TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Harvey Specter]

Hi, I would really appreciate someone who has done to Freshfields stage 1 online test to clarify this by replying to me. Thank you!

There’s 3 components: an SJT, WG and another element which is like a quick fire personality test thing. The SJT is untimed, the other two parts of the test are timed. The test should take roughly an hour to complete in full.​

 

[cookedlawstudent]

There’s 3 components: an SJT, WG and another element which is like a quick fire personality test thing. The SJT is untimed, the other two parts of the test are timed. The test should take roughly an hour to complete in full.​

Thank you for responding! Would you say the questions are very similar to the practice tests they provided or much harder?

 

[spidermonkey777]

Hello!

Yes, it was recorded

I'm struggling to find it Could you tell me where I can access the recording, please?

 

[spidermonkey777]

anyone heard from DLA piper after being told they passed WG

have you heard back yet?

 

[Harvey Specter]

Thank you for responding! Would you say the questions are very similar to the practice tests they provided or much harder?

I am generally really bad at SJTs and WGs so it’s probably likely that my anecdotal experience will not be the same as everyone else’s. I attempted the practice tests and felt the actual test was pretty similar in terms of difficulty. However, I did have extra time as an adjustment, so not sure if that contributed to the experience. Not entirely sure what their benchmarks are either and if the benchmark will be increasing as more applications come through nearer to the deadline.​

 

[Maddy]

Anyone who was cut mid way in their A&O shearman VI and still got an AC? Or are they very strict? I got low verbal and numerical.

 

[cookedlawstudent]

I am generally really bad at SJTs and WGs so it’s probably likely that my anecdotal experience will not be the same as everyone else’s. I attempted the practice tests and felt the actual test was pretty similar in terms of difficulty. However, I did have extra time as an adjustment, so not sure if that contributed to the experience. Not entirely sure what their benchmarks are either and if the benchmark will be increasing as more applications come through nearer to the deadline.​

That's very interesting, because I did practice on Graduates First for the Watson Glaser test and I swear that the mock tests they have are the most difficult Watson Glaser tests known to man. One of them was so insanely difficult I thought that I was cooked for the real thing. But I found the practice tests that FF gave in their preparation portal to be a lot easier. For Situation Judgement, I've had a lot of experience with those when it comes to applying to retail jobs so I'm not as concerned with that part. But from what you've said I think I'll do atleast one test before.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

Does anyone have any advice, in the last 24 hours I have been rejected from Reed Smith and DLA Piper post application (so didn't even get the test for either) and both rejections were received within a week of me applying.

I'm not really sure what to make of it as I've gotten to ACs before and am progressing thru test stages with other firms. My weakest part of my app is my grades but they both say they take a 2.1 and I thought they were strong applications, maybe I was too late idk.


Any advice on this as I am struggling to move past these rejections since I don't really know what to learn from it/what I shld have done differently.

Last year I progressed to online test with Reed Smith. My grades are terrible so I would say focus on tailoring your application more. I remember speaking about a topic that wasn't very academic but was true to my story of why I wanted a career in law. No fancy writing, just a simple walk through of what I did when I was younger, how it led me to law, then I linked it to the work at Reed Smith.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

That's very interesting, because I did practice on Graduates First for the Watson Glaser test and I swear that the mock tests they have are the most difficult Watson Glaser tests known to man. One of them was so insanely difficult I thought that I was cooked for the real thing. But I found the practice tests that FF gave in their preparation portal to be a lot easier. For Situation Judgement, I've had a lot of experience with those when it comes to applying to retail jobs so I'm not as concerned with that part. But from what you've said I think I'll do atleast one test before.

I'm using graduate first and the tests are definitely harder. Try assessment day, their tests are similar to the real thing.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

Finished my Simons test earlier today. Am I cooked for having average verbal, strong numerical then 8,8,4. Anyone gotten through with similar scores or 20 when you add it up? I waffled on 2 of my video interview questions, and 2 were strong.