This is such a dumb question but does anyone know where the countdown timer on the Willkie VI was? Four questions in and I still could't find it
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hey!
I wouldn't assume a PFO if you haven't heard yet and you applied on the deadline! Whilst it seems that some people who applied around the deadline have been hearing back, the graduate recruitment team receive hundreds of applications over the last few days so it may be that they haven't been able to get to them all before Christmas! There's still chance to hear back, especially since I believe the ACs are in January
Hello!
That's a good question, and something I thought about when making my Reed Smith DTC application (as I had two upcoming vacation schemes at that point). Ultimately, I think either option is perfectly acceptable - I chose to include them in my DTC application as, like you said, the experience would be confirmed by then and it can show that you will be gaining some form of legal experience. However, I don't think including it will substantially boost your application (as the focus will be on the quality of your application overall), so not including it is also fine. I would go with whichever option you are most comfortable with
perfect, thank you so much Abbie!!Hello!
That's a good question, and something I thought about when making my Reed Smith DTC application (as I had two upcoming vacation schemes at that point). Ultimately, I think either option is perfectly acceptable - I chose to include them in my DTC application as, like you said, the experience would be confirmed by then and it can show that you will be gaining some form of legal experience. However, I don't think including it will substantially boost your application (as the focus will be on the quality of your application overall), so not including it is also fine. I would go with whichever option you are most comfortable with
No problem at all!
Yes, the process is separate in the beginning, but merges once you get to the final stages! Just make sure you tick both the 'Training Contract' and 'Vacation Scheme' options on the application form, as otherwise you do have to submit a separate DTC application (which I found out the hard way...).
Best of luck with your application!!
Simmons assessment - high numerical and verbal but 5,5,7 on the pillars :/ - they’re kinda harsh with the marking. I applied on the deadline day and took my chances but have people been invited to the ac for the summer vac scheme or already given the ac?
Side note - I always hate the “why do u want to work with us” vi question which firms ask, how much ever I prepare for it, I always fall short of time to explain it or fumble.
Side note - I always hate the “why do u want to work with us” vi question which firms ask, how much ever I prepare for it, I always fall short of time to explain it or fumble.
Tysm for the pointer and adviceNo problem at all!
Yes, the process is separate in the beginning, but merges once you get to the final stages! Just make sure you tick both the 'Training Contract' and 'Vacation Scheme' options on the application form, as otherwise you do have to submit a separate DTC application (which I found out the hard way...).
Best of luck with your application!!
)The website really doesn’t make the process clear, is it just an AC after, no VI or SJT?
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to everyone! 
May Santa bring you all the VS and TC offers you want this year!
May Santa bring you all the VS and TC offers you want this year!
Hi @flower1 in terms of actual concepts for competition law, I would break this down as the following:
1. Competition law prohibits anti-competitive agreements
The most serious kinds of anti-competitive agreement are cartels, where two or more businesses agree not to compete with each other, for example by fixing prices, or sharing customers or markets.
2. Competition law prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position
Companies with large shares of a market may be regarded as "dominant". If they behave in ways which exploit customers or exclude their competitors, they may be abusing their market position.
3. Competition law regulates mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions may be prohibited or regulated if they are likely to substantially lessen competition in a market following completion e.g. they will have very high market share following the merger
Of course the subject itself is more intricate and complex than that, but this should be enough for any AC - as I don’t expect you to be tested heavily on legal concepts.
This might sound a bit silly, but how do people manage feelings of imposter syndrome during a vacation scheme? Some people are naturally very confident socially, and I sometimes feel out of place at London open days and insight events, especially with a northern accent. What are the best ways to overcome that? I think it's mostly psychological rather than actually being able to do anything about it.
Any insights? @Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
Any insights? @Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
I relate to this personally as a fellow northerner hahaha. It’s difficult and the imposter syndrome is real. It’s mostly psychological but people have had awful experiences by being told to ‘change’ their accent if they want a successful legal career. It’s probably an indication of that firm’s culture if the lawyers there say stuff like that tbh. I think as of recent, accent bias training is becoming more prevalent and especially at firms that partner with rare recruitment, it should be less bad. As a result, I’ve found interacting with lawyers actually ends up being a positive, as it turns out many of them are also northern and/or socially mobile! To overcome it, just know you’re in those rooms cos you earned it and you belong there too!
