TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[htrizzy100]

Anyone heard back from Slaughters?

 

[thelawstudent]

is DLA rolling this year or not? they have removed their section of the website which said it was rolling...

 

[BT0901]

Jones Day rejection post interview for those waiting to hear back

 

[FAS444]

anyone macfarlanes update?

 

[Loki25]

Has anyone heard anything back from Macfarlanes since completing the 2nd stage assessment?

 

[berocca567]

Jones Day rejection post interview for those waiting to hear back

Did you have your interview today?

 

[hopeful33]

Hello! Any tips on how to prepare for the Ashurst test? It's done by Cappfinity.

 

[BT0901]

Did you have your interview today?

Last week Thursday

 

[Lawlife5]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina @ZNadeem and any one else, do you recommend applying to firms without attending any events this cycle as I usually wait to apply as I feel like it will give the application more of a chance? Are people actually consistently successful when submitting without attending any events? thanks

 

[Amma Usman]

Jones Day rejection post interview for those waiting to hear back

I'm really sorry about this.

Please let this keep you going: there are still many law firms with applications open, and each one is a new opportunity to refine your strategy and bring you closer to achieving that ultimate goal of securing your TC. You got this, and we're rooting for you as always!

 

[Amma Usman]

Hello! Any tips on how to prepare for the Ashurst test? It's done by Cappfinity.

Hi there!
In my experience, such tests usually focus on situational-like assessments - testing how you would react to different workplace scenarios. There may also be some verbal reasoning elements to this, and my main course of action to prepare for those was really just going on YouTube and TikTok, looking at how people approached example questions, and learning from them.

The attached picture below should also help with regards to SJT-like assessments within this sphere.

Do let us know if you've got any more questions on this

Hiya - this attached post should help.

View attachment 7173

 

[Hanzeeb]

Jones Day rejection post interview for those waiting to hear back

Hey, sorry about the interview im sure it was tough! when did you apply and hear back that you got an interview, just submitted mine yesterday and wondering what the time line is like

 

[LawEnthus]

hi all, I did a vac scheme last summer and was unsuccessful but got a lot of positive feedback on the call and was encouraged to reapply. they have a limited number of work experience entries on the application form. their scheme was my most recent work. should I use an entry to talk about what I did and what skills I demonstrated during the vac scheme I did at their firm, or focus on other earlier experiences (would be the same ones I used last year when I successfully got the vs). on the one hand, using an entry about their vac scheme it proves my insight and experience at the firm and means I know they will consider my previous performance with them. on the other, if they would do that anyway I could be using that entry to showcase other work I have done, like last year.
I emailed grad rec who gave an "it's up to you" response. I would appreciate some advice please as I haven't been in this position before! thank you @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @ anyone with insight

 

[whywhy88]

Hi! What's the full phrasing of the question?

Tell us about any experiences outside of your work and study that have allowed you to develop skills that are relevant to this role.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina @ZNadeem and any one else, do you recommend applying to firms without attending any events this cycle as I usually wait to apply as I feel like it will give the application more of a chance? Are people actually consistently successful when submitting without attending any events? thanks

Hiya!

To be honest, you don't really need to bother too much about this. Generally speaking, attending open days and online events certainly do help your applications all round, as they give you an insight into the industry at large, and some specifics of the firm itself. However, a lot of it may be similar across firms such that key differences may only be spotted across areas such as application processes, and niche practices, for example.

Another example - if you attend an open day at a transactional-focused law firm, and you found you were interested in that side due to that experience, then you could easily reference that in an application to another transactional-focused law firm you may be interested in as well. The point I am trying to make is that you don't need to specifically attend a designated open day for the firm you are applying to. Transferrable skills can also be thought of as transferrable experiences, in this light. That said, if you are strongly interested in a particular firm and soooo keen to train there, then by all means apply to their events! Just be aware that grad rec will look at more than that, and the time spent attending a heavy load of events could be spent perfecting other key skills - such as case study or interview preparedness.

Another tip to stand out in open day applications is to understand that they differ to vac scheme and TC applications - you need to highlight more of what you will gain from that experience, rather than what you know already. This could include highlighting any skills or knowledge gaps which you know the open day can fill for XYZ reasons.

Hope this helps.