TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TheSlapDotCom]

Any pfos today from HSF? I got the pass email on 3 December. Hopefully no news is good news?

I have a 2:1 overall with a couple of 2:2 modules as well (with mitigating circumstances) so I’m worried but I had a scholarship at university for my degree (top Russell group) and one year of legal experience (silver circle firm) so I don’t know what to expect and it’s my dream firm.

Also, please can someone suggest me a few firms that are happy with a 2:1 overall and good work experience, are not too strict with grades?

hey is this after the job sim and for their summer vs?

 

[James Wakefield]

Congrats! pls pls give advice for Weil from your profound knowledge

Haha the strategy was just putting down different answers than my previous amberjack.

I would say think quite carefully about the answers and make sure you're demonstrating you collaborate and work well with others, and are sensitive to how they might feel about your preferred response.

 

[johnsmith]

Anyone applied to Reed Smith on deadline day and received positive news?

Not yet but I’d give them a chance - the volume increase will have been exponential!

 

[James Wakefield]

Hey I just got an email from Early Careers saying that they are currently processing my online assessment and will give me an update next year. As you said you completed it on the same day as I did, you'll probably hear back then aswell

Was that a universal holding email or did you email them? Thanks!

 

[dreamer]

Does anyone know graduate recruitment's stance on saying 'PW' instead of 'Paul, Weiss'? I'm really trying to reach the word count....

Except you like to gamble, get another eye to review if you can. They're likely to be less emotional and help cut all repetitions. Lol

 

[nbjani]

Happy to, so something like "provide an example of when you collaborated with others to reach a goal, and outline the role you played to support the team" is essentially assessing your ability to work well within a team, so any example you provide should bear that in mind - meaning answers which focus around managing others/leadership add little value here and can actually distract away from the points you need to make.

Picture this: The partner takes instructions from the client and delegates the matter to the associate team. The associate team work hard to decide a strategy behind the matter and begin with drafting the documents, asking the trainee for support in research, admin, and pre-drafts of reviews. As a trainee, although you're not leading the matter, your role as a supporter is crucial to the success. All three of you (varying in leadership) striving to reach the common goal of client success. Now, lets look at the question with that scenario in mind - has there been a time where you've supported/collaborated with others to reach a common goal or resolve a particular situation, e.g. close knit team in sales working towards increasing revenue during period of low footfall through communicating with eachother during busy periods to ensure no customer was left ignored whilst others were tended to, sharing ideas as to strategies such as link selling, providing feedback for store performance to manager for further store improvements etc. Although the example itself is fairly simple and may not seem like its moving mountains in the legal world - the question is only assessing skill not legal experience so anything will really do here as long as you can display how it is a good example of teamwork.

Before you begin, think about what makes a good team player and build on from there.

Thanks so much. Breaking down the real-life application of the situation to the role of the trainee and then thinking about it that way really helps. You're an absolute legend.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Not to dampen your spirits, but based on what I've read about VS and visa sponsorship, the chances of visa sponsorship are almost zero. But if you're an international student and on a visa, they'd allow you to do a VS provided it falls outside of your term period. I think it would be best to ask the firms you're targeting, though. Hope this helps, cheers!

Second this! Always best to check with the firm and if its a firm you really like but are not accounted for in their process, make sure to check whether they accept or are willing to work with authorised sponsors like BUNAC. I am not sure if this comes at a high cost, but where the firm is not willing to sponsor your visa for a VS, its possible to get someone else to.

 

[Lawlawland]

NGL sorry if this sounds brutal, but firms which pay lower obv won't attract calibre candidates (including stellar grades), unless you have undeniable mitigating circumstances that you can't hinder, eg, you went coma at Hospital ICU, etc. Also, if you aren't part of DEI, your chances are low. If I were you, I'd be realistic not apply to competitive firms like HSFK, though many firms mentioned they'll consider mediocre grades, oftentimes you'll be competing with highly skilled candidates. I don't mean it's impossible, but you must be super lucky if you ended up get it. In the end, you should utilise extra last minute time to build your profile esp if you're still a student, WYATB!

Sorry to step in late, but this sounds like something an obnoxious MC/US firm lawyer would write in the Uklaw sub-reddit 😭😭😭😭...

It's competitive and they're picky, yes. But everyone has a right to dream, and she most definitely sounds like she has the calibre to secure that.

