TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

anyone else just been ghosted by ashurst 😓 like cmon i wanna know if i can book my overtime

(edit: iirc the email said we would hear back by 27/02... the dreaded pfo day is getting closer...)

They'll wait until the 27th to give us a PFO
Last year, I got a pfo three months after I applied 😂😂

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Hi! Would anyone like to exchange insights about the Cleary Gottlieb AC or Jones Day AC? I'm happy to help with Dechert (WE, AC, VS), Weil VI, Freshfields Stage 2, Hogan Lovells Stage 2, Mayer Brown VI, as well as insights from Weil Open Day, King and Spalding Open Day, Hogan Lovells Open Day, Skadden Open Day etc.

Looks like we have another ellewoods on the forum now. This is @elle woods and @ellewoods26 after seeing they have the same usernames:

 

[aliiiisonxooox]

Maybe this is not the best place to ask but I’m still quite new to everything on here.
If you got a vac scheme with a huge international firm known everywhere with 40+ offices across the world and let’s say you were successful and got a TC for 2027 or 2028. ( literally me manifesting rn lmfao)

Or you had offered straight away a TC to start 2026 with a independent law firm ( let’s say 100 people) that has just one office domestic work but also advises a lot of international companies within that area. You’re happy with the sectors and the salary.

What would you pick?

Would you wait. But if you said no to the independent law firm maybe then there’s the risk of not being successful at the vac scheme for the other firm so you’d chase 2 rabbits but get none…….

 

[Hopeful applicant]

yes but I don't think they send the WG in batches.... 😭

it will forever be a mystery to me why firms do not reject applicants when they know they will not accept them

 

[sqe4676]

If anyone has done CPS's training contract VI could you please drop me a message lovelies xx

 

[8law]

does anyone have tips for mills and reeve AC ?

 

[hxnnahrobinson]

IM AC tomorrow, pretty much all hires on my stream at my location have been previous paralegals at the company. So not feeling ideal, but will give it a go regardless.

 

[8law]

IM AC tomorrow, pretty much all hires on my stream at my location have been previous paralegals at the company. So not feeling ideal, but will give it a go regardless.

give it a go, don't let that affect your mindset going into the AC. If IM didn't think you were capable enough for the TC they wouldn't have given you the AC, good luck!

 

[Hopeful applicant]

Maybe this is not the best place to ask but I’m still quite new to everything on here.
If you got a vac scheme with a huge international firm known everywhere with 40+ offices across the world and let’s say you were successful and got a TC for 2027 or 2028. ( literally me manifesting rn lmfao)

Or you had offered straight away a TC to start 2026 with a independent law firm ( let’s say 100 people) that has just one office domestic work but also advises a lot of international companies within that area. You’re happy with the sectors and the salary.

What would you pick?

Would you wait. But if you said no to the independent law firm maybe then there’s the risk of not being successful at the vac scheme for the other firm so you’d chase 2 rabbits but get none…….

3 variables that would probably inform the decision:
- Can you afford to not have a job for a year (not just financially)
- What is the chance of converting (for some firms the VS is almost just a formality, while others have conversion rates of 1/4 or 1/5)
- How much do you value one firm over the other? It is not that easy to go up in terms of the calibre of the firm, however, if you are satisfied with the sectors/salary, perhaps the best is the enemy of the good.

As a side note, are you confident that you have to sign the TC firm right now? If so, it also will not hurt to contact the ohter firm and tell them about the pressure - you never know - maybe if the VS was a formality anyways, they may be willing to make an exception for you (especially if they run direct-tc applications)

 

[TortillaTC]

Curious what people will think of this WG question, I don't understand why the answer is Strong Argument here. The initial statement simply mentions having a "uniform dress code" - the argument at hand implies that a uniform dress code cannot be relaxed and comfortable for a dress policy, which is why I picked Weak Argument first: it'd be weak argumentation to assume that a uniform dress policy is immediately unrelaxed and uncomfortable, it is just uniform aka similar among all workers. Or "relaxed" in this context means leaving it up to the individual instead of enforcing a uniform rule?

 

[AryanAgg]

View attachment 7948 Curious what people will think of this WG question, I don't understand why the answer is Strong Argument here. The initial statement simply mentions having a "uniform dress code" - the argument at hand implies that a uniform dress code cannot be relaxed and comfortable for a dress policy, which is why I picked Weak Argument first: it'd be weak argumentation to assume that a uniform dress policy is immediately unrelaxed and uncomfortable, it is just uniform aka similar among all workers. Or "relaxed" in this context means leaving it up to the individual instead of enforcing a uniform rule?

Think the trick here is to consider the argument as true and then take productivity as the main deciding factor for this.

