TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Andrei Radu]

Has anyone ever done a VI & sounded absolutely terrified but still got invited to the next stage? I've done some of those 'record-it-yourself' ones recently; for each one, I sound absolutely petrified.

Notwithstanding the quality of what I say, how important is how I actually say it? Any positive stories from similarly nervy interviewees would be greatly appreciated.

Hi @ashwright I have personally experienced this as well and progressed to an AC with V&E after a video interview I thought I had completely fumbled. I got cut off at the end, said I would speak through multiple points when starting my answer that I subsequently never got to, and just generally was a lot more nervous and less articulate than I assumed one would need to be progressed to the next stage. As such, I was sure I would not progress. This is also a phenomenon I have observed many times with other people, and I think it results from two things:

1. Candidates often underestimate how difficult VIs feel for other people as well, and as such presume that they are uniquely overanxious and unable to seem calm and composed in front of the camera. In fact, in my experience the substantial majority of people find the experience to be a nerve-racking one. Thus, you seeming terrified when answering will not single you out as much as you may be tempted to think.
2. Recruiters prioritise other qualities more than apparent confidence, as they are well-aware that this is an ability that comes with time and that is not necessarily best tested by the VI format, which is thought by many to be uniquely awkward. If you can show you have the right substantive kinds of ideas and motivations when answering questions, and if you can express your points in a reasonably clear and structured manner, many recruiters will be willing to overlook the fact that you seem a bit anxious and nervous.

 

[Andrei Radu]

hello does anyone know how much time Slaughter and May takes? And if an application submitted this week has any chance to getting considered?

Hi @Rads Slaughter and May has never had a reputation for caring a lot about how early an application was submitted. If anything, the firm is know to look for a particular type of academics-focused applicants and to often depart from common recruitment practices when targeting them. As such, if the firm sees you as having a desirable candidate profile with a strong written application, I doubt they would not seriously consider your application you simply because you have not submitted your application earlier. As for your second question about the firm's recruitment timeline, in my experience they normally start making AC invitations around late December and host ACs in late January-early February.

 

[ashwright]

Hi @ashwright I have personally experienced this as well and progressed to an AC with V&E after a video interview I thought I had completely fumbled. I got cut off at the end, said I would speak through multiple points when starting my answer that I subsequently never got to, and just generally was a lot more nervous and less articulate than I assumed one would need to be progressed to the next stage. As such, I was sure I would not progress. This is also a phenomenon I have observed many times with other people, and I think it results from two things:

1. Candidates often underestimate how difficult VIs feel for other people as well, and as such presume that they are uniquely overanxious and unable to seem calm and composed in front of the camera. In fact, in my experience the substantial majority of people find the experience to be a nerve-racking one. Thus, you seeming terrified when answering will not single you out as much as you may be tempted to think.
2. Recruiters prioritise other qualities more than apparent confidence, as they are well-aware that this is an ability that comes with time and that is not necessarily best tested by the VI format, which is thought by many to be uniquely awkward. If you can show you have the right substantive kinds of ideas and motivations when answering questions, and if you can express your points in a reasonably clear and structured manner, many recruiters will be willing to overlook the fact that you seem a bit anxious and nervous.

Thank you so much, Andrei. It means a lot to hear this from you, so thank you for the genuine reassurance. I did pretty much all of the same things that you listed, so I'm really grateful to you for showing me that I am not necessarily out of the running.

Much appreciated, hope you have a good evening.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much, Andrei. It means a lot to hear this from you, so thank you for the genuine reassurance. I did pretty much all of the same things that you listed, so I'm really grateful to you for showing me that I am not necessarily out of the running.

Much appreciated, hope you have a good evening.

Very happy help, and hope you have a great evening as well !

 

[flower1]

Hello @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock
I was wondering - in video interviews, how can we actually impress the graduate recruitment. I'm asking because I notice sometimes when I answer questions on the spot, my answers tend to be generic. What's the sort of content they expect to make answers stand out and what does a successful video interview answer entail?

Thank you

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hello @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock
I was wondering - in video interviews, how can we actually impress the graduate recruitment. I'm asking because I notice sometimes when I answer questions on the spot, my answers tend to be generic. What's the sort of content they expect to make answers stand out and what does a successful video interview answer entail?