Also, this is a poor understanding of DEI. Every so called "DEI" hires still earned their place because they're just that good. A brown/black/queer person in the room is there in the room because they're a bloody good lawyer, not because they're brown/black/queer. And that'll never not be true.

I hope this cycle goes well for you and for the other person. Cheers!

 

[TCGrad1642]

Anyone got any advice on Willkie VI? IS it the same as last year? Happy to trade for MB, Freshfields and Latham Or MB AC.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hi trainees!

I’m working on the Farrer VS application, which asks: “In what ways have your academic studies, qualifications, and work experience equipped you for a legal career?”

I've already described my professional experiences in the work experiences section of the application (1. content redesign project at HuffPost, 2. product marketing role at a tech company, 3. communications coordinator at a literary non-profit) in standard CV point form that details my day-to-day tasks and results. For this application question, I’m unsure whether it would be better to:

1. Expand on those same roles, focusing on specific instances where I demonstrate transferrable legal skills (have it drafted and ready to go) or
2. Introduce different experiences not on my CV, such as:
   • My PGDL studies, where I managed eight subjects over eight months and achieved distinction -- hoping to demonstrate time management / resilience here
   • Founding a student start-up, EasyWaste, leading a team, developing an MVP, and pitching to investors -- this would demonstrate motivation and drive
   • My freelance content design practice in San Francisco, where I redesigned small business websites and worked closely with clients -- this would demonstrate client-facing communication skills and analytical skills.

Would it be more effective to go into legal-specific detail on my professional roles, or to bring in new experiences here?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Hi @Pearl3181

Although both answers could be good. The examples themselves are not the important detail, so expand on your roles or bring in different experiences not on your CV - but make sure the takeaway (whether its insight or skills) that you mention are akin to that of a legal career/what the firm is looking for. If it helps, you could begin by jotting down a list of your academic studies/qualifications/work experiences and for each one think of how that would be similar to your role as a trainee/transferable skills that align with what the firm is looking for. Once this is done, try to focus on one experience from each category and remove the ones with repetitive skills. That should help you decide what to go for in the end (whether or not it is already included in your CV work experience).

 

[User2640]

Hello!

Whilst I can't remember the specific number of questions in Reed Smith's VI (and someone else who has completed it this cycle may be able to confirm!), I personally found this video on TCLA really useful when I was preparing for the VI and online assessment last cycle. As discussed in the video, the questions are a mix of motivational and strengths-based questions!

Wishing you the best of luck with your video interview, I'm sure you'll smash it!

Thank you so much Abbie, will take a proper look at the video <3 !!

 

[Lawlawland]

Slaughters Interview Invite! Been off the thread for a few days to try get it off my mind. Applied 23rd Nov.

Congratulations!!!
Rooting for you, May this go well✨

 

[TCGrad1642]

For firms that are rolling, with deadlines around the new year, is it worth applying over the next few days up to Boxing Day? Or perhaps best to apply after? Many thanks!

 

[yk1906]

Is it worth applying to Katten as an international? Not much info out there about the firm 🙃

 

[Superfrozone]

Is it worth applying to Katten as an international? Not much info out there about the firm 🙃

I was just about to ask about applying to Katten. I have started my app but I’m not an international but wanted to hear if anyone has had an AC in prior years

 

[cookedlawstudent]

Was that a universal holding email or did you email them? Thanks!

I emailed them myself. This is the email verbatim: "We can confirm receipt of your completed online immersive assessment. We are currently still processing your assessment and will be in touch with an update in the new year."

 

[yk1906]

I was just about to ask about applying to Katten. I have started my app but I’m not an international but wanted to hear if anyone has had an AC in prior years

Mysterious firm... Seems interesting though! Thinking of spending a couple of hours on the app just in case

 

[Bree]

Hey I just got an email from Early Careers saying that they are currently processing my online assessment and will give me an update next year. As you said you completed it on the same day as I did, you'll probably hear back then aswell

I did not get this email

 

[emily3827]

Oh boy let me tell you about simmons...its been 48 days
Yes, im counting because im petty💅

i did a simmons ac over a month ago and radio silence lmao i managed to do another ac and the vac scheme itself in the time i’ve been waiting

 

[Kakaboo]

Is BCLP Manchester rolling?