TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TheLegalEdit]

Reed Smith PFO after video interview heartbreaking but I knew it. Don’t know if this is a sign to throw in the towel now

 

[Dannie]

Reed Smith PFO after video interview heartbreaking but I knew it. Don’t know if this is a sign to throw in the towel now

do NOT throw in the towel you are so close, closer than you see. i promise you that

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Reed Smith PFO after video interview heartbreaking but I knew it. Don’t know if this is a sign to throw in the towel now

I saw a TikTok that said 'if you knew you were 100 rejections away from your dream, you'd be much more grateful to be told no'. This really resonated with me today after being PFO'd!!

You are closer than you think, don't give up, every rejection is a step in the right direction. You can do this!!

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Perkins Coie rejected the email was framed as "After reviewing your work and experiences" 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭

Would you mind sharing when you applied?

 

[tc2026]

hiii, does anyone have Links AC insights from 2025? or any advice? would really appreciate it

 

[sunnysan]

When did you get your invite?

Yesterday

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Clyde & Co online assessment invite (for spring vac scheme - applied Jan 6th)

 

[Adnanlone]

Hi guys , does anyone have insights into PWC VI ? can share my experience with Baker McKenzie, NRF, DLA, HL )

 

[TortillaTC]

Clyde & Co online assessment invite (for spring vac scheme - applied Jan 6th)

Same - applied 14 December

 

[Shaky_Pete]

That's because some people don't like the stress of Big Law so feel in-house is less stressful, people want to try new things etc. People also get told by their firm to leave (if they're not going to make partner or they're not billing enough etc) so the next port of call is in-house. I know this is particularly the case for Kirkland where they make you a non-equity partner but if you can't build a book of business, they tell you to leave (and help you land in-house roles).

The billables model is also very difficult for some people. If you're not billing, it can be stressful and the allocation of work isn't always even. Partners/senior associates have favourites and so if you're not being given work, this can also be stressful. But I think this is more of a problem for junior lawyers in certain practices.

Most careers don't have a billables model where you have to seek work otherwise you're not going to have a job for long. I've been in a corporate role at investment firm where I used to go watch Netflix in between when I wasn't being given work and nobody cared as long as I indicated I had capacity. In a billables model, I don't think I could get away with that for long.

I'm a mid-career changer - didn't study law, but lots of acquaintances from my university went into commercial law. I'd say 50% now either work in-house or have changed careers. Of the 12 or so people I knew at uni who are still in private practice at City firms, now at a senior level (ie counsel or partner), something I've noticed is that most of them attended private school.

 

[prawncrackers]

Clyde & Co online assessment invite (for spring vac scheme - applied Jan 6th)

same, would love any insights 🫶

 

[angdps]

hate to bring this up again but has anyone heard back from Baker Mckenzie for spring ACs at all? or have they just not sent them out to anyone

 

[ADhillon01]

Clyde & Co online assessment invite (for spring vac scheme - applied Jan 6th)

Yeaa same - applied 5th Jan 🤝

 

[anon78365222111]

hate to bring this up again but has anyone heard back from Baker Mckenzie for spring ACs at all? or have they just not sent them out to anyone

One person mentioned they got one but were only given two dates idk if they’re doing batches

 

[xMontmorency]

Has anyone been seeing the amount of junior lawyers leaving to either go in-house or leaving big law altogether these past few days? Or maybe my LinkedIn algorithm is just biased lol. But it makes me wonder why... especially when I see people leaving the firms I'm currently fighting tooth and nail to get into lol.

Granted, it could just be their preference, a growing generational phenomenon, or wanting more of a work life balance etc., but it does make me worry that there might be something deeper...

Edit: and yes I know we tend to see more of these at this time of year since bonuses have been paid etc. but still makes me wonder haha

It's known as associate attrition. It's entirely normal and, from the law firm's point of view, vitally necessary as part of the business model. Law firms, like consulting firms and investment banks, run a pyramid or 'up or out' model. You only need about 5-10 individuals in a class of 80-100 trainees to make partner. The rest have to go. Either to another firm, because they want to leave big law, or because they don't make the cut.

Look at Slaughter and May. At a low around 15 years ago they only had 85 partners in London. Now they're at around 120. They allegedly recruit 90 trainees a year, but last year promoted only 6 new partners (and 5 the year before). You do the maths.

They hire so many trainees/associates because they want to ensure they maintain a partner:associate leverage at around 3 or 4 (i.e. 3-4 associates per partner) to maximise billing potential, and to do all the grunge work. It also helps MC firms because a huge number of former trainees and associates land roles in-house at corporates, banks and PE houses, making it more likely that they will award work to their former firm.

From the associate who's quitting's perspective, it's not that bad. Some in-house roles are highly sought after, high paying, career-enhancing moves (just look at how much tech GCs earn in the US). You may take a small pay cut, but there are other benefits. Cushy job. No pressure to bill. Hours are way better.

Also, it's not unheard of to see people returning from in-house roles to become law firm partners: cf Angharad Lewis, David Holdsworth, Kai Zeng, Jeremy Dennison.

 

[ilikelaw]

does anyone else's text formatting get really messed up by CVmail because why am I previewing my application and all of a sudden random strings of words have all been merged together 😭 😭 😭

 

[LawAspirer]

Cooley WG

 

[ilikelaw]

Cooley WG

congrats ! when did you submit?

 

[elle woods]

It's known as associate attrition. It's entirely normal and, from the law firm's point of view, vitally necessary as part of the business model. Law firms, like consulting firms and investment banks, run a pyramid or 'up or out' model. You only need about 5-10 individuals in a class of 80-100 trainees to make partner. The rest have to go. Either to another firm, because they want to leave big law, or because they don't make the cut.

Look at Slaughter and May. At a low around 15 years ago they only had 85 partners in London. Now they're at around 120. They allegedly recruit 90 trainees a year, but last year promoted only 6 new partners (and 5 the year before). You do the maths.

They hire so many trainees/associates because they want to ensure they maintain a partner:associate leverage at around 3 or 4 (i.e. 3-4 associates per partner) to maximise billing potential, and to do all the grunge work. It also helps MC firms because a huge number of former trainees and associates land roles in-house at corporates, banks and PE houses, making it more likely that they will award work to their former firm.

From the associate who's quitting's perspective, it's not that bad. Some in-house roles are highly sought after, high paying, career-enhancing moves (just look at how much tech GCs earn in the US). You may take a small pay cut, but there are other benefits. Cushy job. No pressure to bill. Hours are way better.

Also, it's not unheard of to see people returning from in-house roles to become law firm partners: cf Angharad Lewis, David Holdsworth, Kai Zeng, Jeremy Dennison.

I see! That's very interesting.

I appreciate you writing all of this out! I definitely understand a lot better now.
Also it's good to know that you're able to return to big law after leaving it!

 

[iiippp123445]

One person mentioned they got one but were only given two dates idk if they’re doing batches

Yeah, seems weird that only one person has received an invite so far. Potentially delusion-fuelled, but I think its likely that they haven't fully released invites yet