TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Isobel.liddle]

Hiya - not VS related at all. But I was wondering if anyone else here has applied to the L'Oréal Legal Summer Internship?

 

[WillKitchen]

does anyone know which top law firms don’t use video or telephone interviews in their recruitment process?

I think that Paul Hastings doesn’t. I seem to recall that all their interviews are in person. Sounds great!

 

[WillKitchen]

By the way, I'd take a phone interview over a VI any day! So long as there is a real human there to speak with. Makes all the difference.

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

does anyone know which top law firms don’t use video or telephone interviews in their recruitment process?

Off memory I think none of these firms use video or telephone interviews as part of their process:

Ashurst
Cleary Gottlieb
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk
Debevoise
Dechert
Fried Frank
HSF Kramer
King & Spalding
Linklaters
Morrison Foerster
Orrick
Paul Weiss
Ropes & Gray
Slaughter and May

I’m sure there are some others too but these are the ones off my head that iirc don’t use VI/TI…​

 

[StudentWP]

does anyone know if everyone gets the DACB VI, and when should we expect to hear back?

 

[MZJxLadha]

Hiya - not VS related at all. But I was wondering if anyone else here has applied to the L'Oréal Legal Summer Internship?

I was going to but then realised final years can’t apply

 

[8law]

Hello, how would you prepare for in-tray exercises? Is there anywhere you can access practice ones or does anyone have any tips for this please

 

[Gracejonesd]

Hey anyone who has done the KN online assessment, did you get sent a cappfinity report, it said you will but I didn’t get anything?

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

Off memory I think none of these firms use video or telephone interviews as part of their process:

Ashurst
Cleary Gottlieb
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk
Debevoise
Dechert
Fried Frank
HSF Kramer
King & Spalding
Linklaters
Morrison Foerster
Orrick
Paul Weiss
Ropes & Gray
Slaughter and May

I’m sure there are some others too but these are the ones off my head that iirc don’t use VI/TI…​

Thank for the reply bro! would u know which ones are direct to ac after application? ( assuming a few of these have second/third stages such as WE)

 

[TCchaser]

Thank for the reply bro! would u know which ones are direct to ac after application? ( assuming a few of these have second/third stages such as WE)

Debevoise, King & Spalding, Paul, Weiss are all straight to AC after application

Ropes sends you a test if you get invited to AC, but it's not a filtering stage, I think

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Has anyone got any advice for how to do an in-tray exercise and more specifically one for Browne Jacobsons

Hey!

Whilst I haven't previously completed an in-tray exercise myself, I previously did a bit of research and wrote a post that I have quoted below. Hopefully it is a useful reference point in your preparation - best of luck with the exercise!!

Hi!

I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too! Congratulations on the AC invite, that is amazing news!!

I haven't actually completed an in-tray exercise before either, but I've had a look online and I'll share how I would personally approach this sort of exercise!

For an in-tray exercise, the firm is essentially testing how you manage a busy inbox as a trainee - therefore, things like prioritisation, attention to detail, commercial awareness, and communication will all be key traits that you'll want to display.

In terms of preparation, I would try to practise by quickly reading and extracting key information from documents or emails, and then making decisions based on that. You don't necessarily need legal knowledge, but I do think it is important to be comfortable identifying what is urgent vs important, spotting risks, and thinking about logical next steps.

On the day, my approach would be to:

• Read everything once through fairly quickly to get the overall picture
• Then go back and prioritise tasks accordingly (for example, urgent / time-sensitive / client-facing first)
• Be clear and structured in any responses - even things like bullet points could work if they are concise and logical
• Always explain the reasoning briefly if the format of the assessment allows it (e.g. why something is prioritised or why a risk has been flagged).

I would also keep an eye out for small details, such as deadlines, attachments, or any inconsistencies - firms might use these to test your accuracy and attention to detail.

