TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

hi @Abbie Whitlock! not sure if you’ve addressed this before but what type of written exercise do you think we can expect during vac scheme?this was part of my AC as well and it was more advisory so not so sure what to expect during vs thanks so much!

Hey!

I would say that the written exercises don't tend to be too dissimilar from the written exercises that you would get at AC stage. In my experience, they are usually still quite commercially focused - for example, something such as acting for a PE firm and putting together a short report on which company to invest in from a range of options, based on the information you have been given. Usually, the way that you do well is by explaining your thought process and backing up the points that you make with the evidence provided - there isn't usually a right or wrong answer!

The main difference I found was the timing, and my VS written tasks were often slightly longer than AC ones - most of my AC exercises were around 30-45 minutes, whereas on a VS they were more like 1 to 1.5 hours. That extra time usually means that you are expected to go into slightly more depth or structure your answer a bit more clearly, rather than being a quick fire task under pressure.

Overall, if you are comfortable with AC-style written tasks, I'd say you'll be in a really good position going into the VS! Best of luck!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock , please can I ask for your help on a question for White and Case’s app process? It asks you to discuss a deal that they have advised on in last two years. I am going to choose an M&A deal, but do you think this needs to be one where they advised a buyer rather than a seller? I ask as one deal I am interested in is the latter rather than former.

Thank you

Hello!

I would say that it doesn't need to be a deal where they advised the buyer - choosing a seller-side deal should be absolutely fine. The question is really testing your understanding of the strategy and complexities of the deal, rather than which side White & Case was on.

If anything, a deal where they advised the seller can give you just as much (if not more) to analyse, such as:

• The seller's strategic rationale (e.g. raising capital, focusing on core business, etc.)
• Valuation and negotiation dynamics
• How risk was allocated between the parties
• Any regulatory or jurisdictional challenges.

As long as you can clearly explain the deal and show some commercial insight, the side that they acted on won't disadvantage you at all - so I would definitely go with the deal that you are most interested in!

I have also quoted below a previous post that @Andrei Radu has made on this question, which is a useful reference point! Best of luck with your application!

Hi @berocca567 my advice would be to read about several deals the firm advised on while looking proactively for mentions of the elements the question asks about. Afterwards, I would divide my answer in separate parts to ensure I have a clear structure and that my points are easy to understand:

Paragraph 1: Introduction and strategic considerations:

I would discuss the rationale for the transaction - why did the buyer (assuming this is an M&A deal) look to acquire the target company? Was it to increase general market share, to achieve synergies, to scale, to grow in particular new geographies, to expand in new sectors/sub-sectors, to acquire specialist expertise, or perhaps sought after IP, improve band reputation, or maybe to enter into a regulated market easily and without requiring approvals? Likely the rationale included a number of these considerations, which gives you some space for discretion in your analysis. Here, you can also mention any strategic risks the company was taking, such no regulatory approval of the transaction, or problems integration and talent retentions.

Other paragraphs: Complexities + what the firm did to address them

Complexities: here, you need to look for aspects of the deal that would have likely made it more difficult to execute. Perhaps the transaction was highly leveraged, or involving a distressed target which required restructuring, or involved liasing with multiple institutional shareholders with different goals that had to agree to the sale. Or maybe it involved a consortium of investors that entered the transaction, with W&C only advising one or the group - which would add to complexities of negotiations between the investors; maybe it involved a competitive bidding process with lots of turnarounds in terms of what the leading offer was, which meant W&C had to consistently analyse what terms other bidders were offering. Perhaps it involved a target company which was in a highly regulated sector, or which had ongoing reputational/legal issues, or which had internal governance difficulties with tensions between executives and shareholders? Or maybe the target just had many businesses across a variety of countries in different economic sectors, which made a huge tasks getting regulatory approvals everywhere and ensuring every part of the business is properly scrutinised to mange risk.

These are just some of the many types of complexities involved in an M&A transaction: to identify them, the key is to constantly ask yourself what could be an issue or pose a risk when researching the deal.

