TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

Hi guys, does Andrei Radu still work at TCLA? (trying to find out the team behind the coaching and mock interviews!)

Hi, no unfortunately Andrei left in the last few weeks to start his TC !

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

Hi guys, does Andrei Radu still work at TCLA? (trying to find out the team behind the coaching and mock interviews!)

In regards to your second question. I have included each member of the coaching & interviewing team below, alongside their brief bios. They are all lovely and very experienced (not to toot my own horn as I am part of this team haha).

• Antoni (me):
  • Antoni is a future trainee solicitor at Skadden. He also secured vacation scheme offers from Jones Day, Slaughter and May, and Linklaters. Alongside this, he also reached the final stage of recruitment with Sullivan & Cromwell.
    
    
  • In his first year, he was selected for the Linklaters 'Making Links Scholarship' and Linklaters' first year scheme 'Pathfinder'.
    
    
• Shana:
  • Shana is a future trainee at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. She secured 7 vacation scheme offers from Weil, Skadden, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Dechert, Mayer Brown, Baker McKenzie, and BCLP.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the application process through to the final TC interview, Shana will work with you on your application strategy, writing standout answers, excelling at interviews, and converting vacation schemes.
    
    
  • Shana was also a winner of the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition, and can help you level up your commercial awareness.
    
    
• Heaven:
  • Heaven is a future trainee solicitor at Latham & Watkins. She secured training contract offers from Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance, three vacation scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Linklaters. Alongside, six first-year scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter & May.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the City law recruitment process, Heaven brings first-hand expertise in crafting standout applications, excelling at assessment centres and performing confidently in interviews. Book a session with her for personalised guidance on your journey to securing a training contract.
    
• Beyond the above list, there is also Awurakua, who I couldn't find the bio of but she is the most senior member of our team and equally fantastic!

 

[Elena Gilbert]

In regards to your second question. I have included each member of the coaching & interviewing team below, alongside their brief bios. They are all lovely and very experienced (not to toot my own horn as I am part of this team haha).

• Antoni (me):
  • Antoni is a future trainee solicitor at Skadden. He also secured vacation scheme offers from Jones Day, Slaughter and May, and Linklaters. Alongside this, he also reached the final stage of recruitment with Sullivan & Cromwell.
    
    
  • In his first year, he was selected for the Linklaters 'Making Links Scholarship' and Linklaters' first year scheme 'Pathfinder'.
    
• Shana:
  • Shana is a future trainee at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. She secured 7 vacation scheme offers from Weil, Skadden, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Dechert, Mayer Brown, Baker McKenzie, and BCLP.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the application process through to the final TC interview, Shana will work with you on your application strategy, writing standout answers, excelling at interviews, and converting vacation schemes.
    
    
  • Shana was also a winner of the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition, and can help you level up your commercial awareness.
    
• Heaven:
  • Heaven is a future trainee solicitor at Latham & Watkins. She secured training contract offers from Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance, three vacation scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Linklaters. Alongside, six first-year scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter & May.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the City law recruitment process, Heaven brings first-hand expertise in crafting standout applications, excelling at assessment centres and performing confidently in interviews. Book a session with her for personalised guidance on your journey to securing a training contract.
• Beyond the above list, there is also Awurakua, who I couldn't find the bio of but she is the most senior member of our team and equally fantastic!

Thanks a million Antoni!!

 

[174Tess9y3]

for those who got a Jones Day interview - congrats! And I was wondering how long they gave you to prep for the interview (I.e. from receiving the invite to the actual interview date)

 

[elizabethkate]

i am trying to approach this round more effectively so can someone help me and let me know how important the Work Experience section is? i saw someone say only include the relevant ones. does this mean not going back years to like 2015 or does it mean not including a 3 week year 10 work experience placement in a shop? pls help

 

[Emmaflanagan24]

Can someone pleaseeee help me understand how the shortlisting on workspace works?? How do we know if we have been shortlisted for open days or vac schemes?? Is it simply a matter of clicking on the link that is by the featured firms??

Thanks in advance

 

[TCchaser]

Can someone pleaseeee help me understand how the shortlisting on workspace works?? How do we know if we have been shortlisted for open days or vac schemes?? Is it simply a matter of clicking on the link that is by the featured firms??

Thanks in advance

From my understanding, you complete your profile on Workspace. You then get an email saying you've been shortlisted for open days based on your info (not sure if you can also get shortlisted for vac schemes), and you have a few days to accept or decline the offer. If you accept, you submit an application by the mentioned deadline; if you decline, the offer goes to someone else.

 

[thecranberries]

From my understanding, you complete your profile on Workspace. You then get an email saying you've been shortlisted for open days based on your info (not sure if you can also get shortlisted for vac schemes), and you have a few days to accept or decline the offer. If you accept, you submit an application by the mentioned deadline; if you decline, the offer goes to someone else.

is there any way to check from the workspace whether u have been shortlisted?

