• How confident are you in your knowledge of the core LLB/PGDL subjects, including Contract, Tort, Trusts, Land, Criminal, and Public Law?

    TCLA is teaming up with BPP for a free interactive event designed to refresh your fundamentals, especially for those interested in or planning to take the SQE. We'll practise multiple choice SQE questions, with prizes for the highest scoring participants!

    Register Here

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

gazdgazd11

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Feb 27, 2024
182
225
What's a good strategy to secure a VS? Two years of applying and just rejection after rejection, I've gotten past the application stage twice, I'm definitely doing something wrong.
Hey, this used to be me. I will be honest, TCLA premium resources helped me More than anything. You get access to successful apps and courses on how to write them and More. I swear im not sponsored! I know not everyone can afford it but if you can, I recommend getting it for one month and going through their courses and successful applications database. This really changed the game for me. I used to barely get past the app stage, whilst this year I got 3 ACs and had multiple VIs/second stage tests. Good luck!

PS. However, there are many free resources.
I think the biggest thing is to REALLY research the firm (I know this sounds generic) and to master your answers to basic questions like why law etc.
 

A worried graduate

Legendary Member
Mar 25, 2024
315
190
Hey, this used to be me. I will be honest, TCLA premium resources helped me More than anything. You get access to successful apps and courses on how to write them and More. I swear im not sponsored! I know not everyone can afford it but if you can, I recommend getting it for one month and going through their courses and successful applications database. This really changed the game for me. I used to barely get past the app stage, whilst this year I got 3 ACs and had multiple VIs/second stage tests. Good luck!

PS. However, there are many free resources.
I think the biggest thing is to REALLY research the firm (I know this sounds generic) and to master your answers to basic questions like why law etc.
What’s on the premium resources?
 

lolololol

Valued Member
Nov 13, 2023
101
94
I think it would be rare for you to be asked both - I think it would be more likely to be one or the other.

However, if there was the opportunity to be asked both, I would focus "why law" on the topic of law and the type of key responsibilities you will have as a lawyer (research, drafting, document review etc) as things like working with legal frameworks and the ways in which you work/tasks you would do could be similar outside of commercial law but in areas like family or criminal law. You can then focus on why commercial topics in the latter question.

But I would listen carefully to the question and the context of what you have been discussing previously as it may be that your interviewer is effectively asking you why commercial law when just asking "why law".
thank you!
 

Chris Brown

Legendary Member
Jul 4, 2024
596
1,967
I took the SH test earlier and I think I scored 8766 across the four pillars (so 27/36 or 75%) and I think I got mid for verbal reasoning and high for numerical reasoning.

Does anyone here know what their benchmark is from previous cycles because I’m not sure what to think. I still have PTSD from the Paul, Weiss test that I did several weeks ago. 🥲🥲​
 
Last edited:
  • 🏆
  • Wow
Reactions: SamiyaJ and jojo23

student353

Star Member
Mar 12, 2025
32
129
I took the Stephenson Harwood test earlier and I think I scored 8766 across the four pillars (so 27/36 or 75%) and I think I got mid for verbal reasoning and high for numerical reasoning.

Does anyone here know what their benchmark is from previous cycles because I’m not sure what to think. I still have PTSD from the Paul, Weiss test that I did several weeks ago. 🥲🥲​
From what I remember from the open day, I think it’s based on the performance of that year ( I know that’s annoying as that’s impossibly vague!!) However, these scores seem pretty solid so I wouldn’t worry if I were you :)
 
  • 🤝
Reactions: Chris Brown

student353

Star Member
Mar 12, 2025
32
129
I took the Stephenson Harwood test earlier and I think I scored 8766 across the four pillars (so 27/36 or 75%) and I think I got mid for verbal reasoning and high for numerical reasoning.

Does anyone here know what their benchmark is from previous cycles because I’m not sure what to think. I still have PTSD from the Paul, Weiss test that I did several weeks ago. 🥲🥲​
From what I remember from the open day, I think it’s based on the performance of that year ( I know that’s annoying as that’s impossibly vague!!) However, these scores seem pretty solid so I wouldn’t worry if I were you :)
 

OliverTwist

Distinguished Member
Sep 24, 2023
63
107
Can anybody who has completed the AC for Mishcon for Spring already please message me, or like this and I will message you, I have a couple of questions related to the format. As have one coming up for Summer! Thanks in advance :)
 

johnnn821

Valued Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jan 16, 2021
112
192
I have been following this forum for about four and a half years now and I remember when the vacation scheme thread hit 999 pages back in 2021, which was the highest we have seen since then. But now here we are about to smash through 1000 pages and it’s only March! What a year this is shaping up to be! Congrats to everyone who secured a vac scheme!
 

Nine

Star Member
Feb 15, 2024
27
26
I took the Stephenson Harwood test earlier and I think I scored 8766 across the four pillars (so 27/36 or 75%) and I think I got mid for verbal reasoning and high for numerical reasoning.

Does anyone here know what their benchmark is from previous cycles because I’m not sure what to think. I still have PTSD from the Paul, Weiss test that I did several weeks ago. 🥲🥲​
what were the VI qs like? were there 4?
 

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Newsletter

Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.