How the firm addressed them: In terms of structure, after the introductory paragraph, I would write 2-3 following paragraphs which would each discuss one type of complexity and also how the firm can address it. In looking at that, I would describe both:

• How complexities of that nature are generally dealt with and by what teams in the firm - i.e. an ongoing legal proceeding against the target would be addressed via an indemnity clause in the SPA, which the corporate team would draft with some limited input from the disputes practice; and
• How complexities of that nature can be best addressed by White & Case in particular: here, you can look at particular strengths W&C has in delivering a good client outcome - i.e. if it has many international offices it is well positioned to deal with cross border deals touching on many jurisdictions, if it has good regulatory teams it is well positioned to deal with complexities having to do with regulatory approvals etc.). I would perhaps also look to see who are the particular practitioners working on the deal and mention them in the answer (while perhaps also making mention of their relevant past expertise and market recognition).

Pro tip: To make very easy for the recruiter who reviews your application to understand that you have addressed each part of their question, beyond this useful structure try to use their specified terms ("strategic considerations" and "complexities") often.

 

[co1004co]

congratulations !!!

Thank you so much!

 

[PinkZebra67]

by what date would they get back? they mentioned it in the TI but i dont remeber

Think it depends which AC they will put you on - for the ones on the 9th they said beginning of this week but nothing yet

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Is anyone else feeling really scared about their vac scheme? I have one in a few days and I’ve been feeling so scared. It’s not the kind of fear I’ve been able to work through it just feels kind of crippling

Hi!

This is completely normal, and I felt exactly the same before my first vacation scheme. I remember in the days leading up to it I felt properly sick with nerves, and it wasn't the kind of anxiety that you can logic your way out of (as my nervous system seemed to be ignoring my brain!). I think it is because it does feel like there is a lot riding on that one or two weeks, so the pressure can build up quite a bit beforehand.

However, what helped me with my later schemes is that I realised it changes once you are actually there on the scheme. As soon as you get into the firm, start chatting with the graduate recruitment team and other vacation schemers, and get to know your team, the nerves do start to ease quite quickly. You are usually so busy with inductions, talks, work tasks, and social events so you don't have much time to sit and overthink everything. Everyone at the firm is super supportive and genuinely wants you to succeed, so it is definitely more encouraging once you are there!

It is also worth remembering that firms do not expect you to come in knowing everything or be "perfect". The scheme is designed for you to learn and get exposure, and they are much more interested in how you approach things. For example, are you engaged with the tasks and people on the scheme? Do you show curiosity and ask questions? Are you proactive and pleasant to work with? Those things matter far more than getting every task exactly right.

It also helped me to reframe it slightly, and instead of seeing it purely as an assessment, try to treat it as an opportunity to figure out whether you like the firm as well. That shift in mindset can take a bit of the pressure off and make it feel more like a two-way process. I think it is very easy to spiral about things such as conversion rates and whether you'll receive a TC offer at the end, which is completely valid, but even if it doesn't work out the way you'd like it to, it is still amazing experience. You are clearly a strong candidate if you are capable of receiving a VS offer, so there is no reason why you wouldn't have more success in the future too!

Practically, a few other things that helped me feel 'prepared' when it felt like I couldn't do much in advance:

• Having a rough understanding of the firm and (if you know it in advance) the team you'll be in. However, don't panic about trying to know absolutely everything about the team - aim for a baseline understanding, and you'll learn the rest on the scheme.
• Preparing a few questions in advance so that you are not put on the spot
• Reminding yourself that everyone else on the scheme is probably feeling very similar, even if they don't show it.

The anticipation is honestly the worst part - once you are in it, it feels so much more manageable than you expect (and I genuinely enjoyed all of my vacation schemes!).

You are definitely not alone in feeling like this, and the fact that you care this much is a good sign (as it shows you'll do your best!). The nerves will settle once you get started, so I would try to take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself over the next few days.

Wishing you the very best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone and @Abbie Whitlock!

I was wondering if anyone has any tips for a final TC interview at the end of a vac scheme in a US firm?

Thanks!

Hello!

Congratulations on the VS!!

I wrote a post on any advice I had for final TC / post-VS interviews last night on the TCLA Spring & Summer Vacation Scheme Thread 2026 - I have quoted it below. I hope that it assists, but just shout if you have any follow up questions. Best of luck with the vacation scheme and interview!!

Hey!

Congratulations on the vacation scheme!!

Generally speaking, I'd say that the format is quite similar to a normal interview - you'll usually get a mix of motivational, competency, and some commercial questions. The main difference is that the bar is higher at this stage, particularly when it comes to your motivations.

You really want to show that you have used the scheme to properly get to know the firm and that you made the most of the opportunity. That means going beyond the more research-heavy reasons you may have given at application stage and instead grounding your answers in tangible experiences and insights from the scheme. For example, you can draw on specific pieces of work that you were involved in, conversations you had with trainees / associates / partners, talks or workshops that you attended, or even smaller conversations that gave you insights into the firm's culture and ways of working. Whilst you can still talk about aspects of the firm that you have researched and not necessarily experienced first-hand, I would always recommend referring to specific instances from the VS where you can - ultimately, the main difference between the pre-VS and post-VS interview is the experience of the scheme itself!

For motivational questions especially, it is important to clearly link these experiences back to why the firm appeals to you. Therefore, rather than just saying that you enjoyed the scheme, I'd try to articulate what you enjoyed, why it stood out to you, and how that aligns with what you are looking for in a training contract and your longer-term legal career. The more specific and reflective you can be, the better! This is why I'd recommend keeping a journal (of some sort!) during the scheme, so you can note down specific insights or information that you learn each day - it makes it a lot easier once it comes to preparing in the days before the post-VS interview!

For competency questions, you can still drawn on examples outside the scheme, but don't be afraid to use experiences from the vacation scheme where relevant - it can be a good way of showing how you operate in a legal environment. Again, this is something you could jot down in a journal so that you can quickly refer to skills and competencies that you have displayed during the scheme.

Overall, it is about demonstrating that the scheme has confirmed the firm is the right fit for you, while also reinforcing that you would be a good fit for them. Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!!

 

[Deleted member 43736]

Hi!

This is completely normal, and I felt exactly the same before my first vacation scheme. I remember in the days leading up to it I felt properly sick with nerves, and it wasn't the kind of anxiety that you can logic your way out of (as my nervous system seemed to be ignoring my brain!). I think it is because it does feel like there is a lot riding on that one or two weeks, so the pressure can build up quite a bit beforehand.

However, what helped me with my later schemes is that I realised it changes once you are actually there on the scheme. As soon as you get into the firm, start chatting with the graduate recruitment team and other vacation schemers, and get to know your team, the nerves do start to ease quite quickly. You are usually so busy with inductions, talks, work tasks, and social events so you don't have much time to sit and overthink everything. Everyone at the firm is super supportive and genuinely wants you to succeed, so it is definitely more encouraging once you are there!

It is also worth remembering that firms do not expect you to come in knowing everything or be "perfect". The scheme is designed for you to learn and get exposure, and they are much more interested in how you approach things. For example, are you engaged with the tasks and people on the scheme? Do you show curiosity and ask questions? Are you proactive and pleasant to work with? Those things matter far more than getting every task exactly right.

It also helped me to reframe it slightly, and instead of seeing it purely as an assessment, try to treat it as an opportunity to figure out whether you like the firm as well. That shift in mindset can take a bit of the pressure off and make it feel more like a two-way process. I think it is very easy to spiral about things such as conversion rates and whether you'll receive a TC offer at the end, which is completely valid, but even if it doesn't work out the way you'd like it to, it is still amazing experience. You are clearly a strong candidate if you are capable of receiving a VS offer, so there is no reason why you wouldn't have more success in the future too!

Practically, a few other things that helped me feel 'prepared' when it felt like I couldn't do much in advance:

• Having a rough understanding of the firm and (if you know it in advance) the team you'll be in. However, don't panic about trying to know absolutely everything about the team - aim for a baseline understanding, and you'll learn the rest on the scheme.
• Preparing a few questions in advance so that you are not put on the spot
• Reminding yourself that everyone else on the scheme is probably feeling very similar, even if they don't show it.

The anticipation is honestly the worst part - once you are in it, it feels so much more manageable than you expect (and I genuinely enjoyed all of my vacation schemes!).

You are definitely not alone in feeling like this, and the fact that you care this much is a good sign (as it shows you'll do your best!). The nerves will settle once you get started, so I would try to take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself over the next few days.

Wishing you the very best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!

Thank you so much Abbie this means a lot!!

 

[SM2001]

anyone heard back from dac beachcroft following the written exercise ?

