TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[ADhillon01]

Just finished my Clyde VI 🫨 shoutout to @Rosie_Kitten for the guidance on timings.

In terms of insights, even if I wanted to give anything, it is virtually impossible! Questions are framed around a resource that you listen/read in the 1min prep time before you record your 2 min answer.

My advice, before I get bombarded, think about your experiences and strengths and use that as evidence if you make a point.

Other than that, pray 🙏 (literally pray) that VI was no joke…

 

[Topdog0073]

Still waiting on Freshfields Summer VS AC invite, anyone heard anything yet?

 

[floral.tcla]

Reschedule it. If you’re studying law surely they’d understand the gravity of an assessment centre. Tbf any professor would understand that this is an opportunity at a job post education. I had something similar happen when I did my dissertation and they were extremely supportive and we worked around it.

Don’t doubt your ability in doing well! You made it this far don’t give up now.

Thank you, you’re right, they’re there to work with you…

 

[hawkins19]

In short:
- Submitted the day of the deadline after originally not wanting to do it because I thought I wouldn’t get it
- Did the test still thinking I wouldn’t get it, passed the benchmark
- Got an email inviting me to the AC
- Went to the AC, thought I fumbled the case study because the partner went “right okay…”
- Was sat in my uni living room later that afternoon, overthinking the day… phone rang and it was a VS offer

Moral of the story: imposter syndrome is a scam! YOU GOT THAT

Unreal, congratulations. You've filled me with hope !!!!!!!

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

Hey what do you do if your AC clashes with a 1-1 academic meeting and you’ve already asked the same professor for dates to be rescheduled and they have really limited availability…. Do I miss/cancel the AC or academic meeting?🫣

Go for AC. You are studying to work! An AC comes once a year. What's the worst that could possibly happen if you missed an academic meeting? Actually, any progressive academic would be pleased to reschedule due to a conflict with an AC timetable.

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

It's funny, I kind of thought thinking on your feet was the whole point of the VI structure. Apparently not when people spend hours trying to get questions to formulate answers perfectly.

Honestly, I don't blame them. But firms should consider restructuring them... like random question allocation from a pool of questions? And slightly varied documents / topics.

Still, I made it clear that I said what I was going to say and still am getting messages 🤣😅

Inspiring. Mind mentioning the firm?

 

[user123987]

Any tips on how to develop commercial awareness ASAP!!

 

[Novaa]

Any tips on how to develop commercial awareness ASAP!!

How ASAP is ASAP?

1. Do a M&A crash course and learn about types of M&A, the drivers for why companies do M&A, understand how a law firm helps (funding, competition issues, deal structure), learn about merger control (The CMA updated these rules last year).

2. Find a couple of stories you like, apply what you’ve learnt above. Why did they do the merger? How can a law firm help them achieve this?

3. Listen to a couple of episodes of Wake Up To Money.

4. Find articles on the trends for 2026 and try to understand a couple.

5. Pray 😍

 

[llblawstudent]

Still waiting on Freshfields Summer VS AC invite, anyone heard anything yet?

Same boat, I think it’s a very weird situation since I believe most of the ACs and rejections have been given out for summer VS. Wonder what’s going on

 

[Topdog0073]

Same boat, I think it’s a very weird situation since I believe most of the ACs and rejections have been given out for summer VS. Wonder what’s going on

Out of interest, did u apply for the 1st or 2nd scheme? Because I’m number 2 and I know people who’ve been rejected, but none with an AC invite yet.

 

[llblawstudent]

Out of interest, did u apply for the 1st or 2nd scheme? Because I’m number 2 and I know people who’ve been rejected, but none with an AC invite yet.

Scheme 1 😭

 

[M85672]

Do Baker McKenzie recruit a good amount from DTC?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Just finished my Clyde VI 🫨 shoutout to @Rosie_Kitten for the guidance on timings.

In terms of insights, even if I wanted to give anything, it is virtually impossible! Questions are framed around a resource that you listen/read in the 1min prep time before you record your 2 min answer.

My advice, before I get bombarded, think about your experiences and strengths and use that as evidence if you make a point.

Other than that, pray 🙏 (literally pray) that VI was no joke…

Clyde & Co’s grad rec team after finalising the VI questions and timings cos they made it hard asf:

 

[Topdog0073]

Scheme 1 😭

Wow. Genuinely what is going on 😭

 

[LH4]

Still waiting on these firms if anyone has insight:
- Mishcon (after AI test)
- Paul, Weiss
- Travers Smith (non rolling deadline on the 14th so not surprised just adding it on here)
- White and Case (after SJT)
- Squire patton boggs

 

[ACHat8r]

Akin PFO. Turns out it got sent yesterday and straight to my spam.

was this post app or after sjt or TI

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

was this post app or after sjt or TI

straight-up post app. i hate that cause i don't even know what i did wrong

 

[tc2026]

completed bakers OA ! finally

 

[I’m a celebrity get me out of here - VS/TC edn]

completed bakers OA ! finally

How was it? Standard amberjack I assume?

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Has anyone done the Bank of England VI? I was just wondering what you used to research the Bank as I feel like there is very limited info about the trainee development programme