TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[I_hate_pickingusernames]

Hi, If you don’t mind me asking, when did you submit your WE?

And all the best for your interview

Thank you! It was the Thursday of the deadline last week

 

[justagirl23]

A rejection by call is a torture tbh! heads up you will do great!

it was genuinely the worst, even the lady didn’t know how to deliver the news, she kept pausing and saying erm, then i just burst into tears lol and said i’ll take a call later not now

 

[Jaysen]

Hey everyone,

I'm really happy to see so many successes this week. I’m really proud of all of you!

I also appreciate how disheartening it must be if that isn't you and you've heard back from most of the law firms you applied to. If that's you, I'm hoping what I’m working on will help next year be *the one*. I'll be using the announcements forum to keep you all updated on what is changing to TCLA.

Private Messages

I also wanted to share a caution. A couple of situations have happened recently through private messages, including:

• A user pretending to have completed an AC to another user in order to get information about that AC
• A user pretending (as far as we can tell) to have reached a stage in order to trade experiences

With this in mind, please be careful when responding to private messages. So many of you are so helpful to one another, but it saddens me that not everyone comes in with the best intentions, and it’s perfectly okay not to respond to someone with information if you don’t want to.

As always, please use the report button if a situation occurs that makes you feel uncomfortable, and the moderation team will respond as fast as possible.

Thank you!

 

[Tintín]

I had deadline of 19 Feb (did WE on 16 Feb) and haven’t heard anything.

Same. Deadline on the 19, no PFO or information yet

 

[WeGotThis!]

Has anyone heard from Sidley or Stevens & Bolton recently?

Nothing from S&B

 

[abc123333]

Has anyone heard from Paul Hastings First Steps scheme post interview?

 

[trainee4u]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

 

[SueD]

Same. Deadline on the 19, no PFO or information yet

Ahhh! That is good to hear (but feel bad for you too) - I thought I was the only one! Fingers crossed our batch haven’t had consideration yet..

 

[justagirl23]

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

Sorry you also experienced this. Honestly the worst feeling. Especially when it feels like you are so close. Calling to give a PFO then feedback is not an appropriate approach at all, like you said an email with the PFO first would have been better.

That said, think my journey with law is over. This cycle was my last hope and don’t think I have the time or energy in me anymore lol.

 

[lp770]

Has anyone heard from Paul Hastings First Steps scheme post interview?

i was told we might not hear back until march!

 

[Prudentia]

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

Completely agree with this.

I interviewed for a promotion in my current role last Friday and I was told I wouldn’t be progressing to the next stage via a Teams call yesterday. I appreciated the call from the hiring manager, but I would have much preferred to have such news via email so I could digest it in my own time. Bad news = email. Good news = phone call.

 

[Saul_specter]

Anyone know how long travers tend to take post interview?

 

[Prudentia]

Sorry you also experienced this. Honestly the worst feeling. Especially when it feels like you are so close. Calling to give a PFO then feedback is not an appropriate approach at all, like you said an email with the PFO first would have been better.

That said, think my journey with law is over. This cycle was my last hope and don’t think I have the time or energy in me anymore lol.

How many cycles have you done? Don’t give up if it’s something you really want! It’s really hard to get into law, so try not to be too disheartened if this cycle didn’t work out. Every no brings you closer to the eventual ‘yes’.

 

[lp770]

Final ACs are this week for VS im pretty sure.

yeah which is why I'm confused i haven't received a pfo yet as it's too late for an AC

 

[justagirl23]

How many cycles have you done? Don’t give up if it’s something you really want! It’s really hard to get into law, so try not to be too disheartened if this cycle didn’t work out. Every no brings you closer to the eventual ‘yes’.

I graduated in 2024 I have been applying since I was in 2nd year uni so it’s been a few cycles and it is something I really want but it’s starting to weigh a lot on me mentally, especially this time round. I don’t think another try will be good for me but thank you for your kind words!

 

[lawstudent2]

Sorry you also experienced this. Honestly the worst feeling. Especially when it feels like you are so close. Calling to give a PFO then feedback is not an appropriate approach at all, like you said an email with the PFO first would have been better.

That said, think my journey with law is over. This cycle was my last hope and don’t think I have the time or energy in me anymore lol.

I am in a similar position and it is hard to know what to do

I have done 35/40ish applications and 5 ACs across the last two cycles but I just cannot seem to progress past AC

The UK is just so expensive rn as well and considering how much more competitive each cycle is getting it is hard to know if another cycle will acc produce positive results, despite how much I want this career path

 

[Prudentia]

I graduated in 2024 I have been applying since I was in 2nd year uni so it’s been a few cycles and it is something I really want but it’s starting to weigh a lot on me mentally, especially this time round. I don’t think another try will be good for me but thank you for your kind words!

You’re so early in your career! It’s completely normal for it to take some time to get your dream job/role. Social media/LinkedIn will have you believe that you should have a TC secured before you’re even born, but that’s not the reality for so many people. But it’s also completely understandable if you’re feeling burnt out after several cycles in a row.

 

[hanz123]

I graduated in 2024 I have been applying since I was in 2nd year uni so it’s been a few cycles and it is something I really want but it’s starting to weigh a lot on me mentally, especially this time round. I don’t think another try will be good for me but thank you for your kind words!

same here, completely get you it’s my fourth cycle praying this is our last!!

 

[elle.brokovitch]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

I don’t think it’s rude at all, 100% ask! I think they will understand that it is an upsetting and difficult moment, especially to have through the phone

 

[TCLAuser2002]

MY VS cycle has come to an end. Unfortunately, not the result we wanted after that last assumed PFO post-AC from Norton Rose Fulbright, since all offers are now out. PFO number 60-something — lost the count. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO NOTHING HERE. (Credits my G @Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner for copyrights.)