TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[tcla02]

MB as in Milbank?

mayer brown (sorry should’ve clarified)

 

[tcla02]

Maybe Mayer Brown but yeah I got both tests they’re both automated

hey thanks for letting me know. do you mind sharing when you submitted the app?

 

[anon78365222111]

hey thanks for letting me know. do you mind sharing when you submitted the app?

1st of September and got the test on Monday

 

[sarg1234]

hmmm. I have mitigating circumstances in my third year. I decided against saying it on my apps because my grades were not bad and I didn't want to get into it, but now I think contextualisation (as there was a drop in some modules) would be appropriate. Does anyone know if its appropriate to email grad rec about this for apps I've already submitted, even though I said I didn't have mitigating circumstances?

 

[wooliewoo]

hmmm. I have mitigating circumstances in my third year. I decided against saying it on my apps because my grades were not bad and I didn't want to get into it, but now I think contextualisation (as there was a drop in some modules) would be appropriate. Does anyone know if its appropriate to email grad rec about this for apps I've already submitted, even though I said I didn't have mitigating circumstances?

For sure, it doesn't hurt to mention (imo)!

 

[wooliewoo]

Does anyone have any advice/insights into the Milbank assessment? Is it just SJT/WG or is it also a written Q (like last year)?

 

[livelaughlawve]

Milbank done, that was effing awful.

How on earth can I ask for adjustments where there is nowhere which indicated what is in the test so I know which adjustments will need to be asked for!! Like something in there I 100% needed adjustments for but the firm didn't even respond to when I asked "what is in the test so I can know if i need adjustments or not".

Really disheartening

(before anyone asks for insight, my next test I plan to do is Sidley Austin, do with that information what you will)

 

[tldrba]

Milbank done, that was effing awful.

How on earth can I ask for adjustments where there is nowhere which indicated what is in the test so I know which adjustments will need to be asked for!! Like something in there I 100% needed adjustments for but the firm didn't even respond to when I asked "what is in the test so I can know if i need adjustments or not".

Really disheartening

(before anyone asks for insight, my next test I plan to do is Sidley Austin, do with that information what you will)

I understand the frustration, especially if you have asked the firm for guidance, but it is said in the welcome screen of Shortlister that the assessment may include written, audio and video questions. Even if it does not include all of them, they warn of the possibility. Best of luck with Sidley!

 

[natz]

Can anyone who has done the Milbank tests confirm if any parts are timed?

 

[Inquisitive]

Got the HSFK feedback after doing their SJT and it looks terrible

Mayer Brown's test seems to have gone better. Oh well - we do what we can

 

[Inquisitive]

Is L&W worth applying to with 3 B's at A Level? I'm really interested in the firm, and I have quite a lot of experience working with them at my current job.

I have a first at a non-RG university, and about 2 years of relevant corporate experience. My fear is I'll get filtered out before my application is read by a human, and waste a lot of time

 

[Prudentia]

Is L&W worth applying to with 3 B's at A Level? I'm really interested in the firm, and I have quite a lot of experience working with them at my current job.

I have a first at a non-RG university, and about 2 years of relevant corporate experience. My fear is I'll get filtered out before my application is read by a human, and waste a lot of time

I would say it's always worth applying, especially if you have mitigating circumstances. The worst they can say is 'no' and you're no worse off. A grad recruiter told me at a law fair that while law is very competitive, you have to be in it to win it.

 

[Gerri97]

Hi!

A little bit of an introduction. I am a future trainee at one of the world’s largest international law firms by revenue.

However, I am also an international student who came to the UK to study law but had no idea about training contracts, vacation schemes or commercial awareness. For this reason, I unfortunately did not participate in any first-year or insight schemes during my first year.

In my second year, I began applying and secured interviews at large firms, including Magic Circle firms. While I did not receive any offers in my first cycle, I applied again in my third year to all types of law firms (Magic Circle, Silver Circle, Regional, US, International), and after multiple assessment centres and a few VSs, I secured a training contract.

Having been where many of you are, I understand the pressures that can come from wanting to achieve your dream. Feel free to ask me about anything VS, TC, or just about being an international student! Here to help

 

[Gerri97]

Thanks Antoni! How did you structure the content of your cover letter? I’ve never written one before, so is it better to talk more generally about practice areas and stuff or go into detail about specific details of individual deals they’ve worked on that interest you? I find it much harder to deal with this than specific questions that give you guidelines for content and structure

Also do you need to format it like a letter with addresses etc or is it ok to just start it with “dear xyz”? And do you need to sign off in any specific way?

