TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[badmintonflyinginsect]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu Received a VS offer! Any advice on what to do prior to this to prep for the VS?

 

[AlegalA]

Have you heard back from RPC? I submitted on 13th and then did the test. But haven't heard back yet

Hi! Yeah, I got a VS offer the day after the AC. I was in the very first AC so I don't actually know when the other ACs are taking place, I'm sorry!

 

[Joey green]

Goodwin post-VI rejection at 09:45, 41 days later 😔 This one was important to me, so I shall indulge in a small morsel of a rant.

I could've sworn I nailed it, but now, it feels like I wasn't worth speaking with a real person. I don't even get told why. I went to a world-class business school and understand high-innovation clients like the back of my hand. I have four years of legal experience and a plethora of activities demonstrating commitment to the field. I go out of my way to speak with those at all levels, from lawyers and their clients to literal presidents. I get it's competitive, but if I could just talk with those hiring over a coffee instead of having to play these games - I'd make light work of a real conversation. I even had some practice with a former recruiter. Ah, well. I'll get over it soon enough.

Does anyone have advice for those struggling to get past the VI/TI stage? Especially when you think you'd perform well in a proper back-and-forth interview. What is that trying to tell me? Man, it's so hard to decrypt everything. Maybe I also need to just keep playing the numbers game as this was only my third VI, plus one TI. Is this stage even worth giving myself any credit? I did improve upon last year's post-app rejection, though... unless that was just because they fabricated a new stage this year 😭

That's horrific to hear! The competition is seriously ridiculous if people like you don't even have more success. I do wonder how many firms you have applied to... Maybe it is worth considering applying to 50-60 firms (if you have the time and energy!), as I heard some people manage to do that. I also get rejected consistently and it is a terrible feeling, especially if you wait for weeks, sometimes months, to only be rejected without any feedback or reasoning. Very frustrating!

 

[James Wakefield]

Cooley AC! 🙂

 

[Chris Brown]

Cooley AC! 🙂

Congrats matey and best of luck! 🤞

 

[legallybrunettte]

Hi everyone! I haven’t heard back from HSF post-test (I did pass it) so I’m a little worried. Do you guys think I should email them and ask? Or should I assume PFO. Or should I leave it alone? <3

 

[SamiyaJ]

Did the WBD SJT- score high for verbal, middle for numerical and 7 for both grit/creative force, 4 for digital mindset and 3 for applied intellect.

21/36 so hopefully I’ve passed the benchmark.. 🤞🏽

 

[_microwaved]

Has anyone who has applied for a Spring VS at Paul,Weiss not heard back?

 

[allenpopi]

Any tips on commercial news I should look at before AC? I think I have covered most US stuff but wondering I might be missing UK/EU related news

 

[AlegalA]

I also just completed WBD test- I got high for numerical and verbal and 6 for grit, applied intellect and digital mindset and 7 for creative force so 25/36.

There was definitely a mistake in the numerical questions though right?? Like I spent so long double checking my calculations because the phrasing of the answer was really misleading.

Anyway, hopefully it's enough!! 🤞🤞

 

[James Wakefield]

Cooley AC! 🙂

Ok I underplayed the emojis on this slightly. Maybe should have been: 🤯😁😌🥳🍾

 

[cwhite233]

Goodwin post-VI rejection at 09:45, 41 days later 😔 This one was important to me, so I shall indulge in a small morsel of a rant.

I could've sworn I nailed it, but now, it feels like I wasn't worth speaking with a real person. I don't even get told why. I went to a world-class business school and understand high-innovation clients like the back of my hand. I have four years of legal experience and a plethora of activities demonstrating commitment to the field. I go out of my way to speak with those at all levels, from lawyers and their clients to literal presidents. I get it's competitive, but if I could just talk with those hiring over a coffee instead of having to play these games - I'd make light work of a real conversation. I even had some practice with a former recruiter. Ah, well. I'll get over it soon enough.

Does anyone have advice for those struggling to get past the VI/TI stage? Especially when you think you'd perform well in a proper back-and-forth interview. What is that trying to tell me? Man, it's so hard to decrypt everything. Maybe I also need to just keep playing the numbers game as this was only my third VI, plus one TI. Is this stage even worth giving myself any credit? I did improve upon last year's post-app rejection, though... unless that was just because they fabricated a new stage this year 😭

If it makes you feel any better, I have a similar background and also just got my PFO and am feeling the exact same way! I perform quite well in in person interviews, have even done a vac scheme last year - the VIs are truly so unforgiving even though I feel I did relatively well on this one!

 

[SamiyaJ]

I also just completed WBD test- I got high for numerical and verbal and 6 for grit, applied intellect and digital mindset and 7 for creative force so 25/36.

