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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Prudentia

Esteemed Member
Oct 21, 2025
94
225
I’ve received Milbank stage 1 but I’m not sure if it’s worth doing as ACs are already going out so spots will be filled quickly. Any advice?
They’re not going to pass over a good candidate just because they applied later. If you don’t do it, you’re only making grad recruitment’s job easier because that’s one less application they have to review.
 

radssss

Legendary Member
Aug 16, 2024
425
595
To calm us both down, I bombed a video interview and online test last year for a DA. It was so bad that when I got the feedback report I deleted the email cos I thought I did that bad. Long behold, i got to the AC. VIs are strange and so unpredictable.
You’re so kind, thank you for this!
I’m waiting to hear back after 3 vis rn - Goodwin kennedys and eversheds but I don’t know how they went (I worry because of my accent more than the material of my answer)😭your message really made me feel better tho :)

Best of luck and I hope we get the tcs we want❤️
 

xMontmorency

Star Member
Dec 24, 2023
41
106
I have my Milbank ac in 3 days. What recent news events or trends in markets do you think I should be aware of going into this? I've been successful at ACs and interviews at international firms but this is my first US firm AC. So any advice would be super appreciated!!
If you're interested in leveraged finance, highly recommend you read one of these.
 

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EfficientBag123

Legendary Member
  • Aug 23, 2024
    145
    153
    You’re so kind, thank you for this!
    I’m waiting to hear back after 3 vis rn - Goodwin kennedys and eversheds but I don’t know how they went (I worry because of my accent more than the material of my answer)😭your message really made me feel better tho :)

    Best of luck and I hope we get the tcs we want❤️
    I feel you brother (or sister!), I’m waiting on Simmons (Bristol office), Latham and bakers. I’m also second year non-law so my stress is way less well-founded than yours 😂😂. You’re gonna smash it and I promise you you did better than you think you did.

    Keep pushing, you’re closer than you think.
     
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    xMontmorency

    Star Member
    Dec 24, 2023
    41
    106
    I have an AC coming up with bird and bird and was wondering if anybody has a recommendations for commercial awareness podcasts/podcasts that would help me keep on top of it? Currently battling my diss and don’t have the time to get really deep into reading articles but listening to a podcast would help, I’ve just no idea what to pick! I tried the FT news briefing but couldn’t understand what half of it meant or how it could apply to law! Any advice would be appreciated :)
    Search up a law firm on spotify. They all have podcasts. Scroll their recent releases until you find one either on an area of law that interests you, you understand based on the title, or which fits the specialisms of the firm you're interviewing at.

    For instance, Bird & Bird have some recent podcasts on energy market regulation, safeguarding in sports and AI.
     
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    Harvey Specter

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    891
    3,251
    Ooooof, finally it’s Monday tomorrow and we are all going for start hearing back from firms (i am very anxious and very relieved)
    Lets Go Start GIF
     
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    johnsmith

    Legendary Member
  • Oct 2, 2025
    375
    569
    I have an AC coming up with bird and bird and was wondering if anybody has a recommendations for commercial awareness podcasts/podcasts that would help me keep on top of it? Currently battling my diss and don’t have the time to get really deep into reading articles but listening to a podcast would help, I’ve just no idea what to pick! I tried the FT news briefing but couldn’t understand what half of it meant or how it could apply to law! Any advice would be appreciated :)
    All you need to know about the city is a great book for understanding terminology and how things like interest and bonds work in a practical sense - highly recommend it even if some of it will be a little outdated
     

    Afraz Akhtar

    Distinguished Member
    Staff member
    Premium Member
  • Dec 22, 2025
    67
    153
    anyone got any insights into travers as a firm? Finding it hard to compile a definitive research profile for the firm, a lot harder than it has been for other sc and mc firms
    @Ferran_ I also struggled with this initially, I think on face value (at least from resources that are available to the public) it is often very difficult to differentiate some firms from others. Like sure, they have a particular expertise in PE but which top firm doesn’t?

    In instances like this, I began looking into what made their “common” attributes different. So, this went beyond looking at their top practice area, and instead researching into deals they’ve worked on, or clients they’ve worked with within that department - to see if there was a pattern e.g. specific sector knowledge/reputation, a focus on certain elements of a PE deal such as exit strategies etc. In doing this I managed to identify a sector within PE that was a key focus for many during Covid but lacked investor confidence, and detailed how TS were able to navigate the potential shortfalls to implement innovative exit strategies to ensure the fund was not only successful, but surpassed expectations.

    You can realistically achieve this with most practice areas across many firms if you allow yourself to go beyond what Chambers & Partners classifies as “Top Tier”.
     

    Afraz Akhtar

    Distinguished Member
    Staff member
    Premium Member
  • Dec 22, 2025
    67
    153
    Hi everyone,

    Currently working on the PMC application and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to approach this question:

    PMC has offices in several locations. How do you think our office locations support our work and client relationship and how could this be improved? Consider a new office opening or practice area expansion/addition. (250 words)

    I’m considering focusing on one of PMC's strong sectors (like Shipping) and their London and other global offices, then suggesting a new office in an emerging market. I don’t think I would have enough words to cover multiple sectors and all regional offices as well.

    Does anyone have advice on how to make the explanation of how existing offices support client relationships more specific and concrete? I’m worried that simply mentioning local market knowledge or real-time support might be too general?

    Many thanks!

    Rory.
    Hey @rjh2001 it’s a good start to focus on their strong sectors and suggest a new office in an emerging market – to be honest, it’s probably how I would approach the answer too, and I agree it is best to focus on one sector/office location here. As for the explanation as to how their office locations support their work and client relationships, you’re right that the reasons you provided are general but they are true and most likely the key reasons many firms actually do this to begin with (other than tax efficiency).

    However, even with general points I think you can still shape your answer to become more specific to PMC, I would focus on where it is their office locations are – Piraeus and Antibes are very specific cities, that other firms who have a shipping focus may not have a presence in. What is it about these locations that made it a prime spot for PMC? Leverage that sort of analysis to think about how this is benefitting their workstreams and client relations.
     
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