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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

If a firm hasn't got back to you by now about it, how likely is an AC within the last week of Jan? I'm travelling from the 19th-28th Jan and I'm terrified I'll have to cancel the family holiday and drop everything for a last minute AC.

Anyone have insight to how much notice they give?
Would they not be able to offer a remote AC held virtually? Some firms allow this option I think. I’ve seen it in the FAQs section of grad rec websites.​
 
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One for the full time work crew.

How do you explain your role when filling out work experience sections? I work in projects, and I find my descriptions often lean heavily toward project-focused language when I’m explaining all the different things I do rather than clearly highlighting transferable skills.

Like, do you focus on a certain amount of skills, then build your entry around that, or go for everything?

I find explaining my part-time jobs easier because it was mainly serving customers, folding t-shirts, and working in a team for like 4 hours.😍 So fewer responsibilities, which means more clear skills.
 
If a firm hasn't got back to you by now about it, how likely is an AC within the last week of Jan? I'm travelling from the 19th-28th Jan and I'm terrified I'll have to cancel the family holiday and drop everything for a last minute AC.

Anyone have insight to how much notice they give?

Would they not be able to offer a remote AC held virtually? Some firms allow this option I think. I’ve seen it in the FAQs section of grad rec websites.​
Just on the back of what Harvey’s saying, I know two people who have had virtual ACs because they were out of the country. So it can be done 🙂↕️

It’s usually not being available for the VS which may cause issues.
 
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One for the full time work crew.

How do you explain your role when filling out work experience sections? I work in projects, and I find my descriptions often lean heavily toward project-focused language when I’m explaining all the different things I do rather than clearly highlighting transferable skills.

Like, do you focus on a certain amount of skills, then build your entry around that, or go for everything?

I find explaining my part-time jobs easier because it was mainly serving customers, folding t-shirts, and working in a team for like 4 hours.😍 So fewer responsibilities, which means more clear skills.
I usually have one paragraph to set the context of the job role and then two paragraphs focusing on main responsibilities and skills gained. If I’ve got space I’ll add in a link to trainee solicitor role sentence or two for good measure. Firms seem to have different preferences. It also depends on the nature of the job role itself I think.

At one of Willkie’s app workshops when Gemma was there she said she preferred less skills focus and more of a focus on what we did. Goodwin, Reed Smith and Skadden mentioned we should discuss skills gained but that might’ve been that particular GR person’s individual preferences so it varies depending on each firm ultimately.​
 
MY 3RD YEAR OF DEALING W THESE APPS I SWEAR I THINK I DIED IN 2019 AND ALL OF THIS IS SOME PARALLEL UNIVERSE
Maybe it is a parallel universe and we’re all stuck until we get TCs and then reach the other side…​

season 1 episode 6 GIF by Dream Corp LLC
 
Just got the Mishcon SJT invite as well and I BOMBED the VI part of the Chatbot thing.

I wonder if they have realised it wasn't a great assessment and invited everyone to do the SJT as well...? 🤔
Hi there! Congrats on getting to the SJT stage - if you don't mind, could you share your experience of the chatbot interview and what it generally consisted of? thanks!
 

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