TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[pfoapplicant]

Hi guys! I'm currently filling in the BCLP application form, which contains the following question (with a 500-word limit!):

"What do you find attractive about BCLP's sectors/departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why?"

Does anyone have any ideas on how candidates are supposed to approach answering this? For example, would it be valid to start by focusing on sectors that BCLP specialises in that I find attractive (and, of course, explain why) - e.g. healthcare, energy, etc; and then go on to particular departments that I find interesting (e.g. M&A, Real Estate, Finance) and dovetail that with why I'd like to have exposure to those areas during my TC (perhaps with reference to specific seats that BCLP do?)

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful!

 

[Prudentia]

Somehow I’ve got through to the next stage of Milbank.

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Somehow I’ve got through to the next stage of Milbank.

Huge congrats! We know you can do it, I am waiting mine or PFO post stage 1 since october

 

[wooliewoo]

Random Q but does anyone know if the Addleshaw critical thinking test is the same as Eversheds' (as in, the Qs are very law focused)?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Random Q but does anyone know if the Addleshaw critical thinking test is the same as Eversheds' (as in, the Qs are very law focused)?

It's similar to TW's provider (TestPrep), but completely different questions one to another.

 

[TS.Law]

I got the Milbank's Critical Thinking test (2nd stage). Is this the WGT? Does it have VI? Any insights, please?

 

[wooliewoo]

It's similar to TW's provider (TestPrep), but completely different questions one to another.

Thank you!

 

[TCLAAAA]

Milbank stage 2 invite, did on stage 1 29th Dec-any insights on the test, what questions are they supposed to have?

 

[Prudentia]

Huge congrats! We know you can do it, I am waiting mine or PFO post stage 1 since october

I’m glad you have faith in me! Tbh, I didn’t even know what Milbank specialised in until they asked me in the first online test 💀🫠 had to quickly Google!

 

[lividowl03]

Thanks so much, that's so helpful and really reassuring! I'll definitely keep this in mind once I manage to secure a vac scheme and try to stop overthinking for now haha Best of luck with everything!

I agree with that reply, best not to dwell on it too much but you can usually figure it out a little though, and in many cases it is something worth considering (e.g if you have two schemes that clash). For example, my friend has a scheme coming up with a firm soon, and they weren't explicitly told much, from googling she figured out they take on about 25 trainees, they have around 30 vac scheme places a year, and they also open a direct training contract route later in the year. So she's surmising around 20/30 may get an offer.

However, everything is guesswork, and there's a lot of factors involved. E.g in the case of this firm, if all of the vac schemes were absolutely perfect, they might offer a TC to as many of them as they can and just not open the direct TC role that year. If they are all awful, they might not offer any, and would instead take on only direct TCs. What I've heard said from multiple firms graduate recruitment (though this definitely isn't applicable to all firms), is that if you can impress on the scheme, they like you and want you and think you'd be a good trainee, there is typically flexibility to offer you the TC. Whether that's a spot in an earlier cohort (provided you've finished your studies), or offering you a later cohort (i.e three years in advance instead of two), or even making an additional spot in the current cohort, they will work it out.

So I'm taking that and running with it, do the best you can and it will (hopefully) all fall into place.

 

[flower1]

Does anyone know if Latham sends out actual rejections, or is it only successful candidates that are emailed?

Thank you

 

[spamelinazoid]

Just did the first Milbank test and 2 questions. It honestly wasnt as bad as I thought but holy hell having to come up with a response on 20 minutes without prior preparation would have *not* have worked.

 

[spamelinazoid]

same here - applied on deadline

Im not convinced we should be giving up hope just yet - no news is not an explicit PFO so soon after a deadline!

 

[msclm]

Guys what are the realistic odds of converting a vac scheme to a TC? At my uni most people told me not to worry about it and that it was largely a formality unless you do something truly outrageous like constantly being late, rude etc. but recently I've been hearing more and more stories of people not managing to convert despite doing their best.

I'm really struggling to even get ACs and I think the only thing that has kept me motivated is that you only need one firm to give you a chance and that once I get the vac scheme it's unlikely for things to go wrong. But now getting a TC feels like such a long shot...

The vac scheme I did in the winter gave 7 tcs and there were 19 on the vac! General idea is that Us firms are low conversion, MC/SC is quite good!

 

[i really like clouds :)]

Simmons AC! any tips would be appreciated as it's my first!

 

[radssss]

Hi guys, happy new year!!

I’ve got 15+ dms in relation to the kennedys vi and apologies I couldn’t respond individually as I was on holiday. I’ve just given the vi 10 mins back and here are my thoughts-

It was straight forward and simple, 3 ques, motivational and competency, 30 secs prep, 2 mins to speak, allows you to record twice. Don’t overthink it as it’s simple
Apologies, I won’t be able to send ques because I feel it’s unfair to people who go in blindly

 

[EfficientBag123]

Simmons AC! any tips would be appreciated as it's my first!

Congrats! Which office is this for?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Another day of absolute silence from firms has me feeling like this rn it’s frustrating lmao.

 

[Filia]

Anyone else who applied to Gibson Dunn and not received the situational judgement assessment link, even after 2-3 days of applying?

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

Anyone else who applied to Gibson Dunn and not received the situational judgement assessment link, even after 2-3 days of applying?

I did not receive my SJT assessment link until 4 days after I sent my application. I applied in mid-late December so you’ll likely receive it soon.