TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TheSlapDotCom]

I did - and Bright Apply said it's no longer available, I guess I can chuck my application in the bin then, this is so frustrating. There was zero mention that it had to be done before the submission deadline

ugh thats so annoying wth. maybe contact grad rec💔im assuming theyve closed it cz the deadlines passed

 

[Amgrad]

Honestly Idc about uni and you should know that not all US firms are the same. This firm was bragging a lot, I see at Vault, Amlaw, and Chambers not that prestige. My american friends often forgot about them 🤣 so don't be discouraged to apply. You might notice that bigger firms like Skadden and Sidley are accepting non RG.

Idk how it's in the UK, but in the US - Ivy Plus college (comparable to oxbridge) has deterioted enrollment and lost its prestige due to Trump sanctions, Cost Burden, and Lower ROI recently. That's why I picked college that's not even listed in QS, USNews, etc

I am an international (not US PR/Citizen, only my degree is American) which has farrr fewer opportunities than y'all. If I am being honest, just less than law firms accepted me (being eligible), then it'll be shortlisted to just a fifth or might be just 10% of all firms that suit my specific work experience. If my classmate could get their dream job as a local, you could too.

 

[elle woods]

I think it’s helpful for everyone to understand how VI’s are usually assessed to strategise your approach with these. Looking back on my time in grad rec (years ago - so it could have changed) VI’s were assessed in line with tone/delivery, consistency, and depth of answer in line with the skill they were assessing e.g. teamwork, communication, organisation etc. They’re not assessing perfection or amazing achievements, they’re assessing very basic communication techniques and strength of your skills. With that in mind, my advice has always been to treat it like a normal conversation, as though you’re catching up with a very successful friend you want to big yourself up in front of a little.

Practice by all means, but practice to ensure your tone and delivery, consistency and depth is there - not recollection. It will serve you no good when you’re hit with a curveball of a question and mentally you’re trying to fit an answer in that just isn’t there. Memorisation is just a recipe for disaster, and you’ll actually stress yourself out the second you can’t recollect two words - which results in warped consistency and a struggle to go in depth.

My suggestions are as follows:

PRELIMINARY PREP
1. Study the classics (the firm, why you, key skills they look for if any, and your experiences).
2. Make bullet points, but don’t memorise (just in case you need to refer to these).
3. Practice by having a conversation with yourself on camera (but your reflection is that “successful friend” about what you studied in number 1 - keep it within a similar time limit as the VI.

IN THE ASSESSMENT
1. When you read the question, think about what skill they’re assessing for - sometimes we rush into answering or trying to pull out a pre-prepared answer to fit the question and fail to actually answer what they’re looking for. Is it teamwork, is it communication, is it organisation etc.
2. Use the prep time to think about what you’re going to say (not verbatim, but just the general jist) and consolidate your bullet points if you struggle.
3. Once you’re in, remember, you’re talking to a friend, so relax yourself and answer like a human not robots and the tone/delivery/consistency will become slightly easier to maintain because you’ll feel a lot more comfortable and less stressed.
4. Hopefully by now you’re comfortable looking at yourself and treating it like another person, but if not, feel free to blur your vision a little - because for some of us, the most nerving thing is seeing our reflection whilst we try being “professional”.

I make notes and bullet points and hopefully cover them while remembering the actual content for each point etc.

For me, the most challenging VI questions I've had were actually when they were softballs rather than curveballs, which I wasn't expecting, thereby becoming curveballs in themselves instead. Also why I said I think I botched my Weil VI cos with hindsight I feel that I didn't do the first question (which is 2-parter on motivations) very well cos I expected a much more challenging and impersonal question

I think the worst part is sometimes being told that they don't want rehearsed/memorised answers but sometimes you do so many VIs that you essentially end up memorising answers and looking "robotic". Totally agree on your point about human interaction being much easier than staring down a timer too

Thank you both so much! I feel like I blank a lot haha when I actually start recording, even if I have bullet points ready in my head prior 😂 I guess I just need more practise!

 

[James Wakefield]

I did - and Bright Apply said it's no longer available, I guess I can chuck my application in the bin then, this is so frustrating. There was zero mention that it had to be done before the submission deadline

My portal says the online assessment is set with deadline 16/01. Did you only get the error when trying to open it?

 

[CuriousLawStudent]

My portal says the online assessment is set with deadline 16/01. Did you only get the error when trying to open it?

