TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[jojo23]

As a grad, would it be better to apply for the cms dtc over the vac scheme (i know they call it something different)?

 

[Jessica Pearson]

As a grad, would it be better to apply for the cms dtc over the vac scheme (i know they call it something different)?

I thought they only offer DTCs for grads?

 

[llblawstudent]

Hey everyone, slightly different question so I hope it's allowed! I was just curious if it is worth volunteering at a law clinic/legal aid centre to gain some legal experience. I know what these centres deal with is nothing to do with commercial law directly, but I was wondering if the volunteering/transefrable skills side of it will make it worth it for the purposes of a vac scheme? For context, it's my first cycle and I have one internship at a boutique firm next month but other than that no experience

 

[abbietc03]

Hey everyone, slightly different question so I hope it's allowed! I was just curious if it is worth volunteering at a law clinic/legal aid centre to gain some legal experience. I know what these centres deal with is nothing to do with commercial law directly, but I was wondering if the volunteering/transefrable skills side of it will make it worth it for the purposes of a vac scheme? For context, it's my first cycle and I have one internship at a boutique firm next month but other than that no experience

Hey! Speaking from personal experience, I worked in my university's legal clinic during my final year, and I found it really useful for vac schemes!

For example, I was practising interview questions with my supervisor during one of my vac schemes, and I said that one of the reasons I was interested in law as I really enjoyed working with clients, and I remember he mentioned that I shouldn't say that if I had never actually experienced working with clients. When I explained my work in the clinic, he said that I should have mentioned it first and that it is a really good experience to highlight to back up my motivations.

Like you said, despite not being commercial law directly, the transferable skills are really valuable, especially in terms of interacting with/interviewing clients and writing attendance notes, etc. During one of my vac schemes, I felt a lot more confident and comfortable attending meetings with clients (even though these were individuals working at big companies, compared to the individual clinic clients), as I sort of knew what to expect. You can also highlight the research and teamwork skills that you gain from the experience as well

 

[Future Trainee - 2027 confirmed]

Hi guys! As someone applying for the vacation schemes, how many firms r you guys applying to? Does quality matter over quantity? Or is there a way to achieve both?

I secured my training contract in the last cycle, so I’ll share what worked for me. I only applied to one firm in the end, after attending an event and speaking with their lawyers, apprentices, and partners. That experience gave me a sense of the culture and helped me decide it was the right fit for me.

From my perspective, quality does matter more than quantity. There isn’t much value in sending out 50–60 generic applications if they don’t show genuine motivation. A handful of carefully tailored applications to firms you’d genuinely want to train at will be much stronger. Remember, if you’re successful, you’ll be spending two years there (at a minimum) so it’s really important that the culture, people, and practice areas feel right for you. Otherwise, even if you secure a TC, you might not enjoy the experience.

That said, it’s also about finding a balance. You don’t want to spend months perfecting one application and risk missing other opportunities. I’d recommend aiming for a manageable number (say 5 firms) where you can still tailor your answers properly, but also give yourself a fair chance across different options.

A few practical tips that helped me:

• Research beyond the website: attend events, speak to trainees/associates, and look at recent deals or cases. This gives you much more material for applications.
• Keep a bank of examples: write down your competencies, achievements, and experiences in advance, so you can adapt them to different firms without starting from scratch each time.
• Reflect on fit, ask yourself honestly: “Would I be happy working here day in, day out?” That question helps cut through the noise and keeps your applications focused.

So in short, I would aim for quality, but don’t trap yourself into perfectionism. Find that middle ground where you’re submitting applications you’re proud of, but also covering enough firms to maximise your chances.