Hi there! I understand that writing your first cover letter can be a little daunting.

As a general tip, “Why Law, Why the Firm, Why You” is a great place to start when considering how to structure a cover letter for a firm. Generally, I prefer to talk about specific things that interest me about a firm rather than being vague.

For starters, I would begin with a brief introduction.

Why Law: In your first paragraph, you want to highlight the reasons you want to become a solicitor. This can be anything from a commercial law event, a life-changing experience or an internship.

I would be cautious about just listing the event. I would follow the PEEL (Point. Evidence. Explain.Link) structure to ensure you evidence the situation, explain what motivated you about that situation and link it to why you want to become a lawyer.

Why the Firm: Again, if you have attended an insight day, spoken to someone at the firm, or know about a particular deal they’ve worked on, this would come in handy in this section. You also want to avoid relying on a headline story unless you can explain what motivated you about it exceptionally well, as a large proportion of applicants are likely to highlight it in their applications as well (e.g. S&M’s role in the 2024 Vodafone and Three deal).

That’s not to say you should find something extremely niche. If the genuine interest is not there, it is likely to show. Don’t forget the PEEL structure.

Why You: I would highlight a maximum of three experiences in this section, loosely following the STAR method to briefly explain your role, your contributions, the result, the skills demonstrated and how these link to why you would make a great trainee at the firm.

It is always best to check the firm’s website, as some firms, such as Slaughter and May, require the cover letter to be addressed to a specific person, while with others it can simply be addressed to Graduate Recruitment. An address is not always necessary. I’d remember to keep it strictly to one-page A4 and sign off with “Yours sincerely”, followed by your name.

All the best!

 

[Gerri97]

Does insight day PFO affect vacation scheme application ?

Hi there! Not necessarily! I was rejected from an insight day by the firm that gave me my TC offer.

I would encourage you to still put in your VS application.

 

[Gerri97]

Hi @Antoni Trochimowicz, I found your example of your work experience entry really helpful. I was wondering if you'd be able to post an example of an entry about an open day (or all the open days you did if you bunched them together in one entry). I think I've written about the substantive work experiences well, but am finding open days slightly harder to talk about. Thank you!

Hi there! This is such a valid concern, as writing about open days can sometimes be a bit difficult.

For starters, I completely agree with @Antoni Trochimowicz. In addition, I found bunching up the events of the particular firm I was applying to especially helpful. For example, if I was applying to CC, I would group all the CC engagement I’d had, as it can show genuine, continued interest in the firm.

Based on this, I would write something like:

“I took every opportunity to gain exposure to [firm] and familiarise myself with the firm’s culture. At [event], I learnt about the role of the firm’s networks in creating an inclusive environment. To find out more, I reached out to trainee [name], who confirmed the firm’s diverse culture and commitment to social mobility.

“At [event] and [event], I spoke with trainees [name] and [name] respectively about the firm’s investment in trainees and the development opportunities offered, such as [opportunity]. Finally, at [event], I spoke with [name], who confirmed the approachability of the firm’s associates and partners.”

While it can be very difficult to attend lots of firm events, especially if you work full-time, I think a great place to start is virtual events, such as those hosted by TCLA in partnership with various firms (and available on the Workspace), and LinkedIn.

 

[WillKitchen]

Just submitted for Debevoise.

They have an unusual pathway that goes: open day, then VS, then TC. Quite a long application form with 7x250 word question boxes to reach the open day stage.

I'm aiming for fewer apps this year, but my drafting methodology is getting stronger. Each one takes longer and longer to write, but they always feel like they're getting better, which is probably a good thing!

 

[Gerri97]

Not to be suspicious of firms…. BUT are the questions about hobbies really about our hobbies/personality, or are they trying to see how they relate to the skills we’ll need as trainees?

Also, is there such a thing as a generic skill for those “What skills do you think are important as a trainee?” questions? I put commercial awareness as one, but I’m convincing myself Grad Rec will think that’s expected? But then so are communication, organisation and time management?

You can tell a deadline is looming when I start second-guessing my complete answers.

Hi there! I understand that it can definitely feel like they are trying to catch you out! I believe that, for most firms, they are genuinely interested in finding well-rounded people, and I wouldn’t shy away from including your real hobbies.

