TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[nonlawstudent98]

Congratulations! When did u apply!

@aspiringlawyer25 I applied on 05/09 and got the interview on 08/09 (just didn't post about it until now)

 

[ZNadeem]

For the Slaughters app, it says that a cover letter should be no longer than one side of A4. How many words is it roughly then, and what font size?

Hi! I wouldn’t go under font size 11 (Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri all work fine). That usually gives you around 800–850 words on one side of A4 if margins are adjusted.

 

[ZNadeem]

Any tips for preparing for interviews. I have one next week but I'm blank - not sure what to do, what to prepare.

Hi! Do you know if it’s CV-blind or competency-based? That will shape your prep.

In any case, I’d suggest:

• Focus on competency and strength-based questions — use STAR to structure your answers clearly. Look at key competencies firms usually value (teamwork, resilience, communication, leadership, attention to detail).
• Refine your answers to the basic motivational questions: “Why commercial law?”, “Why this firm?”, and “Why you?”. These often set the tone.
• Prepare for commercial awareness questions — have one recent deal the firm has worked on and one broader news story (ideally with business implications) that you can discuss.

That should give you a strong base of confidence going in.

 

[ZNadeem]

For the Paul, Weiss 'How do your extra-curricular activities align with a career at Paul, Weiss?' question, does it matter if we only have one activity to talk about? I only have one main hobby/extra-curricular but am worried that this may put me at a disadvantage

Hi! I would try to add another if possible. Even if you only have one main hobby right now, think about anything from the past few years — a society role, volunteering, sports, music, debate, mentoring, competitions, or even part-time projects. It doesn’t have to be ongoing to count, and having at least two gives you more room to demonstrate different skills that align with Paul, Weiss.

 

[Bhavana]

Just got an invite for Sidley's HR interview! I applied on August 24

 

[efm99]

When you complete Pinsent Masons online application, does it automatically take you to the blended test or do you have to be accepted giving people time to prepare? They emailed me with an automatic message saying I need to complete the application and the test so I wasn't sure and have been holding off since it's non-rolling.

 

[jojo23]

Anybody else still waiting on Reed Smith’s open day?

 

[norothrow324]

Has anyone heard anything from Taylor Wessing?

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Has anyone received their report from Gibson Dunn, and is the report supposed to come immediately after? completed the assessment yesterday and haven't received a report.

 

[aspringlawyer25]

@aspiringlawyer25 I applied on 05/09 and got the interview on 08/09 (just didn't post about it until now)

Oh, alright then, thanks.

 

[c.t.tc]

Has anyone heard anything from Taylor Wessing?

I got a test invite on Monday!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

For the Paul, Weiss 'How do your extra-curricular activities align with a career at Paul, Weiss?' question, does it matter if we only have one activity to talk about? I only have one main hobby/extra-curricular but am worried that this may put me at a disadvantage

Hi!

As @ZNadeem mentioned, I would try and add another if you can!

I can really relate to your concerns as I had a similar issue when I was first completing applications, as I didn’t have many hobbies / extracurriculars outside of my degree.

To strengthen my extracurricular section, I reflected on activities that I genuinely enjoyed, even if they weren’t consistent hobbies. For instance, I discussed my interest in reading by highlighting recent books I had read and linking them back to the firm’s industry / sector focus. Whilst reading wasn’t a consistent pastime (and still isn’t!), my curiosity was genuine! Similarly, I mentioned activities such as go-karting, which I wasn’t able to do regularly but still enjoyed.

That being said, I would be careful not to overstate involvement too much, as it may be brought up in an interview and you will need to have an answer that is consistent with your original application.

Overall, showing curiosity and a willingness to engage with new experiences is valuable, even if your engagement with them isn’t always long-term and consistent

 

[norothrow324]

I got a test invite on Monday!

Is it automatic?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hogan Lovells assessment.. what a nightmare. Don’t even want to see the report! Pretty sure I went over the recommended 90 minutes

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Any tips for preparing for interviews. I have one next week but I'm blank - not sure what to do, what to prepare.

Hi @BuddyingLawyer744 !

