TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

i can imagine screen monitoring happening.. like they may flag if you change tabs but i just can't see what they actually do with the camera element 🤣
i mean the test is enough torture, let me repay them with unsolicited karaoke

This is grad rec’s equivalent, TikTok page friendly, unsolicited karaoke choreographed by HR to try appear more Gen-Z and relatable:​

 

[jojo23]

This is grad rec’s equivalent, TikTok page friendly, unsolicited karaoke choreographed by HR:​

Grad rec immediately after PFO-ing us and ruining our mental health on a regular basis without giving reasons:

 

[Novaa]

This is grad rec’s equivalent, TikTok page friendly, unsolicited karaoke choreographed by HR:​

Wait but I lowkey can’t wait to hop in a firm TikTok video or podcast episode…

Me when Grad Rec tells me I can’t give a shoutout to my friends in the middle of the podcast:

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Grad rec when they open the forum next and see a bunch of us trolling them unprovoked:

Nah acc it’s fully provoked cos wdym you have all the time for TikTok but not for app updates??

 

[jojo23]

Grad rec when they open the forum next and see a bunch of us trolling them unprovoked:

Nah acc it’s fully provoked cos wdym you have all the time for TikTok but not for app updates??

everyone waiting for simmons and freshfields

 

[TCGrad1642]

Mishcon spring acs went out a year ago tomorrow…. Fingers crossed guys!!!!

 

[floraaaaaa]

Any advice for the Mishcon SJT, I've surprisingly never sat one before and am also not that great at maths lolol - any tips would be appreciated !!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

asked a GR for an update from my alt mail acc (with a fake name) and now theyre asking for my full name cos they couldnt find an application matching my email.... what do i say yall LOL

 

[elizabethkate]

maybe a dumb question but surely grad rec don’t read 3k plus applications? what’s the tech used to scan them?

 

[jojo23]

maybe a dumb question but surely grad rec don’t read 3k plus applications? what’s the tech used to scan them?

A bottle of overpriced whisky.

 

[LH4]

mishcons sjt.. don't usually do well with things that involve a calculator

 

[Novaa]

asked a GR for an update from my alt mail acc (with a fake name) and now theyre asking for my full name cos they couldnt find an application matching my email.... what do i say yall LOL

You leave that alt email account there and just…

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

asked a GR for an update from my alt mail acc (with a fake name) and now theyre asking for my full name cos they couldnt find an application matching my email.... what do i say yall LOL

 

[Legallywhatever]

asked a GR for an update from my alt mail acc (with a fake name) and now theyre asking for my full name cos they couldnt find an application matching my email.... what do i say yall LOL

I'm sorry this has made me proper giggle...

Lowkey I'd just ignore their email...

 

[radssss]

asked a GR for an update from my alt mail acc (with a fake name) and now theyre asking for my full name cos they couldnt find an application matching my email.... what do i say yall LOL

Ignore it and wait for 3 days, then email them from my application email id🤣🤣🤣

 

[Shiv Lawy]

High 2.1

AAA at A levels but I know people with grades well below this getting the WG so I wouldn't take it as the bible especially if you have MC.

Also "leading university" - whatever that means

They DO NOT give you your WG results if you ask as it's against policy...

As the person that previously posted that there's hope that Cleary accepts mitigating circumstances because I didn't meet the criteria and still got progressed... My faith has been shattered.

I don't know what to believe as either (a) my application was strong so my grades didn't matter so I was progressed and then rejected on basis of one test (WG) vs the remainder of my academic/professional history

Or

My application wasn't looked at properly the first time and the grades did not meet the benchmark but they decided to waste my time with the WG before revealing that my MCs are worthless and they do care about grades

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

As the person that previously posted that there's hope that Cleary accepts mitigating circumstances because I didn't meet the criteria and still got progressed... My faith has been shattered.

I don't know what to believe as either (a) my application was strong so my grades didn't matter so I was progressed and then rejected on basis of one test (WG) vs the remainder of my academic/professional history

Or

My application wasn't looked at properly the first time and the grades did not meet the benchmark but they decided to waste my time with the WG before revealing that my MCs are worthless and they do care about grades

Well I emailed the GR today and they encouraged me to apply anyway. Now who's to know the real truth but I'm gonna bite the bullet and send it off tomorrow.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

maybe a dumb question but surely grad rec don’t read 3k plus applications? what’s the tech used to scan them?

@elizabethkate it depends on every firm, but usually the applications are pre-screened for eligibility (either through minimum criteria and consideration of EC's OR through the use of online tests and benchmarking). I would assume only those that meet the benchmark are read and then decisions are made.

Where they don't use online tests, they are all read. Which actually explains why they can't provide detailed feedback, as the PFO's are imbedded into the ATS systems and you can mass move all rejections into the box and set a timer for when the email gets sent (also explains why you may get rejected on non-business days/times).

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Got critical thinking as a weakness for my BCLP test
Chat...am I cooked?😂

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Well I emailed the GR today and they encouraged me to apply anyway. Now who's to know the real truth but I'm gonna bite the bullet and send it off tomorrow.

They told me the same thing and then sent me a generic PFO post app a week after their deadline closed. My A-levels aren’t the strongest though (ABB with mit circs + contextual), but I do have a very high 2:1 (68.5%) so idk it seems they really care about the AAA and high 2:1 together.

Now granted others have progressed with lower academics, that can’t be taken in isolation. They will have either years of professional experience as a career changer, or they have tons of quirky legal work experience maybe even as a paralegal so it effectively makes up for the grades.

Also idk what the whole ‘leading university’ thing is about. Is it another Milbank or Davis Polk situation who only seem to hire from Oxbridge or one of the London RGs (maybe add Durham, Warwick and Edinburgh), or do all RG count, even some of the northern ones like Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool…