Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
20 Oct 2025
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (UK)
Hosted on TCLA Forum
Chat directly with Isabel Elsey, Legal Recruitment Manager at BCLP, and have all your questions about the firm answered! Simply return to this page to post your questions on the day.
With some firms opening their applications for winter, spring and summer schemes in the coming weeks, we thought it was time to open a new thread for a new application cycle.
Please use this master thread to discuss anything related to vacation scheme applications for the 2024-2025 application...
I wanted to determine at what point my concerns might sound whiny versus being legitimate. My case wasn't very serious, but I was hospitalized during my mid-semester exams, which constituted 25% of my total grade. This affected my ability to study and write some of the papers. I'm trying to...
Hello! I’m entering my second year in Law this September and I want to know if the open days that law firms host are marketed towards first years or second years? I didn’t attend any in my first year.
I am also intending to apply to vacation schemes. Would it be a smart idea to apply to both in...
Hi, hope everyone's good :) I have the Vacation Scheme at HFW coming up next week. V excited, and v keen to convert this VS to a TC. Does anyone have any experience of the firm, or any advice on performing well during the VS? Thanks!
I was under the impression that the CV section of one's application should be kept succinct, and well, in CV-like form with bullet points. However, a friend who has been successful in securing a TC at a top firm told me she had written out her work experience more elaborately, as an explanatory...
Somehow received assessment centre offers to a few law firms and have made it near to the assessment centre rounds for top law firms (MC firms/US). I applied on a whim as I used to be interested in law but due to familial pressure of not going down that route, for years I just left the idea of...
application advice
assessment centre
assessment centre case study
commercial awareness
interview prep
magic circle
training contract
us law firm
vacationscheme
I have just received a Video Interview for Kirkland and Ellis' vacation scheme.
Does anyone know if they offer this to everyone, and secondly- any tips on preparation for this would be amazing!!!
thank you!
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone who has applied for the A&O summer vacation scheme has heard anything back yet? I believe responses are meant to be rolling out this week (w/c 13th November). Thanks :)
Hey,
I'm a non-law student moving into law and somehow (???) I'm really struggling to get the SJT "correct". Does anyone have any tips to prepare for this? Are there any packs on JobTestPrep that might be useful? I didn't really see any law focussed ones. Any other websites? It's weird that...
Hi, I am applying to direct TCs for 2026 at the following firms
kirkland
skkaden
slaughter and may
latham
linklaters
Clifford chance
goodwin
allen and ovary
Some of those firms also have their applications offer for the 2024 vacation scheme, can I apply to both or i need to apply to either one...
Hello!
I'm currently applying for a vacation scheme, and for the "tell us about yourself" section, I'm unsure whether or not to include that I love reading. I'm going into my final year of an English Literature degree, so it's all related of course. But I'm just a bit unsure as to if it's...
Hi,
I was wondering how applicants best approach the work experience section on applications. I have come across the OWL format from Idin Sabpour. This includes Overview, Work done, and Lessons learnt (extra bonus for linking back to the firm). However, graduate recruitment teams mention being...
Hi!
I’m looking to apply for the vacation schemes this time round. I have two questions about the impact of Open Days on applications:
1) Am I disadvantaged majorly by not going to any Open Days?
I know they’re a big help, but I couldn’t do them in the last round of them.
2) Would it be...
Hi, if anyone can help me, I would be very grateful. I just finished my PGDL last month, which was entirely self-funded as I didn’t apply for VS/TC during undergrad. I also made a terrible mistake by not applying for VS during my GDL year because I didn’t feel “ready”. (I have a 1:1 Oxbridge...
Hi everyone,
Has anyone who applied for Freshfields' International Arbitration Internship in Dubai (Application deadline : March 2023) heard back or received any update on their application?
Good afternoon everyone,
I've just received my first ever invite to a vacation scheme with Mishcon de Reya. I wondered if anyone who has completed a vac scheme with MDR previously had any advice they would be happy to pass on. It would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,
L
I interviewed for a vac scheme last week, and yesterday I received a rejection email with no feedback. I requested feedback and just heard back from the recruiter. I was told that I did not provide 'extensive responses' to questions. The interview was scheduled to be a 15min interview, and I was...
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.