TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[lelezb1]

What skills would you want to pick up between the AC and vac scheme? (This likely won’t be one they ask about the two.)

- Practice explaining things coherently in a professional context (dependent on where you are in your career journey - If they ask how you picture yourself with friends/family.)

- Shifting your perspective from an applicant to a prospective trainee (ensuring you’re actually preparing to apply the skills which make a great trainee, which you may have spoken about in an application.)

- Streamlining your firm research, so once the onboarding option begins and options and you know what your seat options could be. Actually researching to see what trainees you could be paired with, and seeing what work they do.

- Commercial awareness: Just throw in there you will keep on top of understanding the opportunities the firm has and sectors they’re operating in (be prepared for a follow-up if you’re not too confident with a topic, maybe skip this one.)

What skills you’d want to pick up between the AC and training - Essentially just frame how you’ll use the vac scheme as a foundation to apply those trainee skills you know.

- Applying legal research skills in a practical setting (research tasks, advice notes, group presentations.)

- Being able to manage work instructions and others’ expectations for your work (Time management.)

- Exposure to how feedback works so you can have an understanding of what to expect, and not take it as a negative (#Reflection #Resilient)

- Exposure to how you can further build your legal network, if this is your first VS. There will be a lot of networking opportunities.

- Collaboration *in a legal setting* TBH it probably won’t be different to collaborating in another environment. But just frame it as you’ll be getting exposure to how that actually looks like in a law firm.

Thank you!! This is insightful!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Just wrapped up a commerical news story discussion with myself in the shower. Preparing for ACs is nauseating !

I've never had an original experience 😭 I practice interview questions in the shower all the time

 

[BobThebIlly]

Damn for white and case I got strengths: personal responsibility, curiosity and adaptable

But I got collaboration as a weakness am I cooked

 

[ladyhaleinthehouse]

No ACs yet this cycle. So rough.

 

[lelezb1]

I've never had an original experience 😭 I practice interview questions in the shower all the time

Mine might be original, I am baking a cake for the first time while preparing my ac answers. 😭

 

[TS.Law]

Urgent! Does anyone know how long the Milbank critical thinking test it?

20 minutes ish

 

[TheGeek12]

20 minutes ish

How did you find it? I have the feeling that I flopped and flopped hard.

 

[elle woods]

💔 guys I'm actually struggling trying to focus on my mock revision when I know I should be preparing for ACs...how do people balance this??

 

[sagekensuke]

For the third OC question on professional services support programmes, do virtual events and forage simulations count? Or is it okay to just say N/A

 

[Shiv Lawy]

Akin TI! Completed online assessment last week

 

[dednedred]

Has anyone done the Forsters VI yet?

 

[trainee4u]

For the third OC question on professional services support programmes, do virtual events and forage simulations count? Or is it okay to just say N/A

this is for if you are in a group like Aspiring Solicitors or if you have done a placement through something like "10,000 Black Interns".

So no for virtual events, no for Forage simulations, and no for general vacation schemes (although specific diversity ones should be included)

Ask Osborne Clarke Anything!

Hi Patrick (Patrick - Osborne Clarke), I hope you are having a good day! I would like to know if there are any open days and virtual events that I could attend to have better insights and understanding before applying for the Vac Scheme! As an international student who has done most of her...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[TheGeek12]

Akin TI! Completed online assessment last week

When did you apply? I haven't gotten an email yet.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

💔 guys I'm actually struggling trying to focus on my mock revision when I know I should be preparing for ACs...how do people balance this??

@elle woods in the words of Amberjack, through "Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force, and Grit".....

Kidding, its an annoying situation to be in but I'm sure you've got this! I know AC's feel like you need to prepare 24 hours a day, but you don't so don't burn yourself out before you even get to the interview room. Organise your time effectively, and this includes carving out a few hours of your day to take a mental break and recharge, so that each study session/prep session is one that you can go into refreshed.

Good luck!

 

[Harvey Specter]

Mine might be original, I am baking a cake for the first time while preparing my ac answers. 😭

Mine might also be original, I’m playing Mario Kart on Nintendo whilst preparing and practicing for diff interview responses cos it works magic idk how…

 

[Legalfreak212]

Can anyone confirm if the new RPC assessment has a VI or not?

It doesnt

 

[BealMcAlly]

Me checking TCLA an hour after my question and seeing 8 notifications of dislikes on my comment thinking I was being attacked for something I said, only to realize I asked a question whether people had heard back from a firm 😭

I had the same the other day..petition to change what the x means @Jaysen

 

[GSJ]

has anyone had TC for W&C spring/summer or heard after VI

 

[BealMcAlly]

Can anyone confirm if the new RPC assessment has a VI or not?

Just did it, just a cappfinity assessment.

Sjt and critical reasoning test

 

[Jennifer2003]

I have an AC on Wednesday, it's a written exercise followed by an interview with HR and a partner. It's my first one and only one so far. I haven't started prepping yet as I have an exam tomorrow, does anybody have any advice? It feels like I've left it too late!