TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi guys! I'm currently writing my application for DWF's vac scheme; one of the questions is as follows:

"What are your motivations for wanting to pursue a career as a Solicitor at DWF?"

Am I right to interpret this question as essentially meaning "why DWF", as opposed to "why a career as a solicitor in general, and then why DWF"?

If anyone has any advice, I'd be hugely grateful!

Hello!

You're right that the emphasis is very much on why DWF, but I would still try to strike a balance between the two. For example, a good approach could be:

1. Briefly explain why you want to be a solicitor (with reference to skills you have, elements of the role you enjoy, the type of work, client focus, problem-solving, etc.)
2. Spend the majority of your answer on why those motivations specifically align with DWF - for example, its sectors, client base, culture, international reach, and the kind of work that trainees have the opportunity to complete.

It might help to think of it as "why I want to be a solicitor in this environment / at this firm". As long as your motivations for becoming a solicitor clearly feeds into why DWF is the right fit, you'll be addressing the whole question

 

[vweewcvew]

Might be a stupid qs but if a firm sponsors a commercial awareness competition (like Aspiring solicitors, BIUCAC etc), would it be fair to assume the firm places a high emphasis on commercial awareness in its recruitment process?

 

[HelenR]

Anyone not heard back from Latham?

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Seems to be another one of those days! Macfarlanes PFO after submitting 2nd stage on the 1st of December. Congrats to all those who got through to AC and chins up to everyone else who is eligible to apply to the DTC in Jan! Get those applications ready!

 

[BatmanBeyond]

I’m so sorry, was this for the spring scheme?

Yep. They are sending out PFOs in batches.

 

[radssss]

Might be a stupid qs but if a firm sponsors a commercial awareness competition (like Aspiring solicitors, BIUCAC etc), would it be fair to assume the firm places a high emphasis on commercial awareness in its recruitment process?

Yes because the person who wins it gets vs offers from the firms who sponsor which naturally means they place very high emphasis on commercial awareness. Anyways most firms do now days anyways

 

[Suii]

Paul leaves Paul, Weiss.

 

[AmazonPelican29]

I applied to Reed Smith 11/12 but I haven’t received any tests or emails other than my confirmation. Is this normal?

 

[Trophy]

Paul leaves Paul, Weiss.

Wonder where he will go next. He wasn't at PW for very long literally 1 application cycle then dipped 😅

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Seems to be another one of those days! Macfarlanes PFO after submitting 2nd stage on the 1st of December. Congrats to all those who got through to AC and chins up to everyone else who is eligible to apply to the DTC in Jan! Get those applications ready!

Harvey Spectre and Jessica Pearson both liking my post. Should I make an application for name partner?

 

[JasmineM9]

Any Kirkland VI invitations today?

 

[AmazonPelican29]

OC PFO

Is this post OC test?

 

[Suii]

Wonder where he will go next. He wasn't at PW for very long literally 1 application cycle then dipped 😅

Next growing US law firm

 

[LaDiva]

rogue but anyone applying to capsticks?

I'm considering applying with them since I used to work in health advocacy, it was interesting work. Did you end up applying?

 

[nordicnomad]

I have a non-law degree and will finish PGDL in Aug 2026. Have a legal internship at a City boutique law firm. Should I apply for Reed Smith's VS or wait to apply for its DTC? Would love advice on this 🥺

 

[Harvey Specter]

Next growing US law firm

Imagine he goes from Paul, Weiss to Paul Hastings to keep the name matching going lmao. 😂​

 

[Trophy]

Next growing US law firm

proskauer or perkins coie 🤔
or maybe he'll work in tesco or something who knows

 

[FutureTrainee213]

Might be a stupid qs but if a firm sponsors a commercial awareness competition (like Aspiring solicitors, BIUCAC etc), would it be fair to assume the firm places a high emphasis on commercial awareness in its recruitment process?

Perhaps the process is different across a lot of firms, but when I was working in graduate recruitment, we sponsored the commercial awareness competition. However, this was not because we were particularly looking for candidates with commercial awareness but rather more to do with branding, as AS had a massive target pool of potential candidates that we wanted to attract as we wanted more applications for our roles.

This is usually the main reason why firms tend to sponsor events, it’s all about branding (which feeds into award season). So I wouldn’t read too much into what they’re sponsoring during the course of the year, it’s less to do with the candidates and more to do with recruitment strategy. E.G sponsoring events like Legal Cheek/Aspiring Solicitors is all about numbers, and sponsoring university societies is all about demographic.

That being said, being a part of their sponsored events such as competitions/talks - is only going to help you if you learn something, develop skills and explain it well in your application (unless you win it and obtain a VS). It’s not a guaranteed path to success and when they ask you about it in the “What source most helped you in applying to this role” - those questions (for me anyway) were never targeted at prioritising candidates, but more to do with realising if there was an ROI from what they were paying for that year and if they’d do it again.

 

[Trophy]

I have a non-law degree and will finish PGDL in Aug 2026. Have a legal internship at a City boutique law firm. Should I apply for Reed Smith's VS or wait to apply for its DTC? Would love advice on this 🥺

Up to you i would say do the vs. winter one is only 1 week. internship can be slightly different than a vs.

 

[AmazonPelican29]

Having seen a lot of PFOs on the forum recently, and having had my fair share as well, I thought I’d share this in case it helps uplift anyone.

Skadden was always my dream firm, so when I got rejected, it hurt, especially because I put so much effort into my application. I was really disappointed, but as this is my first cycle, I made it a goal to stay as positive as possible regardless of any news I receive from firms.

The day after my Skadden rejection, I had an AC at Osborne Clarke. That’s how brutal this process can be. Regardless, I picked myself up, continued to prepare, and it ended up going very well.

This process can be incredibly hard and draining, but I’ve found that trying to stay positive where possible really does help. You genuinely never know what will happen if you keep believing in yourself and pushing forward. If you’re feeling down about not being progressed, I promise your time will come. Keep working on what you can control and don’t give up.

Good luck to everyone for the rest of this cycle. I hope it works out for us all 🤞

Well done! Which OC office was the AC in?