially
Latham & Watkins	Yes	No	Potentially
BCLP	Yes	No	Yes
Sullivan & Cromwell	Yes	No
K&L Gates	Yes	Potentially	No (for AC)
Greenberg Traurig	Yes	-	No (for AC)
Cleary Gottlieb	Yes	No	No
Taylor Wessing	Yes	Yes (no Direct TC route)
Allen & Overy	Yes	No
White & Case	Yes	Yes
Hogan Lovells	Yes	Yes	Yes
BDB Pitmans	No
Linklaters	Yes	No	Yes
HSF	Yes	No	Potentially

 

[A_ede]

Hi guys please can I have some honest ideas of what you think is going wrong here because I’m getting constant rejections. I’m on my second application cycle, this time taking a far more tailored approach and only applying to firms I’ve interacted with and been to open days at. All of my applications are proofread by people that have secured TCs and I’ve read lots of successful cover letters so I know I’m along the right lines. I have top grades, study at Cambridge, hold society positions, have work experience law and non-law - please help 😓 I think I’m being filtered out by these assessments but I’ve been practising them loads

Hi,

Applications are incredibly tough, so don't be too disheartened. It can feel like the process is entirely negative, but with consistent work, there will be success! It just takes time

The main problem could be your approach to the WG and other psychometric assessments. I'm not sure which resources you've been using for the assessments, but I would have a look at online tips on forums like TCLA and YouTube as for me, these were much more valuable than continually practicing WG tests online that may or may not be actually similar to the official Pearson WG exams.

In general, I think your approach to applying to firms that you've interacted with is very positive. It helps you create a tailored application that is linked specifically to you. If you focus on linking this with what you've learnt about the firms and how this interests you, you are definitely on the right track.

I obtained a TC last year but there were so many rejections this time last year and I felt the exact same. I didn't hear back positively from a firm until at least February so don't give up!

 

[lolololol]

willkie pfo quite dejected this app szn is not going well at all 😔

 

[BealMcAlly]

Are people like heavily practising for the WG? I've just been winging it after reading about how it works, there's no where near enough time to practice it extensively, apply and be prepared for my degree work!

I think the more you do them, the less nerve wracking they feel. I also found reading the question before each passage is key because it helps with reading faster and beating that dreaded clock with enough time to go back and forth and review your answers.

 

[LauraWhite0502]

Hey guys I know this is quite late but I'm confused - I'm trying to figure out if the Autumn budget truly led to high tax rises? income tax didn't increase. there is fiscal drag but this affects individuals and high earners. from my understanding businesses are not affected significantly from the budget, with the only changes being to min wage, capital allowance relief and more compliance requirements. Would the dividends tax increase be problematic? I'm not sure what to make of this from a business POV. Would love some help!

You've definitely identified all the main points! One additional thing worth noting (although this might be what you mean by compliance requirements) is in the budget the rules which decide when a global company has to pay tax in the UK has changed.

The 'permanent establishment' rules which decide when a foreign company is regarded as doing business in the UK have changed, so that if a company based abroad has someone who habitually concludes contracts or plays a principal role in leading contract negotiations, HMRC can regard the company as really operating in the UK and so tax some of the company's profits.

Similarly, historically multinational groups have been able to shift their profits out of the UK, which the UK tried to combat in 2015 by introducing a piece of legislation called the Diverted Profits Tax , although this was widely regarded as too complex and procedurally messy. The budget has reformed the Diverted Profits Tax, so that HMRC can now re-characterise and tax those profits directly under normal corporation tax rules. This reduces compliance costs and administrative burdens for both businesses and HMRC.

Rather than focusing on the specifics of these policies though, I'd instead think about what broader shift they represent. Essentially they reduce practical loopholes which some companies were relying on to reduce their UK tax liability and suggest an area of focus for the government is ensuring companies can't rely on technicalities to pay less tax.

This creates an opportunity for law firms to shift the focus of their tax advice to clients: rather than advising clients on what technical loopholes might be available, tax teams might instead benefit from focusing on helping clients structure their business model (particularly where decision-making and key negotiators are based) to avoid falling within the scope of the permanent establishment rules.

 

[Trophy]

I asked for my score back in early October and got 33/40 and placed in the 88th percentile but I recently heard that your percentile placement changes the more people do it so I'm not sure where I sit now.

I am also on hold. I don't think we will hear this end of Christmas. I applied for the Spring VS.

I asked for my report yesterday and I got 34/40 and 80th percentile 😭😭 I’m also on hold

i got 36/40 and 80 percentile so yes i assume it must have changed. i did get like 99 and 97 on assumptions and conclusions.

