New Threads

Hello everyone, I thought it might be a good idea to have a place to discuss some commercial issues - how they affect law firms and clients especially. Feel free to drop anything that has caught your eye in the news and let's discuss!

Has anyone heard back post online assessment since the deadline has passed?

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Hey all - I've recently been progressed to an online written assessment stage for a US law firm. I have previous experience with silver circle WE's, but have typically found US WE's more difficult (or at least I don't hit the marking criteria)

I would really appreciate if anyone has specific advice for how to prepare for a US WE and maybe how they differ from other firms. I have found the case study and WE threads already on the forum super helpful too! Thanks

Email states the deadline for AC interviews is 14th January? Did anyone receive a response?? The email also says “Jan 2025” I don’t know if that’s an accident and they moved up the date for the AC or it’s all done?

Hi everyone! I have my Bristows VI coming up and in order to prepare I have been thinking about who Bristows' main competitors are (I would assume Bird & Bird etc). I would appreciate if anyone has any insight about who their main competitors are and what differentiates Bristows from its competitors? Thanks in advance

anyone who's completed stage 2 of milbank online assessment received an AC yet?

Hello everyone,
Hopefully this will serve as a documentation of how I was able to get a successful TC.
It is a bit late in the cycle to start this but I am going stir crazy waiting for responses and updates from firms.
So far I have received 5 PFO's (heartbreaking) but we move.
Currently waiting on
Simmons & Simmons - PFO
Milbank - PFO post stage 2
Paul, Weiss PFO post app
Debevoise & Plimpton PFO post app
Mishcon de Reya
Gibson Dunn PFO post test
Sidley Austin PFO post app
DWF
Cooley - PFO post WG
Travers Smith
Kirkland & Ellis PFO post app
White & Case PFO post app
MoFo
Morgan Lewis PFO post app
Cleary PFO post app
Orrick
Winston & Strawn
Ropes & Gray PFO post app
Shoosmiths Waiting list lmao
Vinson & Elkins PFO post app
Dechert
...I am sure I'm missing some
Harbottle & Lewis

Have an AC from:
Mayer Brown
Covington


Going to apply to:
K&L Gates Summer
Fried Frank (later in the year)
King & Spalding (later in the year)
Paul Hastings (maybe DTC)
...and other direct training contracts if I can


I am constantly anxious and dealing with it my keeping up with the news and trying to breathe.
My mum gave the mantra "I will get a vacation scheme and a training contract this year." so I have been saying that on repeat.

Wish me luck!

Hi all,
I'm a first year uni student applying to a number of open days and insight schemes right now. I'm curious about whether it's generally a good or bad idea to write about a firm's Forage job simulation I've done in an application to another firm? (specifically to answer the why commercial law question)

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi all,

I have recently been charged with being in charge of a vehicle while unfit to drive through drink and am due to appear in the Magistrates' court within the next couple of weeks. I am expecting either 10 penalty points or a driving ban.

I am currently studying for the SQE and hold a training contract with a City firm, which I am due to commence in September 2026. I want to be clear that I fully accept responsibility for my actions, and recognise the seriousness of the offence as well as the potential risks posed to other road users. While I was under significant pressure at the time due to the SQE exams, I do not consider this to be in any way an excuse for my reckless behaviour. I am so disappointed in myself, given the privileged position I am in to have a TC and be sponsored by my firm to sit the SQE.

When I was 17 I was also convicted of a drink-driving offence. Whilst this is spent, I disclosed this when applying for transparency. These incidents are entirely out of character for me, and are lapses of judgment made in moments of stress, mental anguish and foolishness. I have abstained from alcohol and will continue to do so.

I would be really grateful for any guidance on the following:

1. I will disclose the recent driving offence to my future employer immediately following my court hearing. However, I am concerned that my TC will be rescinded. Is this a strong likelihood?
   
   
2. How will the SRA view this in the context of character and suitability, and what steps I can take now to mitigate any adverse findings? Should I get in contact with the SRA, or ask my employer for some advice (provided they do not rescind my TC)?