When I went to the Weil Oct insight day, as I was leaving, I bumped into someone in the lift who obvs at the time I didn’t know who they were. We were both chatting away about my experience at the open day and my interest in Weil for about 10 mins. Then they dropped a major bomb: he was in fact an insolvency disputes and restructuring partner at the firm, and he was also northern! Genuinely it was that interaction that boosted my confidence knowing that I can and should be able to speak freely and not worry about potential accent biases cos I’m northern. He was acc so unfazed by me calling him lad and mate the entire conversation without realising he’s a partner lmfao.
Sorry for the essay I’ve just written lad idfk how I’ve managed to write so much haha. Hopefully this helps and pls dw about being northern. Own it!
When I went to the Weil Oct insight day, as I was leaving, I bumped into someone in the lift who obvs at the time I didn’t know who they were. We were both chatting away about my experience at the open day and my interest in Weil for about 10 mins. Then they dropped a major bomb: he was in fact an insolvency disputes and restructuring partner at the firm, and he was also northern! Genuinely it was that interaction that boosted my confidence knowing that I can and should be able to speak freely and not worry about potential accent biases cos I’m northern. He was acc so unfazed by me calling him lad and mate the entire conversation without realising he’s a partner lmfao.
Sorry for the essay I’ve just written lad idfk how I’ve managed to write so much haha. Hopefully this helps and pls dw about being northern. Own it!
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Merry Christmas everyone!
Make sure to go to bed early so the TC fairy (Jaysen) can grace your inbox
️
Freshfields notice me pls
Make sure to go to bed early so the TC fairy (Jaysen) can grace your inbox
️Freshfields notice me pls
what do brits think of an american accentI relate to this personally as a fellow northerner hahaha. It’s difficult and the imposter syndrome is real. It’s mostly psychological but people have had awful experiences by being told to ‘change’ their accent if they want a successful legal career. It’s probably an indication of that firm’s culture if the lawyers there say stuff like that tbh. I think as of recent, accent bias training is becoming more prevalent and especially at firms that partner with rare recruitment, it should be less bad. As a result, I’ve found interacting with lawyers actually ends up being a positive, as it turns out many of them are also northern and/or socially mobile! To overcome it, just know you’re in those rooms cos you earned it and you belong there too!
When I went to the Weil Oct insight day, as I was leaving, I bumped into someone in the lift who obvs at the time I didn’t know who they were. We were both chatting away about my experience at the open day and my interest in Weil for about 10 mins. Then they dropped a major bomb: he was in fact an insolvency disputes and restructuring partner at the firm, and he was also northern! Genuinely it was that interaction that boosted my confidence knowing that I can and should be able to speak freely and not worry about potential accent biases cos I’m northern. He was acc so unfazed by me calling him lad and mate the entire conversation without realising he’s a partner lmfao.
Sorry for the essay I’ve just written lad idfk how I’ve managed to write so much haha. Hopefully this helps and pls dw about being northern. Own it!
a lot of brits don't like them generally, but in professional circles like law it's perfectly fine and quite common. If not actually american/canadian, we have a huge number of students from british international schools who tend to develop an american-ish accent. Also lots of international students generally, especially from countries like Hong Kong tend to have a similar accent too,
ok sweet perfect! good to know. also did notknow our accents werent liked more generally
unfortunately i am the loud rowdy yeehaw american
Hey guys, kind of a random question but building onto the query above; I'm not a native English speaker although I'm 100% fluent in the language (scored 8.5 in the IELTS, I literally study English Lit in uni lol) and I've grown up in a very international environment in Asia so I have a bit of a mix of accents (imagine an American accent with a hint of Canadian / Asian) and it's not definitively any one of them. Would firms care about this / impact me any way in interview processes / or believe this to be reflective of my English-speaking abilities? I know from legal events I've attended that accents of trainees & associates are indeed diverse but I've also found that the "diversity" is contained within native English-speaker accents like British/American/Australian and rarely ever anything else. Sometimes I'd see people from Hong Kong / Singapore but I'm not from those parts of Asia either so I do fear that my accent may sound a little foreign to firms.
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hi! can i know ur grades/academics + uni (not name) if that's OK?
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