TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[blcnko]

Hi does anyone know how long Arctic shores will take to email the SJT for NRF's Vacation scheme? I have applied through the portal and completed the RARE recruitment form but I havent received the SJT yet.. the deadline closes today as well!

 

[Andrei Radu]

guys, I feel like 750 words for the NRF cover letter WITHOUT including a section dedicated to why law is way too much. without why law now I have around 600 words total(including first and last stenence) and I feel like anything more is pushing it/ they will not read. any advice??

I would not worry about the recruiters not reading it. If you write you answer well (in a structured, concise, and clear manner) they will definitely read it - the fact that they gave you this higher word count limit reflects the fact that they believe there is enough valuable content to cover in this space.

As for advice concerning how to go about filling the space without waffling, I would tell you to do one or more of the following:

1. Include more examples of experiences/achievements which showcase your skills: look over your CV and work experience sections and consider which experiences you could and develop on.
2. Describe the existing experiences/achievements in greater depth: you can almost always provide more context at to how and why you got in a certain position, develop on your work and tasks, give extra particular examples, explain outcomes in more detail etc.
3. Include more reasons for why NRF is a firm you are interested in: instead of stopping at one of two unique selling points to connect your motivations to, why not go for 3, or 4, or even 5? Firms like NRF have several strong practices/sectors you can express an interest in, besides operating in a very particular market segment and having a quite specific international strategy.
4. Describe existing why the firm reasons in greater depth: you can again almost always analyse a firm's unique selling points in greater depth. For instance, if you listed a practice area strength before as a reason, and you provided a Chambers ranking as proof, you can do many other things to show depth of research and the specificity of your understanding of the firm's practice. For example, you can describe some of the major deals/cases/matters the firm worked on and the expertise that showcases, discuss competitors and make comparisons, you can mention its biggest clients and analyse the relationships, you can discuss their size and growth, any leading practitioners and lateral moves etc.

 

[i really like clouds :)]

has anyone who applied to sidley in september heard back for the wvs yet? i applied on 11th but i haven't heard anything good or bad

 

[noahsmiit01]

Good evening, guys,

I need urgent help. I am applying for the Vacation Scheme, and it says:

Do you have any visa limitations that prevent you from participating in this vacation scheme? Please note that you will be expected to work 35 hours/week.

If I am on the Student Visa (which only allows me to work up to 20 hours a week), would that mean that I am not eligible to apply for the Vac Scheme?

Would appreciate it so much for any answers🙏

 

[ZNadeem]

Good evening, guys,

I need urgent help. I am applying for the Vacation Scheme, and it says:

Do you have any visa limitations that prevent you from participating in this vacation scheme? Please note that you will be expected to work 35 hours/week.

If I am on the Student Visa (which only allows me to work up to 20 hours a week), would that mean that I am not eligible to apply for the Vac Scheme?

Would appreciate it so much for any answers🙏

Hi! As a former international student myself, happy to share some insight. The 20-hour work limit on a Student Visa only applies during official university term time. During vacation periods (winter, spring, and summer breaks), you are permitted to work full-time — so if the vacation scheme falls in those breaks, you should be eligible.

It’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s official term dates (since they can differ slightly) and confirm that the scheme doesn’t overlap with teaching or assessment periods. I’d also recommend emailing your university just to be extra safe — they’re used to these queries and can give you a clear answer.

 

[Jaysen]

Hey everyone,

Reed Smith's graduate recruitment team is currently live in the TCLA forum to answer any questions you have.

This is a great opportunity to ask any questions to help you understand what you need to do to stand out this cycle, what graduate recruitment looks for, or anything else that you would like to learn more about.

You can ask your questions here!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Not sure where else to ask this but does anyone else's AllHires account not work for them? I've tried logging in a few times and never end up receiving the email verification code

Hey!

I would check the spam / junk folder of your email, and also double-check that the email address on your AllHires account is spelled correctly and that your inbox isn't filtering it somewhere unexpected!

If you've already tried that and still aren't seeing anything, I'd perhaps reach out to AllHires support or make a new account (if you haven't submitted the application yet!).

Hope you get back in smoothly soon!

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Does anyone have any tips for preparing for commercial awareness questions in interviews?

 

[RBUCL]

Has anyone heard from Dechert WVS yet?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any tips for preparing for commercial awareness questions in interviews?

Hi there!

Great question! Commercial awareness is something that lots of candidates worry about, and it was definitely the most puzzling area for me when I was starting to make applications! I can share a few tips that really helped me when I was preparing for commercial awareness questions in interview

Understand what firms mean by "commercial awareness"

It's not just about knowing the news or being able to recite the financial times to an interviewer - it's more about showing that you understand how businesses (including law firms) operate and make money, and how they are impacted by external factors. Try to connect current events to how they might impact clients or the legal sector.

