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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
It is literally impossible to tell how you've done. Just make sure you and your strengths shine through. It's a strange way of assessing people but they have to take some people through to the next stage and it may well be you, so do it!!
For those who did Mishcon test is it worse than HL test and FF test. I am thinking of applying for Mishcon but don't know what to expect from it like whether its worth putting my mental health through it to get that pfo. I did the HL test and that was the worst from allof the tests this cycle. I can provide advice for other firms in return.
From what I understand in the interview invite email, they contact the references before the scheme starts (presuming you get offered the wvs post interview) but you can start the scheme without it confirmed. I imagine it comes into play with tc determinations.
Hello!
I don't think it is necessary to write too much for this section! I would rate your skills overall in various software programmes that you have used, and provide a short explanation of what you can actually do. For example, whilst I'd make it personal and go into a bit more detail, you could write something like: "I'm comfortable using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and online research tools. I am confident in learning new software and managing digital files efficiently"
I would essentially use the question to describe what kind of programmes, tools or systems you are comfortable with using - I wouldn't stress too much over the question, and just be honest about your capabilities
Hey!Hi guys,
I hope all is well! I'm currently going through the Taylor Wessing application form, and I had one small query about the section where we're supposed to enter our university module results. As ever, if anyone has any ideas, I'd be hugely grateful!
Basically, candidates are asked to give a "letter grade", and a "number grade" for each module. The letter grade part is pretty obvious (you put down whether you've got a First, a 2.1, etc in that module), but I'm wondering what to put down under the "number grade" section! The problem here stems from the fact that my university gives marks out of 200 (not 100) for each module - for instance, if I got 70% in a particular module, then I received 140 marks out of 200. The problem is that the "number grade" box doesn't let candidates write down "140/200" (because the slash symbol isn't a number), nor does it let candidates enter, say, "70%" (because the percentage sign isn't a number).
At the moment, I'm planning on just writing down the score out of 200 I got (e.g. if I got 70%, just writing down "140"), as any potential confusion should be obviated by the fact that (a) I'm able to specify whether I got a First or a 2.1 for each module, and (b) because the application form allows me to attach a CV, which enables me to clarify that the university module marks are out of 200. Basically, I'm hoping that, when the application form asks me to type in a "number grade", it's not necessarily asking me to give my results as a percentage out of 100!
Does this sound like the right thing to do?
I think your plan sounds completely fine. The "number grade" box is just so they can see the numerical mark behind the classification, and firm's know that different universities use different marking systems.
If your uni marks out of 200, entering the raw mark (e.g. 140) is a sensible approach as you are also providing:
- The letter grade / classification, so they'll immediately understand the classification band, and
- Your transcript or CV which will explain the marking system, so they can then easily see that 140 corresponds to 70%
I hope that assists
Hello!For scenario-based questions, how bad is it if you answer in hypotheticals, without brining in any real-life examples?
My brain gets overwhelmed trying to explain my approach and refer to examples from my life within only 2mins and I’m scared I’ll get cut off mid-answer unless I stick to just the hypotheticals
You definitely can use hypothetical answers for scenario-based questions, and I wouldn't say it is a bad approach, but the ideal approach is to use a mix of both. The graduate recruitment team mainly want to understand your thought process, so a clear and structured hypothetical answer is absolutely acceptable if that's what helps you stay calm and concise within the 2-minute limit.
That being said, weaving in even a very brief real example can strengthen your answer because i shows you've actually applied that approach in practice. It doesn't have to be a full story - even a single sentence such as "For example, in my part-time job at X I handled something similar when..." is enough to show credibility without using too much of your time.
Something that really helped me was writing a small bank of examples in advance - a few for teamwork, a few for conflict, a few for organisation, etc. Then in the interview, I didn't have to search my brain for stories and I already knew which quick example I could mention to anchor my hypothetical answer.
A good structure could be:
- Explain your approach hypothetically (explaining your reasoning and steps)
- Add one short real-life reference from your example bank
- Finish with the outcome you'd aim for
I hope that helps!
Hey!Would a minor spelling mistake immediately disqualify you? Just went through a work experience section I already submitted and I missed an "a"
As others have mentioned, this will vary between firms so it's difficult to give a definitive answer. However, I've found that most firms will allow you to have a typo or two without it negatively impacting you - particularly if your overall application is strong! If it is something as minor as missing an "a", I would try not to panic
Huge congratulations!!! That's an amazing achievement, and you should be super proud
That’s so helpful, thank you so much!!Hello!
You definitely can use hypothetical answers for scenario-based questions, and I wouldn't say it is a bad approach, but the ideal approach is to use a mix of both. The graduate recruitment team mainly want to understand your thought process, so a clear and structured hypothetical answer is absolutely acceptable if that's what helps you stay calm and concise within the 2-minute limit.
That being said, weaving in even a very brief real example can strengthen your answer because i shows you've actually applied that approach in practice. It doesn't have to be a full story - even a single sentence such as "For example, in my part-time job at X I handled something similar when..." is enough to show credibility without using too much of your time.
Something that really helped me was writing a small bank of examples in advance - a few for teamwork, a few for conflict, a few for organisation, etc. Then in the interview, I didn't have to search my brain for stories and I already knew which quick example I could mention to anchor my hypothetical answer.
A good structure could be:
However, if sticking to hypotheticals are what allow you to stay clear and structured, that's totally okay - content and clarity will matter more than forcing a long example. It's better to give a strong and coherent hypothetical answer than a rushed, half-finished real-world one.
- Explain your approach hypothetically (explaining your reasoning and steps)
- Add one short real-life reference from your example bank
- Finish with the outcome you'd aim for
I hope that helps!
Honestly it wasn't that bad in terms of difficulty as you can spend as much time as you like on the answers, and the chat AI bot will respond directly to what you've said. But it did take me hours and you have to be locked in for the whole time to check your expression, grammar, spelling etc. so that part was really not enjoyable. I also don't know what or how they're assessing it so I have no gauge as to how I did
In my experience (I've tested this approach a few times with non-law grad schemes that I wasn't very interested in) and from some research and online discussions, it looks like you do better if you're decisive/polarising in your answers as it shows that you're not trying to "please" by sitting in the middle, that you're self-aware, and that you have the specific strengths they may be looking for. The broad headline skills you get at the end with a feedback report with the usual words like Communication/Teamwork/Drive/Resilience can give you an idea of these strengths, and there's usually some minor indication of what they're expecting you to respond with. I've previously been told that I'm naturally collaborative but don't take any personal responsibility, and if I try to match my answers more towards personal responsibility, it says that I'm poor at collaboration (I think this is clearly undesirable in literally any job/profession).
The best general advice remains to consider what a trainee solicitor, with all their skills and limitations, should be doing in the situation.
It's tricky to try and understand if this is necessarily where you're falling short because virtually all firms both law and non-law will send an SJT automatically before reading your application. Unless you're explicitly receiving poor feedback reports or being told that you didn't meet their benchmark score, I would probably revisit the application. It's also a process of luck, unfortunately.
Fact of the matter is, online assessments will not be fair if you're completely honest as Grad Rec advises you to be. They're called assessments rather than personality questionnaires for a reason. It's just an extra step that you need to know how to tackle in the same way people talk about personalising your application answers with your own experiences, highlighting what you did, learned, and gained from the experience and how it's linked to the firm/role etc.
I know I wrote a lot, but hopefully that helps!
Did anybody hear back from Weil post SJT?
I did my SJT a while back and got 24/36, think I did OK on VIs.
I did my SJT a while back and got 24/36, think I did OK on VIs.
Has anyone ever progressed with a 4 in one of the amberjack pillars
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