TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[michelle ma]

Could anyone share some insights about Goodwin’s video interview? I would be happy to exchange information on Simmons & Simmons’ AI internship in return.

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Is Milbank's first stage automatic or post review of the app? For their spring vac scheme leveraged finance, is prior experience in lev finance (like an internship etc) essential?

 

[llblawstudent]

Could anyone share some insights about Goodwin’s video interview? I would be happy to exchange information on Simmons & Simmons’ AI internship in return.

Hey, have you heard back from Simmons for the AI internship after the test?

 

[Dannie]

Hey guys do you know if the PH First Paul Hastings Programme leads to a TC interview? is it like a vac scheme since any student is elegible?

 

[bh.sa]

Hey guys do you know if the PH First Paul Hastings Programme leads to a TC interview? is it like a vac scheme since any student is elegible?

It doesn't lead to an interview - you still have to apply for the TC separately. It's essentially just a 1 week WEX placement

 

[iwatchsuits]

This might sound a bit silly, but how do people manage feelings of imposter syndrome during a vacation scheme? Some people are naturally very confident socially, and I sometimes feel out of place at London open days and insight events, especially with a northern accent. What are the best ways to overcome that? I think it's mostly psychological rather than actually being able to do anything about it.

Any insights? @Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

Totally feel this, I had a pretty strong Welsh accent before uni and completely lost it because I had to constantly ‘tone’ myself down and change the way I pronounce things so people wouldn’t mimick me or make fun of me. It was all jokes to them but I feel like I’ve lost a part of my identity! I sound like I’m from southern England now and it makes me feel out of place and less connected at home.

Even in seminars, I felt like my contributions were taken less seriously. People perceived me as ditsy when to be honest, I was doing way better than them academically. It’s really frustrating.

 

[shadowboxer909]

hi! can i know ur grades/academics + uni (not name) if that's OK?

12A* - GCSE

3A* 1A - A-level

2:1 - Economics - mid-tier university (mixture of firsts, 2:1s, 2:2s and 2 thirds)

Investment Banking internship, Asset Management internship and then my current role.

I wouldn't worry too much. The process is so, so random and my academics post-A-level aren't particularly amazing.

Gibson Dunn wasn't even a firm that I thought would be remotely close to getting an interview with.

 

[FutureTrainee100]

Looking for a bit of advice, would appreciate anything.

I think I’m genuinely considering calling it a day regarding TC’s:

Last year, I managed to make it to 2 ACs, with the more recent of the two being a huge positive for me. Though I didn’t get an offer, I received positive feedback and fell just short, and it was a significant improvement on the first AC. It’s also worth mentioning this was for a firm with a notoriously challenging AC, which I further took as a positive.

This was around August, so it gave me good motivation to hit the ground running with this cycle. By this point, I knew what I was doing, I’d perfected my strategy when it came to SJT’s, Watson Glasers, so I felt good going into this cycle…

Only to quickly realise that most firms decided this year they want to throw a massive spanner in the works and make their processes 40x harder. Before this, I knew VIs were not my strength, so I thought I’ll just avoid firms that use them, considering I knew I was now strong in written applications and psychometrics. Now, it seems that VIs are an unavoidable fact of TC applications as of this year.

Still, I went into WVS applications quite optimistic. Fast forward to now, received rejections from every single winter I applied to, which was demoralising but I knew it was still early days.

Again, fast forward to now, I’m genuinely considering just saving my time and investing it elsewhere, starting to believe the odds are far too stacked against me.

I’ve completed about 10 VIs for firms this year already, with a good portion of those being selective, so again I know my applications are pristine and my psychometrics are too, but I’ve been rejected from all. I’ve had 1 to 1s with various people to help me improve VI performance, who all said that I was seemingly quite good with them.

I was going into this cycle with AC experience from two elite City Firms and so I naturally felt pretty confident in my abilities, but this year feels regressive if anything at this moment in time. Now I just think it’s ultimately impossible to even get an AC, especially with this cycle quietly coming to the end in a month or so, at least for vacs. I’m now a graduate and so I really cannot afford to keep investing my time into what seems to be a black hole, having told myself I’m going to give it my best shot this year and leave no stone unturned.

And in my opinion - and it could sound convenient - I think the way firms are heading with these new recruitment processes is ultimately starting to diminish the merit that used to be involved in writing an impressive application. Though I know endurance is very important in this process too, it does feel like unless the quality you input is matched with an exhausting amount of stamina, people who were strong contenders in ACs and vacs are now not even being shown the time of day.

But that’s just my opinion. Let me know what you think, thanks.

I really feel this, and just wanted to say you’re not alone. Last year I made it to 3 ACs. This year, nothing so far. I’ve been rejected from every single VI I’ve done, despite getting strong feedback previously and knowing my written apps and psychometrics are solid.

What’s hit me hardest is that I’ve just bombed a VI for a firm where I did an AC last year, was told I was “a hair away”, and was strongly encouraged to reapply this cycle. Im bawling right now. It’s incredibly demoralising when you know you’re capable at AC level but can’t even get back into the room.

I don’t really have answers, but I wanted to add another data point that supports what you’re saying, this cycle feels fundamentally different, and it’s not a reflection of us suddenly becoming worse candidates.