Yes, mine says a deadline of 16/01/26 as well, I clicked the link and this popped up from Bright Apply: "Opportunity no longer available".

 

[Amgrad]

I did - and Bright Apply said it's no longer available, I guess I can chuck my application in the bin then, this is so frustrating. There was zero mention that it had to be done before the submission deadline

Sorry to hear that, maybe you missed that, but glad I didn't apply. Just like Simmons and B&B, otherwise it would be just wasting my time.

 

[James Wakefield]

Yes, mine says a deadline of 16/01/26 as well, I clicked the link and this popped up from Bright Apply: "Opportunity no longer available".

Oh yeah I'm getting the same problem as you. I'm sure its an issue on their end, hopefully they'll fix next week.

 

[CuriousLawStudent]

Oh yeah I'm getting the same problem as you. I'm sure its an issue on their end, hopefully they'll fix next week.

The email I got was: "You must complete this interview within seven days of receiving its email." Which is also contradictory, I think Bright Apply might have closed it at 19 Dec 11:59pm, so that means the deadline might have elapsed. I'm just not really happy that there wasn't anything saying: "Please complete the interview before the deadline"

 

[DarrenB]

For Travers Smith, is the cover letter limited to one page?

 

[James Wakefield]

The email I got was: "You must complete this interview within seven days of receiving its email." Which is also contradictory, I think Bright Apply might have closed it at 19 Dec 11:59pm, so that means the deadline might have elapsed. I'm just not really happy that there wasn't anything saying: "Please complete the interview before the deadline"

I'm sure they'll fix this as it's clearly an error- this'll affect a lot of candidates who applied in the last week and were planning to do the test this weekend.

 

[CuriousLawStudent]

I'm sure they'll fix this as it's clearly an error- this'll affect a lot of candidates who applied in the last week and were planning to do the test this weekend.

Thanks, I guess I'll try and drop grad rec and email then...hope to be able to do this within that 7 day deadline

 

[LiveLaughLawyer]

When is the deadline ? Does this mean I can complete it on Monday ? I received the email on Monday 15th December.
"Please complete the test within one week of receiving this email. For example, if you receive your test invite on Monday 15th December, your deadline will be on Monday 22nd December."

 

[TCTC]

For Travers Smith, is the cover letter limited to one page?

No it's just 1000 words max

 

[CuriousLawStudent]

When is the deadline ? Does this mean I can complete it on Monday ? I received the email on Monday 15th December.
"Please complete the test within one week of receiving this email. For example, if you receive your test invite on Monday 15th December, your deadline will be on Monday 22nd December."

It just says: "You must complete the interview within seven days of receiving this email"

 

[Mikeross750]

Has anyone heard back from Withers after the interview for their vac scheme and/or got told when the decision will be made? How was your experience with the interview generally?

 

[llblawstudent]

Has anyone heard back from Withers after the interview for their vac scheme and/or got told when the decision will be made? How was your experience with the interview generally?

Hey haven’t myself but how long did they get back to you after the initial app and when’d you apply btw?

 

[Mikeross750]

Hey haven’t myself but how long did they get back to you after the initial app and when’d you apply?

Hey, I applied mid-October, got the test a few days after, then the proofreading exercise in the beginning of December and interviewed a week ago

 

[FutureTrainee213]

Thank you both so much! I feel like I blank a lot haha when I actually start recording, even if I have bullet points ready in my head prior 😂 I guess I just need more practise!

Haha no worries and everyone blanks at some point, but it’s how you come back that matters. Taking a few second breaks, or giving yourself a little time to think - even during an answer, is perfectly normal. After all, this is how you’d speak in person too. So don’t expect to be perfect, just be yourself - and anytime you blank, breathe, think of what you need to say and continue. Remember, their questions are always about getting to know you, so the content is always in your head, it’s not like you don’t know it. You just need to make sure there are no blockers from tapping into that knowledge for when you speak.

P.S I think it was for DLA, but I stumbled on a question, laughed it off and continued during the VI. I still got invited to an AC. So, i really don’t think a few little blanks are something firms look down on. Good luck!

 

[Bree]

Anyone who did Hogan Lovells online test last week like 17th onwards who received the second stage?

 

[boots pharmacy]

Absolutely. Have heard of some firms with 'unspoken' cutoffs; how many people have wasted time making applications? Pfft.