Thank you so much.

Hi all,

I am unable to find much public information about what the Baker McKenzie 'Online Test' entails.

The email states the following: "This assessment will consist of a number of situational judgement questions, along with some applied verbal intellect items."

Does this mean the 'Online Test' will include a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and verbal reasoning questions? Do they use Watson Glaser?

Thank you and any replies are very much appreciated!

Hi, has anyone heard back after completing the Watson-Glaser test for the Dubai office?

Hi, has anyone received an invite for an AC for DLA Piper for the Birmingham office?

Hi, has anyone received an invite for an AC for DLA Piper for the Birmingham office?

Currently midway through my PGDL, graduated from an RG Uni with a high first, studying Business and Economics.

This is an update list of where I have got to, and whether still in.

So far applied to these firms, but want to apply to more once exams are over:

1. A&O Shearman - SJT+WG - Rejection
2. Ashurst - SJT+WG
3. Clifford Chance - VI - Rejection
4. Hogan Lovells - Job Sim
5. HSFK - SJT+WG - Rejection
6. Linklaters - SJT+WG
7. Macfarlanes - VI/Job Sim - Rejection
8. Paul, Weiss - Written Application
9. Slaughter and May - AC for DTC - Rejection
10. Taylor Wessing - SJT + WG
11. White and Case - SJT+WG
12. Mischon de Reya - AI Chatbot
13. Freshfields - SJT+WG - Rejection
14. HFW - Written Application
15. CMS - SJT+WG - Rejection
16. Eversheds - SJT + WG - Rejection
17. Willkie - Written Application - Rejection
18. NRF - VI
19. Kirkland - VI
20. Stephenson Harwood - Written Application
21. Simmons - Job Sim type thing
22. Baker McKenzie - Written application.

So that brings the tally to 9 PFOs so far, roughly 6 of which came in a 5-day span at the beginning of December which sucked.

Slaughters was a proper kick in the teeth. Thought it went fantastically, got on really well with both partners and grad rec. Feedback was also stellar, being very complimentary of the interviews and the written case study. The reason for rejection stated was that I didn't have the "Slaughters way of thinking" which sucked to hear, but, indeed, there is an evaluation for fit, not just competency, and I was certainly more energetic than many of the people in the office, so may have not fit all too well anyway!


Onwards and upwards!

Hi all,

I received a 2.2 across all modules in first year. I have an informal extenuating circumstance however all of my grades were low. So far in second year I have received 62-68 in my formatives.

I know that my application would be way more competitive if I were to apply once I have my second year grades or even after I graduate. I think I have good extra curriculars and otherwise high GCSE/ A level grades.

Would it be possible to apply to MC/SC/international and US firms in the long run? Any professional advice would be appreciated.

Keeping track of the applications I've made so I can stop staring at my excel sheet:

Rejections

Travers Smith DTC post app
Freshfields DTC post stage 1
A&O post SJT/VI
Weil post SJT/VI
Clifford Chance post passing WG
WFW DTC - applied in December - PFO post app 13th Jan
Millbank Lev/fin VS Spring - completed stage 1 online assessment Dec 30th - PFO
Burges Salmon VS Edinburgh - completed auto assessment Jan 5th - PFO
Cooley VS Spring - applied December - PFO
Goodwin Procter DTC - completed VI Jan 7th - PFO
White & Case VS Spring - completed auto assessment Dec 30th - PFO
Dechert VS Spring - applied Dec 31 - PFO post app
Clyde & Co VS Spring - completed auto assessment Jan 10th - VI - PFO 9th Feb
Osborne Clark - DTC - PFO post online test
Marriot Harrison Summer VS - completed auto online assessment Feb - PFO'd late Feb
Orrick - VS Summer - PFO'd late Feb
Akin VS Spring - applied Dec 31 - PFO'd late Feb
Ropes & Gray - VS Summer - PFO'd late Feb
Addleshaw Goddard VS Summer - completed auto assessment Dec 29th - PFO 5/03

