TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

so cool! congrats!

i defo think you can use it - just maybe before or after your allocated work hours etc. I wouldn't recommend going during lunch etc because that's normally when they expect you to be doing coffee chats or engaging with other participants. But then again, if you're going before or after work, it might just be easier and more convenient to use an external gym!

also I really need to get glasses or smth cos I read that as "Ive been offered a scheme at an in-house gym". I was about to congratulate you on that achievement before I realised something was wrong

When you want to use the gym at 8am but your job as an in-house lawyer starts at 9am:​

 

[llblawstudent]

the way freshfields still haven't rejected me post stage 2 for the vac which i did in NOVEMBER (early too might i add)

SAME! There ain’t no way we could still be in with a shot right? Surely the ACs are over

 

[sparkleunicorn]

SAME! There ain’t no way we could still be in with a shot right? Surely the ACs are over

no because i had deluded myself to think i was on some special waiting list (it might be safe to embrace to the pfo so many people have had offers lol) - im proud of us though hahaha

 

[Novaa]

The equal opportunities page is always my favourite to read back, like grad recruitment I promise I’m not trolling you and I’m being so for real right now

 

[Chak]

Who so many firms have a deadline today

 

[aria_d]

Guys this is a really weird question but should I read into it if the partner who was interviewing me said I should hear back from grad rec soon and they wouldn't keep me waiting too long?

 

[LaDiva]

just did the WBD test and 2 particular questions my finger just jumped and I picked the complete wrong one, oops. I’ve probably helped some people out here hahah

I'm not sure how they'll go about selecting candidates after the test, some questions were so obvious, perhaps they'll give more weight to the candidates' profiles? they didn't even have application questions

 

[llblawstudent]

no because i had deluded myself to think i was on some special waiting list (it might be safe to embrace to the pfo so many people have had offers lol) - im proud of us though hahaha

You might be onto something with the waiting list I mean I know a lot of post stage 2 pfos so surely our app hasn’t just been lost in the mail or something lol. I wonder if they are in fact holding anymore ACs

 

[Novaa]

Just a heads up for those doing last minute applications, Vantage is being very slow rn… and I feel like it’s going to try pull a midnight stunt

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

I'm not sure how they'll go about selecting candidates after the test, some questions were so obvious, perhaps they'll give more weight to the candidates' profiles? they didn't even have application questions

There was also one or two sneaky questions (I won't discuss until everybody has done the test) where the 'obvious' answer wasn't the one I'd consider "correct"

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Just a heads up for those doing last minute applications, Vantage is being very slow rn… and I feel like it’s going to try pull a midnight stunt

This is gna be vantage between 11pm and 12am:

This will be our reaction:

 

[lawyersum]

I had an AC this week and am having a really hard time figuring out if it went okay or not. I know I should just put it out of mind for now because there’s nothing more I can do but does anyone have any thoughts on how I could approach gauging whether it went well and how to stop overthinking it?

I recently heard someone say this: 'If it's meant for you, it won't pass you by' - So if that firm is your future - there's nothing that you could've said or done that would've jeopardised that - Even if you didn't perform at your best, the firm still won't reject you because it was meant for you, so all their assessment criteria/marking criteria or the quality of the other candidates, lined up in YOUR favour, even if it wasn't your best performance.

I hope I'm making sense, but this has been a nice way of not overthinking for me! I hope it helps

 

[Novaa]

This is gna be vantage between 11pm and 12am:

This will be our reaction:

Meanwhile, a Recruitment assistant somewhere in the UK when they hear their work phone buzzing @ 12:01am with hundreds of emails with “Vantage” in the subject line:

 

[t2so]

I recently heard someone say this: 'If it's meant for you, it won't pass you by' - So if that firm is your future - there's nothing that you could've said or done that would've jeopardised that - Even if you didn't perform at your best, the firm still won't reject you because it was meant for you, so all their assessment criteria/marking criteria or the quality of the other candidates, lined up in YOUR favour, even if it wasn't your best performance.

