TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[Novaa]

hi guys i was j wondering - u know for the sectino they always ask to contextualise your background - if u just say no you dont want this shared does this act against you?

Hellooo!! I’m pretty sure it’s just for reporting purposes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Grad Rec just skips past it and it’s automatically pulled into a spreadsheet for their responsible business reports. So should be okay to put prefer not to say.

 

[hlaw123]

for latham stage 1- is it just a sjt? no vi/written qs?

 

[user4647464]

I completed a vacation scheme this year, but sadly wasn't succesful. In my feedback call, early careers told me the statistic of applicants that applied for the scheme itself. Should I include this in my CV / introductory section of the scheme? e.g. selected as X out of X? Or is this too much detail?

 

[testing123]

Does anyone know if Slaughter has already sent out PFOs? for VS or DTC

 

[username10341034]

Does anyone know if the Dentons application process includes a VI? I think it did last year but their website is a bit confusing, just says "interview"

 

[user55998384]

Hellooo!! I’m pretty sure it’s just for reporting purposes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Grad Rec just skips past it and it’s automatically pulled into a spreadsheet for their responsible business reports. So should be okay to put prefer not to say.

thank you!!

 

[alanshore]

Has anyone applied for HSFK's Hong Kong Intl Arbitration internship either this year or before? If so when did you hear back after applying?

 

[e.jy336]

Does anyone have any advice on prepping for the HLC stage 1 assessment?

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

Hi! I'm very new to this so sorry if this is a silly question. I applied to an open day and just got a rejection. Whilst applying, I was debating whether or not to talk about my mitigating circumstances/how to word everything. By the end, I decided not to, which I now regret. Obviously I have no idea what would have happened otherwise, and it's entirely possible that I would have been rejected regardless of its inclusion.

For context, I recently graduated with a first in a STEM degree from a RG. I had untreated/undiagnosed ADHD in my first and second year and my academic record reflects that. I also had ECs for half of my exams in my final year due to personal reasons, and ended up with a 2:2 and a 2:1 in the affected units. I had an upward trajectory and got firsts in all my other units in my final year, but got a 2:2 overall in first year, and a 2:1 in second year (with one unit that year being a pass - there were also personal things happening that year which affected my grades but I never spoke to my uni so there's no official EC, which is also why I'm a bit lost on what to do).

How do I go about talking about this in applications, without being overly personal, or am I meant to be very personal? Will talking about it even benefit me, or will it make a firm think I'm unreliable, or is it more unreliable to have this type of transcript with no explanation? As I did a non-law STEM degree, how strict is the expectation some firms have for a candidate to have 2:1s across all units? Do my unit grades make me an instant rejection for certain firms or am I overthinking? Also, the firm that rejected me has multiple open days, can I apply to another one that's still open, but this time including the mitigating circumstances? I really am interested in applying for their VS, but as someone from a non-law background with no law WE, I feel like this is the bare minimum to make me stand even a tiny chance at progressing to any stage at all lol.

Hi, that is absolutely NOT a silly question !!!

Firstly, your grades certainly will not make you an autorejection, you have an upwards trajectory and scored really well in a lot of your modules.

In regards to grade strictness, I don't think there would be a difference between a law and non-law degree's requirements. Therefore some firms, like Linklaters, may have some problems with the fact there are modules below a 2:1. However, these firms do take into account mitigating circumstances.

As such, it is definitely recommended that you apply with those written down, and I'm sure you'd be able to reapply to that firm you like!

Talking about those circumstances will definitely benefit you, it will allow the recruiter's to understand your journey more beyond the current numbers which they see.

Of course writing about these struggles can be difficult and finding the balance in how to write it can often be even harder. I would try to be personal, going into the facts of the matter and how difficult it was for you. I definitely don't think it would make you look unreliable, clearly you've still managed to do well for yourself. It's hard to say exactly how much detail you should go into as it depends on both the facts but also your comfortability. Either way, I'm sure you'll have much better success once you include them. Wishing you the best!!

