TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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 7948Curious 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?

 

[lp770]

Heyy, does anyone have insights into paul hastings interview?? can't find much info anywhere!

 

[marshall]

View attachment 7948Curious 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 personally would think "uniform" and "relaxed" are naturally contradictory (as relaxed implies flexibility and what is comfortable for each individual).

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Hey guys, anyone completed NRF AC today! if so PM PLEASE

 

[TortillaTC]

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

Fair, I keep overthinking these questions cause I’m so scared I’ll get it wrong lmao. I guess need to practise a bit more

 

[aliiiisonxooox]

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?

Yes, I have done it already so that’s why I’m like I don’t know what to do. Now I pray I’m lucky enough to get both and actually have that luck to make such a big hard decision. We’ll find out in the following weeks! But yeah

 

[ridetolegal]

does anyone have any idea of how many trainees fieldfisher takes on and how many trainees they take on from their vac scheme?

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Have Links sent out all Summer AC invites?

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Oh no whats the deal with the Fieldfisher hate?

Sending holding emails to all candidates with poor attention to detail of CRM:
Subject: %Vacancy Title%
Dear %applicant name%

For over 2 months and all got PFOs

 

[Willgetatc]

Have Links sent out all Summer AC invites?

Starting to think so as they don’t do ACs past February

 

[aspiringtrainee1]

does anyone have any idea of how many trainees fieldfisher takes on and how many trainees they take on from their vac scheme?

i spoke to HR and they said it varies year on year depending on business need so no set number

 

[AryanAgg]

Starting to think so as they don’t do ACs past February

So they would be sending out AC invites for dtc soon?

 

[cooked5678]

Has anyone heard back about the Simmons and Simmons Bristol Summer Vac yet???

Yes, got AC invite a few days ago

 

[lawstudent2]

Has anyone received AC feedback from Weil yet? They told me that it would be this week and I have another AC at the start of next week that I want the feedback for, but I haven't heard anything. I don't know if I should chase it or not.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Has anyone who did Latham AC last week heard back?

 

[lawstudent2]

they didn't even reply to my email LMAO...what did they say in response to yours? Just that they'll send them out this week?

It's cos I chased them for it then haha
I wanted it last week for another AC but they said that they didn't have time and that they would get back in contact this week and I have heard nothing at all
Don't want to be too annoying but also I do want the feedback if possible

 

[Legalfreak212]

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

My two strengths were quality focus and resilience, and my top dev area was agility