TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[DoNotRedeem]

Freshfields PFO after Stage 2

Hi, sorry to hear that is this for the DTC or VS?

 

[Fred_Stuart]

when did you do stage 2 and it is trainee associate programme or VS

13th December and Summer VS

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Is Withers also very heavily VS?

 

[flamingocelot]

For people who have heard back from Fieldfisher about their pathways to practice scheme (rejection or onto further stage), when did you apply?

 

[nbjani]

Has anyone heard from HFW post application?

Nope

 

[toughluck]

anyone know if you'd be disadvantaged by rescheduling for a later batch of ACs? considering if i should reschedule my spring linklaters AC because i have an exam the day before and this AC came on such short notice. have some practice from another MC AC so not the end of the world if i go next week but obviously feeling like im in a bit of a bind as both the exam and the AC are important to me

 

[meredithgrey]

Do people send thank you emails after interviews (specifically ACs with partners)?
Not sure whether to or not?

 

[Fred_Stuart]

The PFO email said: "To support your continued growth, you have received a personalised feedback report. This report is designed to provide specific insights into your strengths and identify areas for further development."

Does anyone know how to access this?

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Do people send thank you emails after interviews (specifically ACs with partners)?
Not sure whether to or not?

Personally I wouldn't. It fills their already full inbox more, if every AC invite did then it wouldn't be convenient for them

 

[ella639124]

Didn’t get the PFO from freshfields - do we think they’re doing in batches…Can’t take this wait anymore

 

[user55998384]

do we think latham spring apps will hear something today

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

I've really heavily focused on my main area of interest in my cover letter for TS. Is this bad? Should I discuss all their main practice areas more holistically? Or am I better off lending my word count towards my in-depth research for this one practice area...?

I have discussed other sectors and practices in my work experience section (I added in my research for those other areas there). Which is why my initial strategy was to go all in, in the cover letter, for this one area. Reading it back now idk if thats a good idea?

Unfortunately it is generally not a good look to heavily focus your cover letter on one area of the firms expertise. It is a very good way of showing the firm that you have done lots of research and are genuinely passionate about the work the firm does, but can sometimes have the effect of demonstrating that you aren't fit for the TC as during the TC you have to do all of the seats in your rotation, not just the one you are adamant you want to do. Not to mention, when it comes to retention, you may not even get the chance to qualify into your first-choice department. It runs the risk of GR discarding you on the basis that you aren't very open minded to working in other practice areas, despite the fact this may be a gross false assumption. You're much better off using your main interest as a springboard for why you applied, then expand your desire to join the firm for its breadth of practice areas, rather than latch onto a specific practice area. I've made the same mistake previously as I have quite a bit of sector specific experience so that's just my two cents, take it with a bit of salt.

 

[赐给我tc]

CMS London AC! I would appreciate any tips and insights!! PLEASEE TYSM!!! I happy to offer insights too!

 

[TortillaTC]

Sidley closes at 5 pm today right? (earliest, since we're not sure that its closing at 5 or midnight, let's aim for 5)

 

[HeiBei]

Anyone heard back for linklaters summer VS?

 

[oliviabeijing]

Unfortunately it is generally not a good look to heavily focus your cover letter on one area of the firms expertise. It is a very good way of showing the firm that you have done lots of research and are genuinely passionate about the work the firm does, but can sometimes have the effect of demonstrating that you aren't fit for the TC as during the TC you have to do all of the seats in your rotation, not just the one you are adamant you want to do. Not to mention, when it comes to retention, you may not even get the chance to qualify into your first-choice department. It runs the risk of GR discarding you on the basis that you aren't very open minded to working in other practice areas, despite the fact this may be a gross false assumption. You're much better off using your main interest as a springboard for why you applied, then expand your desire to join the firm for its breadth of practice areas, rather than latch onto a specific practice area. I've made the same mistake previously as I have quite a bit of sector specific experience so that's just my two cents, take it with a bit of salt.

This is great advice, thank you! I think with a 1000 word limit I can definitely be more strategic with it. I like the idea of using it as a spring board though.

Thank you again and good luck!

 

[ilikelaw]

quick question concerning the w&c test, is it recorded bc my laptop is lowkey unusable and my pc doesn’t have a webcam

 

[user55998384]

Unfortunately it is generally not a good look to heavily focus your cover letter on one area of the firms expertise. It is a very good way of showing the firm that you have done lots of research and are genuinely passionate about the work the firm does, but can sometimes have the effect of demonstrating that you aren't fit for the TC as during the TC you have to do all of the seats in your rotation, not just the one you are adamant you want to do. Not to mention, when it comes to retention, you may not even get the chance to qualify into your first-choice department. It runs the risk of GR discarding you on the basis that you aren't very open minded to working in other practice areas, despite the fact this may be a gross false assumption. You're much better off using your main interest as a springboard for why you applied, then expand your desire to join the firm for its breadth of practice areas, rather than latch onto a specific practice area. I've made the same mistake previously as I have quite a bit of sector specific experience so that's just my two cents, take it with a bit of salt.

would you also say thats the same principle or 300 word answers for why the firm, because i normally do something along the lines of like int presence, training and then choose one practice area

 

[vweewcvew]

WFW pfo post app

kinda concerning since I got in their open day, attended three virtual events with them, completed their forage job sim, and spent like agess on the application like I personally felt my application was the strongest I've every written lmao

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

This is great advice, thank you! I think with a 1000 word limit I can definitely be more strategic with it. I like the idea of using it as a spring board though.

Thank you again and good luck!

No problems! Good luck! TS are a great firm, they have a really great subsidised cafeteria from memory. One of the only SC firms that the industry can't see merging any time soon, they are baked in history of absolutely refusing the merge for the sake of expansion. They've managed to consolidate their market position completely organically through focusing on advisory and arbitration work. They're not massive, so don't have the "robot trainee" problem that others face, and being in a position that's quite unique means their main revenue drivers include some seriously large numbers and their core business model hasn't seen much change since post 2008. This is quite unlike their industry peers, who have not only reported continued revenue growth, but also a healthy amount of profit dilution and now, cross atlantic mergers that will further extinguish the firms' independant reputation. Food for thought as TS are pretty awesome.