For example, if you like running, you could explain how recently running a 5K taught you about grit and resilience in the face of obstacles. Or if you like to knit, you can talk about how knitting a blanket requires organisation and time management. It is helpful to link the skills developed in your hobbies to those required in the legal profession.

Regarding the second question: The skills you’ve mentioned are all great and important for trainees. However, I also like to look at the firm’s values and link my skills to them. For example, if a firm lists a value such as “We work as one”, I might list a skill such as being supportive and inclusive.

I would use the PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) structure, evidencing and explaining how I’ve demonstrated this skill and linking it back to why this skill would make you a successful solicitor.

 

[Gerri97]

Hi forum!

I was wondering whether anyone had advice regarding writing an open day application for the "why do you want to attend"/"what are you hoping to gain" questions.

I've tried several different methods, and I keep getting rejected.

Thanks!

Hi there! I understand that missing out can be a bit disheartening. However, open days can be incredibly competitive, with relatively few places available. Still, this should not stop you from making a VS/TC application to the firm. I was actually rejected from the Open Day at the firm where I received my TC offer.

In my experience, the following things can help strengthen an open day application:

Highlight any unique firm/training aspects that appeal to you - for example, if the firm is multi-specialist, sector-specific or operates a non-rotational/no-seat training model and this particularly appeals to you, highlight why and potentially tie it into any personal experiences that can substantiate your motivation.

Highlight any previous firm interactions - for example, if you attended any legal events that the firm took part in and spoke to a representative, you can mention that you spoke to a representative about a particular deal and tie this into your interest in that area. This doesn’t have to be at an insight day; virtual events, university law fairs and legal festivals can all count!

Highlight any competitions you’ve participated in where the firm took part - for example, if you did a commercial awareness competition where the firm was a sponsor, you can highlight your interest in firms that support legal development. If you got to an impressive stage, I would also add that!

Highlight any culture/diversity initiatives that the firm invests in (if interested) - if you are interested in the firm’s diversity and inclusion networks, don’t shy away from expressing your interest in the firm’s culture.

PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) is persuasive. For example, you could mention the point: “I want to gain exposure to the firm’s sector-specific approach and how it informs trainee development”, then evidence where you got this information, such as speaking with a trainee, and explain why the sector-specific approach appeals to you and link it to how it would make you a better solicitor.

I hope this helps. All the best!

 

[Gerri97]

How long should Gibson Dunn's cover letter be? It seems difficult to stick to the one-page rule whilst covering everything. This is what it asks:

"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.

Please note that the letter does not need to be addressed to any individual."

@Antoni Trochimowicz @Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner @nicole1907 @AvocadoAtLaw @Angel1093

Hi there! Based on the GD application portal, there is a 650-word limit for the cover letter. I completely understand that it can feel difficult to cover everything comprehensively. However, in my opinion, 650 words is more than enough if you structure it carefully.

For starters, as mentioned, you don’t need to address the letter to any individual. I would save on word count by removing any unnecessary addresses.

I would then give a brief introduction and address my motivation for applying to the firm and the office in the first paragraph. I find that referencing a particular event you attended or a person you spoke to on a particular deal/area of law you’re interested in, can demonstrate authentic enthusiasm (200 words max).

I would then tie my motivations above to why I want to become a solicitor, maybe referencing how you got exposed to that area of law and why it interests you in the second paragraph (150 words max).

From there, I would highlight my outstanding personal achievement and explicitly mention the trainee-level skills I demonstrated. I would look into the firm’s emphasised values and skills and do my best to tie an experience that demonstrates those skills and values to them (150 words max).

Lastly, I would highlight a range of significant prizes and scholarships in recent years, with brief descriptions. Don’t be afraid to mention things such as sports prizes, as they can demonstrate teamwork or work ethic. I would be wary of mentioning old prizes such as “Grade 1 Top Performer”, unless they are particularly relevant (100 words max).

Adding this up, leaves you with around 50 words for flexibility. This is also not a rigid structure but it offers a starting point. Cover letters vary widely in stylistic differences.

Tip: For every paragraph, I follow the Point, Evidence, Explain, Link (PEEL). This ensures that you are not just listing your motivations, but showing where and how you demonstrated them and linking them to why you want to be a solicitor at that firm.

Below are some helpful links as well. All the best!

https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sec...-write-winning-covering-letters-for-law-firms
https://classes.thecorporatelawacademy.com/courses/2141154/lectures/50380827