TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[noahsmiit01]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, when writing the answer about 'Why Paul Weiss', for example, is it okay if one of the deals that I'll be speaking about is one that their US team were dealing with? Or does it have to be only deals that were handled by their UK team, since I am applying in England, not the States.

Thank you

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina @ZNadeem
For the Sidley question : In your view which personal qualities make a successful lawyer?
Would it be appropriate here to weave in examples of how you have demonstrated these qualities, or would that be straying too much from the question?

Also for the commercial news issue, is it okay to focus on a US-based issue or would it better to focus on a UK/EU issue?

Thank you!

Hey @FutureTraineeMaybe,

You are absolutely right!

If I were answering this question, I would definitely provide specific examples of how I demonstrated these qualities. However, I would make sure to first explain why I believe a particular quality makes a successful lawyer, as this is the core of the question.

Given that you are applying to train at the London office, I would recommend focusing on issues that will affect London/ UK-based clients and therefore the firm. It doesn't necessarily mean that the issue has to come from the UK, but it would look best if it has direct relevance for the London office's clients.

Hope this helps!

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, when writing the answer about 'Why Paul Weiss', for example, is it okay if one of the deals that I'll be speaking about is one that their US team were dealing with? Or does it have to be only deals that were handled by their UK team, since I am applying in England, not the States.

Thank you

Hi @noahsmiit01,

Good question! I think that as long as you are able to clearly articulate how this motivates you to join the firm's London location, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, especially in the case of a law firm that has only recently decided to actively expand its presence in London.

However, I would try and make it very clear how the US deal relates to the type of work you would be potentially completing at the London office.

I hope this makes sense!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, when writing the answer about 'Why Paul Weiss', for example, is it okay if one of the deals that I'll be speaking about is one that their US team were dealing with? Or does it have to be only deals that were handled by their UK team, since I am applying in England, not the States.

Thank you

Hi! I’d suggest choosing a deal that the London office was at least involved in, since that makes your answer feel more tailored to the office you’re applying to. That said, for the written application stage, it should be fine to reference a US-led deal if you want to evidence your interest in a particular practice area. Just be aware that in an interview, they might probe you on it.

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Will universities give a work permission for students?

Hi @TC seeker,

This would depend on the particular university that you are attending. It may be worth booking a session with a careers counsellor at your university to discuss the possibility of an exemption

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi! I’d suggest choosing a deal that the London office was at least involved in, since that makes your answer feel more tailored to the office you’re applying to. That said, for the written application stage, it should be fine to reference a US-led deal if you want to evidence your interest in a particular practice area. Just be aware that in an interview, they might probe you on it.

Agreed!

 

[ZNadeem]

Thanks for answering! Is it common that many universities do not counted term 3 as " term time"? Also, a letter of approval can allow students to work more than 20 hours? Actually, I saw some international students secured their vacation schemes by students visa, but I'm not sure about their term dates.

No worries! I’m not completely sure, as my university didn’t have a term 3 for my particular course, so I’d suggest emailing your uni to clarify how they define term dates. A letter of approval wouldn’t allow you to work more hours than your visa permits, but it may still be required by the firm if the work technically falls within official term time.

 

[ZNadeem]

Hello, to answer the question "what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" what would u recommend? I have researched and all I can find is AI etc

Hi! I’d start by identifying the firm’s key sectors, then pick the top 2–3 that interest you most. From there, do a quick Google/FT search to spot current trends or developments (that may provide a big opportunity) in those areas. That way you can move beyond broad themes like “AI” and instead highlight something specific and relevant to the firm’s work. Then choose the one you would be able to speak best about, depending on the topic.

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hello, to answer the question "what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" what would u recommend? I have researched and all I can find is AI etc

Hi @Kakaboo,

The breadth of this question can definitely make it more challenging to direct and streamline your research. Here are some other ideas that might inspire you.

• Recent changes to legislation. Is there a new statute or regulation coming into effect that may affect businesses in that particular sector?
• Specific events within the sector. For example, has there been a deal of an unusually large size/ value? How might this affect other players in the market?
• Growing/ declining popularity of specific products or services within a sector, or even the creation of new products/ services. How may this affect the provision of law firm services within that sector?
• Geopolitical events. Think tariffs, sanctions, disruptions of trade routes, etc.

I would also reiterate the importance of actually explaining why you would consider your chosen point to be the biggest opportunity for the sector. It is this explanation that will demonstrate the depth of your understanding!

Good luck

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

I would really encourage you to have a deep dive into the firm's thought leadership on their website. Choose a sector, and look at all the recent reports, articles etc that the firm have written, you will likely find something other than AI to write about (I hope!). If you want to keep with the AI theme, you can frame it around the impact of technology in that sector (if it wasn't common in that sector before). But yeah, really have a look at the firm's website to find a nuanced and tailored commercial development to talk about. Hope this helps

This is good advice, @lawyersum! This is absolutely correct - often, you can identify the issues a law firm 'cares about' the most by seeing what thought leadership articles it has published within a specific sector.

 

[Deleted member 40373]

for paul weiss would it be recommended to apply for both the vacation scheme and open day?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hey @FutureTraineeMaybe,

You are absolutely right!

If I were answering this question, I would definitely provide specific examples of how I demonstrated these qualities. However, I would make sure to first explain why I believe a particular quality makes a successful lawyer, as this is the core of the question.

Given that you are applying to train at the London office, I would recommend focusing on issues that will affect London/ UK-based clients and therefore the firm. It doesn't necessarily mean that the issue has to come from the UK, but it would look best if it has direct relevance for the London office's clients.

Hope this helps!

Thank you!!

 

[dannyp123]

for paul weiss would it be recommended to apply for both the vacation scheme and open day?

Apply Open Day first, then apply for the vacation scheme after the Open Day. Paul Weiss is non-rolling so no rush on the vac schemes.

 

[SemperParatus]

Slightly nervous about hearing back from the tcla willkie open day, really hope we can find out soon if we got in or not

 

[jojo23]

Slightly nervous about hearing back from the tcla willkie open day, really hope we can find out soon if we got in or not

Any idea when we will hear back?

 

[BuddyingLawyer744]

has anybody heard back from sidley austin? I applied in the first week of August but I have heard nothing.

 

[GT1205H]

Hi, I have sent my Paul Weiss application as a joint form for their open day and vacation scheme. After reading this forum, I realised that they prefer separate forms (I don't know why they would allow it in the form). Should I withdraw my application and send it separately? If I do so, can I use the same answers? Can you apply to both their spring and winter VS? Can anyone help me, please?

 

[noahsmiit01]

Any idea when we will hear back?

On 9th

 

[zara elles]

Might be a silly question, but should I really be tailoring my work exp section to each firm? I have never done this in the past as my work exp is really more a list of things I have done in each role rather than explaining the skills I've learnt in the role. Should I be looking at the competencies of each firm and tailoring my work exp for this? I just assumed this was only really needed in the questions tailored to each firm.

Also, am I okay to leave this section in bullet points (ofc they are full sentences), rather than paragraphs - I just felt it was easier to read this way since each point is an entirely different task.

 

[fffvfdsfv]

is it still worth applying for a&o or no (since its rolling)?

should i apply for the vs or the tc? ive already done two vac schemes (at a magic circle and silver circle) but also im going into my final year of uni