 

[elle woods]

View attachment 7948 Curious what people will think of this WG question, I don't understand why the answer is Strong Argument here. The initial statement simply mentions having a "uniform dress code" - the argument at hand implies that a uniform dress code cannot be relaxed and comfortable for a dress policy, which is why I picked Weak Argument first: it'd be weak argumentation to assume that a uniform dress policy is immediately unrelaxed and uncomfortable, it is just uniform aka similar among all workers. Or "relaxed" in this context means leaving it up to the individual instead of enforcing a uniform rule?

I think you're reading too much into it. Assume the argument is true. Then think, is the argument important and relevant?
--> Yes, because it talks about dress code and it talks about it being beneficial to the business (promotes productivity).

 

[Applicant7874652]

Guys out of curiosity - how long post-AC means you’re cooked? Latest I ever got an offer was 8 working days after an AC

 

[TortillaTC]

I think you're reading too much into it. Assume the argument is true. Then think, is the argument important and relevant?
--> Yes, because it talks about dress code and it talks about it being beneficial to the business (promotes productivity).

You must be right, thanks!

 

[theintellectualpropertygirl]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but... for HL Launch Pad I applied 2 weeks ago and no assessment link yet. The website made it seem link the link for the critical thinking test was automatic ('If you pass the critical reasoning test, we will review your application') but maybe they send out all test links after the deadline or something... Does anyone know/has anyone received a link? Should I email grad rec?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

hey @Abbie Whitlock i hope you are well!

What is the best way to answer what news have you been following recently? I have a timeline of major breakthroughs that occurred, which multiple different news outlets have covered. But I am unsure of what questions I could be asked, and how long and how detailed I need to understand it.

Thank you so much !!

Hey!

I'm doing well, thank you - hope you are too!

For these types of questions, they want to see how you think about news stories commercially, rather than testing your technical knowledge on the subject.

The way that I would approach it is:

• Pick 1 main story that you have genuinely followed and are interested in (it might help if it is a story that would have an impact on the firm you are applying for)
• Briefly explain what has happened in order to provide context (this should be high-level and just enough to make sure that the assessor / interviewer understands the situation)
• Focus most on why it matters: who it affects, the commercial and legal implications, how it might impact the firm and its clients, and what might happen next (e.g. consequences and responses).

You don't need to know every detail or predict what will happen exactly - just show that you can follow current events and have an understanding of the impact that they can have. I would be ready for follow-ups like "why is this relevant to our clients" or "what risks / opportunities does this create" if you don't address these in your initial answer.

I hope that assists!

 

[LegallyBrunette_]

I've been invited to complete the Squire Patton Boggs VI for the London office and would really appreciate any insight that anybody may be able to share. I am happy to provide insights into the CRS VI, Jones Day AC and VS, Macfarlanes AC and HSF Kramer AC amongst others. Please pm me if this is something you can help out with.

 

[johnsmith]

Maybe this is not the best place to ask but I’m still quite new to everything on here.
If you got a vac scheme with a huge international firm known everywhere with 40+ offices across the world and let’s say you were successful and got a TC for 2027 or 2028. ( literally me manifesting rn lmfao)

Or you had offered straight away a TC to start 2026 with a independent law firm ( let’s say 100 people) that has just one office domestic work but also advises a lot of international companies within that area. You’re happy with the sectors and the salary.

What would you pick?

Would you wait. But if you said no to the independent law firm maybe then there’s the risk of not being successful at the vac scheme for the other firm so you’d chase 2 rabbits but get none…….

Is this scenario have you done the sqe already? If not the you’d either be waiting until 2027 already or doing it at the same time as working. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[Hopeful applicant]

View attachment 7948 Curious what people will think of this WG question, I don't understand why the answer is Strong Argument here. The initial statement simply mentions having a "uniform dress code" - the argument at hand implies that a uniform dress code cannot be relaxed and comfortable for a dress policy, which is why I picked Weak Argument first: it'd be weak argumentation to assume that a uniform dress policy is immediately unrelaxed and uncomfortable, it is just uniform aka similar among all workers. Or "relaxed" in this context means leaving it up to the individual instead of enforcing a uniform rule?

I actually agree that in principle even if you assume the argument to be true, you need to determine whether it is relevant. If it was just "comfortable" dress policy I think you would have a point (whether this point would be recognised by the creators of the test is a different issue--personally I doubt whether several creators in all their wisdom would solve each other's tests flawlessly, but thats a topic for a different rant)

That being said, here they talk about a "relaxed dress policy", which seemingly refers to a non-strict policy rather than "mandatory-relaxed-clothes policy". I do agree that this is awkward phrasing, and is by no means obvious, but that is the unfortunate reality of the test (luckily some tests given by law firms tend to be of higher quality).


Edit: a somewhat useful rule of thumb with watson glaser (especially if you belong to a group of people who tends to put the questions under heightened semantic scrutiny) is that the test is trying to trick you a bit less than you may think

 

[SubpoenaColada]

For those that passed the WBD test (firstly, congratulations!!) could you tell us your two strengths & one development area?