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

I completed a vacation scheme this year, but sadly wasn't succesful. In my feedback call, early careers told me the statistic of applicants that applied for the scheme itself. Should I include this in my CV / introductory section of the scheme? e.g. selected as X out of X? Or is this too much detail?

Hi, I personally never included it but honestly I think it's because I didn't know the stats haha. I see plenty of people doing it and I wouldn't say it's too much detail. It's a good way of showcasing your skill and competitiveness as a potential candidate!

 

[supernovna]

@Antoni Trochimowicz How should I be referring to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to avoid eating up my word count? Is HL/HLC or Hogan Lovells fine?

 

[tldrba]

@Antoni Trochimowicz How should I be referring to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to avoid eating up my word count? Is HL/HLC or Hogan Lovells fine?

Not Antoni, but upon checking their website, it seems that they refer themselves to as HLC when shortened. Examples: HLC Inclusion and their early careers podcast (HLC Legal Lounge). If I were to be on the safe side, I would write out the full name and cut from somewhere else; and use 'the firm' where possible to save one word if needed.

 

[Antoni Trochimowicz]

@Antoni Trochimowicz How should I be referring to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to avoid eating up my word count? Is HL/HLC or Hogan Lovells fine?

Hi, similar to what was said above. Definitely use the full name the first time around, then in brackets you could for instance put "HLC", and use that in other aspects of the questions. Other than that, then, like the other user said, "the firm" is a safe bet.

 

[Trainingcontractinho123]

Does anyone have any advice on prepping for the HLC stage 1 assessment?

It's just a long SJT, believe it was around 18 questions. Loads of sliders. I guess maybe just try and remain as consistent as possible and don't change ur mind when you commit to a certain quality, which is harder when the test is so long. I believe that's what can trip us up but not entirely sure. The WG (if you've done a few before) has some recognisable passages and questions but some that i'd never seen before, so you can;t rely purely on pattern recognition. Believe it was around 20 Qs, 4 of each section, so TCLA has good materials for that. Lastly, the proofreading task seemed okay, the passages (of which there are 4) were lengthy but the questions only demanded that you read 3-4 lines at a time so it was fine.

 

[RachelZane]

Does Ashurst Perkins Coie have a VI as part of their online test? Or is it just SJT + WG?

 

[Lissa06]

Really random, but anyone who was at Jones Day open evening last year, did you happen to note down the surname of the trainee speaker? I wanted to contact them but realised all I have is the first name Will

 

[e.jy336]

It's just a long SJT, believe it was around 18 questions. Loads of sliders. I guess maybe just try and remain as consistent as possible and don't change ur mind when you commit to a certain quality, which is harder when the test is so long. I believe that's what can trip us up but not entirely sure. The WG (if you've done a few before) has some recognisable passages and questions but some that i'd never seen before, so you can;t rely purely on pattern recognition. Believe it was around 20 Qs, 4 of each section, so TCLA has good materials for that. Lastly, the proofreading task seemed okay, the passages (of which there are 4) were lengthy but the questions only demanded that you read 3-4 lines at a time so it was fine.

Thank you!

 

[Novaa]

Does Ashurst Perkins Coie have a VI as part of their online test? Or is it just SJT + WG?

Helloo!! Just SJT + WG I believe!!

Their email says “critical reasoning and behavioural strengths”, and I think Cappfinity refers to VIs as “strength-based interviews”, which they provide under a different category. Amberjack is where they may mix an SJT, critical reasoning and a VI all in one.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

I completed a vacation scheme this year, but sadly wasn't succesful. In my feedback call, early careers told me the statistic of applicants that applied for the scheme itself. Should I include this in my CV / introductory section of the scheme? e.g. selected as X out of X? Or is this too much detail?

I don't think this is necessary personally. The recruitment team will know how competitive these schemes are anyway.

 

[Saul_specter]

anyone got insight into sidley austin online assessment?