TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[alaskasour13]

Did the TI for DLA Piper today and passed the interview benchmark...

Hi, congratulations thats awesome! im doing mine next Wednesday, do you have any advice/ tips?

 

[alphabravocharlie]

this week is just awful
4 rejections wth...I thought only US FIRMS don't want me , turns out no firm wants me x

do you mind saying which firms rejected you?

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Is Reed Smith test invite automatic?

 

[Rads]

Hello, anyone has Macfarlanes VI insight? Can help with FF, Latham VIs

 

[futuretraineeihope]

There's still maths though🤢

wait, I didn’t have any maths questions… is that bad?😅

 

[Dannie]

Guys this forum is so cute

 

[Maria123]

Hey guys. For amberjack (Simmons test) can I complete the SJT section and then return to the vid section later? They said it’s untimed but like an idiot I closed the tab before reading the instructions. I’ve done that in the past. Just want to make sure tho!

 

[elle woods]

lowkey guys, I love being able to help out but please can people stop dming me for tests that I've NOT done 😂 I feel bad enough about myself that I didn't even get to do them, please stop asking me for tips LOL because it makes me feel worse HAHA

Edit: this has happened over like 5 times now so that's why I just wanted to make it clear that guys for most cappfinities I have NOT done test 2 xx

Edit 2: wow 200th post omg

Edit 3: Airport wifi is so bad I cannot function here

 

[plsgivemetc]

hahaha just did Latham’s VI and the amount of times i laughed at my own response and said “sorry” and started again😭hahahahaha that was so bad
they will definitely tell that laughing is my coping mechanism

 

[zonnonomo]

hahaha just did Latham’s VI and the amount of times i laughed at my own response and said “sorry” and started again😭hahahahaha that was so bad
they will definitely tell that laughing is my coping mechanism

for the practice question i said my hobby was day drinking and then found out they review those answers 😌

 

[plsgivemetc]

for the practice question i said my hobby was day drinking and then found out they review those answers 😌

omg hahahahaha

 

[Rads]

Hello, has anyone met Kirkland at their fairs? What is their criteria (like Slaughter looks for high grades)? Do they look for something specific? Checking if it’s worth making the application

 

[elle woods]

Hello, has anyone met Kirkland at their fairs? What is their criteria (like Slaughter looks for high grades)? Do they look for something specific? Checking if it’s worth making the application

💀 oops I applied to Slaughters with my awful grades HAHA - I am expecting a PFO tho so lolll

Hmm, I have met them at my fair but I never asked about grades unfortunately. So I can't help you with concrete information. But I do know that they don't mind if you don't have a first from Oxbridge or whatever. I know some current trainees who only got a 2:1 and are now thriving, so I guess it might be worth a shot?

 

[Rads]

💀 oops I applied to Slaughters with my awful grades HAHA - I am expecting a PFO tho so lolll

Hmm, I have met them at my fair but I never asked about grades unfortunately. So I can't help you with concrete information. But I do know that they don't mind if you don't have a first from Oxbridge or whatever. I know some current trainees who only got a 2:1 and are now thriving, so I guess it might be worth a shot?

Thank you!

 

[studysquirrel]

Hi could anyone give insights on CMS VI? Happy to giev advice on Freshfields, Linklaters, HSF and a few others. I can also give advice for Travers including final interview.

 

[BT0901]

Hello people, I have a written exercise coming up (never done one before) and I am a bit confused about how long a client email should be? Is it ok to write an executive summary (apx 250 words) and then say sth like, "should you need deeper insights, I expand briefly on each of the above points below" and provide a more in-depth analysis?

 

[anon78365222111]

Just wanted to ask again are there any firms you can apply to twice I know people mentioned Sidley, Macfarlanes, NRF & Covington. Might help other people too!

 

[Amgrad]

Just wanted to ask again are there any firms you can apply to twice I know people mentioned Sidley, Macfarlanes, NRF & Covington. Might help other people too!

Hi, just found this while researching it on the forum https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ple-times-in-the-same-recruitment-cycle.5113/. Seems like similar for this cycle, but you should clarify again to them

 

[panda1989]

Hi @panda1989 unfortunately I cannot give you very specific advice as to how to structure a written exercise, simply because the type of structure that works will depend a lot on the details of the exercise itself and the information you have to cover. Looking back at my written exercises, the only common features in terms of structure that I tended to observe were the following:

1. An introductory executive summary heading with a short paragraph following it, which explains the scope of my analysis, the core point of each section, and the main conclusion.
2. Having different big headings for different parts of the task (ie if an email I had to respond to asked me three different questions, I would separate my writing in three different sections)
3. Having headings/subheadings for core assessment criteria: as you are reading the relevant information, ask yourself what are the core cost/benefit factors you need to consider; sometimes, this provides you an easy way to present information and structure your analysis.
4. Sometimes, separating section by subheading such as "Brief Summary" and "Analysis" can make sense, such as to clearly convey both what is uncontroversial factual information and what is your own viewpoint.

As for impact of news stories, when reading about a story I think you should always be asking yourself "how could this impact businesses?" and then "how does this impact change what they want from their lawyers?". Some stories have very easy and direct answers to both: eg a lowering of interest rates reduces borrowing costs, which makes deal financing cheaper and reduces valuation gaps between buyers and sellers, thus boosting demand for transactional practice areas such as M&A, PE, and banking & finance. Other stories (arguably, such as the new Budget) will not have this kind of straightforward analysis easily available, and, as such, should you choose to discuss them, you will need to conduct more in-depth research.

Thank you so much - this is super helpful!

 

[panda1989]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock! I have a more general question about approaching answering 'where else have you applied?' in interviews - is it appropriate to mention the stages you've reached or potential offers for vac schemes? I just wanted some insight in how firms could potentially view this and whether it is desirable or not to mention offers etc. Thanks!