TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Bbhu19]

What if I don’t have a professional reference 😀

Have you ever had a job or volunteered somewhere? If so it’s worth asking your supervisor 9/10 they will say yes.

 

[Bbhu19]

What if I don’t have a professional reference 😀

Worst case scenario if you played a sport or did an extra curricular activity ask your coach or team leader.

 

[radssss]

What if I don’t have a professional reference 😀

Part time job supervisor maybe like working in a restaurant, hospitality, retail etc
Otherwise volunteer work

I know someone who had no paid work experience and then volunteered for a couple of months and got a reference from them!

 

[xMontmorency]

Why do some firms take on so many vacation scheme candidates but only take on less than 50% of scheme candidates?

It's almost like you're so close but not quite there.

I mean what's the point of the vacation scheme if everyone gets the TC?

If everyone got the TC it would be a big waste of time and money to throw on the VS, since vac schemers really don't get much valuable training or work done on the scheme itself. The benefit of advertising to prospective candidates is marginal since there are so many candidates to choose from anyways.

MC firms have started to realise that and slowly reduced the conversion rates on vac schemes as a result.

 

[BobThebIlly]

Part time job supervisor maybe like working in a restaurant, hospitality, retail etc
Otherwise volunteer work

I know someone who had no paid work experience and then volunteered for a couple of months and got a reference from them!

I gen don’t have a professional reference. I have some positions but they’re student societies. I’ve never had a part-time job

Is this gonna put me at a detriment ?

 

[Novaa]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Has anyone heard from Mayer Brown?

 

[user123987]

Bakers AC, I can't believe it 🥲🥲🥲
Slots were 15th and 22nd of Jan
Submitted my int on the 23rd dec

Is this for Spring?

 

[xMontmorency]

I gen don’t have a professional reference. I have some positions but they’re student societies. I’ve never had a part-time job

Is this gonna put me at a detriment ?

Put N/A and offer to give an additional academic reference.

'Personal' reference means friend or family (but it is frowned upon to give parents or immediate siblings)

 

[elle woods]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Has anyone heard from Mayer Brown?

I havent 😔 have you?

 

[radssss]

I mean what's the point of the vacation scheme if everyone gets the TC?

If everyone got the TC it would be a big waste of time and money to throw on the VS, since vac schemers really don't get much valuable training or work done on the scheme itself. The benefit of advertising to prospective candidates is marginal since there are so many candidates to choose from anyways.

MC firms have started to realise that and slowly reduced the conversion rates on vac schemes as a result.

I agree and just to add to this - a vacation scheme really increases your chances to get a tc, if not in that firm then in some other firm. The more the people they take the better…

 

[applicant3000]

I just completed the Cleary WGT.. Should I receive confirmation of its completion?

You don't get a confirmation. Hope this helps

 

[ellamai0]

Not that anybody asked, but I wanted to say that I've given up on this application cycle. Hopefully, by sharing my situation, I can provide some sort of comfort to others who are finding this experience difficult.

This time around, I submitted 10 applications. I'm still waiting for a response from Simmons; the rest have been PFOs. The furthest I progressed in any of them was getting to the second stage for Hogan Lovells.

I have a relatively strong academic background. However, I don't have much work/extracurricular experience and, therefore, I lack good examples for many competencies which firms seek. One consequence of this was that my answers for VI questions about problem solving and "overcoming challenges" were relatively weak. Additionally, I couldn't think of an answer to some application questions which, ultimately, meant that I chose not to apply to many firms I really wanted to (an example which immediately springs to mind is Cooley and their question about "a situation where you have demonstrated initiative").

As somebody who has already graduated, I've come to realise that my next step has to be self-funding the SQE. This isn't ideal. My family doesn't have a lot of money. And, in stark contrast to being a future trainee with an SQE grant (and a sponsored prep course), I've had to accept that I'll be working with some degree of finance-related detriment to my studies. Yet, I recognise how fortunate I am to have my family supporting me through this next step and I can't even begin to imagine how difficult this would be for somebody who isn't receiving any additional support.

At the moment, my ethos is (somewhat ironically) taking initiative. I graduated over a year ago now. I can't keep on applying to firms, hoping that they'll provide me with an opportunity to progress to the next stage of my life. I need to do that myself.

So, yeah, all the best to everybody still striving for a TC this cycle. And, particularly for those of you who are feeling dejected, don't let rejections (or the successes of others) undermine your sense of self-worth.

I’m sorry to hear this. I would say also take this time to get involved with some hobbies and work experience/volunteering (doesn’t need to be legal) in order to have a few examples. you also probably have more examples than you think; make use of group projects during university etc, i.e. taking the initiative to help a group member whilst they were struggling etc.

Wishing you all the best, and I hope it works out for you.

 

[radssss]

Put N/A and offer to give an additional academic reference.

'Personal' reference means friend or family (but it is frowned upon to give parents or immediate siblings)

Yes I agree put n/a but do not put in a personal reference because if they find out that might not give a very good impression. I’m sure a lot of people don’t have work experience and that’s okay, they still get offers so you’re not gonna be disadvantaged! @BobThebIlly
Also a lot of firms (most) don’t ask for reference till the offer stage, I’ve seen v few ask for this in the application form so you can always explain it to the firm later!

Also if this worries you maybe you could choose to volunteer for a month or two part time or do a part time job for a month or so - ofc I understand that’s your choice completely and you may not have the time

 

[Novaa]

I havent 😔 have you?

Nooo but I saw someone in the WhatsApp chat has. Thought I’d scope the scenery here but seems very quiet 🧐

 

[elle woods]

Nooo but I saw someone in the WhatsApp chat has. Thought I’d scope the scenery here but seems very quiet 🧐

omg already??? okk time to start assuming PFO haha

 

[yasmars]

Is anyone still awaiting HSF for spring?

 

[Novaa]

omg already??? okk time to start assuming PFO haha

She applied on 2nd Dec then did her SJT/VI on 15th December. So I hope they’re just working their way through.

 

[elle woods]

She applied on 2nd Dec then did her SJT/VI on 15th December. So I hope they’re just working their way through.

fingers crossed for us both!

 

[user123987]

Anyone who applied on deadline heard back from AG?

 

[TCLA0322]

For those asking WFW vi insight- they only have 20s prep time (brutal to me, I basically fumbled) and 2 mins answering time... 4 questions in total