I hope I'm making sense, but this has been a nice way of not overthinking for me! I hope it helps

Couldn't agree more.

I got rejected after an AC from an MC firm earlier this cycle and was absolutely kicking myself about it, particularly as the feedback was really positive.

Afterwards, I thought about what they said and thought about the firm itself and realised it simply was not a good fit for me as a character. It was also something I remember feeling when talking to GR, the partners, and the trainees.

 

[Bbhu19]

Just did a very last min app to cleary not much hope, but how soon did people get PfO or Watson glasser a?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether Debevoise or HSF or Gibson Dunn or King & Spalding or W&C are better in international arbitration and also public international law? Thanks! What might be the subtle differences between them in these areas?

Good question, I've researched which firms have strong international arbitration and public international law after being PFOd by half of VC focused firms. IMO, I will see firsthand where the firms have offices in these 5 critical cities for international affairs:

• Washington DC: US Federal Government / ITC investigations / World Bank / IMF

• Brussels: European Commission / Competition & Trade defense.

• Geneva: World Trade Organization (WTO) / WHO / WIPO / ILO / UNHCR, etc

• New York: United Nations Headquarter / UNDP / UNICEF, etc

• London: The Commonwealth Secretariat / Amnesty / Oxfam

Based on the firms you mentioned, only White & Case and King & Spalding are meet the necessary requirements, both firms really focus in trade and energy. What are the rest?

• King & Spalding: Oil, Gas & Construction.
• White & Case: The Defenders of Sovereign States & Mega Infrastructure Projects.
• Akin: The Bridge between Arbitration and Trade Policy.
• Sidley Austin: The Specialist in Life Sciences & WTO Trade.
• Baker McKenzie: The Leader in Post-M&A & Emerging Market Mining

Runner up (4 offices only, no Geneva):

• Orrick: Shut the office in 2025 and currently consolidating
• Winston & Strawn: Shut the office in 2016 and currently fly in and fly out lawyers.
• Clifford Chance: operate from Brussels office
• A&O Shearman: operate through best friend network.
• HSF Kramer: operate from Paris office
• Hogan Lovells, Covington, and Arnold & Porter: Headquartered in DC-London, hiring former politicians from downing street & white house as partners.

Indeed, this awareness is really important especially if you want direct exposure and potential secondment to the offices during your rotational seat in international arbitration and public international law.

I'd encourage not focus on raking like Chambers and 500 as it often reflects the regional insights of the office, not the whole company strategy both long and short term. For instance, Debevoise is known as a white shoe firm, PE heavy in the US, but in the UK is focusing on litigation.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

I recently heard someone say this: 'If it's meant for you, it won't pass you by' - So if that firm is your future - there's nothing that you could've said or done that would've jeopardised that - Even if you didn't perform at your best, the firm still won't reject you because it was meant for you, so all their assessment criteria/marking criteria or the quality of the other candidates, lined up in YOUR favour, even if it wasn't your best performance.

I hope I'm making sense, but this has been a nice way of not overthinking for me! I hope it helps

This!! There's been so many times where I felt like I did everything right and still didn't progress, and on reflection, it's clear it was just not meant for me. I really do feel like what is meant for you will not pass you by and the circumstances will align in your favour. Not to get philosophical but it's a healthy way to view things imo.

 

[Carrington Lane]

I miss the time when I was at school so much. I could go home crying to my parents that I didn't think I did well on the test one day, and get an A the next day. Now, if I feel like I slightly messed up a test or interview, then rest assured it will be a PFO.

The competition is so brutal right now that every mistake feels fatal.

 

[ray0121]

Anyone know what to expect for Gateley Simulate?

Hey did you do it? how did you find it

 

[ray0121]

Gateley Simulate invite, not sure what to expect but would appreciate any advice

Did you manage to do it? how was it, what did they ask?