TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[OliviaPope]

Waiting to hear back from Linklaters (TC) applied on the deadline, has anyone had any updates?

 

[ddalki]

Any tips for completing a SJT? Would appreciate any advice as the feedback is never looking good!

Hi! These are my personal two cents, but I’ve gotten pretty good feedback on SJTs so far, and I hope they help. I find that SJTS can often seem a little convoluted, so please just pick and take what works for you.

- Have a clear idea of what traits the law firm wants. Typically, this will be things like resilience, motivation, collaboration, adaptability, personal responsibility etc etc, but the firm websites will often list their desired characteristics. If you keep them in mind, you’ll be able to identify which traits each question is testing for.
- Always read the question/situation carefully, because it’ll give you hints on what to prioritize. For example, let’s say the situation states that you’re swamped, there’s an important deadline coming up soon, and you’re given an opportunity to take on more challenging work. It’s not necessarily good to take that opportunity (unless the option makes it clear that you can get everything done to good quality), because that shows initiative but at the expense of prioritization/commitment/work ethic. This is especially important when two traits conflict (eg leadership vs collaboration).
- If there are two similarly worded options, pick the one that has the best result for the firm. For example, let’s say you’re debating between a) “You’d like to work in a team because you enjoy working with people” and b) “You’d like to work in a team because you think combining everyone’s expertise would get an ideal result”. The better choice would be b, because it shows you’re the ultimate team player. Or something.
- Know what your role is. If it says you’re a trainee, don’t be afraid to notify the higher ups when something goes wrong. Say you’re happy to do menial tasks if required (although you’re always eager to branch out).

Best of luck!

 

[FutureAntitrustLawyer]

Akin TI! Completed online assessment last week

Congrats, out of curiosity what did you get as trait for the test?

 

[Legallywhatever]

The OC app is really taking it out of me, and it's not even that complex so i don't know why ://///

 

[floral.tcla]

guys if you feel like an idiot just know that usually my attention to detail is fine but I accidentally left in a comment on my draft diss to my professor saying ‘this is so bad you can better than this diva xxx’ which I thought I had removed

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

The OC app is really taking it out of me, and it's not even that complex so i don't know why ://///

I feel the same, Im so fatigued from all these apps

 

[solicitor_2028]

The OC app is really taking it out of me, and it's not even that complex so i don't know why ://///

Just came on here to say the same rip

 

[Donna Paulsen]

That was me with Covington and currently every remaining app for January, I just cba !

Fr, motivation is at an all time low ahhhhhh

 

[Lord Sumption]

In other news, Macfarlanes has rolled out its first brand refresh in at least 15 years, unveiling a bolder, more modern visual identity.

The redesign introduces a modernised logo and a new colour palette that moves away from the conservative aesthetics you might expect from a traditional City law firm.

 

[floral.tcla]

In other news, Macfarlanes has rolled out its first brand refresh in at least 15 years, unveiling a bolder, more modern visual identity.

The redesign introduces a modernised logo and a new colour palette that moves away from the conservative aesthetics you might expect from a traditional City law firm.

View attachment 7694

Am i blind or does that look exactly the same

 

[cooked2000]

guys I'm actually struggling trying to focus on my mock revision when I know I should be preparing for ACs...how do people balance this??

Uni mocks?

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Am i blind or does that look exactly the same

Times New Roman to Comic Sans - reminds me of when the Government paid an insane amount just to move a dot

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Fr, motivation is at an all time low ahhhhhh

I submitted mine hours ago but I never felt so dead. Starting to get burned out from applications when I know others have done way more than me

 

[trainee4u]

In other news, Macfarlanes has rolled out its first brand refresh in at least 15 years, unveiling a bolder, more modern visual identity.

The redesign introduces a modernised logo and a new colour palette that moves away from the conservative aesthetics you might expect from a traditional City law firm.

View attachment 7694

when I'm a partner at Macfarlanes I'm gonna have a megapool in my megamansion.

and then i'm gonna pee in it.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

I submitted mine hours ago but I never felt so dead. Starting to get burned out from applications when I know others have done way more than me

Same - I think I'm just too much of a perfectionist with my applications. One application can take me days. I need to get a wriggle on and stop deeping it too much lol

 

[Legallywhatever]

I feel the same, Im so fatigued from all these apps

Just came on here to say the same rip

That was me with Covington and currently every remaining app for January, I just cba !

Good luck to us all for real Hoping to report back at 23:59 to say it's been sumbitted instead of spontaneously giving it up...

 

[deejaykay]

Thanks very much - best of luck to you, too!

Personally, I believe I needed to make a commitment to a legal career in order to take ownership of the process and make my applications stronger. I'm hoping that firms will look more favourably on a candidate who is already part-qualified, even if that means starting by self-funding.

As you say, if we're lucky enough to have the option, why wait?

Doing the same! Fellow career changer.

 

[applicant457]

Is it worth it to apply to shoosmiths now? Since they sent out their AC

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Same - I think I'm just too much of a perfectionist with my applications. One application can take me days. I need to get a wriggle on and stop deeping it too much lol

Genuinely same, I spend so long ruminating over a sentence

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Good luck to us all for real Hoping to report back at 23:59 to say it's been sumbitted instead of spontaneously giving it up...

High key given up, I realise Im just doing it for the sake of it