TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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