TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

Thank you so much!!
If I can ask is there a specific structure that ReedSmith is looking for when it comes to the VI?

No problem at all!

I'm not aware of a single strict structure that Reed Smith expects, but the key is to ensure that your answer fully addresses the question and is supported with specific examples. For example, an approach I usually took for most motivational interview questions was:

1. Directly address the question (e.g. "The reason I am applying for Reed Smith is...")
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the firm
3. Link the firm to your own motivations (i.e. why the above matters to you)
4. Use one or two relevant examples from your past experiences to back this up
5. End with a confident closing line

You should still tailor this structure (or a similar one) to each specific question. As long as your response engages with the question in sufficient depth and provides clear evidence for your points, the exact structure can be adapted to whatever feels most appropriate

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock I was wondering how you would approach the following question for Osborne Clarke?

- What skills have you been developing over the last 12-24 months that you believe are instrumental to ensuring your success as a solicitor? How have you been developing these skills? Why do you believe that these skills will set you up for a successful career at Osborne Clarke? Your examples can be taken from any activities or experiences you have participated in and don't have to be focussed solely on the legal sector (Max 500 words)

I have spoken with the early careers team and they said to follow something along the lines of skill-evidence-link, but I am unsure on whether I should choose four or five skills to talk about. Thank you in advance!

Hello!

For this type of question, you definitely don't need four or five skills - usually two or three well-developed ones will make a much stronger and more focused response. I'd definitely follow the early careers guidance of "skill -> evidence -> link", as it gives you space to explore each skill in depth, rather than listing lots quite briefly.

For each skill, you could structure it along the lines of:

1. What the skill is: e.g. commercial awareness, adaptability, collaboration, time management, etc.
2. How you developed it: this can come from work experience, part-time jobs, volunteering, university projects, sports team, etc.
3. What the impact was: what changed as a result of that development? What are you now more confident in, and what did you learn?
4. Why it matters at Osborne Clarke: this is the key part! Demonstrate that you understand the firm's strengths, client base and sectors, and show how the skill will help you contribute to the firm.

I would have a think about what Osborne Clarke is known for, and pick skills that genuinely reflect how you would thrive in that environment. If you pick two or three strong skills and really unpack them with evidence and clear links to the firm, you'll end up with a much more compelling 500-word answer than trying to briefly touch on several.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the application!

 

[Dannie]

How cooked is one's Links app if you haven't done their forage internship or been to any of their events...

 

[yasmars]

If someone doesn’t mind can they point to some really strong points about why CMS for a potential VI answer. I’ve never applied to them and just did it this year and got the VI so don’t know much other than their band 1 for mid market work and their global structure and potential for US merger

These points need to be personal to you. If you reach an AC you will need to be authentic in your responses for why you would like to train at CMS.

 

[lawstudent2]

Is it too late to apply for Jones Day summer?

 

[llblawstudent]

slightly weird question guys but do we reckon it’s a bad look if you put in your other firms’ forage schemes if you haven’t done the firm that you’re applying for’s one?

 

[Andrei Radu]

If someone doesn’t mind can they point to some really strong points about why CMS for a potential VI answer. I’ve never applied to them and just did it this year and got the VI so don’t know much other than their band 1 for mid market work and their global structure and potential for US merger

Besides their mid-market corporate M&A work, CMS is also known to excel in the following areas:

• The TMT sector (technology, media, & entertainment), having recently advised on clients such as Esports World Cup Foundation on the organisation of the first Esports World Cup.
• In healthcare, where the firm advised Primary Health Properties on its £1.79 billion winning bid for Assura, one of the biggest mandates in the sector in 2025.
• Energy & Projects, whether the firm consistently advises big clients such as the National Grid;
• Real estate, planning, and construction disputes;

Besides these strong sectors/practices, another firm USP you could discuss is its strategic focus on innovation in legal tech, training and development, and client delivery. Here, you could analyse innovations such as:

• The CMS Academy
• Its investment and backing of AI developer Noxura
• Its implementation of Relativity aiR
• The creation of its unique media production studio in London

To learn more about all the points I mentioned, I would highly encourage you to read about it in TCLA's detailed law firm profile for CMS.

 

[Andrei Radu]

slightly weird question guys but do we reckon it’s a bad look if you put in your other firms’ forage schemes if you haven’t done the firm that you’re applying for’s one?

