TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[xMontmorency]

Hey need advice. I am struggling a bit with commercial awareness right now. I usually rely on Watson's Daily but he (Peter Watson) is on holiday. I am struggling to find a methodical way of going through the FT to find the relevant information in a time efficient manner. Does anyone have any tips ?

Bloomberg daybreak Europe podcast / Bloomberg businessweek podcast. Or just a Bloomberg subscription if you have the money.

 

[TCLAuser2002]

I honestly don’t understand how I can score 9, 9, 7, 7 for Weil Amberjack, and then get 4, 4, 6, 4 for Reed Smith. The gap just doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Hey need advice. I am struggling a bit with commercial awareness right now. I usually rely on Watson's Daily but he (Peter Watson) is on holiday. I am struggling to find a methodical way of going through the FT to find the relevant information in a time efficient manner. Does anyone have any tips ?

FT has a legal section too. It's not quite as fleshed out as their more target financial or economic productions but it will go over the commercial basics of headline stories with a focus on the legal sector. Think sanctions, firm mergers, the effect of tariffs and so on. The big reads every week are good talking points, especially in interviews as a lot of people will read that on a monday morning. Commercial awareness more broadly is just the ability to logically reason through real life talking points and the ramifications on different industries, most reliable non-biased news sources are worthy of a read so long as you can flesh out your own opinions in an evidenced way.

 

[Deleted member 43292]

Hey need advice. I am struggling a bit with commercial awareness right now. I usually rely on Watson's Daily but he (Peter Watson) is on holiday. I am struggling to find a methodical way of going through the FT to find the relevant information in a time efficient manner. Does anyone have any tips ?

I usually use podcasts like the others have said, but also some commercial news pages!
Here are some good examples;

• The Commercial Legiscope (instagram and linkedin + website)
• UK Legal Pulse (instagram and linkedin)
• Littlelaw
• Watson's Daily is good too!
• If you're interested in a particular niche/practice area, you can subscribe to some pages dedicated to that too!

Regarding the FT, I just usually skim top headlines and check 'my FT' more thoroughly because I've followed categories which I am interested in. If I see a headline which I believe is interesting/ will have relevance to the legal/commercial world, then I'll read it quickly.

 

[Lawlawland]

Me @ Simmons Grad Rec Team...
At this point I can even take a PFO with joy if they just reply smh.

 

[ttlaw12344]

what non rollings apps r still open?

 

[tcla02]

can anyone who has done the NRF VI this cycle tell me if you get 5 min recommended prep time and then 2 or 3 min to answer the question?

 

[Novaa]

Just had the realisation that one of the firms I’m waiting on uses AllHires… and I’m pretty sure the info it has stored says I’m considering doing the SQE in 2024 (I did not do the SQE in 2024)

 

[Novaa]

I usually use podcasts like the others have said, but also some commercial news pages!
Here are some good examples;

• The Commercial Legiscope (instagram and linkedin + website)
• UK Legal Pulse (instagram and linkedin)
• Littlelaw
• Watson's Daily is good too!
• If you're interested in a particular niche/practice area, you can subscribe to some pages dedicated to that too!

Regarding the FT, I just usually skim top headlines and check 'my FT' more thoroughly because I've followed categories which I am interested in. If I see a headline which I believe is interesting/ will have relevance to the legal/commercial world, then I'll read it quickly.

Love this!!

Just a question, when you find something you’re interested in how do you approach your full read?

Do have things in mind when skimming through like: who it impacts? Why it’s interesting? How it can be resolved? and do you make notes on the article?

 

[EfficientBag123]

Me @ Simmons Grad Rec Team...
At this point I can even take a PFO with joy if they just reply smh.

I applied to Bristol office out in October. This wait is frying me.

 

[johnsmith]

anyone able to share the timings for goodwin's vi

30s prep, 1:30 record

 

[TortillaTC]

Is Goodwin done sending VI invites? I applied on the deadline but I see that a bunch of people got invites. I attended their open day+submitted a very tailored application so kinda frustrated rn..

 

[johnsmith]

I applied to Bristol office out in October. This wait is frying me.

They said at the Bristol OD that we’d start to hear back re ACs in January and into February. It’s going to be massively competitive as only 8 VS spots in the Bristol office.

 

[lawyersum]

did anyone hear from bates wells before the xmas period?

 

[applicant457]

Anyone did the NRF VI?

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Guys, is anyone happy to share insights about Norton Rose Fulbright VI?
Very happy to exchange in return, I can share insights on Reed Smith VI, Milbank questions, Akin TI, Baker McKenzie VI, White & Case VI, and PwC VI.

 

[Legal12345]

Asking for a friend who got a Capsticks PFO without an invite to the online test the emailed implied was automatic.
He applied on deadline day is it possible he got rejected because it was rolling and already filled?

Did anyone get an auto invite to the online test or PFO before the invite? Any advice appreciated because I believe his application was strong and he met the minimum grade requirements.

I got progressed to the test on 30th December I think

 

[ttlaw12344]

Asking for a friend who got a Capsticks PFO without an invite to the online test the emailed implied was automatic.
He applied on deadline day is it possible he got rejected because it was rolling and already filled?

Did anyone get an auto invite to the online test or PFO before the invite? Any advice appreciated because I believe his application was strong and he met the minimum grade requirements.

I got an PFO on Christmas Day after applying on Xmas eve so can only assume its automated

 

[Donuttime]

I honestly don’t understand how I can score 9, 9, 7, 7 for Weil Amberjack, and then get 4, 4, 6, 4 for Reed Smith. The gap just doesn’t make sense to me.

Can I just ask, with the score for Weil have you been invited to AC?

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Can I just ask, with the score for Weil have you been invited to AC?

Not yet, haven't heard back