Progress updates

Linklaters DTC - Completed auto assessment in November

Gibson Dunn VS Spring - completed online assessment
Hogan Lovells DTC- applied in October - completed auto online assessment Feb - Invite to Job sim Feb 16th - Felt Job sim/VI went well
Simmons & Simmons VS Bristol - Auto SJT invite - completed SJT/VI late Feb, VI went well, SJT not the best scores

No update since application

HFW DTC - applied in October
Mayer Brown DTC - applied in December
Stephenson Harwood DTC - applied in December
Hugh James VS Summer
K&L Gates work placement - holding email
Russel Cooke - VS Summer
Michelmores Bristol VS Summer
Goldman Sachs Asset Management off-cycle internship

Exactly what the title says. I am set to graduate in June 2026, and am not banking on receiving a TC. My backup plan is naturally paralegaling, but I am quite unsure when I am supposed to be applying for these positions. Every job listing I've seen so far doesn't include a start date.

Hi everyone! I've just been notified I've gotten through to the next round for a paralegal interview (after having had a first interview with a recuriter). This will now be the second to last interview before the last and final one. It's for an in-house paralegal role and I've been told it will be around 1 hour 15 mins long. Any tips or advice would be really appreciated since i'm not sure what to expect seeing as it's longer than interview's I'm used to. I was told there would be a task involved in the interview too but haven't been given more to go off based on this. If anyone can let me know what I could maybe expect task wise or in the interview itself (I believe it will be two lawyers in the corporate team) I would be really grateful, thank you!!

Hi all,

I hope this is the right place to post. I'm looking for some advice about my options going forward. For context, I don't have a TC, I am sitting SQE 1 in the next two weeks, and need to decide whether to continue straight on to preparing for the SQE 2 exam, or to wait and begin SQE 2 preparation after I get my SQE 1 results in March.

I have no idea what the most common approach people take in this situation would be? I wonder if there is any correlation between going straight on to SQE 2 and success in passing that exam, since I know that retaining SQE 1 knowledge is an important aspect of it?

I would really appreciate any guidance you can provide on how I should make this decision, as I cannot see a clear best answer, especially for what would happen if I were to start preparation for SQE 2 and then discover that I had not passed SQE 1.

Thank you

Hi,
I couldn’t find any info on in-house training salaries for first and second year, maybe in Media specifically. But regardless of sector could you share example salaries that you know from companies for me to assess what’s the market rate is?

I thought I’d start this thread as I was looking for something similar, but could only find discussions on firms that don’t do an SJT/Watson Glaser.

So far these are the firms that I know had no application questions in their initial screening, just straight SJT/Assessment. Please feel free to add any further firms!

Milbank
Clyde & Co
Mills & Reeve
Linklaters
Freshfields
Irwin Mitchel

Hi, I'm a new TCLA Premium member. I joined very recently and have been finding the 3 news stories a day very helpful as I struggle with commercial awareness. With law firms now sending out tests/video interviews/doing assessment centres, how do you recommend I make the most of the platform in a short amount of time to show a genuine understanding of topics, concepts, etc.

For example, do you recommend going back to a particular month's news stories in the archive?
Any specific course recommendation(s)?
What do you recommend practising and how frequently?
My goal is to feel more confident in discussing commercial topics and an understanding of contracts, M&A etc...

Hi guys, I'm an oxbridge grad (2:1) currently doing the GDL in London.

I'm interested mainly in private client law (though obviously I'll hopefully end up with a TC in a full service firm), and was wondering whether anyone else in here is? I am aware this is a corporate/commercial focussed forum, but I presume a few of us are looking to specialise in private client?

Any advice with applications would be appreciated... this is my second cycle, and I have a decent amount of legal work experience (VS and informal, plus sitting in the public gallery in court). I'm just scared of another year of nothing, or screwing up tests, interviews, and assessment days. We're all in the same boat I suppose, but it's no fun.