TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TinaT]

submitted my Goodwin app with only minutes to spare... that was terrifying but so exhilarating lmfao

my vantage decided at crunch time to send me error messages and basically stop functioning wasn't meant to be!

 

[W5690]

ffs dla piper pfo after passing wg two weeks ago

@lawyersum Hi! So sorry about this. I suppose you had completed the TI? Thank you.

 

[BobThebIlly]

random qs but when did "pfo" become a thing? i swear its only on TCLA ive never seen it on other forums lol

 

[llblawstudent]

Anyone else have that same sinking feeling when you read back an old app that you haven’t heard back from yet and notice a typo………ffs

 

[Mike Ross 2025]

Ashurst assessment received. Any insights?

 

[sadlawyer01]

Woo Freshfields PFO baby I've been waiting for you
Now just Hogan and Latham next please

Sorry to hear that is that after stage 2 or stage 1?

 

[Winter]

haha no, they haven't progressed me onto stage 2 lol. So it's the same situation as Freshfields. I think cappfinity and I have beef guys I cannot, all the cappfinities I do never turn out right

Sorry to hear about this. Honestly it takes a while to get used to cappfinity, sometimes the most obvious answers aren't always the right ones, like for e.g. telling the Partner immediately sounds reasonable but usually is the last resort or things like staying behind to finish the work (sounds obvious to do this) but may be looked at as inefficient use of time. It's really a hit or miss, because the feedback is shrouded in mystery and you can't really make out what you should do for the next time. I would say just putting yourself in the lens of a high-performing trainee who's trying to impress as much as possible and working as a team. Best of luck on your next try. You got this!!!

 

[Winter]

random qs but when did "pfo" become a thing? i swear its only on TCLA ive never seen it on other forums lol

urban dictionary has it listed down as being defined as far back as 2004, so I'm sure it's been a thing for a very long time

 

[Bottega_Veneta]

Anyone else have that same sinking feeling when you read back an old app that you haven’t heard back from yet and notice a typo………ffs

That is why I no longer do this, out of sight out of mind

 

[TCLAAAA]

Mayer Brown pfo post test, at least it’s the firm breaking the dead silence of my mailbox.

 

[Bbhu19]

Woo Freshfields PFO baby I've been waiting for you
Now just Hogan and Latham next please

Hey Elle is this for DTC or vac scheme and when did you apply?

 

[jojo23]

LMAO so real I was looking more and more confused as time went on my face probably resembled a scrunched-up towel by the end of it

The only emotion I had was pure disgust

 

[Bbhu19]

well, this is the VS thread haha so yes, the VS

Take my question back

 

[Deleted member 43292]

The only emotion I had was pure disgust

me and you both OMG some of them creeped me out so much felt like I was playing a horror game hHhAHAH do you know those games where you're at a counter or door and you have to see whether the person on the other side of the glass is a human or a monster...

 

[James Wakefield]

Freshfields stage 2 test! Applied deadline.

 

[Bottega_Veneta]

Mayer Brown pfo post test, at least it’s the firm breaking the dead silence of my mailbox.

Samee, I am so scared for the rest of my apps. I am staring at my email inbox like this:

 

[yk1906]

Sorry to hear about this. Honestly it takes a while to get used to cappfinity, sometimes the most obvious answers aren't always the right ones, like for e.g. telling the Partner immediately sounds reasonable but usually is the last resort or things like staying behind to finish the work (sounds obvious to do this) but may be looked at as inefficient use of time. It's really a hit or miss, because the feedback is shrouded in mystery and you can't really make out what you should do for the next time. I would say just putting yourself in the lens of a high-performing trainee who's trying to impress as much as possible and working as a team. Best of luck on your next try. You got this!!!

AO Shearman's practice test correct answer has opened my eyes a lot: To show adaptability, you need to ask your colleague to help you out first. I was always under the impression that it would indicate a lack of initiative and trying to push your work on others

 

[MeWantTCPlz]

Samee, I am so scared for the rest of my apps. I am staring at my email inbox like this:

every time I get an email my heart JUMPS. Until I see it’s a scammer trying to advertise a weight loss ‘tea’

 

[Jennifer2003]

Any advice for the HL Job Sim? How much prep do you get for the video interview? How many questions are there?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Samee, I am so scared for the rest of my apps. I am staring at my email inbox like this:

Every time I see a notif pop up I panic thinking it’s an app update, only to open gmail and see it’s yet another UberEats, Deliveroo and JustEat discount code and promo email…​