TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Anybody who did the willkie VI - how'd it go?? Was it fairly standard?

 

[radssss]

Mayer brown assessment - 7,6,7,7 - high numerical, mid verbal :/

Am I cooked? (Think the vi went fine but I could do better)

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

For people who sat the GD test, did you get an email confirming completion? I just did mine now but didn’t get an email afterwards

 

[alphabravocharlie]

For people who sat the GD test, did you get an email confirming completion? I just did mine now but didn’t get an email afterwards

IS there a VI Qs in GD test?

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

IS there a VI Qs in GD test?

No, just SJT and Watson style questions

 

[Afuturetrainee]

For people who sat the GD test, did you get an email confirming completion? I just did mine now but didn’t get an email afterwards

It takes a while

 

[BealMcAlly]

Milbank’s app form is work history, academics and personal details so also pretty short.​

Is the VI automatic? I assume the usual questions that would go in a written application are in the VI.

 

[yk1906]

Is the VI automatic? I assume the usual questions that would go in a written application are in the VI.

There isn't a VI element for Milbank

 

[floral.tcla]

I have a weird question...
Is there any thread in this forum where people just log/journal the situation/pressure they're in and others hear or offer comfort?

Something safe and secure and devoid of "i'mma be honest talks" and also that doesn't block the flow of knowledge sharing happening in the main VS/TC thread?

If there isn't one, would it be a good idea to have one, so people feel comfortable to open and seen enough to get hope and pick themselves up? @Jaysen ✨

this is such a lovely idea!! and it sounds more constructive than watching compilations of kdrama characters shouting (‘the glory’ I’m looking at you…) which has been quite therapeutic lol😆

 

[NomenEstOmen]

Hey everyone, quick question. I submitted Stage 1 for Hogan Lovells last Wednesday and still haven’t heard back. Usually I’d be worried, but six of my classmates who submitted a few days before me also haven’t received an invite to Stage 2. Nevertheless, I wanted to ask whether anyone who completed Stage 1 after 9 December has already received an invitation to Stage 2. Thank you, and best of luck to all of you!

Now?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Can anyone give me some tips of commercial awareness topics to discuss?

@Kakaboo not sure if this has been answered yet, but you should base any commercial awareness topic around the firm you're applying to and it's specific departments/client base - just so you can link it back to the firm and highlight what this means for them as a service provider or for their clients more generally. Basing it off that, I would run a quick google search on the department e.g. competition law and see if the search engine can return a recent business article e.g. RyanAir getting fined £250M for market abuse and decide if it there is anything interest piquing or impactful (where you can link back to the firm/its department/its clients) e.g. Italian authorities seemed to approach the legal threshold of a 40% market share more flexibly BUT what was their rationale for doing so? Does this signal a wider threat to the airline market who attempt to stifle travel agents commission? And so on...

All I know is, I seem to feel a little better about RyanAir's hidden charges.

Good luck and if you're struggling to find resources, this post has some good tips: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-sources.7696/

 

[DavidJC]

I knew you would XD

But being real, I think it will help a lot of people to open up, seek comfort and get things off their chest, coz most people (like me) have nobody around to understand how excruciating or tiring this process is, and we could use a space where we don't have to put up a brave show about this and be real for once around people who truly understand how emotional it could be!

Definitely approve of the idea! I'm in a similar boat here but some very empathetic friends even though they don't really understand why or how it's so much more tedious and difficult in law so that at least helps a little!

Also just wanted to chime in on the "imma be honest" posts, they've been few and far between, and even then they've just been forced to swallow reality pills and get off their high horses so I wouldn't worry about them too much

 

[James Wakefield]

Hey everyone, quick question. I submitted Stage 1 for Hogan Lovells last Wednesday and still haven’t heard back. Usually I’d be worried, but six of my classmates who submitted a few days before me also haven’t received an invite to Stage 2. Nevertheless, I wanted to ask whether anyone who completed Stage 1 after 9 December has already received an invitation to Stage 2. Thank you, and best of luck to all of you!

I did stage 1 on 11th Dec and got the invite to stage 2 the next day.

 

[edwardtcjourney]

What sort of role does Amberjack scores play? I scored 34 with excel excel, but equally got 26 excel excel on the test before so assuming it's just more of a culture fit. Is it more of a pass/fail bar or do they actively take into account the score later on? Thinking of submitting a few more Amberjacks if the latter, but I also bombed the video interview lol

 

[JasmineM9]

this is such a lovely idea!! and it sounds more constructive than watching compilations of kdrama characters shouting (‘the glory’ I’m looking at you…) which has been quite therapeutic lol😆

Not me chiming in everytime someone mentions K dramas - the glory was PEAK

 

[sumsum]

hey has anyone heard from MDR about the new deadline for the chat interview after their email about having issues?

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Tried to do the Bakers VI 20 mins ago but unable to access it, despite an earlier email saying the deadline was 23:59 tonight. Did anyone else have this problem?

 

[IWillGetATC]

how did i get a 1 on creative force for MB....... i got a 7 yesterday for weil 😭

 

[Novaa]

WAIT!! I JUST FINISHED MY MAYER BROWN AND GOT 7/9/7/7 - Got cut off for my last answer though…

That HSF PFO isn’t stopping me!!

 

[elle woods]

WAIT!! I JUST FINISHED MY MAYER BROWN AND GOT 7/9/7/7 - Got cut off for my last answer though…

That HSF PFO isn’t stopping me!!

omg teach me your ways?? My MB score was absolutely awful ahhaha

well done!! atta girl!