I do not think it is a bad look and I would encourage you to put yours down, as they showcase your dedication to pursuing commercial law. Firms are well aware that any candidate with a senior interest in commercial law will be applying to many firms besides theirs, and thus that they may have completed Forage courses from other firms - as such, I would not expect them to infer insufficient interest on a candidate's part if they have done other firms' courses but not theirs. At the very least, in my experience and in that of other people I know, I never saw a pattern of progressions/rejections that could indicate this was a problem.

 

[user55998384]

I have a VI question about what you would enjoy most and least about a career in commercial law - i have 2 mins to answer
would you say that for each point to add a personal experience, would be really grateful to know what you think! @Andrei Radu

 

[Andrei Radu]

Is it too late to apply for Jones Day summer?

I definitely think you should still apply if you have an interest in the firm. While Jones Day is known to be a firm that is really serious about their rolling reviewing process by sending out many offers early, there is more than a month and a half till the application deadline, and it is well known that firms receive the vast majority of their applications in the last week before the deadline. As such, if JD were to fit up all their spots so quickly, they would be missing out on a lot of talented candidates, which the firm is unlikely to want. There has also certainly not been enough discussion on the forms about JD ACs to think that they have filled up all their spots already, particularly since the firm usually hosts ACs for quite an extended period of time.

 

[Andrei Radu]

I have a VI question about what you would enjoy most and least about a career in commercial law - i have 2 mins to answer
would you say that for each point to add a personal experience, would be really grateful to know what you think! @Andrei Radu

Yes, I would advise you to try to connect the points you mention to some examples from your experiences; consider allocating your time like this:

1. 30ish seconds explaining the feature of commercial law you would enjoy most and why you think that will be the case (here I would discuss something such as the opportunity to learn a lot about businesses while working to solve their complex legal problems, but this is a very personal point, where I think you should think about what aspect of the job you actually think you will like the most).
2. 20-30ish seconds quickly explaining the headline points about an experience which illustrates this, such as a time you enjoyed learning about businesses.
3. 20-30ish seconds explaining a feature you think would not enjoy much, which should not pick up any crucial aspect of the job (i.e. time-pressured tasks and demanding clients) but rather more temporary and less important aspects (such as more admin focused work at the junior level)
4. 10-20ish seconds explain that, nonetheless, you recognise the importance and value of this aspect of the role (i.e. explain that admin work is crucial for successful representation of clients and also forms useful skills for you)
5. A 10-20ish seconds brief mention of a time you dealt well with this kind of less pleasant aspect in another situation

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi who should we address the Sullivan & Cromwell cover letter to ?

It should be fine to just address it to the firm's "Graduate Recruitment Team/Early Careers Team/the specific terms the firm uses to name this department", as even if S&C has a training principal, they will certainly not be the ones reading the cover letter; and as such, it is unlikely the firm would have a strong expectation for the letter to be addressed specifically to them.

 

[user55998384]

Yes, I would advise you to try to connect the points you mention to some examples from your experiences; consider allocating your time like this:

1. 30ish seconds explaining the feature of commercial law you would enjoy most and why you think that will be the case (here I would discuss something such as the opportunity to learn a lot about businesses while working to solve their complex legal problems, but this is a very personal point, where I think you should think about what aspect of the job you actually think you will like the most).
2. 20-30ish seconds quickly explaining the headline points about an experience which illustrates this, such as a time you enjoyed learning about businesses.
3. 20-30ish seconds explaining a feature you think would not enjoy much, which should not pick up any crucial aspect of the job (i.e. time-pressured tasks and demanding clients) but rather more temporary and less important aspects (such as more admin focused work at the junior level)
4. 10-20ish seconds explain that, nonetheless, you recognise the importance and value of this aspect of the role (i.e. explain that admin work is crucial for successful representation of clients and also forms useful skills for you)
5. A 10-20ish seconds brief mention of a time you dealt well with this kind of less pleasant aspect in another situation

thank you so much this is really helpful, in my planned answer i talked about how it would be difficult to organise and co-ordinate with laywers in offices in different time zones and these lines of communications might not always be smooth but said how this is a challenge that excites me - would you say this is steering too far from the q and it should literally focus on something that wouldn't be enjouable

 

[cookedlawstudent]

it's not. only vi

Hi does this mean I can close and open the tab multiple times for the untimed part?

