TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TortillaTC]

Attended Paul, Weiss’s webinar on PE deals today. As much as I found it useful, I’m honestly feeling quite discouraged from applying. Their associate said that we should speak with many people from every firm we’re applying to and how spending a week on an application isn’t enough time (as apparently, the associate speaker spent a whole year on their K&E vac scheme app answers and seemed to be super focused on landing a US TC at a top M&A/PE firm). He basically portrayed the whole process as a multiple year strategy, implying that getting into a firm of this calibre starts in your first year (or at least undergrad), and that working just a week on an application is nothing.

I just don’t see the point of applying if some candidates are this connected to top firms from their first year onwards. I can imagine that a lot of them will have done first year schemes or vac schemes at other firms, while all my experiences are in completely different sectors. On top of that, I did my law degree outside the UK and only decided to go corporate after I graduated, so this whole application world is new to me compared to LLB students in the UK that did first year schemes or were ambassadors etc.

His whole speech, while coming from a place of trying to help, made me think that unless I can back my motivation with very strong PE-related experience or open day at the firm, I might as well not apply. I can very well explain what I know about PE, why I want to work at a transactional firm, etc but honestly can’t compete with the likes of candidates the associate seemed like, given how selective PW and similar firms are.

Basically, my whole profile is very different to the usual successful candidate at firms like PW, K&E etc. so I’m trying to figure out if applying is even worth it. Regarding today’s discussions, I personally think that tailoring application answers makes a huge difference but perhaps trying with firms that are actually paying attention to them and trying to hire diverse people is a better idea.

Any insights?

 

[c.t.tc]

Has anyone on here done Osborne Clarke's deductive reasoning SHL test? I just did it and I think it was by far the hardest law firm test I've ever done... so little time for questions which aren't necessarily "hard" but realistically just can't be done that fast because you need a couple of minutes to work some of them out!

Honestly I found it so so tricky timings wise too and I haven’t heard anyone say they actually finished it! At least someone has to get picked for the AC so you never know) And honestly if anyone actually found it doable they deserve it lol

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

one scheme last year took 2/23

What was even the point in running that scheme in the first place lmao. I’m lowkey interested to hear what their excuses were for that. ​

 

[plsgivemetc]

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?!

i feel like this as a 2nd year undergrad... it's on my mind 24/7

 

[vweewcvew]

What was even the point in running that scheme in the first place lmao. I’m lowkey interested to hear what their excuses were for that. ​

Orrick (I believe two years ago) had no one from their vacation scheme convert to tc. All their tc offers were from the DTC...

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any advice on how to properly tackle a question asking: ‘how would you ensure you are continuously learning and developing in the role of a trainee associate’? Any help would be appreciated frfr!​

Hello!

A good way to tackle this question is to show intentional, proactive learning (rather than an "I'll learn as I go" approach). To do this, you could touch on a few areas:

• Seeking feedback regularly: asking supervisors and colleagues for constructive feedback and actively acting on it
• Reflective practice: reflecting on tasks that you have completed, and discussing what went well / what didn't, and what you would do differently next time
• Using resources: you could discuss keeping up to date with legal developments through training sessions, CPD, internal know-how systems, etc.
• Asking questions and taking initiative: one of the main ways is to show how you would continually show curiosity, seek clarification for any points that you don't understand, or volunteering for work that you haven't had the opportunity to complete before
• Learning from others: observing senior associates / partners, learning different working styles, and collaborating with those around you
• Setting development goals: for example, this could be identifying skills that you want to specifically build during each seat and tracking your progress.

If you can, I would link this to examples from your past experiences (i.e. university, work, or other extracurriculars). This can help strengthen your answer by making it fact-based and tailored.

I hope that helps as a starting point!

 

[yk1906]

Attended Paul, Weiss’s webinar on PE deals today. As much as I found it useful, I’m honestly feeling quite discouraged from applying. Their associate said that we should speak with many people from every firm we’re applying to and how spending a week on an application isn’t enough time (as apparently, the associate speaker spent a whole year on their K&E vac scheme app answers and seemed to be super focused on landing a US TC at a top M&A/PE firm). He basically portrayed the whole process as a multiple year strategy, implying that getting into a firm of this calibre starts in your first year (or at least undergrad), and that working just a week on an application is nothing.

