TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Unknowncabbage]

Completely unrelated but lowkey gassed to see this thread pop off when everyone starts getting AC invites😂

I reckon we might see quite a few tomorrow (hopefully anyway)

 

[tc2026]

what type of test does Clyde & Co use please? is it amberjack?

 

[tc2026]

not heard anything from Baker - applied end of November, for summer. Do I assume PFO?

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Anyone received Dechert's WE recently? Seems like an incoming PFO

 

[EfficientBag123]

not heard anything from Baker - applied end of November, for summer. Do I assume PFO?

Nah not for summer. They communicate everything after the deadline. I submitted in October for spring, then 2 months later I got progressed. 9 days after the deadline.

 

[EfficientBag123]

I reckon we might see quite a few tomorrow (hopefully anyway)

So do I. Bricking it 💀

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Eversheds Sutherland please send out AC invites soon

 

[EfficientBag123]

Eversheds Sutherland please send out AC invites soon

This how I’m feeling bout baker mckenzie 😂

 

[Unknowncabbage]

So do I. Bricking it 💀

This is going to be me reacting to good or bad news tomorrow 😂

 

[WillKitchen]

I have a Forage question:

This year I completed 5 job sims (White & Case, Clifford Chance, Kennedys and Slaughter & May x 2). At the time I applied to CC's VS I had not done their Forage programme, and the email strongly suggested that applicants have a far better chance of success if they complete at least one. So after submitting I completed their Community and Pro Bono course. If I had done that first, the changes of making it to the next stage would have been (perhaps slightly) increased.

Now I am looking at Jones Day. They were not a firm I had considered before, but I had a great time at their LawCareersNet LIVE event in London and that changed my mind. Having completed 5 Forage sims already, the prospect of doing another is not particularly inviting. But I think that the firm would probably look more favourably on any candidate who had completed their programme.

What would you do? Enrol for a 6th Forage with Jones Day, or trust in the insight and exposure provided by the 5 already completed and prioritise some other research into the firm?

Thanks!

 

[Unknowncabbage]

I have a Forage question:

This year I completed 5 job sims (White & Case, Clifford Chance, Kennedys and Slaughter & May x 2). At the time I applied to CC's VS I had not done their Forage programme, and the email strongly suggested that applicants have a far better chance of success if they complete at least one. So after submitting I completed their Community and Pro Bono course. If I had done that first, the changes of making it to the next stage would have been (perhaps slightly) increased.

Now I am looking at Jones Day. They were not a firm I had considered before, but I had a great time at their LawCareersNet LIVE event in London and that changed my mind. Having completed 5 Forage sims already, the prospect of doing another is not particularly inviting. But I think that the firm would probably look more favourably on any candidate who had completed their programme.

What would you do? Enrol for a 6th Forage with Jones Day, or trust in the insight and exposure provided by the 5 already completed and prioritise some other research into the firm?

Thanks!

you could potentially enrol in it, and maybe discuss how you are working through it at present.

 

[Saul_specter]

The jump scare seeing an email from Baker McKenzie, then it just being application timelines!! 😭

Side note: more firms should do this!

cld u pls send the application timelines email? thanks

 

[BobThebIlly]

Has anyone heard from Davis Polk?

 

[Novaa]

cld u pls send the application timelines email? thanks

Dear XYZ

Thank you for taking the time to complete Baker McKenzie's online application form for a place on our Summer Vacation Scheme.

To help manage your expectations, please see below our assessment timeline (please note – this timeline is subject to our discretion):

• 8th October 2025 - Applications open.
• 8th October 2025 – 1st January 2026 - Applications will be reviewed.
• 1st January 2026 - Application deadline.
• January 2026 - Successful candidates will be sent an invite to undertake an online test.
• January 2026 - Successful candidates sent an invite to undertake a video interview.
• February 2026 - Successful candidates will attend an Assessment Centre.
• March 2026 - Successful candidates will be offered a place on the Summer Vacation Scheme.

Kind regards,

 

[silonthesofa]

I have a Forage question:

This year I completed 5 job sims (White & Case, Clifford Chance, Kennedys and Slaughter & May x 2). At the time I applied to CC's VS I had not done their Forage programme, and the email strongly suggested that applicants have a far better chance of success if they complete at least one. So after submitting I completed their Community and Pro Bono course. If I had done that first, the changes of making it to the next stage would have been (perhaps slightly) increased.

Now I am looking at Jones Day. They were not a firm I had considered before, but I had a great time at their LawCareersNet LIVE event in London and that changed my mind. Having completed 5 Forage sims already, the prospect of doing another is not particularly inviting. But I think that the firm would probably look more favourably on any candidate who had completed their programme.

What would you do? Enrol for a 6th Forage with Jones Day, or trust in the insight and exposure provided by the 5 already completed and prioritise some other research into the firm?

Thanks!

Personally, I'd do it. If I'm not mistaken, I think their application form specifically asks if you've done it. When it comes to Forage, I reasonably assume firms only really care about their own given that Forage is non-selective. Also, it will likely contribute to your research into the firm because it'll give you direct insight into what they do.

 

[xMontmorency]

I have a Forage question:

...

What would you do? Enrol for a 6th Forage with Jones Day, or trust in the insight and exposure provided by the 5 already completed and prioritise some other research into the firm?

Thanks!

Forage suffers from the problem of diminishing returns after completing about three job sims.

Luckily, firms do not check whether you actually completed it. Skim through it or use ChatGPT to complete it. Bosh.

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Does anyone know if the Milbank SJT written questions are mostly general (e.g., why Milbank/why commercial law), or more scenario-based?

 

[Donuttime]

Does anyone know the threshold to pass the amberjacks? Like can anyone else who has successfully passed an amberjack to AC say what score they roughly got out of 36?

 

[Hopeful applicant]

Debevoise is asking for a "Company/Organisation Referee". Does that mean everyone has to have an employer reference? Thank you!

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Debevoise is asking for a "Company/Organisation Referee". Does that mean everyone has to have an employer reference? Thank you!

Hi @Hopeful applicant it’s usually advised to have one academic and one professional reference (just so they can see both sides of your character). However, it’s not the end of the world if you can’t provide on. In fact, some people may not have had any prior employment, or an experience strong enough to generate a reference.

If you’re in the same boat, for now, I’d include another reference - for the sake of the application. As for when it comes down to contacting your referees (they usually get in touch with you first) at that stage you can change it or explain that you don’t have an employment contact for referencing and have opted to use another academic one.