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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Just did the Mills & Reeve SJT and VI. It was an amberjack so thought they would be looking at Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force. Got the feedback report and realised they have their own 5 categories that they were testing. I was so focused on trying to score highly on the Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force that I scored poorly of their specific criteria 🥴 The feedback report doesn't measure in numbers as I expected. They provide a written summary of how you did on their criteria and based on the feedback, I didnt do well in any of the main ones apart from analysis and problem solving. I also scored high on numerical and verbal intellect. Considering I didn't do great in many of their criteria (Client focus and collaboration!!) I'm anticipating a PFO. Or who knows, maybe the VI will be so great that they let me pass...Sorry for the long paragraph but useful heads up for anyone planning on doing it.
 
I’m not sure on the situation with all firms but with FF in particular they have an extremely low conversion rate from their vacation schemes (I think around 6 people got a TC last year from both cohorts).

I was told they over hired previously so had less spaces, but my uni had an event with grad rec so I asked them directly. Essentially, the lady laughed because she knew the question was controversial. She said that they tend to give out 6/7 TCs total to vac schemers and didn’t particularly give a reason as to why.

Instantly regretted applying to the vac scheme over a direct TC after that (had just finished stage 2 that same day 😐).
I think grad rec lied to you. They took around 40-50 in 2024, and 60-70 in 2023.

Freshfields overhired in previous years, lots of people deferred their TCs, and then legal AI came along and they predicted they wouldn't need as many trainees. That's why they did the King LLM thingy.

On a side note, I have very negative things to say about Freshfields grad rec. But I'm gonna hold myself back.
 

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