TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[dessi]

Hey!

I would probably avoid treating it exactly like a standard "why commercial law" question as it seems to be asking something slightly narrower - that is, why you wish to practise as a solicitor in an international firm environment, and how you have validated that interested.

The structure I would probably follow is along the lines of:

• Short introduction: discuss your overall motivation for becoming a solicitor and where international practice fits into that.
• Why the solicitor role: explain why the actual job appeals to you (e.g. client interaction, managing matters over time, coordinating parties, drafting/negotiation, helping clients implement solutions, and seeing work from start to finish).
• Why an international firm: explain why you want to do that work in an international environment specifically (e.g. cross-border matters, multinational clients, exposure to different markets, working across jurisdictions and teams, international commercial context, etc.).
• What steps you have taken to research: it is important to show how you tested these assumptions through conversations with lawyers, open days, vacation schemes, insight schemes, legal work experience, firm events, commercial reading, etc. I would focus on what each experience taught you rather than listing activities, and show how they confirmed your decision to pursue this route (for example, I always used to discuss my legal clinic experience confirming that I enjoyed the client interaction element of being a solicitor).
• Brief conclusion: explain how those experiences confirmed both the solicitor role and the international firm environment align with what you are looking for in your long-term career.

I hope that helps! I think this question is less about convincing them that international firms are interesting, and more about showing that you understand what is actually involved and how you have validated that you are interested in that.

Best of luck with the application

Thank you! This is very helpful

 

[Jaysen]

Thank you!!!

Hey - yes you still can!

 

[Novaa]

@Abbie Whitlock @Jaysen As the new cycle approaches, do you have any advice on what I can do between now and then to maximise my chances of success?

I’m plotting my comeback as this will be my last cycle! (Yes I said that last time, but this time I mean it)

 

[Jaysen]

@Abbie Whitlock @Jaysen As the new cycle approaches, do you have any advice on what I can do between now and then to maximise my chances of success?

I’m plotting my comeback as this will be my last cycle! (Yes I said that last time, but this time I mean it)

This will be the one for you! I've no doubt

Here's what I'd do before August:

1. Write a draft list of which firms you want to apply to
2. Make your work experience section really good
3. Write out your answers to: (1) Why commercial law? (2) What skills make for a successful solicitor and (3) Tell us about your extracurricular activities and positions of responsibility
4. Write about one news story per week. If you want accountability, please feel free to make a thread in the forum for this, and we'll read it!
5. Do anything you need to do now to free up as much time as you can from August to December.

 

[anon78365222111]

Just was wondering I’ve never gone to an open day but I’ve had final interviews at big US law firms and silver circle firms and IB’s, (I’ve learnt a lot along the way on why I’ve not been able to convert and confident I now can). I’ve done this with no guidance. I was wondering how useful the Simpson Thacher open day will even be and is it a big thing that stands out on the application.

 

[AryanAgg]

I got a spot on the Aspiring Solicitors Aspire Programme.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock @Jaysen As the new cycle approaches, do you have any advice on what I can do between now and then to maximise my chances of success?

I’m plotting my comeback as this will be my last cycle! (Yes I said that last time, but this time I mean it)

Hey!

Wishing you all the best for the new cycle! It is great to have a plan going into it, and there is a lot you can do to feel more confident going into the next cycle

If I could give three main pieces of advice (along with agreeing with everything Jaysen mentioned), they'd be:

• Be intentional with your applications: rather than trying to apply everywhere, I would spend your time more wisely and produce fewer, but higher-quality, applications. This includes tailoring your answers properly and making sure every claim (whether that is motivational or skills-based) is backed up with something specific. This was the main thing I changed last cycle, and it really helped me become more successful overall.
• Keep building your commercial awareness: along with reading the news, make sure you practise explaining why developments matter to a firm's clients and how lawyers would become involved. This is often the skill that firms are really testing, as it isn't usually enough to just recite headlines.
• Practise speaking out loud: it seems silly, but whether it is competency questions, commercial questions, or motivational ones, I found it really helped me to improve my interview technique by spending time verbalising my answers rather than just writing them. Mock interviews (or even just recording yourself) also make a huge difference, although I appreciate it isn't always fun to watch them back, haha!

I would also do a proper review of last cycle, and look at the stages you consistently reached and where you tended to fall short. If you are regularly getting interviews or ACs, that is a very different problem from struggling to get applications through, and therefore your preparation should reflect that. I personally was confident in the application stage, but struggled with the ACs/interviews later on, so a lot of my preparation last year focused on practising and becoming more confident in that.

Wishing you the very best of luck - hopefully this is the cycle where everything comes together! I'll be rooting for you

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Just was wondering I’ve never gone to an open day but I’ve had final interviews at big US law firms and silver circle firms and IB’s, (I’ve learnt a lot along the way on why I’ve not been able to convert and confident I now can). I’ve done this with no guidance. I was wondering how useful the Simpson Thacher open day will even be and is it a big thing that stands out on the application.

Hey!

That's an impressive track record, and reaching final interviews consistently suggests that your applications are strong enough to get you in front of firms, which is often the hardest part!

In terms of the Simpson Thacher open day, I wouldn't think about it as something that will significantly boost your application just because you have attended it, as firms generally don't give candidates a huge advantage simply for going.

The value usually lies in what you take away from the open day. It is an opportunity to speak to people at the firm, understand the firm's culture in more depth, and pick up insights that can make your "Why Simpson Thacher?" answer much more specific and convincing. More generally, it can also help you decide whether the firm is the right fit for you and how you would thrive in that environment.

Given where you are in the process and your track record, I would probably view it less as a CV booster and more as an opportunity to refine your understanding of the firm. If you are able to come away from the open day with one or two genuine insights that strengthen your application or interview insights, then it was definitely worthwhile.

If you are interested in the firm, I would definitely encourage you to apply. It is a great opportunity to learn more about Simpson Thacher beyond what is available online, and it is also a chance to develop your networking skills by speaking with associates and partners in a more relaxed setting