TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[radssss]

Does anyone know if Gateley sponsors visa for tc?

 

[Novaa]

Was the Gateley deadline at 23:59 on Friday?

I was able to view the TC apps earlier but now they have gone. I cannot see any deadline listed anywhere on Gateley's website - just vaguely states the deadline is in January. Both Chambers and Legal Cheek says 11 Jan.

Currently procrastinating so thought I’d go have a quick look.

Went on their LinkedIn and it says “The countdown is on for our 9 January 2026 deadline! ⌛ “

But across the board it is very vague… everywhere just says “January” 🤔

 

[user123987]

Was the Gateley deadline at 23:59 on Friday?

I was able to view the TC apps earlier but now they have gone. I cannot see any deadline listed anywhere on Gateley's website - just vaguely states the deadline is in January. Both Chambers and Legal Cheek says 11 Jan.

It was the 9th. It was wrongly listed on Legal Cheek.

 

[Legallylaw]

Hii, with applications limiting 5 work experiences, is it a good idea to just send your CV to the Grad Rec to explain all the other ones you have?

 

[elle woods]

Oreo >> Kinder Bueno:

 

[jamieclarke]

Currently procrastinating so thought I’d go have a quick look.

Went on their LinkedIn and it says “The countdown is on for our 9 January 2026 deadline! ⌛ “

Yes I have subsequently seen that after further research. I understand that law firms pay to appear on Legal Cheek and Chambers - and the information provided on the respective firm pages are signed of by the firm before they are published - so the deadline should be accurate. They are both not getting it wrong for no reason.

Hopefully they did not receive enough apps and re-open their apps.

 

[jamieclarke]

It was the 9th. It was wrongly listed on Legal Cheek.

Chambers stated 11th Jan as well.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hii, with applications limiting 5 work experiences, is it a good idea to just send your CV to the Grad Rec to explain all the other ones you have?

Hey @Legallylaw if they have limited the experiences to 5 and have not specified the criteria, your best option is to select 5 experiences you feel most sell your ability to navigate the legal world. Whether this be through direct experience or transferrable skills. It's probably limited for efficient screening, so I wouldn't suggesting sending them a CV if they haven't asked for one

 

[Novaa]

Hii, with applications limiting 5 work experiences, is it a good idea to just send your CV to the Grad Rec to explain all the other ones you have?

Hey,

If it isn’t an application platform which requires you to send your CV. I personally wouldn’t send it to them, and would just choose examples which show a different set of skills I gained.

So if I had 3 retail examples, a University job (Mentoring), my current full time job, and a volunteering experience. I would drop one retail example as the skills I gained were likely similar to the rest of my retail examples.

 

[Legallylaw]

Thank you so much!!

 

[TCGrad1642]

Hopefully good news this week coming, feeling uber nervous! 😱

 

[Legallylaw]

Has the RPC application form changed? They seem to have gone for one question only?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hello @Afraz Akhtar
I was wondering what are the different types of things that we could be asked to draft for the written exercise. So far, I have - client email, partner email, memo, report, and note. I saw note written somewhere before but i'm not sure what this means? Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Also, where am I supposed to find the structure of all these things - I checked roughly across the forum, but I mean like a comprehensive structure for all, including things like which documents need an executive summary, which don't etc.

Thank you

Hi @flower1, I think you've covered the bulk of what could potentially be asked in a written exercise, unless the firm wants to throw in a little curveball and provide another format, but generally what it is assessing will be the same.

We don't have any materials on the structure (from what I can gather at least) but I would say that it is probably wise not to focus too much on the structure, as opposed to the audience/technique in writing. Of course, structure helps, but remember this is more so to make this concise and easy to digest - so ask yourself, if you were the intended audience (in that position) how would you like the information to be presented to you e.g. if I was a client, I would want the overall answer (whether you call that an exec summary or not), then I'd want you to break down the main points, lastly ending on any next steps you may need from me. Understanding your audience will guide your structure.

Everyone's structure will be a little different, so firms will not really have a set template as to how you should have broken down the information, just that you've attempted to do so efficiently.

 

[trainee4u]

Yes I have subsequently seen that after further research. I understand that law firms pay to appear on Legal Cheek and Chambers - and the information provided on the respective firm pages are signed of by the firm before they are published - so the deadline should be accurate. They are both not getting it wrong for no reason.

Hopefully they did not receive enough apps and re-open their apps.

Yeah this is particularly shoddy given they state

"we review all applications after the closing date which is in January." on their website, they don't give the closing date there, they use their own shitty website which lacks closing dates instead of a site like allhires where the dates are clear and stark.

I always check dates on the corp website as I get nearer the time, but afaics there was never any indication of the closing date

 

[Novaa]

I actually don’t know how to put into words how excited I am to get my first post-TC headshot done.

LOL LET ME GO BACK TO PREPPING FOR THESE TESTS SO I CAN ACTUALLY GET A TC.

 

[radssss]

I had such a relaxing weekend because I knew that hopefully I’m not going to get any emails from firms so I wasn’t anxious ( I haven’t applied to firms like a&o and slaughters who email on the weekend😭) hopefully, it’s only going to good news for everyone from tomorrow !

 

[Harvey Specter]

I actually don’t know how to put into words how excited I am to get my first post-TC headshot done.

LOL LET ME GO BACK TO PREPPING FOR THESE TESTS SO I CAN ACTUALLY GET A TC.

This is gna be me post TC offer(s) doing my long awaited glambot photo and video shoot:​

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Does anyone have any advice on this question for RPC: In what ways do you see yourself as ‘strikingly real’, and how does that connect with your motivation to apply here and your confidence in succeeding? (300 words max) *

I have to say, a rather unconventional question ...

I said I was 'strikingly real' on account of having mediocre grades and no achievements of note. Still waiting to hear back.

 

[Donuttime]

Oreo >> Kinder Bueno:

im more of a biscoff fiend myself

 

[ADhillon01]

Hi, anyone that has done the Clyde and Co 1st stage test - is the behavioural assessment (untimed) and critical reasoning (time monitored) both 45 mins each to complete? I have to do it by midnight and I want to know if I need to start now or later 😟