TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[UP_25]

I'd be happy to have a read. I've not applied for WFW specifically but happy to give application feedback!

 

[lolololol]

Hey! Nice to see non-law faces here! This is a great question, and oftentimes I think candidates overestimate how much they need to use their degree as leverage in their applications so I wouldn't shoehorn a link in if it's proving difficult.

That said, studying a non-law degree does make your application slightly more unique. The way I would go about it is thinking about what similarities there are between law and politics, and I think there's two ways.

Commercial law and politics are of course intertwined, politics creates legislation, politics affects the economy, markets etc. You can use this to explain both your interest in law, but also to demonstrate your commercial and political awareness and how this would benefit you as a trainee.

Alternatively, you could focus more on the hard skills gained. Politics teaches you research skills, written skills and how to construct an argument. These are all skills that you would use in law. I hope that helps!

thank you!!

 

[ojharrison]

Do you have to physically stay in London while studying for the SQE? Can you not do it online if you are an international student?

It really depends on the firm but to the best of my knowledge, most firms will require you to move to London even if you are an international student.

The reasoning is often because you will be studying with members of your cohort so there is an element of being integrated and knowing each other before you start your TC. Also, firm's may put on internal events and training sessions for future trainees that you would be required to attend. There is also an element of fairness involved I would imagine - as mentioned by others in the thread, moving to London is a huge cost full stop. If some international students were able to study online, the firm might feel obliged to offer that to all future trainees and there'd be no collaboration between the cohorts.

It's a conversation to be had with the firm though as there's no harm in asking whether it's a possibility but I would imagine the answer would be "no" for the most part!

 

[UP_25]

thank you!!

No problem!

 

[BealMcAlly]

sorry if people have already asked this, but does anyone know what time Mishcon's application is due? like would it be safe to submit it any time before 23:59 tomorrow night? thank you so much, and sorry to ask!!

I would just get it done as soon as you can, especially since it's a pretty easy and straightforward application?

 

[londonlawyer]

Does anyone know how many questions are in Kirkland & Ellis VI and what the prep time is?

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith since the last batch they sent out on Tuesday? I'm still trying to take no news as good news lol.

For reference, I did my VI on 25th Nov. If anyone did their VI after me and has gotten a response please react to this message.

 

[Jennifer2003]

Not a daft question at all - it’s something a lot of people worry about quietly, so I'm sure there will be many people glad that you’ve raised it here.

The honest answer is that most people don’t make it work through a single source of funding. It’s usually a combination of things. The bursary many firms offer is intended to contribute rather than fully cover London living costs, and people tend to top this up in a few common ways:

• Savings or family support, where that’s possible
• Part-time work alongside the PGDL or SQE (this is very common, especially on the SQE)
• Living arrangements that reduce costs - house shares, living slightly further out and commuting or (where people are lucky enough) living at home still.

From my experience, very few people find the finances comfortable. It’s often tight but it is doable with planning and by being realistic about lifestyle for that period. Some firms may offer additional support for future trainees such as interest-free loans that are deducted from your eventual first pay cheque, so these things are worth checking.

The majority of people that worked alongside the PGDL/SQE that I know of were providing academic assistance in some way. So checking/editing CVs and personal statements or tutoring (school, university and masters students). This can be done in person in London but also online; it's certainly manageable alongside the courses.

You’re absolutely right that this is something most people here will face at some point, and you’re not alone in feeling anxious about it. Hopefully, you'll have a good amount of time now to plan for moving to London rather than panic later on.

Hope that helps - happy to talk through options or hear what others have done as well.

Thank you so much - really helpful and reassuring!

 

[futuretraineeihope]

Can anyone provide insights to Reed Smith’s VI?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Has anyone done their ES VI yet? I’m going to do mine today

 

[FutureLawyer_]

Has anyone done their ES VI yet? I’m going to do mine today

Hi, can I ask what office you applied for ?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Can anyone provide insights to Reed Smith’s VI?

Did you just hear back? Can I ask when you applied?

 

[Bree]

It really depends on the firm but to the best of my knowledge, most firms will require you to move to London even if you are an international student.

The reasoning is often because you will be studying with members of your cohort so there is an element of being integrated and knowing each other before you start your TC. Also, firm's may put on internal events and training sessions for future trainees that you would be required to attend. There is also an element of fairness involved I would imagine - as mentioned by others in the thread, moving to London is a huge cost full stop. If some international students were able to study online, the firm might feel obliged to offer that to all future trainees and there'd be no collaboration between the cohorts.

It's a conversation to be had with the firm though as there's no harm in asking whether it's a possibility but I would imagine the answer would be "no" for the most part!

Thank you so much! This makes sense. @ojharrison I had another question, sorry for so many. Do these generally start in September? What does the timeline look like?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Hi, can I ask what office you applied for ?

Hi! I applied for Cardiff

 

[Bree]

I got my HL report which said I am good with Work Ethic and Personal Resp and bad with Ambition, does this look good?

 

[FutureLawyer_]

Hi! I applied for Cardiff

Thanks. I applied to their Nottingham office, but still yet to hear back…

 

[futuretraineeihope]

Did you just hear back? Can I ask when you applied?

I heard back yesterday evening and applied 09/12

 

[BealMcAlly]

I heard back yesterday evening and applied 09/12

Awesome thanks!

I will DM you as I did their VI last year waiting to hear back post application now. Applied Monday this week.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Thanks. I applied to their Nottingham office, but still yet to hear back…

Good luck!! I’m unsure about what offices the others who got VI invites applied to, but it could very well be that different offices are sending invites on different dates. Hope you get an invite!

 

[pepsicola96]

HSFK PFO, buuuut Reed Smith WVS offer!!! Absolutely over the moon!