I applied to London and haven’t heard back

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock Hope you're doing well!

For behavioural style assessments, if you get questions with sliders, should you always move the slider to the very end, or is it ok to sometimes have them more leaning towards 1 side but not fully at the end? How can we determine when to move it to the very end or when it's fine not to? Hope that makes sense, thank you in advance!

Hi!

I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too!

I don't have much experience with these types of assessments, so my advice is slightly more general - apologies!

I wouldn't necessarily move the slider to the extreme every time, as that might come across as a bit unrealistic. I'd use the very end for traits that are clearly important in a professional setting (e.g. integrity) or for traits that I personally find important, but for more situational / nuanced things, it is completely fine to show some balance.

A good rule of thumb might be to ask yourself whether you would genuinely act that way 100% of the time - if not, a more moderate position is likely to make more sense. Overall, I'd just aim to be consistent and authentic rather than trying to max out every answer.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock thank you so much for your insight on my previous question!

I have one follow-up. I just found out that the firm assesses vac schemers for a TC based on two components: a presentation and supervisor feedback.

Have you completed presentations like that during one of your vac schemes? If so, I would be super grateful if you could share your experience and if you could advise on the best things to do / not to do for them.

Thank you!

Hi!

No worries at all!

I personally haven't done a formal presentation like that on any of my vacation schemes, but I can share some general advice that should hopefully still be helpful based on other presentations I have completed.

I'd focus on keeping things clear, structured, and concise. A simple structure usually works best for these types of things - brief introduction (what you are going to cover), your main points, and a short conclusion. One of my old university lecturers used to say that, during a presentation, you should: "Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them" - this used to frustrate me as advice, but I do think it is useful as a baseline structure! Try not to overload any slides (if you have them) with information, and make sure that you are explaining things in a way that is easy to follow rather than overly technical.

In terms of delivery, clarity and confidence often matter more than being perfect. Things like speaking at a steady pace, signposting your points, and showing that you understand what you are talking about goes a long way. I always used to struggle with talking really really quickly (which was probably because I wanted it to be over, haha!), but you should really take the time to pause and make sure you are going at a steady pace, otherwise the presentation won't be as strong. It is also completely fine to pause briefly and glance at notes, if needed. However, I would avoid reading from a script and instead have a few bullet points as your notes, just so they are there to jog your memory if needed.

Content-wise, this'll depend on the specific task that you are given, but I'd try to bring in a bit of analysis or insight, rather than just describing information - even small points on why something matters or the implications can help to strengthen your presentation.

I hope that assists, and best of luck with your presentation - I'm sure you'll do great!!

 

[cooked2000]

Has S&C closed their DTC, can only find VS application on their website - which has obviously passed

 

[CupOfTea17]

lol.

From Winckworth @ 22:08

Dear Trainee4u

I have now completed the marking for this years application cycle.

I will now be double checking my scores with the view of notifying you of your application status by the end of business on Wednesday.

Thanks for your patience.

Have you heard anything from them yet? I assume it will be tomorrow now

 

[Jaysen]

@Jaysen, many thanks for sharing this. Would it be possible to get them to grant us access to their virtual internship?

I will ask!

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Has S&C closed their DTC, can only find VS application on their website - which has obviously passed

The DTC app doesn’t open till 1 May. It closes on 12 June. So it probs isn't gna be accessible yet.

​

 

[trainee4u]

Have you heard anything from them yet? I assume it will be tomorrow now

Yes, I have been informed I will be invited to a Teams interview.

 

[CupOfTea17]

Yes, I have been informed I will be invited to a Teams interview.

Ah ok, maybe a PFO for me then! Could I ask when you found out?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Has anyone on the FF DTC waitlist post VI received a PFO post VI yet? It’s been 84 days…​

 

[trainee4u]

Ah ok, maybe a PFO for me then! Could I ask when you found out?

around 2:30pm

 

[CupOfTea17]

around 2:30pm

Thankyou! Good Luck in your interview!!

 

[abc124]

Has anyone on the FF DTC waitlist post VI received a PFO post VI yet? It’s been 84 days…​

What annoys me about this is that I don't even know when to lose hope, with vac schemes you can kinda infer the timeline roughly but with direct TCs it's much easier to keep telling yourself there's still hope lol