TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TA04]

Simmons PFO for London VS. Email stated they are at capacity for the scheme. Not sure why it wasn't sent with the batch earlier in the month.

same here lol, were we good enough?

 

[Bread]

Quick Q

I got post AC feedback where I was told that both the interviews went very well, but that one area to improve was making my answers less heavy and reducing use of buzzwords.

Kind of confused as to what that means exactly? The specific comments were that my answers came across slightly over rehearsed.

They probably want to see a genuine interest in law/the firm, which can be undermined if you kind of sound like you’re reading off their website.

If, like me, you rely a lot on practice, maybe you could try practicing your delivery to a friend so that you’re more comfortable and come across as less rigid

 

[ABC234]

Orrick pfo

 

[nonlawstudent98]

same here lol, were we good enough?

"Regrettably, we cannot transfer your application to another scheme." - Not sure if this means that they would if there was another scheme they could transfer us to, or they are opening another scheme but we didn't make the cut?

 

[Applicant7874652]

They probably want to see a genuine interest in law/the firm, which can be undermined if you kind of sound like you’re reading off their website.

If, like me, you rely a lot on practice, maybe you could try practicing your delivery to a friend so that you’re more comfortable and come across as less rigid

This is the thing - the feedback said I was personable, motivated, very enthusiastic and my reasons for the firm were very thoughtful (what they told me on the phone). So it wasn’t like I came across as if I was reading the website

 

[PFO Final Boss]

Simmons PFO for summer vac scheme at least we got a response

 

[AryanAgg]

This is the thing - the feedback said I was personable, motivated, very enthusiastic and my reasons for the firm were very thoughtful (what they told me on the phone). So it wasn’t like I came across as if I was reading the website

Seems like they thought the answers were rehearsed, which is what I think they mean by usage of buzzwords.

 

[Applicant7874652]

Seems like they thought the answers were rehearsed, which is what I think they mean by usage of buzzwords.

Yes I agree - anyone have ideas as to how to avoid that?

 

[Jennifer2003]

"Regrettably, we cannot transfer your application to another scheme." - Not sure if this means that they would if there was another scheme they could transfer us to, or they are opening another scheme but we didn't make the cut?

When did you do the blended assessment? I did it October 29th so I feel like they've just forgotten to send me a PFO and have come back with this lmao

 

[ellischloe]

same!

I am hoping we hear back this week though! The AC is in March

 

[ddalki]

Has anyone heard back from NRF post-AC?

 

[nonlawstudent98]

When did you do the blended assessment? I did it October 29th so I feel like they've just forgotten to send me a PFO and have come back with this lmao

Completed mine on 20th November

 

[8law]

has anyone heard from
dacb regional

 

[Wanda Maximoff]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu How would you recommend going about preparing for a group negotiation exercise (especially for introverted people)?

 

[Hopeful applicant]

This is the thing - the feedback said I was personable, motivated, very enthusiastic and my reasons for the firm were very thoughtful (what they told me on the phone). So it wasn’t like I came across as if I was reading the website

the "buzz words" comment and "over-rehearsed" point more at the form of the answers than their content

probably means that you sound like you have written down the answers to the questions before word-for-word - including all the buzz-words, that normally people do not really include in speech. While structure, flow, and comand of technical terms/buzz words is important, if it is "too perfect" it sounds unnatural.

This is a problem for four main reasons:
- may seem not genuine - everyone is able to memorise a couple of lines and buzz words, which helps if you do not actually mean it
- does not show real communication skills that lawyers need - rarely do you find a situation where you can rehearse exactly what you are going to say
- its is overall unnatural, which "feels wrong" - in the same way as if you were reciting birthday wishes using plenty sophisticated words that you never actually use

The goal should probably be to show that you have thought about what you were going to say, not exactly how you were going to say it (beyond maybe some structure).

To improve I would do exactly that - plan with bullet points, not paragraphs.

 

[user1401]

Has anyone heard back from NRF post-AC?

Nope they said they will get back end of feb so im guessing either this week or next week

 

[ttso]

Anyone else still waiting to hear back from Links? I did my WG on 17 September. I know they received it as I emailed to ask for my score in the WG test, and they responded a day later.

Worth emailing them?

 

[aria_d]

Has anyone heard back from NRF post-AC?

I saw someone just get a call with an offer (tcla GC)

 

[TCLAuser2002]

I saw someone just get a call with an offer (tcla GC)

where? what's TCLA GC

 

[aria_d]

Anyone else still waiting to hear back from Links? I did my WG on 17 September. I know they received it as I emailed to ask for my score in the WG test, and they responded a day later.

Worth emailing them?

I did the WG albeit on the 4th of December but it's just been complete silence ever since. I did email them for my score and everything so I'm pretty sure that didn't go anywhere but I'm assuming if we haven't received a PFO yet it's because we're on a hold list in case people invited to AC are not up to mark or some don't accept the VS. It just sucks cuz I personally know people who've gotten the VS and I'm just sitting here with my portal on hold 😭