There was definitely a mistake in the numerical questions though right?? Like I spent so long double checking my calculations because the phrasing of the answer was really misleading.

Anyway, hopefully it's enough!! 🤞🤞

Awesome scores! Best of luck.

I thought my maths was just really bad so spent forever on the questions and ended up guessing some of them because I couldn’t make any sense out of it!!

 

[theruleofno]

Goodwin PFO post-VI and Cooley AC

 

[theruleofno]

Hi, does anyone who has done the Mayer Brown SJT know whether there is a video interview element?

If this is the 'Life at Mayer Brown' simulation there are 4 VI questions from memory

 

[AlegalA]

Awesome scores! Best of luck.

I thought my maths was just really bad so spent forever on the questions and ended up guessing some of them because I couldn’t make any sense out of it!!

Thank you!! Best of luck to you too!

Honestly some of them took me soooo long to understand what they were asking, but there was one in particular where the correct answer to pick was definitely formulated in an incorrect way which it made it so confusing

 

[trainee4u]

Goodwin post-VI rejection at 09:45, 41 days later 😔 This one was important to me, so I shall indulge in a small morsel of a rant.

I could've sworn I nailed it, but now, it feels like I wasn't worth speaking with a real person. I don't even get told why. I went to a world-class business school and understand high-innovation clients like the back of my hand. I have four years of legal experience and a plethora of activities demonstrating commitment to the field. I go out of my way to speak with those at all levels, from lawyers and their clients to literal presidents. I get it's competitive, but if I could just talk with those hiring over a coffee instead of having to play these games - I'd make light work of a real conversation. I even had some practice with a former recruiter. Ah, well. I'll get over it soon enough.

Does anyone have advice for those struggling to get past the VI/TI stage? Especially when you think you'd perform well in a proper back-and-forth interview. What is that trying to tell me? Man, it's so hard to decrypt everything. Maybe I also need to just keep playing the numbers game as this was only my third VI, plus one TI. Is this stage even worth giving myself any credit? I did improve upon last year's post-app rejection, though... unless that was just because they fabricated a new stage this year 😭

I applied to their Open Day and got knocked back in favour of the virtual one instead.

I got and failed the VI also.

My impression is that by having large numbers of (not really) Open Day attendees and VI invitees they maximise engagement with their firm even though they're not necessarily interested in working with many of these individuals.

 

[CallumJR]

Cooley AC! 🙂

reading this makes me so happy! Best of luck ❤️

 

[fxy]

anyone here back from bclp ac

 

[Amma Usman]

Goodwin post-VI rejection at 09:45, 41 days later 😔 This one was important to me, so I shall indulge in a small morsel of a rant.

I could've sworn I nailed it, but now, it feels like I wasn't worth speaking with a real person. I don't even get told why. I went to a world-class business school and understand high-innovation clients like the back of my hand. I have four years of legal experience and a plethora of activities demonstrating commitment to the field. I go out of my way to speak with those at all levels, from lawyers and their clients to literal presidents. I get it's competitive, but if I could just talk with those hiring over a coffee instead of having to play these games - I'd make light work of a real conversation. I even had some practice with a former recruiter. Ah, well. I'll get over it soon enough.

Does anyone have advice for those struggling to get past the VI/TI stage? Especially when you think you'd perform well in a proper back-and-forth interview. What is that trying to tell me? Man, it's so hard to decrypt everything. Maybe I also need to just keep playing the numbers game as this was only my third VI, plus one TI. Is this stage even worth giving myself any credit? I did improve upon last year's post-app rejection, though... unless that was just because they fabricated a new stage this year 😭

I’m really sorry about the PFO. It’s completely understandable to feel frustrated, VIs can often feel that way, and the lack of feedback makes it even tougher to gauge what went wrong. It’s also important to acknowledge the progress you’ve made, from post-app rejections last year to reaching this stage now. That’s movement in the right direction.

For VIs, my personal advice is to treat them like you’re recording a TikTok video of yourself dancing, no one else is in the room. It sounds odd, but confidence and energy translate through the screen in ways we don’t always realise. The smallest things contribute: making sure your intonation is clear enough to express enthusiasm, checking for smudges on your camera, and even thinking about how formal you're treating it. I know opinions differ, but I personally show up in a full suit as if it’s a real interview.

More than anything, confidence in your own words is key. If you are sure of what you're saying, others will be too. This comes down to knowing your motivations, your CV, and your commercial awareness inside and out. With firm research, it's less about memorisation and more about being natural yet professional, showing that you’ve thought critically about “why us” and how industry developments impact them.

And I get it, VIs were a struggle for me too. I kept getting rejected until I took this approach, and things started turning around. You're clearly capable, so don’t let this one setback shake your confidence. Keep going. You've already improved from last year, and with each attempt, you're sharpening your skills.

Best of luck!