TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[jamsparkle]

Jones day have vis too?? I thought the second stage was an interview with partners?

they mean vi as in an interview over a video feed, but it's not pre-recorded

 

[Enyonam]

I love this!

I haven’t signed up for the AS competition yet, so I was wondering what your flashcards cover?

It sounds like a good way to get ready!

Yes it my favourite mass memorisation technique!

It’s just going to be on facts about the FTSE100, the stock market more generally, basic commercial terms (a lot of which I’m learning from Christopher stokes) etc etc. Not really detailed knowledge but enough for concepts to be familiar in the MCQ rounds as they are quite fast.

 

[Enyonam]

T

It may be worth sending them an email to let them know you’ll be away from the country during these dates. They might be able to give you an extension or send it ahead of time.

Thank you, this is very helpful

 

[Enyonam]

I'm stealing that flashcards idea

Haha same

Glad I could help

 

[Novaa]

Just wanted to share a bit from the FT News Briefing, especially for anyone still trying to wrap their heads around the US tariffs and trade wars.

They’ve got an episode featuring Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, and they’ve been asking him insightful questions that not only explain the US’s perspective but also shed light on the reasons behind the tariffs.

 

[174Tess9y3]

Has anyone completed the Skadden online assessment?

 

[soon-to-be trainee]

Hii! I have a question regarding the work experience section.

- If I am gonna do it in prose, what would the optimal structure for it? For example, I developed what skills by doing what; I did what, which enhanced my skills etc.
- what degree of details are expected. would it be better to include what are the research topics you did / what specific risks you mitigated? Or it is better to just briefly mention the types of tasks you completed? I am worried if it is too long, the grad recruitment might lose interests.

Thanks

 

[londoncanals]

If anyone would like to talk about how their second stage test for macfarlanes went - please pm me!!! I felt that was quite different to other assessments I've completed....

 

[Novaa]

Hii! I have a question regarding the work experience section.

- If I am gonna do it in prose, what would the optimal structure for it? For example, I developed what skills by doing what; I did what, which enhanced my skills etc.
- what degree of details are expected. would it be better to include what are the research topics you did / what specific risks you mitigated? Or it is better to just briefly mention the types of tasks you completed? I am worried if it is too long, the grad recruitment might lose interests.

Thanks

Helloo!!

I’ve been using the CART method.

C - Context (Background)
A - Action (What I did) - This will usually be one task/responsibility which I frame the rest of my answer around.
R - Results (Outcome)
T - Trainee (Link to skills/activities expected of a trainee)

Hope it helps

 

[soon-to-be trainee]

Helloo!!

I’ve been using the CART method.

C - Context (Background)
A - Action (What I did) - This will usually be one task/responsibility which I frame the rest of my answer around.
R - Results (Outcome)
T - Trainee (Link to skills/activities expected of a trainee)

Hope it helps

Thank you so much for your reply!! it’s really useful

 

[Legal seeker]

Staying hopeful as it’s only been a day, but has anyone also received a Jones day PFO? Just want to know if they are sending those also or just interview invites. Want to be prepared haha

Also for those who received invites how long after submission did you get one? For the record I submitted my application Friday night.

 

[Henrik]

Jones day have vis too?? I thought the second stage was an interview with partners?

Jones day process is:

- Online application form
- Video interview (but with real people - not just a recording). Trainee + Senior associates etc. Approx 45 mins.
If successful, invite to Assessment centre. If successful there, Vac scheme invite.

 

[Henrik]

Staying hopeful as it’s only been a day, but has anyone also received a Jones day PFO? Just want to know if they are sending those also or just interview invites. Want to be prepared haha

Also for those who received invites how long after submission did you get one? For the record I submitted my application Friday night.

Based of forum messages this week, people have had consistent replies a few working days after application (both for rejection or for invite to next stage).

They will certainly get back to you shortly.

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

@Henrik do you have a list of firms (or ones you can remember) that don't have vis/we as part of the recruitment process?

Hi, I'm not Henrik but hopefully this list helps! Firms do change their processes sometimes year-on-year so I do apologise if one of these has changes, please let me know if that is the case.

