TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Afuturetrainee]

Has anyone received an invitation for Gibson Dunn’s SJT? I heard that they were implementing one this year, but I applied on Friday and haven’t heard anything since.

Many thanks

Spoke to Grad Rec at Legal Cheek's event yesterday, and they said they would send it out in batches. EVERYONE will get an invitation, and they haven't started reading apps yet, but will soon. She said the first round of tests should go out before mid-October. But your application will be read before being sent a test. Then both results will be reviewed holistically before being progressed to an HR interview.

It's a Cappafinity test with some elements of SJT and SPAG/Proofreading exercises. No WG

 

[ZNadeem]

Oop two rejections in already and I feel locked out of the legal profession yet again ):

I completely get that it feels tough! But try to separate those doubts from the disciplined effort of applying — that way you don’t have to rely on motivation alone to keep going. Two rejections, or even 100, don’t define your potential. Keep reminding yourself why you want to work in this profession, and let that guide you forward

 

[ZNadeem]

Does the latham test have a video question?

Hi! I have been hearing that it does not in this cycle

 

[ZNadeem]

is it ok to abbreviate DLA Piper to DLA without defining the abbreviation?

i.e can I start and say DLA's strength in XYZ, or would I have to say DLA Piper's (DLA) strength in XYZ...

Hi! You’d need to write it as “DLA Piper’s (DLA)” the first time. That said, I don’t think it’s worth abbreviating in this case — the firm itself does not shorten its name to just “DLA.” It’s worth checking their website, but usually keeping it as “DLA Piper” throughout is the safest option.

 

[applicant457]

Guys, did Macfarlanes actually read through the 300 word application answers or did they just send out OAs based on the results of the previous OA?

 

[noahsmiit01]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, could you please help me with structuring the following question? - What makes you a good candidate for a training contract at Jones Day? Your answer should be reflective of your skills and personal experience

Do I need to link back to the firm's deals/practice areas/trainee programme when talking about my experiences & extracurricular activities? If so, then how do I link them together?

Thank you

 

[Kakaboo]

Has anyone done the Ashurst test before? Any tips? Is it automatic?

 

[Amz2006]

hi yes what does the ashurst test involve and has anybody done it yet.

 

[AS24]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, in my app, can I mention a case that the firm handled in April 2024?

 

[s123]

hi yes what does the ashurst test involve and has anybody done it yet.

It's a cognify assessment - jobtestprep has a couple of practise qs

 

[TCchaser]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, could you please help me with structuring the following question? - What makes you a good candidate for a training contract at Jones Day? Your answer should be reflective of your skills and personal experience

Do I need to link back to the firm's deals/practice areas/trainee programme when talking about my experiences & extracurricular activities? If so, then how do I link them together?

Thank you

Hi, I got a Jones Day interview, so I thought I'd share my approach.

I listed 3 qualities that I thought would be necessary as a Jones Day trainee - some things were generic, like analytical skills, as every trainee at any firm will need that, but some were more tailored. For instance, Jones Day has a non-rotational TC, so you need to take initiative more. I then discussed 1 experience per quality, explaining briefly what I did and how I demonstrated that particular quality. I then linked back to Jones Day at the end, and why I would need those particular qualities at that firm - eg. Jones Day's non-rotational TC means I need to take initiative, and my resourcefulness will help me add value to the firm.

Hope that makes sense, feel free to DM with any questions you may have!

 

[LegallyBrunette_]

Hi, I got a Jones Day interview, so I thought I'd share my approach.

I listed 3 qualities that I thought would be necessary as a Jones Day trainee - some things were generic, like analytical skills, as every trainee at any firm will need that, but some were more tailored. For instance, Jones Day has a non-rotational TC, so you need to take initiative more. I then discussed 1 experience per quality, explaining briefly what I did and how I demonstrated that particular quality. I then linked back to Jones Day at the end, and why I would need those particular qualities at that firm - eg. Jones Day's non-rotational TC means I need to take initiative, and my resourcefulness will help me add value to the firm.

Hope that makes sense, feel free to DM with any questions you may have!

This is exactly what I did and I've also been invited to interview so it's seem to be an approach that works quite well! In terms of the three qualities I chose, I linked them back to the ones Jones Day says it is looking for in trainees in its FAQs.

 

[Samdeacon1902]

Has anyone got any insight into the Ashurst test?

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, could you please help me with structuring the following question? - What makes you a good candidate for a training contract at Jones Day? Your answer should be reflective of your skills and personal experience

Do I need to link back to the firm's deals/practice areas/trainee programme when talking about my experiences & extracurricular activities? If so, then how do I link them together?

Thank you

Hi! I would suggest starting by identifying 2–3 unique selling points (USPs) of the firm that genuinely resonate with you—for example, their global reach, collaborative culture, or specific practice areas that interest you. Once you have these, link each one to your own background, experiences, or academic achievements. A good way to structure this is using a PEA format: Point (what USP you want to highlight), Evidence (specific example from your experience), and Analysis (how this makes you a good fit for Jones Day). Essentially, you’re “reverse answering” the classic ‘why Jones Day’ question by showing how your personal skills and experiences align with what the firm values.

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi @vera.mekhonoshina and @ZNadeem, in my app, can I mention a case that the firm handled in April 2024?

Hi! If you intend to use it as evidence of the unique work the firm has done to evidence your interest in a relevant practice area, then it should be fine! However, if the question is asking you to “speak about a recent deal we have done”, then maybe try to pick something more recent (previous 12 months).

 

[iklawapps]

First of all congratulations to everyone making it to the interviews for Jones Day and good luck for them! I’m sure they’re gonna be amazing!

If you don’t mind me asking, what did you put for the ‘did you use AI’ question. I feel like they’re tripping me out haha. Thank you!!

 

[noahsmiit01]

First of all, congratulations to everyone making it to the interviews for Jones Day, and good luck to them! I’m sure they’re gonna be amazing!

If you don’t mind me asking, what did you put for the ‘did you use AI’ question. I feel like they’re tripping me out haha. Thank you!!

That question is a bit weird because when firms have this question, it’s usually a Yes/No option, but here you need to tailor down a 100-word answer. I also wonder whether Grammarly counts towards AI.

 

[MattSmith]

Can I refer to Latham & Watkins as just 'Latham' in Application forms for their open day and vac schemes...?

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Can I refer to Latham & Watkins as just 'Latham' in Application forms for their open day and vac schemes...?

Hi @MusaIqbal,

Yes, you can! The rule of thumb is to check the firm's website and see whether it uses a specific shortened version of the name itself.

You'd want to first write out the firm's name in full and put the abbreviation in brackets - after that, you can just use the shortened version. For example:

'I am applying to Latham & Watkins ('Latham')...'

Hope this helps!

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi! I would suggest starting by identifying 2–3 unique selling points (USPs) of the firm that genuinely resonate with you—for example, their global reach, collaborative culture, or specific practice areas that interest you. Once you have these, link each one to your own background, experiences, or academic achievements. A good way to structure this is using a PEA format: Point (what USP you want to highlight), Evidence (specific example from your experience), and Analysis (how this makes you a good fit for Jones Day). Essentially, you’re “reverse answering” the classic ‘why Jones Day’ question by showing how your personal skills and experiences align with what the firm values.

Completely agree! I think that the most important part of this answer is to make sure you provide specific evidence from your research on the firm so that you really nail the 'trainee at Jones Day' part of the answer. While skills can be more generic and expected of trainees in general, like collaboration, a candidate can tailor them to the firm by explaining why the skill is especially relevant for Jones Day in particular.