TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[l789]

a levels did not meet requirement.
Firsts in first and second year.
One vac scheme at a MC, another form of competitive internship at an international and paralegal experience in Argentina.

Thank you so much for responding.

Your grades and experience are amazing!
Sorry. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but when you say your Alevels don’t meet the requirement, are you substantially far off, or just one or two grades. Cleary has AAA, which is objectively the highest A level grade requirement (alongside Sidley).

Just trying to see if they take a holistic approach. Cleary is a fantastic firm, congrats and wishing you success for the next stages

 

[JBM]

Thank you so much for responding.

Your grades and experience are amazing!
Sorry. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but when you say your Alevels don’t meet the requirement, are you substantially far off, or just one or two grades. Cleary has AAA, which is objectively the highest A level grade requirement (alongside Sidley).

Just trying to see if they take a holistic approach. Cleary is a fantastic firm, congrats and wishing you success for the next stages

I was one grade off.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

People that did the simmons assessment. What were your scores? I got 8 , 4 ,6. Wondering if that hits their benchmark (High verbal & middle numerical reasoning as well)

Hey, I got 7,9,4 and got high numerical and verbal. Not sure what the benchmark is, though.

 

[yasmars]

Spending so much time on those 2 stages... before they even read your application, so then getting rejected is so []. Hence, US firms are better at this, as most of them review your application personally and, only then, if successful, invite you to the next stage nvm about doing 2 tests for HL that contained SJT + WG + VI, and then a document-scanning exercise. It's not even a magic firm, either. Feels like way too much.

Agree. At least Freshfields have removed written answers from their applications

 

[l789]

I was one grade off.

Thanks for the honesty!

 

[Chriss]

anyone receive a paul weiss open day invite?

 

[STEM Student]

Anyone still waiting for Freshfields second online assessment?
Also have L&W sent out all OD invites now?

 

[pfoapplicant]

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well!

I graduated from university last year - I did well in my exams, but I graduated without a TC. After having done a bit of travelling over the last few months, I'm now about to embark on a new application cycle.

My dilemma is as follows: I'd like to get some work (ideally as a paralegal) over the next few months, in order to bring in an income to my household - would this make it inadvisable for me to apply for vac schemes as well (as if I'm working as a paralegal next summer, and I get offered a place on a summer vac scheme at another firm, this could cause problems)?
In other words, if I'm probably going to be in paid employment (quite probably as a paralegal, or something similar) by the start of next summer, should I restrict myself to just doing direct TC applications?

If anyone has any advice, I would be hugely grateful!

 

[AngelB]

Bird and bird PFO!

 

[johnsmith]

People that did the simmons assessment. What were your scores? I got 8 , 4 ,6. Wondering if that hits their benchmark (High verbal & middle numerical reasoning as well)

I got an 8, 7 & 5, high numerical and verbal but nothing back yet - there was one person who did get an AC alread but all they said was the date they did their test!

 

[TCGrad1642]

Has anyone heard back from Covington yet? I need to book a holiday and want to know confirm dates.

sadly not, hopefully soon

 

[Bread]

Has anyone heard back from Covington yet? I need to book a holiday and want to know confirm dates.

At one of their events grad rec said next week, hopefully beginning of!

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well!

I graduated from university last year - I did well in my exams, but I graduated without a TC. After having done a bit of travelling over the last few months, I'm now about to embark on a new application cycle.

My dilemma is as follows: I'd like to get some work (ideally as a paralegal) over the next few months, in order to bring in an income to my household - would this make it inadvisable for me to apply for vac schemes as well (as if I'm working as a paralegal next summer, and I get offered a place on a summer vac scheme at another firm, this could cause problems)?
In other words, if I'm probably going to be in paid employment (quite probably as a paralegal, or something similar) by the start of next summer, should I restrict myself to just doing direct TC applications?

If anyone has any advice, I would be hugely grateful!

You would ideally accumulate some holiday entitlement so that you can attend the vac scheme. Depending on the firm such as their flexibility and understanding of your situation, you may want to mention you are applying for TCs so might need some time off booked at short notice for prep of AC and they may also offer you some help in in the process.

 

[Singh241]

Paul Weiss WVS PFO

 

[TCchaser]

Paul Weiss WVS PFO

Same here

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Paul, Weiss WVS PFO ​

 

[elizabethkate]

Bird and bird PFO!

sorry to hear that! is this after the WG or VI?

 

[TCComingSoon]

Paul, Weiss pfo great way to end the week

 

[e_turbo2]

Paul Weiss WVS PFO

 

[msclm]

Sorry to hear about the PW PFOs, I understand for many it is a dream firm. I was fortunate enough to make it through to interview and will be very happy to offer my advice (once the winter is over) for the app stage should people want it