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
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
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
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.
Been thinking about it for days now, too, haha! It's definitely a mix of different questions. I came to a conclusion that because it's so unique, everyone will probably approach it differently, and there is no right way to answer it. Personally I'm trying to focus on making my case sound convincing enough. Whether I'm successful or not in achieving that, I have no clue!
I've interpreted it as a slightly more narrative version of why you and why this firm, with slightly more emphasis on 'why you'
The way I understand the question is it’s asking ‘why you’ and ‘why Macfarlanes’, but not in the traditional format or structure. 
I guess the main objective is demonstrate your interest in Macfarlanes and your suitability as a future associate at the firm.
I would approach it with the following things in mind to form a basic answer. I don’t think there is a single way of answering it though.
1) what experiences I have (e.g., legal advice clinic, internships, insight days, part-time jobs, society roles, volunteering, etc).
2) what skills, competencies, values and other qualities I have gained from these roles that are transferable to a career at Macfarlanes.
3) how do these things align with Macfarlanes and demonstrate that I belong at their firm i.e., why me and tie it into why their firm.
4) are there certain aspects of the firm e.g. TC structure, specialist seats, business strategy or firm culture that I resonate with and why.
5) bringing everything together, why would you belong at Macfarlanes over any other firm such as Travers Smith or Slaughter and May.
Ultimately, I would write it assuming the reader knew nothing about me or my motivations but knew everything about Macfarlanes.
The task would be to show a strong alignment between myself and Macfarlanes and how I am someone that belongs at the firm.
The answer should be so specific and tailored to Macfarlanes that if you removed their name, it would still be clear it’s about them.
I guess the main objective is demonstrate your interest in Macfarlanes and your suitability as a future associate at the firm.
I would approach it with the following things in mind to form a basic answer. I don’t think there is a single way of answering it though.
1) what experiences I have (e.g., legal advice clinic, internships, insight days, part-time jobs, society roles, volunteering, etc).
2) what skills, competencies, values and other qualities I have gained from these roles that are transferable to a career at Macfarlanes.
3) how do these things align with Macfarlanes and demonstrate that I belong at their firm i.e., why me and tie it into why their firm.
4) are there certain aspects of the firm e.g. TC structure, specialist seats, business strategy or firm culture that I resonate with and why.
5) bringing everything together, why would you belong at Macfarlanes over any other firm such as Travers Smith or Slaughter and May.
Ultimately, I would write it assuming the reader knew nothing about me or my motivations but knew everything about Macfarlanes.
The task would be to show a strong alignment between myself and Macfarlanes and how I am someone that belongs at the firm.
The answer should be so specific and tailored to Macfarlanes that if you removed their name, it would still be clear it’s about them.
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How many words? I would agree with @Chris Brown 's approach but from memory fear they tend to have a low word limit historically.
Hey everyone!
Been here for the past few cycles, and I've never actually asked for help but I saw how everyone really encouraged each other last cycle so, here's to relying on community
I'm having some challenges with planning my applications for this cycle. A little bit about me: Recent graduate with a 2:1 in Law from Russell Group, 3 first year schemes, 1 VS at a US law firm in 2nd year (didn't convert), probono experience in 1st - early 2nd year, summer internships at start-ups in (non corporate, mostly social media/research and marketing) in 1st and 2nd year, heavy involement in student experience teams at my university through part time work (career's team and student funding team), vintage reseller business, mentoring sheme at US law firm last summer.
I was not successful in the last cycle, but managed to get through the first stage for 2 firms. My main issue is that, apart from an improvement in my grades, not much has changed (esp regarding work experience) between last cycle and this cycle. I'm not sure how to re-work my applications to give myself a good shot at securing something this cycle.
note: I am doing tons of Forage experiences and online courses on things I am interested in like Debt Finance, Energy & Sustainability, Restructuring
any help would be greatly appreciated !!!
