TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[marisachr]

Has anyone who has passed the TI stage for DLA heard about ACs?

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Omg Gowling VI thank god ToT

In response to this, does anyone have any advice or can direct me to a page about how to handle situational judgment-based interviews?

 

[CuriousTrainee]

Omg Gowling VI thank god ToT

What was ur arctic shores score if you don't mind me asking?

 

[AMullin]

Gowling and Dentons PFOs, happy Thursday everyone!

 

[i-want-a-tc]

Gowling PFO but I got 44422. Did anyone with similar or lower scores get through? I think my grades could be the reason, or the just have high benchmark.

 

[W5690]

is it odd to not have heard back since passing DLA's WG?

@badmintonflyinginsect I have been wondering the same. I sent my online application the last day on 21 November. I was sent the WG test on 24 November and I took it on 28 November. On 1 December I received an email confirming that I had completed the WG test and saying "If you don’t hear from us immediately, please don’t worry, you will receive an update as soon as possible." I have not heard anything since that email on 1 December.

 

[MeWantTCPlz]

Gowling were so eager to PFO me they sent it a day before it was due

 

[CuriousTrainee]

@badmintonflyinginsect I have been wondering the same. I had sent my online application the last day on 21 November. I was sent the WG test on 24 November and I took it on 28 November. On 1 December I received an email confirming that I had completed the WG test and saying "If you don’t hear from us immediately, please don’t worry, you will receive an update as soon as possible." I have not heard anything since that email on 1 December.

I wouldn't be surprised if it leads into January considering the amount of people who had their WGs given last week, plus a few people in the forum said it took them anything from 1 to 2 to 4 weeks to receive a TI... They're sending out invites sporadically is what I'm assuming, judging by what people have said so far. It's just a waiting game for us now..... oh the anticipation

 

[W5690]

I wouldn't be surprised if it leads into January considering the amount of people who had their WGs given last week, plus a few people in the forum said it took them anything from 1 to 2 to 4 weeks to receive a TI... They're sending out invites sporadically is what I'm assuming, judging by what people have said so far. It's just a waiting game for us now..... oh the anticipation

@CuriousTrainee Thanks for your reply. Oh I see! Do you know whether the WG test is sent automatically following the online application form or do they initially assess the online application form and, if successful, make us go ahead with the WG test? Thank you.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

I have half a mind that I was rejected before interview (winter vac) because of my grades (low 2:1, all above 60 tho) Not sure if I should try again for the summer vac (apparently you can apply more than once per cycle iirc from the insight day)

Yeah, I just dont know whether putting the time in for it is worth it.

 

[cooked2000]

Should I be worried if Weil haven't even sent me a test after 3 weeks ?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Should I be worried if Weil haven't even sent me a test after 3 weeks ?

Nah matey it should be fine. I saw some people say they got the test after 6-7 weeks! No news is good news, that’s the mindset I try to keep!​

 

[CuriousTrainee]

@CuriousTrainee Thanks for your reply. Oh I see! Do you know whether the WG test is sent automatically following the online application form or do they initially assess the online application form and, if successful, make us go ahead with the WG test? Thank you.

From what Andrei has mentioned earlier in the forum and through looking at last year's cycle, I don't think the WG is automatic since some were rejected even before being sent a WG invite. I understand that they do screen your app before the WG then if you pass they view everything (WG and app) together, which is why it probably takes more time since they don't really have any grades cut offs to go by like other firms... But then again, there's only so much you can take as word by others and just wait and see.

No news is good news as the phrase runs here!

 

[Rads]

Does anyone know how Skadden's written test actually works? I'm assuming it's online but I'm not sure what format it takes?

Have you received an invite?

 

[Elsie07777]

I think you're the only one on this thread who has been invited to a Simmons AC so far. ---- I stand corrected, I have spotted one other person in this cycle.

I haven't even heard back from them post VI

 

[anonymous.15]

Gowling and Dentons PFOs, happy Thursday everyone!

IM IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOURS

 

[BealMcAlly]

I haven't even heard back from them post VI

Me too, did you apply for Spring or Summer?

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock How do law firms keep their salaried/ non-equity partners? I assume that these partners/ managing associates are extremely valuable to law firms and will be hungry to prove themselves to make equity partner. They are not nearly as established in their existing law firm since they don't own equity in it. This makes them ripe candidates to be poached. Outside of purely financial compensation, what are incentives law firms use to keep these individuals happy? I'm struggling to understand why K&E non-equity partners would choose to leave when the firm is so profitable. Is it simply because the path for development into an equity partner is perhaps easier at a different firm, where they would have more opportunities to bring in clients?

Hi @CharlesT47 that is a great question. The answer to it is that having an extremely high PEP is a double edged sword: on the one side, it makes existing equity happy very happy and therefore makes it harder for other firms to poach them; on the other, it means it is very difficult to become an equity partner in the first place, which makes NEPs, counsels, and seniors associates more likely to move to another firm. Essentially, to maintain and increase a firm's average PEP, you need to (i) to have a high revenue and profit margin; and (ii) to have a relatively low number of equity partners to split it between. If you want to have a high average PEP, you have an incentive to split the equity pie in the lowest number of slices possible - if Kirkland had double the number of equity partners as a result of promoting more NEPs, this would halve its average PEP. Of course, this would upset current rainmaking equity partners (as it would mean less money goes into their pockets), who would then seek to move to a firm which guards their equity ranks more tightly.

At extremely profitable firms like Kirkland, it is necessarily the case that only a small proportion of extremely talented lawyers will be able to make equity, as a firm will only accept the initial dilutive effect on average PEP if it believes that, a few years down the line, the junior equity partner will bring enough business in to offset the loss. Considering the firm's average PEP is over $9 million now, that is an extremely tall order - very few lawyers are able to build books that are anywhere near that range (for reference, the highest paid partner at Clifford Chance last year was reportedly earning $6 million per year).

Furthermore, this is not only a skills problem - there are many extremely qualified lawyers at the NEP stage that could probably build such books but are still never progressed to equity, simply because of lack of opportunity. To generate such immense profits, firms like Kirkland only really target very profitable private capital mandates; and these deals and client relationships are limited in number. As such, you could be an incredibly technically gifted and business-savvy practitioner, but in absence of having played the "political game" within and outside of the firm very well (eg making friends with partners with political clout in the firm, impress the right clients, become the go-to associate for the right partners - whose books you then stand to inherit, being on top of and lucky with your networking so that you remain connected with people who end up in decision-making positions in house, etc), you may still never get promoted.

As a result, at the most profitable US firms, from what I hear estimates are that maybe around 1/3 of people who stay long enough and gun for equity partner will be promoted. The ones that are not may stay on in NEP/Counsel positions (although some firms, like Kirkland, are known for an up-or-out model), go for a senior in house position, or move to a comparatively less profitable firm which will offer them equity.

 

[Superfrozone]

Does anyone know when we will hear back from Milbank( I assume after deadline but want to check)?

 

[yk1906]

Does anyone know when we will hear back from Milbank?

Someone said post-deadline, so in January