One resource that I found was a really good example and starting point was LittleLaw, as it often broke down how law firms and their clients would be affected by different changes in the market. I actually spoke about the Rhode / Elf Beauty acquisition in one of my VS interviews, which I had read about on LittleLaw!

Build a consistent habit of keeping up to date

When I was starting to improve my commercial awareness, there were a few resources that I found particularly useful:

• Read news sources such as BBC News, Financial Times, The Economist, or legal news sites a couple times a week.
• Podcasts are a really great way of getting a snapshot each day - I still listen to the FT News Briefing in the morning as a way to get a summary of what is going on.
• The TCLA newsletters and forum posts are also a great way to break down stories into digestible insights with a legal focus.

Focus on depth over breadth

Whilst you should have a general understanding of the main things that are happening across the market, I would pick a couple of industries that you are particularly interested in (e.g. tech, energy, finance) and follow them closely. Have a think about:

• Why is this development happening?
• Who benefits and who loses?
• How might it create legal work for firms? What departments would be involved (e.g. M&A, litigation, regulation, tax, commercial)?

Practice Common Commercial Interview Questions

Interviewers often ask "Tell me about a recent news story that interested you". This has come up in 90% of the interviews I have completed, so I would always try and prepare for it in advance! Have a look at the news a couple days before your interview, pick a story, and practice giving answers in a structure such as:

• What happened (the story)
• Why it matters (the business / legal impact)
• Your view (what you find interesting about it)

I would focus on a story that genuinely interests you so that you sound enthusiastic about it. At another interview I completed on a VS, I talked about the commercial / legal implications of the new Universal theme park opening in the UK! It doesn't have to be an overly 'complicated' story, as long as you can show the impact it has and how firms could get involved.

Connect it back to the firm

If possible, link a news story to the type of work or clients that a firm has. This will be a good way of showing that you're not just aware of the issue, but that you understand why it's relevant to the firm. This may not be possible for every story that you discuss, and you definitely don't need to link it back every time, so I wouldn't try and force a connection if it isn't relevant.

Use mock interviews or discussions

Talking through news stories with friends, mentors, or even just out loud to yourself can really help you sound more confident and fluent. This was something that I started doing a lot in my successful cycle, and I found that when I really understood the story and what I was saying, this made the interview go a lot more smoothly.

I also felt a lot of nerves before interviews, so practising it really helped me approach it with more confidence as whilst I wasn't necessarily following a script, I had a clear idea of the topics I wanted to talk about and knew how they all fit together.

Key words and terms

I would also make sure that if you are using certain commercial or business terms in your answers, that you understand what they mean and how they are used. For example, I discussed indemnities in one of my interviews last cycle and the interviewers asked me to explain what an indemnity was (and I completely blanked!). Whilst you won't be expected to be an expert in these areas, just having that understanding of what the concepts are is really important.

I really relied on Investopedia in my last cycle as a way of understanding these foundational concepts. If I was reading an article or news story and I didn't understand a word or concept, I would immediately search it on Investopedia and made sure that I understood it before continuing with the article.

I hope that all helps! Building your commercial awareness and preparing for interview questions on it can feel like an impossible task, but I really would recommend building your foundational knowledge first before trying to understand really complex financial terms and processes - it's a marathon, not a sprint! Wishing you the best of luck

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2025/26🙏]

Does anyone please have the questions for Goodwin's Open Afternoon?

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

Willkie VI invite! Applied just over 2 weeks ago

 

[c.t.tc]

Does it also seem to everyone else that Mishcon have taken their application questions off of the application form completely?

 

[c.t.tc]

Does it also seem to everyone else that Mishcon have taken their application questions off of the application form completely?

just had a look online and they've changed the process nvm!

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Weil, Gotshal & Manges insight day invite!​

 

[FAS444]

Anyone heard back from macfarlanes

 

[lawschool123]

Hi,
I’m struggling a bit with reapplying to firms and would love some advice! When firms ask the same application questions, I sometimes feel that my previous answers from previous applications, which were successful, are still the strongest and most authentic. For example, HSF Kramer has a question about a topic that interests you. I’ve drafted answers on new topics, but honestly, the one I like most (and feel is most “me”) is the one I submitted before. I’m unsure whether reusing it is a good idea. I know that for motivational or competency-based questions, I can update my answers with new experiences since my last application, while keeping the core motivations the same. But for certain questions, I feel my previous answer was already strong, and I’m not sure if changing it is the right move. Any thoughts on this would be extremely helpful! Thanks

 

[berocca567]

Has anyone else received an HSF Kramer, 'You've reached our test benchmark' email? Never seen one of these before

 

[TCSeeker999]

Hi, when would HSF Kramer usually send out AC invites for their Winter VS?

They are non-rolling and close on 1 October. Scheme starts 24 November.

I just received confirmation I have passed the benchmark for the test and now at app. review stage for anyone else applying!!

 

[BillSikes]

Anyone know if DLA Piper are still rolling basis this year?