TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Novaa]

Me scrolling through these updates like I don’t have work to do!! LOVE TO SEE IT 😍

 

[sadlawyer01]

Hi! congratulations, that amazing! what is svs?

Summer vac scheme

 

[trainee4u]

My ChatGPT is working hard on my VS apps today. (For clarity, I get it to tailor my previous answers to specific firms with use of web.run for research and then try to edit the GPTish bits out.) IDK if everyone does this, lol.

 

[Madison Pinewall]

My ChatGPT is working hard on my VS apps today. (For clarity, I get it to tailor my previous answers to specific firms with use of web.run for research and then try to edit the GPTish bits out.) IDK if everyone does this, lol.

i now understand how people are getting like 60 apps in hahahha. fair play

 

[ladyhaleinthehouse]

Has anyone heard from Baker Mckenzie post VI (Spring VS), Freshfields Stage 2 for DTC, or Linklaters (Spring VS)?

 

[TCLAAAA]

Congrats ! When did you apply if you don't mind?

25th Dec

 

[EfficientBag123]

PatrickHas anyone heard from Baker Mckenzie post VI (Spring VS), Freshfields Stage 2 for DTC, or Linklaters (Spring VS)?

Convinced baker spring vac scheme is a figment of our imagination. There is an idea of a spring vacation scheme at baker mckenzie.

 

[trainee4u]

i now understand how people are getting like 60 apps in hahahha. fair play

I did 100 apps last year without using AI. Once you have 2 or 3 "commercial news story" and an answer to "why do you want to be a lawyer" it's not that hard.
However, with AI rather than copying and pasting my "why do you want to be a lawyer" from another app, I can have it edit my answer to better fit the specific firm/wording of the question.
I find the AI creates annoying and obvious verbal tics which I do edit out (it likes to end its last paragraph with Finally, for example, and there are a bunch of unnecessary adverbs and common buzzwords), but it's got a lot better over the last 12 months, so why not use it.

 

[EfficientBag123]

I did 100 apps last year without using AI. Once you have 2 or 3 "commercial news story" and an answer to "why do you want to be a lawyer" it's not that hard.
However, with AI rather than copying and pasting my "why do you want to be a lawyer" from another app, I can have it edit my answer to better fit the specific firm/wording of the question.
I find the AI creates annoying and obvious verbal tics which I do edit out (it likes to end its last paragraph with Finally, for example, and there are a bunch of unnecessary adverbs and common buzzwords), but it's got a lot better over the last 12 months, so why not use it.

In 100 apps, how many offers did you get?

 

[trainee4u]

In 100 apps, how many offers did you get?

wdym by offers?

I have a thread over here https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/rejections-thread.9520/

I had two clashing VS last year so only did one and didn't convert.

I had about five Zoom interviews for VS or TC, and two (I think?) ACs.

My conclusion was I needed to improve interview performance, basically. This still applies, but this year I'm finding:

1. I've figured out the SJTs pretty much, so hopefully won't fail anywhere there
2. I've done all the WG questions before (but I think I did well enough on them before)
3. I can apply more easily using AI so hopefully I can use the time saved to improve my interview performance.

 

[Jennifer2003]

Has anybody been sent the baker mckenzie test after applying to their summer vac scheme? Applied on the 27/12 and deadline was New Year’s Day

 

[Dannie]

How manyy first stage interviews does Jones Day do?

 

[tc2026]

Have latham pfo's gone out post test 2?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Oooooof I just finished Reed Smith's VI and that took me so long. Will this ever get easier? lol

I got my amberjack scores and I'm shocked tbh. I did better than I thought. Got 7-6-4-9 with verbal at 2/3(cursed at this point) and numerical at 3/3

Let's see if I met the benchmark lmao

 

[EfficientBag123]

Oooooof I just finished Reed Smith's VI and that took me so long. Will this ever get easier? lol

I got my amberjack scores and I'm shocked tbh. I did better than I thought. Got 7-6-4-9 with verbal at 2/3(cursed at this point) and numerical at 3/3

Let's see if I met the benchmark lmao

That will almost defo be enough. Don’t stress yourself out, well done.

 

[Sharkfin]

I wonder how Bakers expect people to do the AC on the 9th if they don’t reply by today legit will be like 2/3 days notice 😭

Wait, where did u see the AC dates? On the timeline email it says Jan - Feb for Spring AC dates?

 

[Madison Pinewall]

I did 100 apps last year without using AI. Once you have 2 or 3 "commercial news story" and an answer to "why do you want to be a lawyer" it's not that hard.
However, with AI rather than copying and pasting my "why do you want to be a lawyer" from another app, I can have it edit my answer to better fit the specific firm/wording of the question.
I find the AI creates annoying and obvious verbal tics which I do edit out (it likes to end its last paragraph with Finally, for example, and there are a bunch of unnecessary adverbs and common buzzwords), but it's got a lot better over the last 12 months, so why not use it.

I think i'm a bit too careful when i'm writing apps. I sit there going over wordings etc and always take ages finding the best deals to talk about. A simple why this firm can take me like 1-2 hours and even tho i have a couple commercial stories im following i always try and be uber specific to why it impacts their practice area by naming a deal they've worked on and how transactions similar to this would be impacted

 

[Deleted member 43292]

PFO thank you

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

This is the first thing I’ve done. I can’t seem to find anything, hence why I’m asking here.

I just blew away the dust over my historic "welcome to the firm" booklet and honestly I don't know if they have any formally written out. However, the ones that come to mind (and these are self-prescribed) are social impact (based on its dedicated award-winning pro bono practice), collaboration (based on its lack of target hours and unique seat structure) and independent thought (based on its dedication to weekly learning opportunities and outsourced courses).