I just don’t see the point of applying if some candidates are this connected to top firms from their first year onwards. I can imagine that a lot of them will have done first year schemes or vac schemes at other firms, while all my experiences are in completely different sectors. On top of that, I did my law degree outside the UK and only decided to go corporate after I graduated, so this whole application world is new to me compared to LLB students in the UK that did first year schemes or were ambassadors etc.

His whole speech, while coming from a place of trying to help, made me think that unless I can back my motivation with very strong PE-related experience or open day at the firm, I might as well not apply. I can very well explain what I know about PE, why I want to work at a transactional firm, etc but honestly can’t compete with the likes of candidates the associate seemed like, given how selective PW and similar firms are.

Basically, my whole profile is very different to the usual successful candidate at firms like PW, K&E etc. so I’m trying to figure out if applying is even worth it. Regarding today’s discussions, I personally think that tailoring application answers makes a huge difference but perhaps trying with firms that are actually paying attention to them and trying to hire diverse people is a better idea.

Any insights?

So am I supposed to write a master's dissertation with no guarantee that they'll even look into it?

 

[Trophy]

Orrick (I believe two years ago) had no one from their vacation scheme convert to tc. All their tc offers were from the DTC...

I assume the DTC offers were given after the Vs was held rather than giving them to DTC applicants and running the VS?

 

[pepsicola96]

When does grad rec usually work over december and january? I'm sure it varies by firm but if anyone has any idea.

Is it usually an, off from this friday until 5th jan type of situation, or working every day except 24th-26th and the 1st.

 

[JBM]

What was even the point in running that scheme in the first place lmao. I’m lowkey interested to hear what their excuses were for that. ​

they took 9/41 from the summer. i know someone that did it and it was just brutal

 

[Trophy]

When does grad rec usually work over december and january? I'm sure it varies by firm but if anyone has any idea.

Is it usually an, off from this friday until 5th jan type of situation, or working every day except 24th-26th and the 1st.

I think it’ll be 24th - 1st.
Back to work on the 2nd unless they book it off.

 

[Amgrad]

Attended Paul, Weiss’s webinar on PE deals today. As much as I found it useful, I’m honestly feeling quite discouraged from applying. Their associate said that we should speak with many people from every firm we’re applying to and how spending a week on an application isn’t enough time (as apparently, the associate speaker spent a whole year on their K&E vac scheme app answers and seemed to be super focused on landing a US TC at a top M&A/PE firm). He basically portrayed the whole process as a multiple year strategy, implying that getting into a firm of this calibre starts in your first year (or at least undergrad), and that working just a week on an application is nothing.

I just don’t see the point of applying if some candidates are this connected to top firms from their first year onwards. I can imagine that a lot of them will have done first year schemes or vac schemes at other firms, while all my experiences are in completely different sectors. On top of that, I did my law degree outside the UK and only decided to go corporate after I graduated, so this whole application world is new to me compared to LLB students in the UK that did first year schemes or were ambassadors etc.

His whole speech, while coming from a place of trying to help, made me think that unless I can back my motivation with very strong PE-related experience or open day at the firm, I might as well not apply. I can very well explain what I know about PE, why I want to work at a transactional firm, etc but honestly can’t compete with the likes of candidates the associate seemed like, given how selective PW and similar firms are.

Basically, my whole profile is very different to the usual successful candidate at firms like PW, K&E etc. so I’m trying to figure out if applying is even worth it. Regarding today’sk discussions, I personally think that tailoring application answers makes a huge difference but perhaps trying with firms that are actually paying attention to them and trying to hire diverse people is a better idea.

Any insights?

Second this. Even someone with some PE work and US degree have spent app prep since 1L (first year of law school) to apply for 2L summer associate. By this case I won't apply for these types of PE heavy firms anymore. BYE GIBSON DUNN & PAUL HASTINGS!