Been here for the past few cycles, and I've never actually asked for help but I saw how everyone really encouraged each other last cycle so, here's to relying on community
I'm having some challenges with planning my applications for this cycle. A little bit about me: Recent graduate with a 2:1 in Law from Russell Group, 3 first year schemes, 1 VS at a US law firm in 2nd year (didn't convert), probono experience in 1st - early 2nd year, summer internships at start-ups in (non corporate, mostly social media/research and marketing) in 1st and 2nd year, heavy involement in student experience teams at my university through part time work (career's team and student funding team), vintage reseller business, mentoring sheme at US law firm last summer.
I was not successful in the last cycle, but managed to get through the first stage for 2 firms. My main issue is that, apart from an improvement in my grades, not much has changed (esp regarding work experience) between last cycle and this cycle. I'm not sure how to re-work my applications to give myself a good shot at securing something this cycle.
note: I am doing tons of Forage experiences and online courses on things I am interested in like Debt Finance, Energy & Sustainability, Restructuring
any help would be greatly appreciated !!!
Hi guys just noticed A&O list their expertise as
Advisory and regulatory
And then industries:
Advisory and regulatory
- Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A
- Disputes
- Finance
- Legal innovation
And then industries:
- Chemicals Communications,
- media and entertainment
- Consumer and retail
- Energy Financial institutions
- Industrial and manufacturing
- Infrastructure and transport
- Life sciences and healthcare
- Mining and metals
- Private capital
this question is worded awfully but yes I agree it should be framed as a 'why you' and 'why the firm' aligning yourself to any values, practice areas, attributes they use in their marketing
I would say that the aspects of your application that you cannot drastically change, i.e., grades and work experiences, should not be focused on too much, apart from briefly considering whether you can articulate your work experience entries better. What you should instead focus on is really smashing the application questions. Granted, you may have applied to certain firms before, and those firms may not change their application questions from cycle to cycle. But for firms which you've never applied to before, push the boat out with research and specificity, and mention little nuggets of information that don't necessarily fit into a 'section' of the application form, such as an interesting course you took, a webinar you attended, an article you read, or something about your background such as languages, ethnicity, any countries you grew up in. For the firms which you applied to before and want to try again, I would say to really critically look at your initial application and improve it as much as possible. Think, is each line adding value either about the firm or about me as an applicant? Also, really sell your experiences and align what you have achieved with how the firm operates and its values.Hey everyone!
Been here for the past few cycles, and I've never actually asked for help but I saw how everyone really encouraged each other last cycle so, here's to relying on community
I'm having some challenges with planning my applications for this cycle. A little bit about me: Recent graduate with a 2:1 in Law from Russell Group, 3 first year schemes, 1 VS at a US law firm in 2nd year (didn't convert), probono experience in 1st - early 2nd year, summer internships at start-ups in (non corporate, mostly social media/research and marketing) in 1st and 2nd year, heavy involement in student experience teams at my university through part time work (career's team and student funding team), vintage reseller business, mentoring sheme at US law firm last summer.
I was not successful in the last cycle, but managed to get through the first stage for 2 firms. My main issue is that, apart from an improvement in my grades, not much has changed (esp regarding work experience) between last cycle and this cycle. I'm not sure how to re-work my applications to give myself a good shot at securing something this cycle.
note: I am doing tons of Forage experiences and online courses on things I am interested in like Debt Finance, Energy & Sustainability, Restructuring
any help would be greatly appreciated !!!
I have received a lot of advice over the years from grad rec, this forum, lawyers, students, and the above always seems to be my main takeaway. Plus, you're already in a massively advantageous position as you have a VS on your CV, which kind of shows firms you have the 99% potential to be a lawyer, you just need a firm which will see your remaining 1%.
Hello, does anyone know if HSF has kept the application questions the same for this cycle? Thanks in advance 
The only reason why I think they could change is because of the merger but considering HSF was the ‘bigger’ firm, i think this is unlikely.Hello, does anyone know if HSF has kept the application questions the same for this cycle? Thanks in advance
Also, they have kept their app questions the same for the past 4/5 years so i dont see any reason for it to change which is why I have been drafting responses to these in prep
Their WVS opens 1 Sept so lets see then i guess…
Always tell them everything. Context is key. I would worry about being too personal but that section is there for that reason.
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