 

[e.jy336]

How have people formatted their cover letter for Gibson Dunn? Do you include address and date, etc. or no?

 

[tosin4774]

In regards to your second question. I have included each member of the coaching & interviewing team below, alongside their brief bios. They are all lovely and very experienced (not to toot my own horn as I am part of this team haha).

• Antoni (me):
  • Antoni is a future trainee solicitor at Skadden. He also secured vacation scheme offers from Jones Day, Slaughter and May, and Linklaters. Alongside this, he also reached the final stage of recruitment with Sullivan & Cromwell.
    
    
  • In his first year, he was selected for the Linklaters 'Making Links Scholarship' and Linklaters' first year scheme 'Pathfinder'.
    
• Shana:
  • Shana is a future trainee at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. She secured 7 vacation scheme offers from Weil, Skadden, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Dechert, Mayer Brown, Baker McKenzie, and BCLP.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the application process through to the final TC interview, Shana will work with you on your application strategy, writing standout answers, excelling at interviews, and converting vacation schemes.
    
    
  • Shana was also a winner of the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition, and can help you level up your commercial awareness.
    
• Heaven:
  • Heaven is a future trainee solicitor at Latham & Watkins. She secured training contract offers from Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance, three vacation scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Linklaters. Alongside, six first-year scheme offers from Latham & Watkins, Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter & May.
    
    
  • Having succeeded at every stage of the City law recruitment process, Heaven brings first-hand expertise in crafting standout applications, excelling at assessment centres and performing confidently in interviews. Book a session with her for personalised guidance on your journey to securing a training contract.
• Beyond the above list, there is also Awurakua, who I couldn't find the bio of but she is the most senior member of our team and equally fantastic!

Would it be possible to have a member listed above to review my app via the application review service?

 

[sagekensuke]

Hi @Antoni Trochimowicz (or anyone who knows), I didn't have any assessed modules in my second year, but on Vantage it doesn't let me proceed without entering something.

I thought to just put "no assessed modules" and leave the grade blank, but the form also says "if you do not have a grade for a module please do NOT include it"

I appreciate that this is probably fine/doesn't matter, but do you have any idea of what to put?

 

[tarastar]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do if you have important pre-existing appointment but it falls on one of the vacation scheme days. Would graduate recruitment ask for evidence of the appointment, even if it's private?

 

[Kakaboo]

Is there any point still applying for Jones Day today? Appreciate they’re rolling

 

[Kakaboo]

When discussing my work experience a) how should I structure? I normally just say what I’ve done but firms seem to be placing more emphasis on this section. Should I structure with a line of what I did, what skills it taught me and link back to the firm and why I would be a good trainee? Also this may seem silly but for a paralegal role how could I say this has prepared me to be a good trainee? I feel it’s too obvious so not sure what skills to hone in on.

 

[florrrrnnn76]

Hi Everyone!

When putting open/insight days into work experience section, is it better to put them separately, or put them in one section all together? Prehaps for the organisation I thought of saying 'Various commercial law firms'.

Anyone that got any tips let me know please!

 

[jamsparkle]

Hi Everyone!

When putting open/insight days into work experience section, is it better to put them separately, or put them in one section all together? Prehaps for the organisation I thought of saying 'Various commercial law firms'.

Anyone that got any tips let me know please!

in skadden's application webinar, they told us to consolidate all of our open days into one section if that helps at all

 

[username10341034]

Hi @Antoni Trochimowicz! Please can I have your advice on preparing an answer to this question for Paul, Weiss?

"What specifically attracts you to Paul, Weiss’s London office, and how does this differ from your interest in other leading commercial law firms? In your answer, please refer to:
• At least one matter, practice area, or development involving the London office; and
• How this aligns with the type of lawyer you are aiming to become"

My key struggle is finding a point that will set me aside from other applicants. I find it quite hard from a firm's website to identify a deal or development that I can explore differently to others. How would you approach it?

thank you!

 

[dannyp123]

Is there any point still applying for Jones Day today? Appreciate they’re rolling

Mate rolling isn't as serious as you think. Even for Jones Day (one of the most seriously rolling firms) applying in the first 2-3 weeks is the same. I have even heard someone apply on the deadline and they got a TC. My point is APPLY! (and good luck )

 

[dannyp123]

Speaking of Jones Day, has anyone for the spring/summer vac scheme application received an interview invite?

 

[livelaughlawve]

I normally structure a cover letter:
1. Why law
2. Why the firm
3. Why me
One firm asked:
Please write a cover letter addressing the following areas:
What attracts you to Gibson Dunn and the office to which you are applying.
Why you want to become a solicitor.
An outstanding personal achievement through which you added value to either your academic or working environment.
Details of any prizes, scholarships, interests, positions of responsibility, or other noteworthy achievements that support your application.

So I do not know whether to follow my normal structure and fit the information into that structure, or to write the cover letter in the order presented by the firm.

@Antoni Trochimowicz @Jaysen Sutton I would love your thoughts