TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[GiveMeTC2026]

Is Weil test amberjack or Simmons type.

 

[Andrei Radu]

I’m trying to complete my A&O Shearman application. In the university module section, they only allow a maximum of 20 modules to be listed, but I have taken more than 20. What should I do? Can anyone help me out here?

I would put down the 20 most recent ones and explain the situation in any additional information section. If this section does not exist, you can email the graduate recruitment team about it explaining the situation and sending a full module breakdown attached. This is a relatively common situation, as firms receive applications from candidates from a variety of different educational backgrounds, and in certain places it is normal for candidates to have taken 50+ modules in university.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi all

I have my white & case final interview on the last few days of their schedule (from what I could see when I picked the day).

I’ve seen a vac offer from someone around after interviewing last week, which has made me a bit anxious. Does being scheduled on the final day of the interview put me at a disadvantage? Do interview processes like these operate on a rolling basis where spaces get filled quickly?

Any advice appreciated thanks!!

Hi @qaz99 I would advise you not to worry about this. White & Case is a firm that is known to "stagger" its progression and offers, so they will definitely not be filling up all VS places before the interview. In general, firms will not operate interviews on a rolling basis - they will only make decisions after they have interviewed all the people in an "interview batch"; the offers you have seen have likely come from people allocated to a different group.

The exception to this rule is when partners are extremely impressed by a candidate and are afraid they may lose them to another firm; a case in which it is not uncommon for firms to make offers on the spot or within a couple of days of the interview. Nonetheless, this is a quite exceptional occurrence, which will definitely not result in a lot of VS places at W&C being filled before you have are interviewed.

As such, I would advise you to not worry about the date and time you are have the interview at - if anything, you could think that since you will be among the last candidates to be interviewed, you have the biggest opportunity to make a lasting impression and that it is by the nature of things simply more likely that you will still be "fresh" in people's minds as they make the final decision. Thus, you should simply go in knowing that if you perform well-around and score well on their assessment criteria, you will likely get the offer.

 

[Amgrad]

Is Weil test amberjack or Simmons type.

It's Amberjack like Reed Smith, but haven't taken them.

For anyone who had done both, which one do you think is harder? Reed Smith or Weil?

 

[spidermonkey777]

Hey everyone - just a note that I'll be running a session with Osborne Clarke">@Patrick - Osborne Clarke, our first-ever application session with OC. It's a virtual session tomorrow at 6pm.

Would love to see you there!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/P97zp-J3RWurp2QnbmcaRQ#/registration

Hi Jaysen,

Was this session recorded?

 

[mg42guy32]

Anyone heard from nrf for the insight day on 25th Nov?

 

[Amgrad]

Hey! I got to interact with the GR team today!

They screen applications as they come to reduce the work load, but that doesn't make any difference from our end. They'll screen all the applications they receive, even if it's the last day.

They shall send across the second round (VI) to people who get through the application stage, but no decision about accessment centre will be made before the deadline and screening every single application.

@Amgrad They cancelled last year's vacation scheme because the partners were happy with the candidates and they gave them direct training contract. So even if you apply for Vac Scheme now and get cancelled, you'll be seen in the same pool as the direct trainee contract. No difference or drawbacks whatsoever!

I hope that helps.
Best luck with your applications ✨.

Thx anyway, I saw your concern about em-dashes on Chat GPT. However, you can stop it by going to setting.. You can find a comprehensive tutorial here: https://ruben.substack.com/p/emdash

You can always change the writing style of your GenAI, I worked with LLM consultant before and it's work the same for other tools like Perplexity, Claude, Mistral, DeepSeek, and Gemini.

So, if someone thought em-dashes are always AI, they are crap. Even semicolon can be generated by LLM too 🤣

For example: "Systematically replace em-dashes (“—”) with a dot (”.”) to start a new sentence, or a comma (”,”) to continue the sentence. Use semicolon (";") for a long sentence to replace em-dashes effectively".

You just need to write the prompt properly to always choose your preferences including word choices too, the most effective method is through the settings and it's completely free. What I see here em-dashes is a default setting, but not everyone knows this hack.

 

[routetotrainingcontract]

radio silence from Weil, honestly I should have known it was not a good idea when there was no opportunity to add my work experience. I dont have good grades so very valid of them 🥲 I will just focus on applying to firms that let me put in my work experience aha

 

[jojo23]

Is Weil test amberjack or Simmons type.

Simmons uses amberjack, too. The only key difference is the pillars

 

[lawyersum]

hey everyone. looking for some guidance on this question from Bakers: Discuss how the role of a commercial lawyer is evolving in today’s business environment. Identify the key skills required and how you have demonstrated these. (300 words max). My thinking is that AI is obviously going to be part of my answer, but how do i relate it back to my skills as the way the question is worded implies they want us to connect the development with our skills?

 

[PakLaw]

Has anyone done the HSF online test? I saw someone mention in an earlier post that it did not include verbal reasoning, is this true?

 

[Ronaldo04]

Simmons uses amberjack, too. The only key difference is the pillars

What do you mean? Don't they all have the same four pillars?

 

[Amgrad]

What do you mean? Don't they all have the same four pillars?

I think he meant firm's preferences. Somewhat they have different traits for success which can be distinguished by the priority pillars.

 

[yk1906]

Hi, does Linklaters start reviewing apps after they are satisfied with your SJT + WG scores? I got quite a high WG percentile and am contemplating whether it is all useful...

 

[Lawlawland]

Did anyone hear from PW for their Open Day on 19th?

 

[Ferran_]

Any news from AO Shearman?

bit strange that seems like most ppl haven’t heard a peep from AO Shearman

 

[Dannie]

Am I cooked... For Weil:
good verbal intellect, average numerical intellect
6/9 Grit
6/9 Applied intellect
4/9 creative force
4/9 digital mindset

 

[jojo23]

What do you mean? Don't they all have the same four pillars?

I think he meant firm's preferences. Somewhat they have different traits for success which can be distinguished by the priority pillars.

So standard amberjack uses 4 pillars i cant remember them all but it's something like grit, digital mindset and 2 others
Simmons one uses 3- commercial acumen, people skills and self management

 

[flower1]

Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
I was wondering if you would recommended me emailing graduate recruitment regarding my score on the test - they already said the outcome, but just out of curiosity to know the exact score?
And also about emailing them regarding further information on the video interview, as there's really nothing mentioned on their website from what I can see?

I don't want it to seem like I'm impatient or anything

Thank you

 

[Madhu0753]

Did anyone attend the Covington feedback session today and is willing to share some notes?