Me applying P, W in my first cycle and first app with a day prep is so irrational and lame tbh. I took it as a bait, maybe should do an experiment for smaller firm I felt so quirky now when read it back

 

[jojo23]

I emailed Freshfields for reasonable adjustments (for second stage VI) 5 days ago and have not received an email back but my deadline to submit is tomorrow. I'm so stressed, what do I do!!! I feel like I already told them about my adjustments in my app but I still wanted to complete the form just in case to confirm. should I send an email to the team?

"5 days? Rookie numbers mate" - @Harvey Specter

 

[Trophy]

they took 9/41 from the summer. i know someone that did it and it was just brutal

It’s is vey demotivating handing that many vac scheme offers out to then not give Tc’s. I’d be a wreck. People also reject other firms to go to a MC vac scheme so if you had rejected another firm and then saw them conversion rates would’ve been terribly annoyed.

 

[vweewcvew]

I assume the DTC offers were given after the Vs was held rather than giving them to DTC applicants and running the VS?

Yeah probably

 

[TortillaTC]

So am I supposed to write a master's dissertation with no guarantee that they'll even look into it?

That’s what he made it sound like yeah… I just felt very inadequate for their whole graduate recruitment process as I’m a non-UK educated more mature candidate with essentially zero corporate experience. While firms like Reed Smith, Goodwin or even Skadden have more application questions and just seem to be looking for people from diverse backgrounds, perhaps even prioritising different experiences, PW seemed like the kinda firm to target top undergrad students from Oxbridge and London RGs that are fully set on going corporate and might already have some experience. But I couldn’t speak for you, as I said earlier, sometimes it’s just luck and I’m not sure what any of these firms are truly looking for.

 

[Trophy]

I emailed Freshfields for reasonable adjustments (for second stage VI) 5 days ago and have not received an email back but my deadline to submit is tomorrow. I'm so stressed, what do I do!!! I feel like I already told them about my adjustments in my app but I still wanted to complete the form just in case to confirm. should I send an email to the team?

They’re applied automatically. No need to wait.

 

[SemperParatus]

Congrats, that’s a really strong position to be in.

For transparency, I passed Weil's assessments, so I’ll share what I found actually mattered at each stage.

The SJT is much more about judgment and commercial common sense than legal knowledge. What helped me was constantly asking:

What’s the most sensible outcome for the client?
What protects the firm’s reputation and manages risk?
What would a good junior actually do in this situation?

Avoid extreme answers. Weil doesn’t want someone who escalates everything, but they also don’t want you acting independently when it’s inappropriate. The strongest answers usually involve prioritising, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility while knowing when to loop someone in.

The VI was intense but fair. A huge focus was on:

Why Weil - not just “US firm” or “high-quality work”, but why this platform, this culture, and this type of responsibility appeals to you
Commercial thinking - they cared much more about how I reasoned through issues than whether I landed on a “perfect” answer
Self-awareness - they were genuinely interested in whether I understood the pace and pressure and had actively chosen it

One thing I think helped was being honest about the intensity of Weil and framing it as something I’m drawn to, rather than trying to downplay it or pretend it’s for everyone.

Happy to answer specific questions if you have them, and best of luck.

Congrats, when did you hear back from Weil that you passed?

 

[TortillaTC]

Second this. Even someone with some PE work and US degree have spent app prep since 1L (first year of law school) to apply for 2L summer associate. By this case I won't apply for these types of PE heavy firms anymore. BYE GIBSON DUNN & PAUL HASTINGS!

Me applying P, W in my first cycle and first app with a day prep is so irrational and lame tbh. I took it as a bait, maybe should do an experiment for smaller firm I felt so quirky now when read it back

Tbh sometimes it’s not the right fit and it shows, it can be a good sign that your strengths might be more appreciated at a different kind of firm. I’m personally not too set on heavy PE/M&A work, it’s just one interest of mine.

 

[Amgrad]

Tbh sometimes it’s not the right fit and it shows, it can be a good sign that your strengths might be more appreciated at a different kind of firm. I’m personally not too set on heavy PE/M&A work, it’s just one interest of mine.

Yeah my PE work is a minor, whereas my VC work is dominated, it reflects my app outcome so far