TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Rosie_Kitten]

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

Ill try to explain (without directly spoonfeeding - as I guess this sort of thinking is necessary for the job). This is an example of what I would do (I'm new to this so probably there are better methods). It's also my personal understanding of commercial awareness, I'm not totally sure what firms look for yet.

Consider the impact of any news. It can be almost any news - it doesnt need to be direct financial news (e.g. a relevent example right now is Venezuela despite it not being finance/economics news).

Then consider the secondary impacts. Consider how these primary, secondary, tertiary impacts might effect certain industries (especially the industries your firm represents) and then how those industries impact others, and the general economy. How will the general economy then impact decisions companies will make r.e. investment etc.

In terms of FT news briefing - maybe there is a podcast discussing it to understand it better? I guess reading lots of briefings and learning to understand, and considering the impacts of the news will train your brain to recognise them in the long term.

Edit: if you have Spotify you can adjust the FT news briefing speed and make it slower to maybe understand better as well?

 

[radssss]

It’s when you start replaying your video interview in your head and you don’t know how it went so then you’re stressed.

Agree 100%

 

[EfficientBag123]

Agree 100%

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.

 

[halogenz]

Hi can anyone who did OCs tests please pm me - this is my first time doing the SHL deductive reasoning test - i was wondering if it's timed?

 

[Prudentia]

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]

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❤️

 

[llblawstudent]

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.

What’s a DA if u don’t mind me asking

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

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?

What do you have to lose? Why not? It's surely good practice anyways no?

 

[xMontmorency]

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.

 

[EfficientBag123]

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.

 

[xMontmorency]

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.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Ooooof, finally it’s Monday tomorrow and we are all going for start hearing back from firms (i am very anxious and very relieved)

 

[gmmd1012]

That is actually really reassuring, I do not like VIs at all! If you don't mind me asking, are there any commercial questions? I am prepping those just in case. Thanks in advance!

hi, did you ever get a response to this? I am wondering whether to properly and in depth prepare commercial awareness responses too!

 

[radssss]

hi, did you ever get a response to this? I am wondering whether to properly and in depth prepare commercial awareness responses too!

Yes me too! I’ve prepared one topic and its relevance to the firm anyways but it’ll be beneficial to know if I should focus on this a bit more! Thank you

 

[EfficientBag123]

What’s a DA if u don’t mind me asking

Degree apprenticeship!

 

[johnsmith]

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

 

[TCGrad1642]

Just submitted Akin! Does anyone know if the online test will be automatic or after grad rec review?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

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”.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Just submitted Akin! Does anyone know if the online test will be automatic or after grad rec review?

They said at their open day that it’s not automatic so they’ll review your app first then send it if your app was successful.​

 

[anjali20]

Does anyone have any insights on how to prepare for Jones Day first stage interview?