Hey! I had this question on an Orrick application last year which got through to the next stage - I would play on the idea that firms want to say tailored and personalised applications, and using AI removes that aspect and instead makes applications more generic. Hope that helps!
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
I can't speak for Jones Day, but Hogan Lovells definitely focus on the overall degree classification - I got a 2.2 in a module yet progressed through the application with an overall 2.1!
Forages are definitely useful! If you complete any, make sure to put them on your applications (under the experiences sections works fine). I recall speaking to a recruiter from HSF Kramer who mentioned how they spend a decent amount in creating the programmes and completing them demonstrates interest in law and the firm.
I'd suggest doing a couple of Forages, and particularly focus on specific firms you're interested in, or practice areas you're interested in. Hope that helps!
Hey, this is a great question! It can be very difficult to try connect yourself to firms, especially when legal experience is so difficult to come by. Often it is the case that your answers might be missing just one extra point or sentence.Good evening everyone. Does anybody have any advice on how to genuinely make a personal connection with facts about the firm and yourself? I find that I can get loads of stats and info about a firm, but it ends up reading like a shopping list in my answer. For example, with energy deals (I’m very interested in the sector), I usually make the connection with a firm’s excellence in a particular area to my heritage (APAC/ South Asia) and being interested in that region. But with more ‘drier’ deals or facts such as PE, real estate, M&A I struggle to find a meaningful personal connection beyond ‘I did a Forage programme on it’. Would be grateful for any tips
You can make a good point e.g. "I am interested in x firm for their strength in Disputes", and then give the evidence for that. But the key is to then link this back to you.
Why do you find a firm's excellence in a specific practice area important? Take Disputes for example, you might enjoy work that is research intensive and strategic. Perhaps you've had experiences (not necessary legal!) that require such skills - that can provide a slight edge and make it much more personalised to you. Whenever writing the application, read it back and ask "why is that important to me?". This will help you stay on track, hope that helps somewhat!
Generally with work experience sections, I tend to keep it quite short (perhaps 40-70 words per experience max). I focused on the practice area I sat in on my vacation scheme, types of tasks I had worked on (e.g. drafting a research note on x), and any other tasks part of your vacation scheme (e.g. presentations, negotiation tasks etc). Hope that helps!
Sorry I can't speak for Skadden or Linklaters, but with HSF Kramer, they are quite strict on it. However, if it is just a couple marks off, it's definitely possible! If you have a strong application and good experiences you'll still be in a great position. I had a module where I scored 58% but still managed to get on the vac scheme!Hi, does anyone know whether Skadden has a harsh academic requirements, whether in A-levels or undergraduate degree? For context, I obtained a 2:1 from a RG but i completed my secondary school in another country and my a-level equivalent was kinda sh*t.
Also, speaking of academic requirements, i heard linklaters and HSF Kramer needs 60% in every single module of your degree. Are they really strict with this as well? Because i think one or two module just 1 or 2 marks below 60%
Hi, this is a great question! I would usually have open days/insight evenings as one experience and list them out in the description. As for first year schemes, if you've had an amazing cycle and completed loads then feel free to bunch them together, if you have a lot of other experiences you want to put down. If not, then I would list them individually. A good rule of thumb is trying to stick to around 7 total experiences as an upper bound, according to various early careers staff that I've spoken to - hope that's useful!
Hey! Don't let being non-law deter you, it's absolutely not a disadvantage! Law firms value non-legal experience quite highly, perhaps more than other industries do. I would suggest going to open days/insight evenings/law fairs and completing Forages to showcase that initial 'legal interest'. That should complement your strong extracurriculars and non-legal experience. AllAboutLaw often run various online insight sessions with law firms that are easily accessible if that helps!
JobTestPrep is also quite useful! I wouldn't underestimate how valuable AI tools, like GPT can be to practice. Provide it an example question and prompt it to generate some further practice questions and give them a go!
Hi @TC seeker,
That's a great question.
Generally, you are not allowed to work full-time during term time at your university. Based on what you have described, it appears to me that the time when you are writing your dissertation in Term 3 will still fall under term time under your visa restrictions.
Therefore, if possible, I would try and obtain a vacation/ work permission from your university for the vacation scheme dates. When I was completing my first Master's and applying to vacation schemes/ TCs at the same time, I had the option of requesting a 'vacation leave' in order to complete a work placement, such as a vacation scheme.
I hope this helps!
Same😭 Please do let me know if you figure it out. I think it’s unlikely they’ll allow us to re-record and I’m assuming it’s timed
Has anyone else managed to get invited to the second stage assessment for Macfarlanes Vacation scheme? This is the one after the application and the initial assessment. This one has a video segment to it.
Hey there!
While I cannot say for a fact what the second stage would involve in this case, I would try and prepare for it under the assumption that there is no opportunity to re-record your answers.
The best way to go about it is by practising as many questions as possible and recording your answers, even if you don't feel 100% sure that you are answering the question in the right way.
And here's the most important part - you also want to watch your answers back and review your performance! I personally found this type of practice to be the most useful for second stage assessments that may involve a video interview element.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Hi @studentgrad,
While I have not personally been in this position, quite a few candidates on one of my vacation schemes were employed full-time and requested annual leave for the duration of the scheme
Hope this helps!
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