I’m going to say it isn’t as the email asking us to do the test says “Your application has been shortlisted for the next stage of the process as you've demonstrated the potential that we are looking for.”
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hello!For DLA, the question says to "select one article from DLA Piper Insights page", I went to the page and selected something that's a longer form guide. Does anyone if that is okay or does it need to be one of the short form articles?
Not sure if I'm overthinking it - would appreciate any input on this
You're not overthinking it! A longer-form guide from the DLA Piper Insights page should be totally fine, as long as it clearly relates to one of their client sectors and you can use it to discuss your personal and professional ambitions. The instructions just say to choose an article from that page, so guides and insight pieces should count - they're just different formats.
If your chosen guide ties into a client sector, then you're meeting the brief perfectly! In fact, having a longer piece might give you more to discuss in your analysis
I got sent it so it can't be selective as my application isn't particularly strong for law lol.
Hey!
I think anywhere up to 1.5 pages is an acceptable length (although 1 page is generally best!). However, I would try and avoid using font size 10 as it can be slightly too small - font size 11 or 12 is generally preferred!
700 words seems like the right amount if you haven't been provided with a word limit!
I mean the word “shortlisted” prob means we were shortlisted - which implies some people weren’t. Which means it ain’t automatic? Idk tho I could be wrong.
I wouldn't interpret that too literally.
I submitted my application on Sunday.
The assessment arrived on Monday. There would be no time to do a shortlist beyond the standard 2:1 predicted etc.
Just wrapped up Mayer Brown's online assessment and VI. The assessment is an Amberjacks one and VI included four questions (mixture of motivational and commercial questions)!
Hey, I was just wondering if you had any insights for the Bird & Bird video interview questions? In the email they are being really vague, and B&B is the firm I most want to work for, so I would really appreciate any insights you can give, paticularly regards to the questions. I'm happy to trade any OA insights that you could find useful, I've personally done 9 so far and know the structures of 5 more from my friends who have done them.
Thank you so much, and good luck with your applications!!
I know people who got the second test after like 3 weeks so don’t panic. It’s been a week for me and I haven’t received it either.
Can someone tell me if the Latham and Watkins Practice Video Interview Questions are similar to the ones asked in the actual interview?
If not, could anyone please share the kind of questions I can anticipate in the VI?
Thanks in Advance.
If not, could anyone please share the kind of questions I can anticipate in the VI?
Thanks in Advance.
Has anyone heard from Clyde and co post test? My friend heard back quickly for the paralegal academy, I did the test for the vac scheme on the 2nd of this month and im still waiting
What in the Video interview as well? I thought that was just for the SJT in the first assessment?
Can I ask how long it took to receive the first CAPP test? I applied yesterday just wondering when I can roughly expect it
Did you use personal examples in your video interview or did you make it more hypothetical (depending on the question)? I feel like some seem hard to make a personal link to.Hey!
Sure, happy to share how I approached the VI!
In general for video interviews, it's really important to make sure that you are fully answering the question and that any examples that you use actually fit with the question. I used to have a tendency to want to use my strongest example and try and fit it to the question, however, the graduate recruitment team can usually tell and it'll look better to use an example that fits best (even if it is a less 'substantive' experience)
Another main thing I did was practice - it can be very weird to talk to a computer screen, so it really helped me to have a go at answering the most common interview questions in the mirror (even if it felt a little silly!). I had a tendency to ramble in my video interviews, so knowing roughly how long it would take me to cover my main topics was really helpful.
Make sure you also utilise your prep time, as this is really useful to have a clear idea of what you are going to say before you start recording - Reed Smith actually recommend you use the prep time instead of jumping straight into the questions! I would avoid writing a script as this can sound robotic and could reflect badly on your overall performance, but I stuck a post-it note with all the key points I wanted to discuss and used that when practising (and in the recording).
There's a video in the TCLA Law Firm Directory that I watched before my VI that I found was super helpful - I'll link it here. I'd definitely give that a watch, as Rik gives some great advice on what they are looking for and how to approach each aspect of the assessment.
Overall, just answer truthfully and be yourself. I think there's a tendency to think you have to come across as super composed and scripted for a video interview, but this isn't necessarily how you would behave in an actual interview. Take a moment to relax before recording, and try and come across as approachable and friendly - show them your personality and what your strengths are!
I hope that assists
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