TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BealMcAlly]

100% agree- while I am one to say more is more in terms of applications because of how horrifically competitive it is, this is only the case IF you have enough time to send quality applications to lots of firms. When I was at uni I had much less free time (v intense course) and I think I rushed lots of applications because I thought I had to submit lots and they were under-researched and bad quality. Surprise surprise got rejected! This is especially the case if this is your first cycle- as quality applications take much less time now than they used to.

While the convos about the rushed applications being more competitive is rlly interesting, for most people if you spend more time researching and perfecting applications, you will have a much higher chance of success. Everyone is different so take ppls advice, but you don't have to have the same application strategy as anyone else!

Even current trainees I've met say to always take advice from others with a grain of salt because we're all different and also all it takes is one firm to make you an offer. You could be applying to 40 firms and get 39 rejections and one offer. That's not really an indication of a strategy to me.

I only apply to firms I am genuinely interested in, engaged with or see myself building a career with and that helps when researching because I feel more motivated.

Each of us is different, it's not one size fits all.

 

[user123987]

I’m so sorry
I’m sure you’ll get many other offers!

That’s so kind, thank you and good luck to you too!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Those who heard back from ES (I think it was the regional office applicants who heard back), how was your vi? I’m getting stressed and have a feeling london applicants will also hear back this week.

I also haven’t heard back yet and I applied to the Cardiff office. Nervoussss

 

[FutureLawyer_]

My VI went well other than the fact my audio cut out in the last question, which I did inform grad rec of! I got pfod despite thinking it was my best lol

Did you receive feedback in the email?

 

[user123987]

Did you receive feedback in the email?

Nope “Unfortunately, due to the large volumes of applications we receive we cannot provide feedback at this stage”

 

[radssss]

Which firms recruit almost equally from vac schemes and dtc? Is there a list on here please?

 

[shadowboxer909]

Even current trainees I've met say to always take advice from others with a grain of salt because we're all different and also all it takes is one firm to make you an offer. You could be applying to 40 firms and get 39 rejections and one offer. That's not really an indication of a strategy to me.

I only apply to firms I am genuinely interested in, engaged with or see myself building a career with and that helps when researching because I feel more motivated.

Each of us is different, it's not one size fits all.

I think different strategies work for different people.

If you're very confident in your application or know there are only some firms you'd be happy with, it's worth it to focus and write detailed applications. The pay off is worth it because you're investing more time for better results.

If you're someone like me who genuinely wouldn't mind the firm they work at (I'm really, really interested in tax and so every corporate law firm has a tax team), you can apply everywhere and still end up with a reasonable result that you'd be happy with.

 

[Chelsea101]

Those who heard back from ES (I think it was the regional office applicants who heard back), how was your vi? I’m getting stressed and have a feeling london applicants will also hear back this week.

I haven't heard back... have people been pfod already? I applied to the Manchester office

 

[radssss]

People who applied to MoFo, did you upload a cover letter?

 

[user55998384]

Does anyone have any insights on the Fieldfisher VI ?!

hey congrats!! is this for thr pathway to practice? -when did you apply

 

[abc124]

I'm trying to submit a last minute Addleshaw Goddard app, they seem not to require individual module grades? Can someone please confirm that's the case because I don't want to get autorejected lol

 

[lawapplicant04]

hey congrats!! is this for thr pathway to practice? -when did you apply

Thank you!! Yes it is for pathways - I applied on 9th October

 

[ilikelaw]

does anyone know what amberjack scores are considered competitive for reed smith... got 7767 (...) and mid verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning my first experience with the amberjack pillars

also, do firms place much weighting on the sjt or is the VI component more decisive?

 

[BealMcAlly]

does anyone know what amberjack scores are considered competitive for reed smith... got 7767 (...) and mid verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning my first experience with the amberjack pillars

also, do firms place much weighting on the sjt or is the VI component more decisive?

That's a really good score. Basically a 75%

I don't know the benchmark but I'd say you fared pretty well! I assume the VI is weighted higher given you demonstrate your research and behaviours through it.

 

[BealMcAlly]

I think different strategies work for different people.

If you're very confident in your application or know there are only some firms you'd be happy with, it's worth it to focus and write detailed applications. The pay off is worth it because you're investing more time for better results.

If you're someone like me who genuinely wouldn't mind the firm they work at (I'm really, really interested in tax and so every corporate law firm has a tax team), you can apply everywhere and still end up with a reasonable result that you'd be happy with.

I think we more or less said the same thing here..

 

[Shiv Lawy]

If people who applied after me have received Dechert WE, should I assume my PFO is imminent?

 

[yasmars]

It was really just a combo of different things. For the WG style part, the passages were so long and unnecessarily complex (think your normal WG but just 10x worse). There was also a section where you had to organise your schedule in a way that accommodated your team and their availability, and another part where you had to book meetings without them clashing with existing ones.

I’d say the novelty of it all threw me off, because I was expecting a more traditional WG. Doing it for the first time was quite challenging, especially given how little time they give you to complete everything which honestly just made it 10x worse

Oh gosh! Thanks for the heads up. Annoying that they changed the test as this is one of my top firms!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

I'm applying to a firm that offers the option of applying to both the vacation scheme and training contract (under one application). Is it a good idea to do this, and if so, how would I frame this in my answer to the question: 'What attracts you to applying to our vacation scheme/training contract?'. Would I just write separate points in the intro regarding why a vacation scheme would be useful and why a training contract would be useful?

Idek how the selection process would work for applying to both but I am assuming I would just be considered for both schemes and would get one or the other rather than both but I have no idea - it doesn't say anything on the website about how applying to both schemes work. This firm does not seem to recruit directly from vacation schemes, as it says on the website that 'many of the people that attend the vacation scheme go on to apply for the training contract'.

 

[radssss]

If people who applied after me have received Dechert WE, should I assume my PFO is imminent?

Only people who applied for spring have heard back I think. That too, I’ve hardly seen 2-3 people say it on here. Give it some time

 

[radssss]

I'm applying to a firm that offers the option of applying to both the vacation scheme and training contract (under one application). Is it a good idea to do this, and if so, how would I frame this in my answer to the question: 'What attracts you to applying to our vacation scheme/training contract?'. Would I just write separate points in the intro regarding why a vacation scheme would be useful and why a training contract would be useful?

Idek how the selection process would work for applying to both but I am assuming I would just be considered for both schemes and would get one or the other rather than both but I have no idea - it doesn't say anything on the website about how applying to both schemes work. This firm does not seem to recruit directly from vacation schemes, as it says on the website that 'many of the people that attend the vacation scheme go on to apply for the training contract'.

Wow! Which firm is this? I thought only farrers did this.