TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[user24710026]

Can we just not please, gang.

This forum is a hell of a lot more useful when people are talking about things that are productive or their feelings re applications. Simply nothing of value in attacking each other - ruins any semblance of community building when it becomes factions battling for their favourite people of the day.

And makes finding useful information a lot harder...

 

[Bread]

Hi all! Looking for some advice
For background, I've been slightly stalking this forum without an account for a few months now!

I am incredibly grateful to have secured a TC and VS at two different firms over the past few weeks (unfortunately under confidentiality agreement with both atm!). I am absolutely going to accept the TC offer, since it is probably my 1st choice firm. However, the VS offer is at my 2nd choice firm, and in a completely different area of law to the 1st choice! Therefore, I would love to gain the experience offered at the VS firm for my future career.

I have received my VS firm contract which does not say anything about having a TC at another firm, but I am yet to receive my TC contract whilst they check references. I need to sign my VS offer by Wednesday. I am also unsure what to do when it comes to the AC at the end of the VS.

I would love your advice about what to do in this position!

P.S. I truly hope this doesn't come across as showing off or tone deaf; I have really enjoyed the insights on this forum so far so would love your POV. Thank you!! <3

Tbh I don’t know how significant a vacation scheme in a different area of law will be for you future career, provided you do accept the TC

 

[radssss]

Guys I think we can acc keep this forum for firm related updates and queries and cheer others up solely because it’s getting really negative and it’s really sad to see this, I’ve been a part of this forum for about two years and it’s never been this negative. Let’s spread lots of positivity and I hope everyone gets lots of tcs this year

This is not in regard to any specific comments or arguments today but just in general! We can learn to avoid messages we don’t like, report them and not respond as it turns into a heated argument. (Before I’m attacked I know I responded once to the “read properly” Goodwin messages by various people and I’ve learnt to ignore them but report it/ personally message people to comfort them so it’s not turned into an argument)! Healthy discussions are always fun and insightful but these fights make the process more stressful. Let’s stop sarcasticly replying to people too, don’t reply that’s a better option. It is also getting difficult to find useful info and reply to people’s queries as they get lost in fights/irrelevant info atp. Let’s still crack some jokes but keep the stickers/gifs minimal. I love them but people are really getting disturbed and it’s fair for them to ask people to reduce it!

We are all in this together

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Hi all! Looking for some advice
For background, I've been slightly stalking this forum without an account for a few months now!

I am incredibly grateful to have secured a TC and VS at two different firms over the past few weeks (unfortunately under confidentiality agreement with both atm!). I am absolutely going to accept the TC offer, since it is probably my 1st choice firm. However, the VS offer is at my 2nd choice firm, and in a completely different area of law to the 1st choice! Therefore, I would love to gain the experience offered at the VS firm for my future career.

I have received my VS firm contract which does not say anything about having a TC at another firm, but I am yet to receive my TC contract whilst they check references. I need to sign my VS offer by Wednesday. I am also unsure what to do when it comes to the AC at the end of the VS.

I would love your advice about what to do in this position!

P.S. I truly hope this doesn't come across as showing off or tone deaf; I have really enjoyed the insights on this forum so far so would love your POV. Thank you!! <3

Hi! Welcome! Sorry if you got the wrong impression of this forum, it's not normally like this, in my albeit limited experience here. Right now tensions are running a little high - tis the month I suppose. I'm trying to ignore these messages as much as possible. I suggest everybody else, including those involved, does the same - even if they are feeling misrepresented, so we can get back to the good vibes again . Congrats! 1 TC and VS with your favourite firms is incredible.

I can't directly answer this question, wanted to welcome you. If you sign the VS offer, I guess you can always retract it if you need to (I assume that you are not legally bound to the VS). So personally I think if you sign it, you can always retract it after you get the TC offer if the TC terms & conditions don't allow for it. It's worth noting that, whilst many firms may not include it in writing, they ask you to notify them if you accept a TC offer so they can focus on other candidates / give other candidates the opportunity (Not all firms do this). Good luck.

 

[LawAspirer]

Agreed.
Does anyone know when Direct TCs tend to open up? I'm still waiting on like 6 applications but trying to assume PFOs so I can only get pleasantly surprised.

 

[Bread]

The VS is in private client, which is definitely an area I would like to explore down the line

I understand, my point is that I don’t know how relevant a vacation scheme would be to your career once you qualify as a solicitor in something else. Probably not much? I’m not 100% sure though

Like, I can’t see a one/two-week internship from 2+ years prior carrying much weight if you wanted to explore the area. Particularly is you’re committed to signing a TC with a firm that does not do private client work

Anyone else have thoughts?

 

[Deleted member 41929]

thanks - would you say that you needed prior knowledge, or could work it out based on the info given?

Just practice issue spotting quickly and follow a good structure when writing and you’ve got this! Hoping for a simple M&A case study for your AC!

Oh and yes, If there has been law, they’ve provided explainers.