From the firms I have applied to / know:

• Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Application
  • In-person Interview Day
• Jones Day
  • Application
  • Online Interview with two lawyers
  • Assessment Centre with Case Study Interview & Group Debate
• Sidley Austin (I believe has changed(?))
  • Application
  • Telephone Interview
  • I believe an AC
• Slaughter and May
  • Application
  • Online Interview with very short Written Exercise (I know you prefer to not have this)
• Linklaters
  • Application
  • WG & Test
  • Assessment Centre with interviews & WE
• Cleary Gottlieb
  • Application
  • Watson Glaser
  • I believe Assessment Centre --> Not sure what it includes
• Travers Smith
  • Application
  • Interview

Hopefully this was helpful ! I'm sure there are plenty of other firms, these are just the ones that came to mind from the top of my head.

 

[174Tess9y3]

Has anyone completed the HSF Kramer online assessment?

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector. (250 words)

Thank you! I wouldn't say there's a wrong or right answer to your first question. If you would like to discuss specific ones, and have a lot to say about them, 3 would probably be a good amount. However, if you wanted to cover a wider breadth, you can list them out / say the amount, and then present the overall extracted insights across the various events.

In regards to your second question. I would say yes absolutely you can talk about insight schemes. However, if they are slightly longer schemes, you could find it more beneficial to write about them as a separate or merged entry in the work experience section instead.

Hope this helped!

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

Hi @Antoni Trochimowicz , Dentons asks:

Briefly explain the skills you gained and how these are transferable to being a lawyer at Dentons. (150 words max per experience) for their work details section

How would I go about doing this? internships I can sort of understand but what about volunteering, insight schemes, society roles?

That's a valid question, it can be quite hard to find the direct link sometimes. However, what I would say is that far more often than not, the links are definitely there.

Firstly, for each experience try to look beyond your initial memories of the experience and to the actual day-to-day of your role. What did you do each day? What was your toughest task? Did you ever feel stressed? Why? When did you feel most stressed?

The answer to these questions could lead you to various moments which link to the job of a lawyer.

Then, looking at those experiences, think about what skills could you have potentially shown?
Some important ones for the legal career are:

• Proactivity / Initiative
• Integrity
• Communication (Written & Oral)
• Adaptability
• Resilience
• Time Management
• Working under Pressure
• Attention to Detail
• Collaborative Skills
• Leadership
• Empathy
• Research Skills
• Entrepreneurialism

Of course there are many others, but these are the ones that have came to mind now.

Next, once you have pinpointed what skills you could have developed, start thinking about where this could be found in the job of a lawyer at dentons.

A quick rundown of some of the above:

• Proactivity
  • Figuring out how to help the team without them specifically asking you.
• Adaptability
  • If you are given a pressing task while already having other tasks in the works.
• Time Management
  • Being able to balance multiple workstreams without letting anybody down.

Please let me know if you have any other questions !

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

Hi, I'm not Henrik but hopefully this list helps! Firms do change their processes sometimes year-on-year so I do apologise if one of these has changes, please let me know if that is the case.

From the firms I have applied to / know:

• Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Application
  • In-person Interview Day
• Jones Day
  • Application
  • Online Interview with two lawyers
  • Assessment Centre with Case Study Interview & Group Debate
• Sidley Austin (I believe has changed(?))
  • Application
  • Telephone Interview
  • I believe an AC
• Slaughter and May
  • Application
  • Online Interview with very short Written Exercise (I know you prefer to not have this)
• Linklaters
  • Application
  • WG & Test
  • Assessment Centre with interviews & WE
• Cleary Gottlieb
  • Application
  • Watson Glaser
  • I believe Assessment Centre --> Not sure what it includes
• Travers Smith
  • Application
  • Interview

Hopefully this was helpful ! I'm sure there are plenty of other firms, these are just the ones that came to mind from the top of my head.

Thank you so much ))))

 

[Kakaboo]

Do firms actually care if you do their forage course?

 

[Lissa06]

Some of these firms really need to work on their website. One talks about their winter VS in their FAQs - they are not offering a winter VS this year.

Another says in FAQs all opportunities are open to graduates of any disciplines, but in the description for literally each VS/TC non-law grads can't apply.

So tedious and for what

I am still confused about Orrick saying on their website to click 'here' to apply to the 'summer vacation scheme', and then when you click you land on a page saying 'spring scheme'