TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[p2bv]

anyone heard from bird and bird post VI

 

[lawstudent2]

Sorry about your rejections - these are always quite difficult.

I think firstly, it is important to note that rejections are inevitable in this process even for 1st class graduates and applicants with strong work experience. As such, it is important to understand that the rejection does not always reflect on your grades or written application responses. Secondly, it would be good to maybe revisit your answers and see whether they are extremely tailored to the firm, have you had interactions with the firm, work experiences that link to the firm, and if your work experience sections are detailed and highlights transferable skills.

As you have gotten to Acs before and you are progressing through test stages with other firms, I wouldn't be too worried in these instances. Different firms focus on different parts of the application and its not always quite easy to understand what these factors are.

In light of this, keep your chin up and keep applying! Best of luck.

Thanks for the kind response, I think it just surprised me to not even get past the initial sift (I am v used to rejections post test, having had about half my applications rejected so far but these were v quick)
Appreciate the advice tho and I will definitely have a good look over them

 

[Bob142]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

 

[whywhy88]

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu do either of you have any advice on how to approach this question for DLA Piper? 'Describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions?'. I'm unsure whether to mention a legal event/scheme or whether it has to be outside of this and more personal (though I'm not sure anything in my personal life has done much to shape my motivation for a career in law!😂)

 

[ali-k]

macfarlanes summer VS , thank you @Abbie Whitlock your advice on preparing before my AC genuinely helped a lot

 

[Chriss]

anyone heard from mayer brown after the first stage assesement and video interview?

 

[Prudentia]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

I always assume I'm still in the running until I've heard otherwise.

 

[Prudentia]

Does anyone have any advice, in the last 24 hours I have been rejected from Reed Smith and DLA Piper post application (so didn't even get the test for either) and both rejections were received within a week of me applying.

I'm not really sure what to make of it as I've gotten to ACs before and am progressing thru test stages with other firms. My weakest part of my app is my grades but they both say they take a 2.1 and I thought they were strong applications, maybe I was too late idk.


Any advice on this as I am struggling to move past these rejections since I don't really know what to learn from it/what I shld have done differently.

I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling low. Unfortunately, rejection is just part of the game. Having been on both sides of the recruiting table, you can do everything right and still not get the job. Getting a rejection doesn't always mean you're a weak candidate. TCs/VSs are highly competitive, and there is a huge element of subjectivity and luck that goes into deciding who progresses.