TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Novaa]

what kind of questions should you prepare for for a VI? aside from why you / why law / why the firm?

Commercial Awareness:

- What challenges/opportunities for Clients? (Look at their strategic vision / [Core Practice Areas] trends for 2026 presentations)

- What clients look for in firms?

- Tell us about a deal that interests you (Prepare to include why? How the firm can advise?)

I think this should give you a solid foundation for any commercial awareness question

Competency:

- I would have two STAR examples you could mention for the following core competencies (Collaboration, Communication, Conflict Management, Time Management, Leadership)

 

[elle woods]

Out of curiosity, what's the longest someone has been waiting after an AC and still gotten a positive response rather than a PFO :' )

If it's been over a week, I should probably move on huh?

Did they tell you when to expect to hear back?

Sometimes if there are ACs still to run after you've done yours, it can take much longer to hear back. Most firms have to finish all their ACs before they take some time to make final decisions. Obviously other firms do things differently, especially if they give out offers on a rolling basis

 

[ilikelaw]

Commercial Awareness:

- What challenges/opportunities for Clients? (Look at their strategic vision / [Core Practice Areas] trends for 2026 presentations)

- What clients look for in firms?

- Tell us about a deal that interests you (Prepare to include why? How the firm can advise?)

I think this should give you a solid foundation for any commercial awareness question

Competency:

- I would have two STAR examples you could mention for the following core competencies (Collaboration, Communication, Conflict Management, Time Management, Leadership)

omg youre a legend thank you

 

[startupgeek]

Out of curiosity, what's the longest someone has been waiting after an AC and still gotten a positive response rather than a PFO :' )

If it's been over a week, I should probably move on huh?

it depends on the firm, for Macs they would usually call in the evening after the AC if u have been successful but I have also heard of some other firms taking longer to respond due to high number of strong candidates.

 

[Novaa]

why do some grad rec have to be so sweet? They make me want to do well and stay with the firm...but I now just feel guilty because I did so bad and probably will not be progressing with the firm haha 😂

Shoutout to all the grad recs out there 🫶

HONESTLYYY!! My fav part of an AC is yapping with grad rec

Us during the day:

Me a week later:

 

[adham.shaker]

Weil AC!! They’re definitely doing it in batches guys……don’t lose hope!!

Congrats!! If you don't mind, could I ask when you applied and sat the test?

 

[elle woods]

HONESTLYYY!! My fav part of an AC is yapping with grad rec

Us during the day:

Me a week later:

me tooooo omg haha i love them so much

it's so much fun and definitely helps calm those nerves!

 

[T. Rainee]

Low-key is anyone tempted to email FF grad rec to ask when we should expect to hear back from them. Or have the ACs secretly all been handed out and people are being quiet about it.

Only ACs I’ve seen going out are for vac schemes, still waiting for DTC but it’s takes forever!!

 

[maylawwww]

BCLP spring PFO but v expected

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

When you realise White & Case got auto-corrected to White Cabbage 😵

 

[EfficientBag123]

Effectively took a [X] on my cleary cover letter. Absolute doozy of a grammatical error in the final paragraph. Sums up this app cycle quite nicely.

 

[jj238]

I didn’t get the AC. It’s an amberjack SJT and there’s no VI yet.

Thank you for your reply and sorry you didn't get the AC.

In the SJT, I was told there is some applied verbal elements? Are these in Watson Glaser-style, proofreading or something else?

 

[Mara]

Does anyone have any insights/tips into Arnold + Porter? Happy to help with anything I can in return

 

[EfficientBag123]

Thank you for your reply and sorry you didn't get the AC.

In the SJT, I was told there is some applied verbal elements? Are these in Watson Glaser-style, proofreading or something else?

Tbh I haven’t heard anything from grad rec, so not PFO yet just what I’m expecting atp.

It’s just standard SJT. No WG element, just how you would act in certain situations.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Luca]

I crashed out at Clyde & Co. Can’t even submit it because I just stopped mid way through and laughed. It was effectively SJT interview but framed within a broader case study so I got confused and thought I had to use information from the case study (when I think basic stuff is actually all you need)! So yeah I just stopped and laughed because I found it so hard. And then there was 30 seconds of silence. lol

Hello, I am sorry to hear about your experience however I was wandering if you could provide me with some advice. I have my Clyde & Co. Video interview due tomorrow, do you have any suggestions on how to approach it or what to expect? Also, correct me if I am wrong but I assume from your answer that I'd have to relate whatever reasoning i have to my personal experiences? I'm sorry if these may seem like trivial questions but its my first Video Interview so i am just not sure of what to expect, thank you!

 

[sagekensuke]

Does anyone have any insights/tips into Arnold + Porter? Happy to help with anything I can in return

Hi! Did you progress to the next stage of the application process after submitting the written application? If so congratulations!

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Does anyone know if Osborne Clarke has more seat options in London or Bristol?

 

[Mara]

Hi! Did you progress to the next stage of the application process after submitting the written application? If so congratulations!

Yes this is the next stage after the written app Thank you sm!

 

[trainee4u]

Does anyone know if Osborne Clarke has more seat options in London or Bristol?

• Bristol: competition; corporate tax; employment; incentives; pensions; commercial; corporate; commercial disputes; property disputes; regulatory disputes; construction disputes; banking; construction; real estate; planning; projects; project finance; energy; environment
• London: corporate tax; employment; contingent workforce; incentives; commercial; corporate; commercial disputes; regulatory disputes; construction disputes; IP disputes; property disputes; banking; planning; construction; real estate; projects
• Reading: employment; corporate; commercial; commercial disputes; banking; real estate; pensions

 

[WillKitchen]

Just curious: is anyone else currently studying on an SQE prep course whilst making these applications?

I'm doing a 40-week BARBRI SQE 1 prep for July 2026 exams.