TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[user55998384]

Has anyone done the Macfarlanes assessment stage 1 and still not received an update/ report back? Should i be worried, I did the test Tuesday night, so it still hasnt been 48hrs yet, but I am seeing some people get a response within hours of completing it. Any reassurance would be amazing!

hey i did it on monday and recieved my feedback report last night x

 

[tc26]

anyone with Macfarlanes stage 2 VI insight? happy to share insights i've from morgan lewis, jones day, hogan lovells, A&O

 

[user55998384]

r all these stage 2 invites from today? and if so when did you submit stagw 1

 

[Legal seeker]

hey i did it on monday and recieved my feedback report last night x

Thank you! I just got sent mine now. For those who have taken it and advanced to the 2nd stage, what was your low strength, If you don’t mind sharing

 

[lp770]

hi can someone pls clarify, is the a&o VI completely untimed? so i can do research / turn off my laptop etc before recording?

 

[SBD total 1000lbs (and an applicant)]

is there any point me completing A&O's test? I completed the app form and filled in the work experiences, but i have three 2:2 modules across my first 2 years at uni (I avg a low/mid 2:1). I have a silver circle VS which I didnt convert on my CV but reading the thread about A&O's grade policy is making me think whether im just wasting my time.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Anytime I apply on AllHires, it always adds words to my answers - if my word count on Google Docs is 250, AllHires will show 253, for instance. Does this happen to anyone else? Anyone know how to fix this?

Hi!

I've definitely encountered this before, and I can understand why it is frustrating! It is usually because different systems use slightly different rules for what counts as a "word" - things like hyphens, dashes, numbers and punctuation could be what is making the counts differ.

If Google Docs says 250 but AllHires says 253, I would probably aim to cut a few words so that you are comfortably under the limit when you go to insert it into the AllHires platform.

I don't think there is necessarily any other way to "fix" it - it is more likely just the two systems counting slightly differently

 

[pdfo]

Hey would you mind expanding on what HSFK said a bit more?

When I was at one of their open days they said their classic 'expecting all 2:1 modules', and then someone asked if the fact that they had two 2:2 modules in their first year mattered (but they graduated with a first) and they said it was definitely okay and that they were just looking for overall high grades - so from what i can tell they not being literal when they say all modules? But I don't know?

 

[174Tess9y3]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, or anyone else who can help!

Wilkie's website states: "We welcome applicants from all universities and degree disciplines. We are looking for consistently strong academics, and our minimum academic requirements are as follows: a 2:1 at undergraduate level, a commendation at postgraduate level, and a first-time pass for any legal qualifications, such as the SQE."

Do you think the first-time pass requirement for the SQE is applicable to those they haven't sponsored? I've passed SQE1 and SQE2 but had to resit FLK1. Should I still waste my time writing an application?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, or anyone else who can help!

Wilkie's website states: "We welcome applicants from all universities and degree disciplines. We are looking for consistently strong academics, and our minimum academic requirements are as follows: a 2:1 at undergraduate level, a commendation at postgraduate level, and a first-time pass for any legal qualifications, such as the SQE."

Do you think the first-time pass requirement for the SQE is applicable to those they haven't sponsored? I've passed SQE1 and SQE2 but had to resit FLK1. Should I still waste my time writing an application?

Hey!

I would personally interpret that as applying to all applicants, rather than just those they have sponsored. They specifically say they require "a first-time pass for any legal qualifications, such as SQE", so I think if they intended this to only apply to candidates they had sponsored, they would probably make that distinction.

However, I wouldn't necessarily let this put you off applying without checking with graduate recruitment first. You have passed both SQE1 and SQE2 (congratulations btw!), so it is worth asking whether a resit of one FLK within SQE1 would mean you fail their requirements