TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Gr33n]

I wanted to get my Sidley Austin VS application reviewed and was wondering if TCLA does reviews?

Theres a guy on tiktok that does app reviews for free i think

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I wanted to get my Sidley Austin VS application reviewed and was wondering if TCLA does reviews?

Hiya @amrita6399

Yep, you can find the link for application reviews here. Good luck with your application

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Jaysen. Hi guys, can anyone help me find the application questions for Herbert Smith Freehills and Norton Rose Fulbright winter vacation schemes so I can prepare in advance? Also, do you have any insights into what Paul Weiss's new winter vacation scheme questions are likely to be?

Hiya @Jamtaz12

You can find previous vacation scheme application questions using the premium database here. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any previous Paul, Weiss applications. As soon as I've found anything, I'll share it with you on here. In the meantime, I think it’s safest to prepare broadly. I'd recommend creating a structured outline as to why you're interested in the firm; why law; and why you. You can also have a draft outline of any topics or news stories you think are relevant to the firm. Good luck!

 

[amrita6399]

Hiya @amrita6399

Yep, you can find the link for application reviews here. Good luck with your application

Thank you very much!

 

[jojo23]

hi everyone, if we are asked to write about any topic we want to apart from a legal one do you think it would be best to keep it to 'professional' topics so something in the news or can it something just tied to our hobbies

I know a guy that did theirs about the Simpsons and was successful so, if you want to write yours about kanye, go for it

 

[llblawstudent]

London office yes, did you? And I guess we will find out in a few days! Really interesting that there was no interview for this scheme

Yes I did too. As this is my first vac scheme application, I hope it will be off to a good start. I think this is the first time they've done one of these, so I'm guessing thats why theres no AC or interview.

 

[ilovegardening1111]

I know a guy that did theirs about the Simpsons and was successful so, if you want to write you're about kanye, go for it

stop i love that!! thanks for letting me know haha, they got theTC in the end?

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

hi everyone, if we are asked to write about any topic we want to apart from a legal one do you think it would be best to keep it to 'professional' topics so something in the news or can it something just tied to our hobbies

One trainee at HSF wrote about Taylor Swift and got a TC offer

 

[ilovegardening1111]

One trainee at HSF wrote about Taylor Swift and got a TC offer

ahh amazing !! very impressed that law firms are rewarding originality

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

In terms of application strategy is the advice less and better quality apps vs more. I've condensed an initial list of 30 to 9 firms I want to apply to, of which there is 1 star firm that I want, but they offer no vacation scheme! I feel like it's risky applying to only 9 (VS/TCs) but I've never done this so!

I applied to far more. I did about 9 first cycle and got to 4 ACs but no further. I have just checked which number application the US firm I have my TC with following a successful summer vac scheme was - 29th! (I did more applicatioms after too!) It definitely is a numbers game too! The reality is that you apply and often don't hear back for months so I just kept applying when I had time to do so. I was pretty successful getting to ACs but not quite getting over the line until I did! You just need the one offer.

Hats off to those who get multiple offers though.

 

[jojo23]

One trainee at HSF wrote about Taylor Swift and got a TC offer

Even more reasons to write one about Kanye 🤣

 

[jojo23]

stop i love that!! thanks for letting me know haha, they got theTC in the end?

Yep 🤣🤣

 

[confusedbird]

Does anyone here by any chance have an email for Paul Hastings? I looked around on their website for an email for graduate recruitment but I can only see a number to call... (

 

[dm_corporate]

Hi all,

Wishing everyone luck with their applications for this cycle!

Does anyone have any advice on CV's for paralegal positions as I have contacted several firms who have told me to send them an up to date CV. Any formatting dos and don'ts, or common pitfalls to avoid? I'd really appreciate insights from those who've successfully landed paralegal roles.

Thanks

 

[thelawstudent]

hey everyone,

for A&O shearman, is it okay to have work experience entries that are around 200 words? or is this too long?

also considering that this is the only written part of the application....

 

[trainee4u]

Spoke with recruitment:
Just found out that all law and non-law graduates, PGDL, and SQE students/grads aren’t eligible to apply for A&O Shearman vac schemes 😱
Can only apply directly to their TC. Wow!

Interesting, from an equality law perspective.

Under EA 2010 positive action is legal https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/159

I saw recently for example that the Law Society provide eight-week (!) paid internships under the 10000 Black Interns scheme.

This I understand is legal on the basis that it's "only an internship", and the actual "employment" is open to all, so this falls within legitimate activity, and

s 159
(1) [The Law Society] reasonably thinks that—
(a)persons who share a protected characteristic suffer a disadvantage connected to the characteristic, or
(b)participation in an activity by persons who share a protected characteristic is disproportionately low.

So the "10000 Black Interns" program is legal for law, because s 159(1)(b) is met.

However, the "no graduates" rule is indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of age. It has the effect of saying "we don't want people aged over 21/22 on our VS", as the number of undergraduates over 22 would be vanishingly small, so it would be indirect age discrimination, if

"it puts [people who] share the characteristic at a particular disadvantage when compared with [people who do not"

As this is indirect rather than direct discrimination, the test is "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim."

So I think there would be two tests:

1) does the exclusion from the VS put mature candidates at a particular disadvantage - they could argue TC route is still open, and therefore "not a particular disadvantage", and perhaps point to relative prospects of success via two routes
2) is it a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

I suppose they might argue that it's somehow proportionate in that graduates need to be tested more thoroughly, but it seems unlikely to me.

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Interesting, from an equality law perspective.

Under EA 2010 positive action is legal https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/159

I saw recently for example that the Law Society provide eight-week (!) paid internships under the 10000 Black Interns scheme.

This I understand is legal on the basis that it's "only an internship", and the actual "employment" is open to all, so this falls within legitimate activity, and

s 159
(1) [The Law Society] reasonably thinks that—
(a)persons who share a protected characteristic suffer a disadvantage connected to the characteristic, or
(b)participation in an activity by persons who share a protected characteristic is disproportionately low.

So the "10000 Black Interns" program is legal for law, because s 159(1)(b) is met.

However, the "no graduates" rule is indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of age. It has the effect of saying "we don't want people aged over 21/22 on our VS", as the number of undergraduates over 22 would be vanishingly small, so it would be indirect age discrimination, if

"it puts [people who] share the characteristic at a particular disadvantage when compared with [people who do not"

As this is indirect rather than direct discrimination, the test is "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim."

So I think there would be two tests:

1) does the exclusion from the VS put mature candidates at a particular disadvantage - they could argue TC route is still open, and therefore "not a particular disadvantage", and perhaps point to relative prospects of success via two routes
2) is it a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

I suppose they might argue that it's somehow proportionate in that graduates need to be tested more thoroughly, but it seems unlikely to me.

Graduates can apply for the direct training contract route. Conversely, it could be argued that it is discriminatory to expect a graduate who may be undertaking paid work or postgraduate education to be able to make themselves available for a vacation scheme.

 

[dannyp123]

Hey everyone, I’m working on an application for a law firm’s Open Day and had a quick question.

Most of my experience comes from legal work placements (a couple of local firms), but I haven’t had any traditional paid employment. However, I’ve held leadership roles in a few university societies, where I’ve taken on a lot of responsibility and developed relevant skills.

Would it be appropriate to include those society roles in the Work Experience section of the application, or should I only stick to formal employment and internships? I’m just concerned that if I only include legal placements, I’m leaving out some important experiences that show who I am and what I can bring to the table.

Any advice would be really appreciated — especially from anyone who’s applied before!