 

[TortillaTC]

Has anyone heard positively from Reed Smith since the first batch of AC invites?

 

[lawstudent2]

Willkie pfo and eversheds vi in the same minute

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Eversheds VI but due on Friday which means there are less than 3 days! Mixed feelings now

 

[Trophy]

damn Willkie really said today is judgement day😣

 

[A_ede]

Are people like heavily practising for the WG? I've just been winging it after reading about how it works, there's no where near enough time to practice it extensively, apply and be prepared for my degree work!

Hi Madison,

Personally, I found the WG without preparation ok, but I was not close to the successful percentile score.

I didn't practice consistently for it, I initially looked at tips online and on YouTube and looked at some practice questions. I have always found that the practice questions online that mimic a WG can be really helpful, but others are not consistent with the actual WG.

I found it best to consolidate the approach at the start of the application cycle and then remind myself of the best tips and tricks quickly before each test so it was fresh in my mind.

Hope this helps!

 

[Amgrad]

Man I’m terrified to do the OT now 😭😭😭

You can do it!!!! We believe in you! Ikr all my app with VIs put me on hold for weeks now while others have already received PFOs or ACs!

 

[DavidJC]

Willkie rejection honestly not really sure where I'm going wrong with my applications at this point as I feel I've definitely gotten better at researching and writing them than before and I think they're also more tailored and specific compared to before. Sure I understand there's an element of luck involved but it's rough going without tangible results. My uni's careers service here also tells me that I write well and my answers are good so I'm not really sure what more I could change at this point

 

[BealMcAlly]

i got 36/40 and 80 percentile so yes i assume it must have changed. i did get like 99 and 97 on assumptions and conclusions.

BEAST!

I got 92 for conclusions and 84 (lol) for assumptions. (We don't talk about arguments....🌚)

 

[Harvey Specter]

Willkie VI invite!​

 

[Lawschoolmavrick]

Hi guys please can I have some honest ideas of what you think is going wrong here because I’m getting constant rejections. I’m on my second application cycle, this time taking a far more tailored approach and only applying to firms I’ve interacted with and been to open days at. All of my applications are proofread by people that have secured TCs and I’ve read lots of successful cover letters so I know I’m along the right lines. I have top grades, study at Cambridge, hold society positions, have work experience law and non-law - please help 😓 I think I’m being filtered out by these assessments but I’ve been practising them loads

Hey! First of all, I just want to say that you really shouldn’t be disheartened by the rejections. I know it’s hard, and I don’t want to sound cliché by saying the LinkedIn favourite, “rejection is redirection,” but honestly, sometimes a rejection simply means going back to your application and reflecting on it with any feedback you’re able to get (when firms do provide it).

It also sounds like you’re already doing a lot of the right things. Having people around you who have secured TCs and are willing to proofread and advise you is genuinely half the battle, so that’s a real positive. I’m also a non-law student, and when I was applying, I remember feeling particularly anxious about the assessments. Looking back, I think I sometimes made them more intimidating than they needed to be because of that non-law background.

In terms of practical steps, continuing to practise mock assessments where you can is definitely helpful, as is spending time with each firm’s recruitment materials and website so you feel properly prepared going in. Consistently asking for feedback is also really important, you can only improve with feedback. When you receive a rejection, it’s always worth emailing to ask if they can share anything specific you could work on.

Most importantly, try not to get too in your own head about the assessments. You clearly have a strong profile, and you’ve already achieved a lot. You’ve got this! Keep reminding yourself of that.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Guys which firms don’t have an online test/VI? getting desperate now😭🥲

I think there are a handful of firms that are solely application and interviews (no test stages):

Covington & Burling
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dechert
Goodwin
Jones Day
Kirkland & Ellis
Morrison Foerster
Paul Hastings
Sidley Austin
Skadden
Slaughter and May
Travers Smith
Vinson & Elkins
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

There might be others but these are the ones in mind that I believe don’t use tests.

Think most of these firms place emphasis on academics though (AAA/AAB and strong 2:1).​

I made this post a while ago about firms without any online tests so hopefully this will help ​

 

[spongebob]

I made this post a while ago about firms without any online tests so hopefully this will help ​

Thank you!

 

[Amgrad]

Willkie VI invite! Very surprised though! Submitted 08/12 08.12 am

Still waiting for Weil, completed the tests on 24/11, wondering whether I got reserved again as I've seen people got PFOs and ACs 😢