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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Harbottle AC invite! Yay
Jumping Lets Go GIF by NCAA March Madness
Congrats! When did you do your interview may I ask?
 
Hii quick question for VS offer holders: how soon after signing the offer letter did you receive further communication/information/pre screening checks? Trying to figure out when its appropriate to follow up
Depends on when your vac scheme takes place, but I think much closer to the summer before the scheme started. So long as you had the official offer letter and signed it, you have nothing to worry about. I assure you that they haven't forgotten about you.
 
Does anyone have any advice? I submitted my Baker Mckenzie DTC app on 23rd February. I did receive a confirmation email saying that my application was received. However, I heard a few people had received an email explaining the dates for the process but I did not receive this. So, I checked my portal. On my Baker Mckenzie portal it says the app was submitted but on cvmail it still shows as being in progress and hasn't been submitted. I sent Bakers an email on 6th March and also a follow-up email but have not had any reply.
 
Hey Abbie! On this topic, could you please give some advice on what to ask during coffee chats etc (apart from why they did law, how their practice has changed, softer questions etc)? What are the impressive questions to ask as my feedback from my last vs was that my questions weren’t specific enough.
Hey!

I would say a good way to improve is to make your questions clearly about their individual journey and practice, rather than just the firm generally. For example, instead of asking why they chose the firm, you could ask what made them stay and whether that has changed as they have progressed through their career. If you know their practice area, you could ask about how recent developments are affecting their work specifically and what they are seeing from clients right now.

You can also dig a bit deeper into their career path, for example, why they chose that practice area, whether their expectations matched reality, or what skills they've found most important as they have become more senior. This feels much more personal and genuine than standard questions.

It can also help to reference something concrete about them if you can (e.g. a deal, secondment, or sector focus) and ask how that experience shaped their development or view of the firm. It shows that you have done your research, and have chosen to meet with this specific person for a coffee for a reason!

Overall, I'd say the aim is to make your questions feel like they could only be asked to that specific person, rather than anyone at the firm. I also think it's important to try not to script the coffee chat too much - I'd definitely have a think about what you want to learn in advance, but make sure that it feels like a natural conversation too!

Best of luck! :)
 
Back again to ask if anybody has heard from Sidley VS post app or FF DTC post VI recently. It’s been 75 and 76 days now respectively. If you’re still waiting can you react to this post with a ✅.

Angry Family Guy GIF
I honestly dont think we will hear back from FF until after the summer vac scheme. I think people's performance there will directly impact us here..

That said, have you seen anyone get offers recently at all?

We gonna beat the simmons record at this point.
 

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