TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Jessica Pearson]

Can anyone provide insights to Reed Smith’s VI?

If I remember correctly for the VI section there were two questions and it was strength based (e.g what would you do in X situation or how would you handle X issue). You have unlimited prep time so I would advise maximising it. Also, when answering think about it from the perspective of a trainee as the questions seem more general. I don't remember if there was a motivational question there but since there's unlimited prep time you can easily prep for it. You also have 2 mins to record practice being succinct in your answers.

 

[Madison Pinewall]

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

What a good combination. I know both is ideal but who cares about a rejection when you have that haha!!

 

[BealMcAlly]

If I remember correctly for the VI section there were two questions and it was strength based (e.g what would you do in X situation or how would you handle X issue). You have unlimited prep time so I would advise maximising it. Also, when answering think about it from the perspective of a trainee as the questions seem more general. I don't remember if there was a motivational question there but since there's unlimited prep time you can easily prep for it. You also have 2 mins to record practice being succinct in your answers.

They reduced it to two questions?!?! Last year they had 4.

 

[warrencourt4ever]

Anyone hear from Bates Wells?

 

[Jessica Pearson]

They reduced it to two questions?!?! Last year they had 4.

Icl I don't fully remember. I've just been applying and putting things behind me as I go haha

 

[LawAspirer]

Does anybody have a list of firms offering DTCs already? I am trying to manage my workload in that sense now

 

[BealMcAlly]

Icl I don't fully remember. I've just been applying and putting things behind me as I go haha

Ngl that is a good tactic haha

I remember last year there was 1x motivational question and it felt like quite a big one too because there were many parts to it and then 3 x scenario based questions.


I echo what you said about framing everything as a trainee. I remember I didn't last year for their DTC but also it was my first VI so I messed up anyway.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

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

Congratulations!!!!!!!

 

[Legalfreak212]

Milbank first test, any insights??

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

People who have applied on the last 3 days of the deadline for the Slaughter and May DTC, did you guys receive any update from the team?

They're radio silent and IDK what to make out of it.

I applied on the 21st, so I know not exactly 3 days within the deadline. They got back to me with a tbe PFO on the 2nd of December.

 

[applicant3000]

Would people say it's too late to apply to Dechert/Baker McKenzie as they're rolling even though deadlines are in a couple weeks?

For Dechert, yes. Grad rec said they had about 100 applications for the winter scheme that weren't considered because they had given out WEs already

 

[TortillaTC]

Any new RS AC invites post SJT+VI?

 

[applicant3000]

Now that both slots are over, was anyone else disappointed in the Skadden written exercise?
They say not to use AI but it's so easy to in the format they sent it in and I'm sure lots of people will use AI, seriously disadvantaging the candidates who followed the rules. There are so many systems that allow for AI-secure written exercises; it says a lot about the firm that they couldn't be bother to ensure their recruitment process is fair and secure.

Sorry for rant!

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Really rogue question, but when you start the PGDL or SQE, how do people afford to live in London? I’m coming from Leeds and having to move down with my partner and for the life of us cannot see how we will manage it. Those who’ve done the SQE or going to, how do you make it work? Most firms I’m looking at give a 10-15k bursary but I’ve no idea how to make that work :/
- sorry if this is a really daft question, but I’ve tried to do some research and thought maybe this could be a good place to discuss since we will all (or majority) need to move down to London at some point?

It's tricky. Especially without firm sponsorship, which can be helpful but even then not cover your cost of living. In my experience (currently at ULaw Bloomsbury) most people (non-sponsored) will use a combination of the government postgrad grant (they will do either the MA Law or LLM SQE) and savings. There's a lot who straight up live at home outside of london in commuter towns and commute to class 3 days a week.

I myself fell into the first category, having not been sponsored, moved in with my partner and went on the grueling hunt for a flat. The renters rights bill has made that significantly easier nowadays as the expected price hike to compensante for decreased abilities for landlords to force blind bidding and or contract competition. The funny thing is, doing the SQE self-funded has much less of an impact on your quality as a candidate than people think. Most firms throw around the same money they'd spend sponsoring someone to do the entirety of the course + optional extras on the christmas party.

The majority of people self-funding are either living at home and or have been paralegals and have now qualified into their firms (they are either in their 30s or approaching). Living in London without a job is so incredibly difficult that most people's main suggestions given the above would be to do the SQE outside of London then move once you secured a paralegal job. Hiring for paralegals is also different to trainees, they do care if you have sat the SQE or not as this will affect the ability for you to progress through the firm. Especially for smaller firms who are expected to pay more to their trainees than their paralegals, trainees are essentially wasted money if there's no guarantee they will stay on after NQ.

 

[Goingtogetatc]

Does anybody have a list of firms offering DTCs already? I am trying to manage my workload in that sense now

Brightnetwork is useful for this!

 

[nbjani]

Do you guys think there will be more CMS AC offers coming out? Or am I cooked?

Fingers crossed there is, I thought I did well in the vi

 

[BobThebIlly]

guys how are you passing SJTs? I desperately need help. I was rejected from Freshfields and Latham post stage 1 when I thought I aligned my answers with their values. I never stuck to do the middle of the sliding scale, always spoke to my supervisor first for the ranking questions etc. IDK wham I'm missing and I have Weil's SJT next Tuesday and I really want to pass it!

Any help would really be greatly appreciated

 

[Deleted member 43346]

Now that both slots are over, was anyone else disappointed in the Skadden written exercise?
They say not to use AI but it's so easy to in the format they sent it in and I'm sure lots of people will use AI, seriously disadvantaging the candidates who followed the rules. There are so many systems that allow for AI-secure written exercises; it says a lot about the firm that they couldn't be bother to ensure their recruitment process is fair and secure.

Sorry for rant!

Totally agree, hopefully it’ll just be obvious enough to grad rec when people have used it

 

[abc124]

I'm quite stuck with these Akin questions:

What motivates you to pursue a career as a commercial solicitor, and why do you see Akin as the right place to begin that journey?
What are you looking for in your legal career, and how do you see a firm like Akin helping you achieve those goals?

I feel like motivations and career goals overlap - say I'm motivated by complex reasoning. Naturally my career goal may also be to build on that interest and become even better at it? And then I also feel like there's not that many diverse Akin-specific points you can make to support your answers - if I mention Akin's culture in q1 then I shouldn't say the same thing in q2...And I can't really mention wanting to develop my professional interests in the career goals question because that's already covered in another question on which practice area at Akin interests you most.

Idk if that makes sense I think I may be going mad lol

 

[James Wakefield]

guys how are you passing SJTs? I desperately need help. I was rejected from Freshfields and Latham post stage 1 when I thought I aligned my answers with their values. I never stuck to do the middle of the sliding scale, always spoke to my supervisor first for the ranking questions etc. IDK wham I'm missing and I have Weil's SJT next Tuesday and I really want to pass it!

Any help would really be greatly appreciated

One tip- don't always prioritise speaking to your supervisor first.

Showing initiative and giving things a go is quite important in these tests. Going to your supervisor on some things is great, when its needed, but other things you rank first diving straight in.