TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[EfficientBag123]

Yeah I have it just saying it doesn’t directly mean an Assessment centre

Yeye, if only it did tho

 

[TCGrad1642]

Sorry guys, manifestation did not work!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hey @Abbie Whitlock & @Andrei Radu & anyone else w any opinions on this,

Happy New year!! I have a question on the Orrick VS app. the first two questions are "Please use the space below for your cover letter. Please address your cover letter to Pete Sugden." and "Why have you decided to pursue a career as a commercial lawyer? What factors and influences have affected your decision?" - both 300 words each

I know the usual CL format is why law, why firm then why me, but seeing as the 2nd question is why law (and the cover letter is a mere 300 words lol), would you suggest only doing a why firm and why me for the CL, or try and cram why law in there too? Thank u sm!! <3

Hi!

Happy New Year to you too!!

Based on what you have outlined, I'd resist trying to force the full traditional "why law / why firm / why me" structure into the cover letter, given that Orrick has explicitly separated out "why commercial law" into a separate 300 word question. In my view, this is a sign that they don't want you to duplicate that content in the cover letter itself.

It might be sensible to approach it as:

• Cover Letter: focus mainly on why Orrick and why you. As you know that the graduate recruitment team will also read your "why commercial law" answer, you don't need to necessarily re-justify the career choice in the cover letter. You could potentially make a brief mention of your commercial interest if it links to your motivations towards Orricks work, but I wouldn't use much of the word count on explaining "why law".
• Why Commercial Lawyer: this is where you can discuss your "why law" narrative, which you would normally address in the cover letter. Just make sure to mention the factors and influences that affected your decision to pursue this career path, using examples from past work experiences or university.

This way, you avoid repetition and ensure you answer exactly what each question is asking. You can also go deeper and be more specific in both responses, rather than trying to cram everything into the cover letter!

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the application!

 

[sadlawyer01]

for those who applied to morrison foerster, what did you put in for your 'advanced degree transcript' and 'undergrad transcript'?

 

[applicant3000]

anyone heard from Skadden post WE?

 

[Kad28]

Is just me or does the Addleshaw Goddard application not require you to enter individual modules

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

So that NRF VI went terrible :/ Worst thing is I have no excuse - the questions weren't hard and I'd solidly prepared for them, I just somehow completely melted.

If you dont mind me asking , what were the questions you recieved?

 

[Donuttime]

For CLYDE & CO SVS application it says,
Please confirm you are either:

• A penultimate year law undergraduate student, or
• A final year non-law undergraduate student

does that mean graduates cannot apply?

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

So that NRF VI went terrible :/ Worst thing is I have no excuse - the questions weren't hard and I'd solidly prepared for them, I just somehow completely melted.

So sorry to hear that bro chin up ! If you dont mind me asking, what were the questions?

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

Hi everyone,

Quick update:

Hill Dickinson amberjack- 4,6,6,9!!!!! Not happy about the 4 but I’m super happy about the rest! Think this is the first time I’ve done relatively well in this stupid test, hope it’s enough? scored mid for numerical/verbal. Think the VI went well too? Fingers crossed

Got Goodwin and NRF (round 2 haha) VIs to do. Barely any time to revise for my exams next week

Hi mate did you finish the nrf interview?

 

[nbjani]

For CLYDE & CO SVS application it says,
Please confirm you are either:

• A penultimate year law undergraduate student, or
• A final year non-law undergraduate student

does that mean graduates cannot apply?

Hey, grads can apply for the spring vac scheme, not summer. I'm a grad and they confirmed this with me at a law fair.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Covington application sent in today. Had a 3 hour nap. Now having a maccies. Life is good xx

 

[nbjani]

So Hill Dickinson has some interesting questions.

For the one that ends "Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?" would this be referring to one of the TC streams, or a specific practice/sector team?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

So Hill Dickinson has some interesting questions.

For the one that ends "Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?" would this be referring to one of the TC streams, or a specific practice/sector team?

A specific practice/sector team, I’d say.

 

[nbjani]

A specific practice/sector team, I’d say.

Great thanks - I'm assuming it's a fair bet to refer to one of the listed seat options on the website?

 

[eleanor.teh]

Of course, no problem at all!!