I totally understand how you’re feeling, as preparing for an interview can feel very overwhelming at first. Here are a few tips that worked for me when preparing for vacation scheme / training contract interviews:

Understand the Firm

1. Research the firm thoroughly - recent deals, main practice areas / sector focus, clients, USPs. You’ll have done a lot of this for the application stage, but it’s always useful to go over it briefly before the interview.
2. Be ready to explain why this firm specifically - what sets it apart from its competitors, how its values aligns with your interests, and how the firm structure suits you.
3. Check the firm’s website / social media for unique insights - a lot of firms will have trainee blogs and testimonials, so I’d have a look and see why current trainees like the firm.

Prepare for Common Interview Questions

1. Competency questions - use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and have some strong examples to mind. These could be in areas that they’ll look for in trainees, such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
2. Commercial awareness - I would keep up to date with recent news and pick one that you are really interested in. Think of ways that you can link it to how law firms and clients might be affected by it.
3. Motivation questions - most interviews will ask ‘Why Law’ and ‘Why this Firm’, and it’s important to be specific and genuine in explaining your motivations.

Practice!

1. Do a few mock interviews with friends, family, or even in front of a mirror. The main thing I did to prepare for interviews was make a note of the topics I wanted to discuss for the most common questions, and then rehearse until I could remember it from memory. I wouldn’t recommend writing a script - it’s impossible to plan for every question, and you may struggle if the question is slightly different than what you had planned.
2. Read your application and CV again - some interviews follow the structure of your original application, so it’s important to make sure you’re familiar with what you submitted.
3. If there’s a case study or written task, I would look up practice ones online so that you have an idea of what to expect on the day.

I also always try to match my tone and behaviour to how my interviewer presents themselves, as some are quite chatty / conversational whilst others will remain more professional. If in doubt, I would always err on the side of professionalism - but some of my best interviews have been ones that felt like a genuine conversation.

Don’t worry if you feel ‘blank’ now - it’s completely normal! Once you start prepping, things will start to click into place. Good luck - you’ve got this!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Can my volunteering experience be in the work experience section? - it was giving advice to clients and guiding them through forms

Hi @FutureTraineeMaybe !

Yes, volunteering like that can absolutely go in the work experience section - especially if it involved client interaction and using legal knowledge. A lot of people include things such as volunteering at Citizen’s Advice or law clinics, and it is really relevant experience to show.

As mentioned previously, I’d be careful with how you describe the nature of the advice. Unless you were supervised by a qualified lawyer or it was a regulated legal setting, you might want to avoid saying that you have legal advice directly. Instead, you could say something like:

1. “I supported clients in understanding legal processes and completing forms related to XYZ”
2. “I guided clients through administrative forms and signposted relevant legal information”

This still highlights your involvement and the contributions that you made. It also discusses the skills that you developed, such as communication, empathy, and client handling, without overstating the role.

So yes, definitely include it, but make sure you frame it accurately. It’s really great experience, and will be a strong addition to your application!

 

[c.t.tc]

Is it automatic?

No it’s the second stage - the first time I applied I got rejected post-app

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Just got rejected from the HSF Kramer open day is it even worth applying for their VS?

Hi @RaniaH062002

Sorry to hear about the open day rejection - I completely understand that it’s disheartening, but it definitely doesn’t mean that you are out of the running for the vacation scheme.

Open day and vacation scheme applications are often assessed separately, and graduate recruitment are typically looking for different elements in each. Additionally, firms understand that people develop their applications over time, and you might have improved your commercial awareness or just written a stronger application by the time you apply for the vacation scheme.

Open days are extremely competitive, and it often comes down to very small margins. This doesn’t necessarily mean you are not a strong candidate!

It is absolutely still worth applying for the vacation scheme, especially if:

1. You can tailor your vacation scheme application specifically to HSF Kramer’s work, values, and culture.
2. You show genuine motivation and development since your last application.
3. You’ve taken time to make clear links between your skills / experiences and what the firm looks for in a vacation scheme candidate (e.g. teamwork, commercial awareness, communication)

People do get rejected from open days and still secure vacation schemes or training contracts - it’s more common than you’d think! Definitely don’t count yourself out, as it’s always worth applying. Best of luck

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Has anyone gotten their Ashurst feedback report? Did the asessment on the 13th and have not received the feedback still.