 

[Donuttime]

honestly feel so sad having to sift through over 4 pages of people arguing back and forth its so disheartening when the forum has never been like this in previous years didnt want to add to the discourse but just felt compelled to say please lets stop taking out our anger on eachother thanks

 

[Legalfreak212]

Does anyone have a zip law subscription?? And if you do, is it useful? I only want to get it to prep for my ac but I don’t know if its worth it

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

the start of this is killing me

I think M&A is likely because it can also overlap with lots of things

 

[pomegranate]

Do you know how much time you have to contemplate the TC offer? Some firms allow you until the end of summer afaik - so if that's the case I would defo do the VS (as long as you haven't signed a TC I believe you're still able to do the VS - but since there's nothing against it in the contracts... I mean better safe than sorry maybe?) and then you can sign the TC offer once the VS is over for example.

On a side note: so happy for you! that is a great position to be in, and I'm sure you'll be an amazing trainee!!

If the TC firm doesn't give you a lot of time to decide, maybe see if they're open to being a bit flexible? If not then, if you're definitely going to sign, it might just be wise to sign and clarify with the VS firm (I personally wouldn't want to risk it by doing a VS while holding a TC, especially given how strict firms seem to be!)

Thank you so much!

Could I just clarify what you mean by the last line with how strict firms seem to be - what issue could arise with doing the VS whilst having a TC offer?

I will almost certainly be doing my TC at the firm that has offered me a TC, but ultimately would love also to gain experience in my second choice firm which I would be interested in exploring post qualification.


*Just to add onto this also for the forum in general - I'm very happy to help with info about a range of private client firm application processes! I know full well how difficult this process is

 

[TheSlapDotCom]

What was really the point of this response? It sometimes feels like you’re being contrarian for the sake of it.

When someone says they’re feeling anxious about an AC, the response becomes “think about people who don’t have ACs” or who’ve been PFO’d. When someone makes a genuine mistake or misreads something, the response shifts to comments like “reading is important” or asking why they didn’t see your point or someone else's.

You might see these comments as genuine advice, but there’s often an underlying negativity in how they’re framed.

It just feels like there’s always something critical to add with you, even when people aren’t saying anything ill-intentioned. At some point that pattern becomes exhausting.

this was not the point. the point was to be sensitive to what other people are going through and to read the room. it’s like if i were to walk into a room of people in full body casts and then start complaining about how my broken hand hurts. no one’s denying that a broken hand probably hurts but it also doesn’t seem quite appropriate or ”sensitive” to say that in a room full of people who happen to be worse off.

let’s js be emotionally mature about this guys !!

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Agreed.
Does anyone know when Direct TCs tend to open up? I'm still waiting on like 6 applications but trying to assume PFOs so I can only get pleasantly surprised.

I'm worried about doing DTCs as I have never had a VS and I don't have much work experience

 

[radssss]

Gang just did the assessment for mishcon, is the below (28/36) + high numerical and verbal good for the mishcon amberjack? I usually love amberjacks hahaha. Hopefully they back to us soon for summer vs!

 

[hawkins19]

Just practice issue spotting quickly and follow a good structure when writing and you’ve got this! Hoping for a simple M&A case study for your AC!

Oh and yes, If there has been law, they’ve provided explainers.

fantastic thank you so much!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Does anyone have a zip law subscription?? And if you do, is it useful? I only want to get it to prep for my ac but I don’t know if its worth it

I do, just be weary that they don't have AC info for every firm, their commercial awareness stories are quite good but there's not a lot imo when you narrow them down by sectors/practice areas. You can message me if you want if you would like me to see if they have the info you're looking for!

 

[Deleted member 43292]

Thank you so much!

Could I just clarify what you mean by the last line with how strict firms seem to be - what issue could arise with doing the VS whilst having a TC offer?

I will almost certainly be doing my TC at the firm that has offered me a TC, but ultimately would love also to gain experience in my second choice firm which I would be interested in exploring post qualification.


*Just to add onto this also for the forum in general - I'm very happy to help with info about a range of private client firm application processes! I know full well how difficult this process is

Oh, I'm not too sure with regards to private client firms, but from my experience with commercial firms, it seems like they want to avoid people who have already accepted graduate roles elsewhere, especially on schemes which are meant for recruitment purposes. I hope that makes sense? But ultimately, I think clarifying with the firm is better, as because I don't know your exact situation, I cannot say for certain what the best way forward is! All the best!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

soz to interrupt the beef. Just wondering if people with AC experience can tell me the likelihood of receiving a case study that isn't M&A related? That is all I have really prepared and I'm worried

I got one where they were looking to expanding to a new country and the recommendations you would give
But mostly it's been somewhat related to M&A
Good luck!

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Guys. I really don't think the back and forth is conducive to a productive environment. I really enjoy coming here and (personally) as someone who hasn't progressed very much, I don't mind seeing others talk about their success. Because I don't talk with anyone about how stressed I am all the time and how much anxiety I am getting with all the waiting and PFOs but you guys, I hope when I have a success you will all celebrate with me. I know you will! This is a stressful time and the last thing we need is to turn on each other. Sorry for rambling

 

[Novaa]

soz to interrupt the beef. Just wondering if people with AC experience can tell me the likelihood of receiving a case study that isn't M&A related? That is all I have really prepared and I'm worried

I’ve been going through my archives to see if I have anything on the case study I did with Freshfields.

I found some rough notes, and mine was an ESG case study about a listed company trying to transition to being more sustainable, by investing in green projects and dealing with the impact that had on its share price.

Disclaimer: Please, when I say archives, I mean ARCHIVES… I don’t remember that AC.