TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[A worried paralegal]

Clyde and Co doesn't ask for anything in the application, not even work experience????? I'm confused

Is this for the Academy?

 

[A worried paralegal]

6,6,6,3 (creative force) in amberjack.. goodbye Mishcon hun can’t wait to have one to one with AI chat therapy bot again next year xx

I got an absolutely awful score which has gave me even more pain

 

[cookedlawstudent]

Is this for the Academy?

No this is forthe summer vac scheme

 

[cookedlawstudent]

Can Freshfields reject me already...has anyone been invited to the January ACs yet. Please let me know so I can finally leave this firm alone.

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

From Clifford Chance's application receipt email (applied for SPARK):


"Whilst you wait to hear from us, we have a number of open access resources which we encourage you to complete:

• Our Global Virtual Internships. Applicants are 9.1x more likely to progress to interview and 15.6x more likely to secure a Training Contract having completed at least one Global Virtual Internship."

doesn't that seem insanely high? why might this be the case? esp since they seem to say that they don't take this into account

A stats perspectice: correlation not causation
The majority of applications (in general) are probably not high enough to meet their standards.
People who spend time doing those things, are less likely to be people who would rush applications / make applications that didn't meet the thresholds.
Therefore the % of people who complete these things who progress is likely significantly higher than the % of the overall application cohort, not because an equally strong candidate who did the GVI is a more credible candidate, but rather that people who rush/ spend little time on applications won't be completing those.

 

[zara elles]

Does anyone know whether the Milbank OA is automatic?

The wording in the email is: "Your application has been shortlisted for the next stage of the process as you've demonstrated the potential that we are looking for.

This is a formal invitation for you to complete an Online Assessment."

So I would assume its not automatic, but from reading their online material and TCLA I'm getting the feeling it is?

 

[jagath]

From Clifford Chance's application receipt email (applied for SPARK):


"Whilst you wait to hear from us, we have a number of open access resources which we encourage you to complete:

• Our Global Virtual Internships. Applicants are 9.1x more likely to progress to interview and 15.6x more likely to secure a Training Contract having completed at least one Global Virtual Internship."

doesn't that seem insanely high? why might this be the case? esp since they seem to say that they don't take this into account

just to illustrate:



say the “bottom 50%” have completed no Forage courses. they are the bottom 50% of applicants and will be rejected.

out of the “top 50%” of applicants, 60% have completed a Forage course. these people are more likely to be successful, but not necessarily because they’ve done a GVI. thus, those numbers appear in CC’s data

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Did anyone apply to Dechert in the past couple of weeks and receive the written exercise?

 

[Wagamamas]

Did anyone apply to Dechert in the past couple of weeks and receive the written exercise?

I applied in October and did not get an invite.

It would be courteous if they rejected earlier applicants if they’re unsuccessful rather than handing out next stage invites to later applicants it’s annoying.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Did anyone apply to Dechert in the past couple of weeks and receive the written exercise?

I saw someone got theirs last week and they’d only applied two weeks prior. Others waited 6-8 weeks so it’s all over the place lmao. I sent my app early Dec and haven’t heard since.​

 

[kukubird]

Does anyone know whether the Milbank OA is automatic?

The wording in the email is: "Your application has been shortlisted for the next stage of the process as you've demonstrated the potential that we are looking for.

This is a formal invitation for you to complete an Online Assessment."

So I would assume its not automatic, but from reading their online material and TCLA I'm getting the feeling it is?

I do not think it is automatic but rather they do a basic screening of your application and then decide to send you a test.

 

[kukubird]

I saw people asking questions about applying to Perkins LBA, if anyone needs any advice feel free to DM me I have done their SVS.

 

[flower1]

Hello @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock @Afraz Akhtar
I was wondering with regard to intellectual property practice - what's the pure substantive things we should know about for ACs? I don't mean like connecting to broader trends, but rather like actual concepts / content?

Thank you

 

[Unknowncabbage]

I thought there was an interview stage before assessments or is it all rolled into one?

nope, their AC includes a competency interview, case-study interview and written exercise.

 

[zara elles]

I do not think it is automatic but rather they do a basic screening of your application and then decide to send you a test.

Thank you!

 

[asplawyer100]

Has anyone heard from Dentons post VI?