 

[legal18]

I hate amberjack - 4,1,4,4

Felt like VI portion went well

 

[maylawwww]

I know this is dependent on the individual but what would you put in an application answer like: "Please set out below any additional information which you feel is relevant to your application. Max 300 words" Especially when there is already a motivational question and an extracurriculars question? Thank you!

 

[llblawstudent]

I definitely think you should still apply if you have an interest in the firm. While Jones Day is known to be a firm that is really serious about their rolling reviewing process by sending out many offers early, there is more than a month and a half till the application deadline, and it is well known that firms receive the vast majority of their applications in the last week before the deadline. As such, if JD were to fit up all their spots so quickly, they would be missing out on a lot of talented candidates, which the firm is unlikely to want. There has also certainly not been enough discussion on the forms about JD ACs to think that they have filled up all their spots already, particularly since the firm usually hosts ACs for quite an extended period of time.

Would you say a similar thing for slaughters? Their deadline is 05/12 and I’m almost ready but I feel I’m cutting it a bit fine…

 

[Mikeross750]

Hello!

For this type of question, you definitely don't need four or five skills - usually two or three well-developed ones will make a much stronger and more focused response. I'd definitely follow the early careers guidance of "skill -> evidence -> link", as it gives you space to explore each skill in depth, rather than listing lots quite briefly.

For each skill, you could structure it along the lines of:

1. What the skill is: e.g. commercial awareness, adaptability, collaboration, time management, etc.
2. How you developed it: this can come from work experience, part-time jobs, volunteering, university projects, sports team, etc.
3. What the impact was: what changed as a result of that development? What are you now more confident in, and what did you learn?
4. Why it matters at Osborne Clarke: this is the key part! Demonstrate that you understand the firm's strengths, client base and sectors, and show how the skill will help you contribute to the firm.

I would have a think about what Osborne Clarke is known for, and pick skills that genuinely reflect how you would thrive in that environment. If you pick two or three strong skills and really unpack them with evidence and clear links to the firm, you'll end up with a much more compelling 500-word answer than trying to briefly touch on several.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the application!

Thank you very much!

 

[iklawapps]

Hello!

No need to apologise at all - more than happy to help! It's a great question, and definitely something that a lot of people wonder about.

In a two-minute scenario answer for VI, my approach to the structure would be:

1. Briefly explain your thought process and what you would do in the situation - I'd aim to show that you understand the firm's expectations and what Reed Smith looks for in potential trainees, and talk through each stage of your thought process. They might not necessarily be assessing a "right" or "wrong" answer to the situation, and likely will focus on how you approach the scenario.
2. Add a short real life example if you have one - I'd aim for this to be just 20-30 seconds at the end, as it shouldn't necessarily take up the bulk of your answer. Include an example that demonstrates you've handled something similar before and can apply the same approach in real life.

Going all-in on an example can potentially work, but the risk is that you might not make it clear how you would specifically respond to the scenario being asked. Starting with your reasoning ensures you directly answer the question, and the example acts as evidence that you've done it before (and backs up your claims!).

I hope that helps - best of luck with the online assessment!

that's actually so helpful, I appreciate it so much : ) thank you so much for the help, I feel like that clarifies it for me a lot!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I know this is dependent on the individual but what would you put in an application answer like: "Please set out below any additional information which you feel is relevant to your application. Max 300 words" Especially when there is already a motivational question and an extracurriculars question? Thank you!

Hello!

With an “additional information” section, I would treat it as a space to add context the firm wouldn’t otherwise know if you haven’t had the chance to outline it anywhere else in your application.

A good way to approach it might be to ask yourself: Is there anything about my journey, strengths, or circumstances that would help the firm understand my application better? For example, this might include:

1. Explain gaps or unusual pathways

If you took a year out, switched degrees, worked part-time, or had mitigating circumstances, this is the perfect place to give brief, factual context.

2. Highlight something that doesn’t fit neatly elsewhere

Maybe you have a niche interest that is relevant to the firm (e.g. a specific research project, industry exposure, technical skills, etc.) that didn’t naturally belong in the other questions.

3. Show personality or perspective

Some people might use the space to mention values, experiences, or insights that shaped their approach to work. This can help your application feel more rounded and genuine.

Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to use all 300 words. Unless you genuinely have anything important to add that you feel strengthens your application, this is usually an optional question and I wouldn’t fill it out for the sake of it.

I hope that helps!