TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[i-want-a-tc]

How is there no Louis Litt? Best character on the show, better than Harvey and Mike. Yes, I committed the cardinal sin and I stand by it.

Lowkey we need a Daniel Hardman too…whose gna take it for the team… 👀​

 

[Donna Paulsen]

How is there no Louis Litt? Best character on the show, better than Harvey and Mike. Yes, I committed the cardinal sin and I stand by it.

I'm literally right here

 

[Harvey Specter]

How is there no Louis Litt? Best character on the show, better than Harvey and Mike. Yes, I committed the cardinal sin and I stand by it.

I see how it is…

 

[i-want-a-tc]

I'm literally right here

Close second, then Mike, then Harvey, then Jessica. Theres no Suits without Jessica.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

I see how it is…

 

[BobThebIlly]

Everyone else list of shows that inspired them to pursue law:

HTGAWM
Legally blonde
Suits

mine was Mr Burns lawyer I always admired how ruthless and capable he was as a kid

View attachment 7604

Better call Saul all the way

Might rebrand from “can we fix it” to its Saul goodman

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

I think there are some fair points here. From the vac schemers perspective it's pretty disheartening to go through the whole process and then not get the TC even if you're good enough. It's happened to me.

But I think these statements are quite entitled. You don't deserve a TC just because you got onto the Vac Scheme. If that were the case, the Vac Scheme would serve no purpose.

Vac schemes are meant to be internships. Real experience. You sit in a department and do work on live deals and cases. You have free reign to bombard associates and partners with coffee chat requests. It looks really good on your CV. Sure, they're also job interviews, but if you want to be a commercial lawyer then you should be more than happy with that opportunity.

Second, vac schemes are another stage in the recruitment process that (are supposed to) test how you fit with the firm, how well you can organise and manage a diary and a chance to prove yourself with actual work. There's a lot you could learn from your mistakes on a vac scheme. To say that "most feedback [post VS] is arbitrary" is a very fixed mindset approach.

Depending on the firm, the pre-vac interview process is not always so rigorous that firms shouldn't be allowed to be selective on a vac scheme - application questions can be ghostwritten or ChatGPT'd, you can easily cheat watson glasers, interviews can go well or badly based on luck. Milbank, for example, only has a 30min 1-to-1 partner interview to get onto the vac scheme. The recruiters get to know you more properly on a vac scheme, and some firms tend to be a bit more picky about 'culture fit' (though I agree that's mostly bullshit).

Finally, what's the alternative? If firms upped the conversion rates then that would just mean that fewer people get on the vac scheme and have the chance to prove themselves, and there would just be more competition to begin with. Ask youself this: if you had no city law work experience and were offered a vac scheme at a top law firm, but were told you're not going to get the return offer, would you not take it?

I think multiple points can simultaneously be true. I agree with many of yours, and I’m by no means suggesting an alternative approach. I unfortunately don’t have the answers. Realistically, there cannot be a blanket policy / solution for all firms anyway.

Nevertheless, I think that a low-conversion VS-TC system is unnecessary and inequitable when the quality of VS candidates are high, and, in most cases, their suitability has already been rigorously assessed at AC. As I originally said, I have no issues with comparatively high conversion rates.

On the feedback point - most people I’ve spoken with, rejected post-VS, have received rather generic, arbitrary feedback. Just like the application process, converting a VS is incredibly luck-based. I get it: if I had to choose between a Lamborghini and a Ferrari, I’d be choosing one merely for the sake of choosing, struggling to find flaws with the other.
Under that view, it’s precisely why I think it’s unfair for a law firm to offer lots of VS places and to have a low conversion rate.

The only slight benefit of the low conversion rate model is to VS candidates, who, as you rightfully noted, gain ‘some’ experience, but (for many of them) to the detriment of being rejected (for little valid reason). It’s a particularly harsh system when you consider some people spend 5 years applying and yet only secure one VS (and fail to convert).
I just feel there ought to be more transparency and certainty in the VS/TC process somehow.

Maybe I’m just being a little too sincere for what is ultimately a ruthless, cutthroat industry…

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Everyone else list of shows that inspired them to pursue law:

HTGAWM
Legally blonde
Suits

mine was Mr Burns lawyer I always admired how ruthless and capable he was as a kid

View attachment 7604

I'm gonna change my username to criminal lawyer Laurel Lance (Black Canary)

to honour her death for becoming vigilante at Green Arrow 🤣

 

[Novaa]

I'm gonna change my username to criminal lawyer Laurel Lance (Black Canary)

to honour her death for becoming vigilante at Green Arrow 🤣

WOAHHH I WASN’T EXPECTING A LAUREL LANCE MENTION!!

THIS TAKES THE TROPHY!

 

[jojo23]

Jaysen, Afraz, Andrei and Abbie when they open up the forum next and see all our posts:

me after not opening the forum for a few days:

 

[whywhy88]

Does anyone know if Sidley has an online test at all? Can’t find much info about the process post-application online!

 

[elle woods]

Does anyone know if Sidley has an online test at all? Can’t find much info about the process post-application online!

no it's just application and then the interview I believe

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Better call Saul all the way

Might rebrand from “can we fix it” to its Saul goodman

Don’t even try me bro 😮‍💨

 

[Harvey Specter]

Don’t even try me bro 😮‍💨

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

This might be a dumb question but do you guys mention open days and insight evenings in the work experience section?? I was just attending an event and grad rec advised against doing that which seems a bit weird.

Hey @solicitor_2028 open access programmes like Forage or insight days that you have to apply for don't typically count as work experience, and given the limited amount of information you could provide, it is usually recommended that you include this under an additional section in the CV, or if it is part of an online application where the form is pretty rigid, then as a separate WE but make clear what it is e.g. "Forage Virtual Experience (Various)". I don't imagine graduate recruitment being too harsh about this, but it can get a little tedious to figure out if someone has actually worked with White & Case or whether they just completed a 2 hour job simulation online. So, it is best to be as clear possible and that is through making clear there is distinction between your actual work and learning opportunities.

 

[solicitor_2028]

Usually grad rec mentions to bunch them together as one entry rather than flooding the Work experience section with separate entries of insight/open days. I've progressed to AC with several firms by including them. Which firm advised you this?

That is understandable, I might have to start bunching them together because there are over 6-7. This was Shoosmiths btw.

 

[BealMcAlly]

Everyone else list of shows that inspired them to pursue law:

HTGAWM
Legally blonde
Suits

mine was Mr Burns lawyer I always admired how ruthless and capable he was as a kid

View attachment 7604

Liar Liar^

 

[jojo23]

Does anybody have any AC advice, i don't feel like I'm good or competent enough to do it at all

I've been crashing out all week..

 

[Shiv Lawy]

While everyone is blowing off steam tonight I have a confession.

I've mentally read your name as "Gottage Throught" and genuinely assumed it was another law firm.

 

[jojo23]

Everyone else list of shows that inspired them to pursue law:

HTGAWM
Legally blonde
Suits

mine was Mr Burns lawyer I always admired how ruthless and capable he was as a kid

View attachment 7604

not a lawyer but hear me out