Ultimately, I think it is important to try not to overthink it, as they'll be looking for a sensible and structured approach, rather than perfection.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Thank for the reply bro! would u know which ones are direct to ac after application? ( assuming a few of these have second/third stages such as WE)

Debevoise, King & Spalding, Paul, Weiss are all straight to AC after application

Ropes sends you a test if you get invited to AC, but it's not a filtering stage, I think

I think Covington and Slaughters are also app and AC only. Fried Frank and MoFo have two sets of interviews or ACs each but both are in person.

I think Cleary, Fried Frank, Orrick, HSFK and Links use the WG test or SJT to filter before AC. I think Ashurst and Dechert have a WE before AC.​

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Waiting for my VS results - Don't think I could've worked harder and prepped more during the scheme, but there are things I wish I had done ( expanded on an interview answer, mentioned some little details during a case study, and talked more during a group project).

If I don't get the TC, does anyone have tips on how to bring yourself to do another cycle?

Also, do you think those things I mentioned are deal-breakers if everything else (e.g., tasks, culture fit, engagement) is great?

Hey!

Waiting for TC results post-VS can definitely really get in your head, so what you are feeling is completely normal. On the points you have mentioned, I don't think those sound like dealbreakers at all. Firms tend to assess you holistically, rather than on a few moments that you might wish you'd handled differently and I think almost everyone comes away from a VS thinking that they could have expanded an answer or contributed more in a group setting. However, I think if your overall performance and engagement were strong, and you felt you fit in to the firm culturally, that is what will matter most.

If you aren't able to convert, it always helps to see it as refinement rather than starting again. You have essentially already done the hardest part - you understand how a scheme works, you have more legal examples to draw on, and you've identified specific areas to improve. This will put you in a much stronger position for the next cycle, and I'd always encourage you to get feedback if you can, as sometimes you aren't necessarily aware of the areas that might need improvement. If you are able to get to the VS stage, you are clearly more than capable of securing a TC - it is much more about making small and deliberate tweaks which will make the difference.

It is also worth remembering that not converting a VS is relatively common, and people still go on to receive TC offers at firms that are perhaps a better fit overall! When I failed to convert my vacation schemes last cycle, I was devastated as I felt I'd really got to know the firm and could picture myself there - however, I still ended up securing my TC through a DTC application and ultimately I feel I'm at the firm that is the best fit for me overall.

The experience will be more valuable than you think - if you had to do another cycle, I'd use it as an opportunity to apply to firms that you maybe didn't have the chance to this cycle, and to incorporate all the things you learned from the VS!

Fingers crossed for you!!

 

[174Tess9y3]

Hey!

Waiting for TC results post-VS can definitely really get in your head, so what you are feeling is completely normal. On the points you have mentioned, I don't think those sound like dealbreakers at all. Firms tend to assess you holistically, rather than on a few moments that you might wish you'd handled differently and I think almost everyone comes away from a VS thinking that they could have expanded an answer or contributed more in a group setting. However, I think if your overall performance and engagement were strong, and you felt you fit in to the firm culturally, that is what will matter most.

If you aren't able to convert, it always helps to see it as refinement rather than starting again. You have essentially already done the hardest part - you understand how a scheme works, you have more legal examples to draw on, and you've identified specific areas to improve. This will put you in a much stronger position for the next cycle, and I'd always encourage you to get feedback if you can, as sometimes you aren't necessarily aware of the areas that might need improvement. If you are able to get to the VS stage, you are clearly more than capable of securing a TC - it is much more about making small and deliberate tweaks which will make the difference.

It is also worth remembering that not converting a VS is relatively common, and people still go on to receive TC offers at firms that are perhaps a better fit overall! When I failed to convert my vacation schemes last cycle, I was devastated as I felt I'd really got to know the firm and could picture myself there - however, I still ended up securing my TC through a DTC application and ultimately I feel I'm at the firm that is the best fit for me overall.

The experience will be more valuable than you think - if you had to do another cycle, I'd use it as an opportunity to apply to firms that you maybe didn't have the chance to this cycle, and to incorporate all the things you learned from the VS!

Fingers crossed for you!!

Thank you so much Abbie!