Since client emails are such a common format in written exercises, it's definitely worth getting comfortable with how to approach them! A few things that I kept in mind when preparing:

Understand the Purpose and Audience

Before you start writing, clarify who you are writing to (e.g. a client, supervisor, or a colleague) and what information they need from you. The tone, level of formality, and structure will vary depending on whether it's an internal email or an email to an external client.

For example, if you are emailing a client, you want to ensure that they are able to understand any legal principles that you are outlining in your email. As such, it's important to make sure you write it in layman's terms and don't just recite the information given in the materials. However, if you are emailing a supervisor, I would focus on highlighting the most important pieces of information as you are effectively trying to save them time in going through the materials themselves. I would always aim to write in a professional way, and frame it like you would an actual email - such as a subject line and a closing sentence.

Use a Clear and Logical Structure

The main thing that I changed when approaching written exercises was making sure that I had a clear and logical structure. A good client email should be easy to follow. A simple structure could look like:

1. Opening: A brief, polite greeting and context for why you're writing (and what you'll be discussing in the email). If you're emailing a supervisor, it might be useful to include a short summary of your findings at the top (i.e. an early conclusion), and then go into more detail below.
2. Main Body: Summarise the key points or advice clearly and concisely, using short paragraphs. It might be appropriate to use headings and subtitles, especially if there is a lot of information. The goal is to make sure that the client can follow along, and that it isn't just a massive wall of text that is difficult to read.
3. Closing: End with next steps, an offer of assistance, or a polite sign-off (e.g. "Please let me know if you'd like to discuss further"). These elements distinguish an email exercise from a general report or memo, and shows that you are following the brief exactly! If you are emailing a supervisor, I would try to show some proactivity in the closing parts - such as offering to write a first draft of a document or client email.

Keep your tone professional and approachable

I would aim for clear, confident language without being overly formal (but still professional). This can be tricky, but phrases such as "I'd recommend..." or "It may be helpful..." strike a nice balance. Avoid overly technical language or long-winded phrasing - simplicity often conveys professionalism! As stated above, I would definitely avoid legal jargon if you are writing to a client, unless you are certain that a client would understand it.

Also remember that tone can shift slightly depending on the client's relationship with the firm. If you are told this information, a longstanding client might suit a warmer tone, whilst a first-time contact may call for a more formal approach. However, if in doubt, I would always go for a more formal approach - especially in a professional context!

Be precise and client-focused

Remember the purpose for why you are actually writing to the client, and tailor your response to the client's actual issue. I would avoid copying large chunks of background information from the brief (as the client will already have this information!) - instead, demonstrate understanding of their issue by reframing the key points in your own words and applying them directly to the client's situation. Make sure to keep your advice practical - clients care more about what they should do next than about the legal theory behind it. You might find it useful to use signposting phrases such as "In summary..." or "Based on the information provided..." to make your reasoning easy to follow. If there are uncertainties, I would make sure to address them but be reassuring - e.g. "Further details would be needed to confirm this position, but at this stage...".

Check for clarity and tone at the end

Before your time runs out, take a moment to review your email. I always found it helpful to read it aloud (if possible) or follow along with my finger - this helps you catch sentences that are too long, unclear, or sound abrupt. Look for opportunities to simplify, and if a sentence takes more than one breath to read, it's probably too long! Make sure your sign-off fits the context (things such as "Kind regards" or "Best wishes" usually work best). The graduate recruitment team / assessors will be looking for professionalism in formatting and presentation - consistent spacing, clear paragraphing, and correct spelling and grammar will all make a strong impression.

As a practical tip to practice: You could start by taking short case studies and draft sample emails that summarise your advice in 200-300 words. This helps you get used to organising your thoughts quickly and writing in a professional, accessible way.

I hope that helps!

This is super helpful! I was wondering if you might have any links to these types of case studies?

 

[James Wakefield]

Bristows in, now onto Perkins Coie!

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Anyone able to provide insight into White & Case's test? what should I expect

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Any point applying to Covington if you didn’t attend an RG university?

 

[kysharsh]

anyone did Milbank’s SJT yesterday and got second stage today?

i applied and got the sjt next day, got stage 2 in like 30 mins