TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[johnsmith]

Could anyone please confirm if Simmons Bristol VS has no app questions apart from those covering work exp/extra curriculars?

I've been scouring the form for the last 20 minutes looking for any sign of any application questions but I'm coming up dry and feeling a bit suspicious.

Yes! They put much greater emphasis on your VI responses which is why they have unlimited prep time 😁 assume it's because AI has made everyone sound an expert!

 

[DavidJC]

Is W&C test automatic? How long after being sent do you have to complete it? Not sure whether to submit my app before xmas/new year or not?

Test is automatic, I submitted my application last night and received an email for the test stating I have 4 calendar days to finish it but since I'm spending Christmas alone this year I might just do it tomorrow 😄

 

[Jennifer2003]

For Reed smith can you do the sjt part and then do the VI another day? Or does it all need to be done in one?

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Can you re-apply to Cleary if you did an AC with them back in the time?

 

[lawrlah]

Anyone know the questions for Simmons & Simmons S&S VI ??

 

[AMullin]

For Reed smith can you do the sjt part and then do the VI another day? Or does it all need to be done in one?

Yes you can do this 👍

 

[RVD23]

Just got a Dechert written exercise invite! Could anyone please share some insight into it? can't find anything online.

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Just got a Dechert written exercise invite! Could anyone please share some insight into it? can't find anything online.

when did you apply?

 

[RVD23]

when did you apply?

9th of December

 

[TCLAuser2002]

9th of December

do you think it is worth applying now?

 

[RVD23]

do you think it is worth applying now?

Yeah, why not. They're clearly still considering applications so might as well

 

[M85672]

I think that it's okay to feel how you're feeling, and I also think that the fact that you're here asking for advice shows that you really want this, a career in law, in which case, it's really important to not give up. It's not the end of the world if you can't land a TC now, and you clearly have a strong enough profile to maybe land a paralegal role or something else so that you can continue applications in the meantime.

I think, with VIs, it may be worth considering whether you're over-preparing and sounding too rehearsed, if as you say, all your various 1-to-1s have yielded encouraging feedback. Others have already provided, imo, much better advice on tackling VIs than I can add on here.

The truth is that I think anyone going through all the rejections feels that the odds are really stacked against them, but at the end of the day, it really does take only one, and you've clearly got what it takes as you've been invited to ACs before. Sometimes there's no real rhyme or reason as to why you have or haven't been progressed each cycle, only the final decision-makers at each stage will actually know. I refer to this post by Afraz a couple of days ago to hopefully keep you going. (https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2025-26.9717/post-231386)

As for your last point, I don't disagree tbh, but this is the unfortunate reality we all live in now. We're not exactly in a position, as applicants, to compel change in the process, but do also consider the firms' perspectives as competition and the sheer volume of applications keep increasing year-on-year. It's a very trying/testy process and all we can really do is give it our best at each moment and stage, and hope that the decision-makers see our potential and offer us a TC.

Please take some time to take care of yourself over the next couple of days and bounce back, it's Christmas after all! Beyond that, I'm wishing you all the best and hoping for your success this cycle!

Thank you and to everyone for the advice, much appreciated

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Looking for a bit of advice, would appreciate anything.

I think I’m genuinely considering calling it a day regarding TC’s:

Last year, I managed to make it to 2 ACs, with the more recent of the two being a huge positive for me. Though I didn’t get an offer, I received positive feedback and fell just short, and it was a significant improvement on the first AC. It’s also worth mentioning this was for a firm with a notoriously challenging AC, which I further took as a positive.

This was around August, so it gave me good motivation to hit the ground running with this cycle. By this point, I knew what I was doing, I’d perfected my strategy when it came to SJT’s, Watson Glasers, so I felt good going into this cycle…

Only to quickly realise that most firms decided this year they want to throw a massive spanner in the works and make their processes 40x harder. Before this, I knew VIs were not my strength, so I thought I’ll just avoid firms that use them, considering I knew I was now strong in written applications and psychometrics. Now, it seems that VIs are an unavoidable fact of TC applications as of this year.

Still, I went into WVS applications quite optimistic. Fast forward to now, received rejections from every single winter I applied to, which was demoralising but I knew it was still early days.

Again, fast forward to now, I’m genuinely considering just saving my time and investing it elsewhere, starting to believe the odds are far too stacked against me.

I’ve completed about 10 VIs for firms this year already, with a good portion of those being selective, so again I know my applications are pristine and my psychometrics are too, but I’ve been rejected from all. I’ve had 1 to 1s with various people to help me improve VI performance, who all said that I was seemingly quite good with them.

I was going into this cycle with AC experience from two elite City Firms and so I naturally felt pretty confident in my abilities, but this year feels regressive if anything at this moment in time. Now I just think it’s ultimately impossible to even get an AC, especially with this cycle quietly coming to the end in a month or so, at least for vacs. I’m now a graduate and so I really cannot afford to keep investing my time into what seems to be a black hole, having told myself I’m going to give it my best shot this year and leave no stone unturned.

And in my opinion - and it could sound convenient - I think the way firms are heading with these new recruitment processes is ultimately starting to diminish the merit that used to be involved in writing an impressive application. Though I know endurance is very important in this process too, it does feel like unless the quality you input is matched with an exhausting amount of stamina, people who were strong contenders in ACs and vacs are now not even being shown the time of day.

But that’s just my opinion. Let me know what you think, thanks.

Sorry to hear this, and you’re right the process is exhausting. There’s definitely a lot of mental hurdles to jump through before you start your TC, whether that’s applications, assessments, SQE exams - it’s a career choice that requires a lot of investment - but It’s only going to be made worse by placing more pressure on yourself to secure one sooner now that you’ve graduated.

I know you’ve probably heard it before but there is no set age or time to secure a TC. I’ll be starting mine at 28 and honestly, I’m happier for it. I got the chance to experience so many careers (relevant) but exciting nonetheless that have since shaped what I actually want to do post qualification. So the added time, you never know, it may actually work in your favour as you move through your seats in comparison to those with limited experience.

Dont give up! If you feel like the VIs are bringing you down and you’ve practised for them as much you can, perhaps this cycle has just seen a lot more improvement for everyone. So it’s not something lacking in you but rather it being so close again.

 

[maylawwww]

Just got a Dechert written exercise invite! Could anyone please share some insight into it? can't find anything online.

omg huge congrats!! is this for spring or summer?

 

[RVD23]

omg huge congrats!! is this for spring or summer?

Thanks! It's for the spring scheme

 

[DavidJC]

Is Milbank Stage 1 automatic and how long does one have to complete it after submitting the application?

 

[EfficientBag123]

Anyone know the questions for Simmons & Simmons S&S VI ??

Doesn’t matter, you get unlimited prep time.

 

[AMullin]

What on earth was that 2nd Osborne Clarke test?!

Can we start a petition to make law firms let us take their online tests before we waste hours and hours filling out their applications?

 

[plsgivemetc]

What on earth was that 2nd Osborne Clarke test?!

Can we start a petition to make law firms let us take their online tests before we waste hours and hours filling out their applications?

yes please!!!!!!!

 

[Wagamamas]

Reed smith assessment invite applied 18th December.