Thank you

Hey!

Great question - it can feel tricky to personalise and tailor your VI responses, especially when you're thinking on the spot! However, there are a few ways to make your answer stand out - a strong video interview usually shows three things:

1. Clear structure: using something such as STAR helps you stay focused and prevents rambling. This allows you to deliver your answers in a more clear and concise way, which allows the graduate recruitment team to follow along easier
2. Personal insight: the graduate recruitment team want to understand why you made certain choices and what you learned. Adding reflection is what lifts a seemingly generic answer into something memorable and personal
3. A real sense of motivation: this is where your genuine enthusiasm and research can come in. Show that you understand the firm, the role of a trainee, and that you've thought about how your skills and ambitions make you a good fit.

As some more general tips in order to stand out in video interviews, I always used to try to:

• Prepare a bank of examples for each competency: this meant that I was able to refer to them quickly if they were asked in a video interview, which made it easier to incorporate more of my own personal experiences when I didn't have loads of time
• Be specific, not vague: instead of simply saying "I worked well in a team", explain exactly what you did and what the impact was. This is where specificity is really key - using measurable results can really help hone this in!
• Bring energy and presence: I always found that in my earlier video interviews, I came across as slightly robotic and 'stiff' due to not being used to the VI format. However, this isn't necessarily how you would act in a normal interview - things such as good posture, eye contact with the camera, and natural tone make a big difference and really let the graduate recruitment team see your personality. Remember, whilst you have to have the skills for the role, they are also looking to hire trainees they can imagine would be a good fit!
• Link back to the role of a trainee: wherever you can, it's always useful to link how any skills or traits that you discuss will help you succeed as a trainee at their firm. Even a quick line such as "This is relevant to the role of a trainee at X because..." shows that you understand the role and the firm.

Overall, I think most successful answers will be structured, genuine, and reflective - I used to think of it as not being rehearsed, but clearly prepared!

I hope that helps, and best of luck with any video interviews!

 

[yk1906]

I really enjoyed Irwin Mitchell's SJT+VI, quite to my surprise, as I was really tired and irritable.

 

[Trophy]

CMS application submitted 5 mins before deadline 😮‍💨

Drafted Davis Polk filled out the entire application a few days ago and didn’t save the cover letter I did😭

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

I really enjoyed Irwin Mitchell's SJT+VI, quite to my surprise, as I was really tired and irritable.

hope it went well!! any insights please?

 

[routetotrainingcontract]

CMS application submitted 5 mins before deadline 😮‍💨

Drafted Davis Polk filled out the entire application a few days ago and didn’t save the cover letter I did😭

Wonderful, I missed it by a second 😎 CMS missed their best potential trainee solicitor. Their loss 😏 (I just finished breaking down)

 

[Amgrad]

CMS application submitted 5 mins before deadline 😮‍💨

Drafted Davis Polk filled out the entire application a few days ago and didn’t save the cover letter I did😭

Since it's allhires, you can add it on the notes and emailing the grad rec about the mistake

 

[yk1906]

hope it went well!! any insights please?

It’s scenario-based and motivational. But very chill tbh

 

[Trophy]

Since it's allhires, you can add it on the notes and emailing the grad rec about the mistake

I didn’t submit the application 😬

It’s all good not sure I was totally sold on them.

 

[Bread]

I really enjoyed Irwin Mitchell's SJT+VI, quite to my surprise, as I was really tired and irritable.

Wow! I absolutely hated it. I found the VIs at random places so jarring.

Also, I find it very strange that they don’t ask about uni! I actually worked pretty hard to get into/complete university and its an achievement that I value, so to not even be asked about it felt borderline insulting 😅

 

[Amgrad]

I didn’t submit the application 😬

It’s all good not sure I was totally sold on them.

Oh I thought you submitted it without CL like someone did last week on TW app

 

[tc252627]

Hi @TCLA Community Assistant I am applying for a paralegal role that requires a CV. The application also requests a personal summary requesting I "tell them about myself". Should I focus on breaking down my previous legal experience or focus on extracurricular activities or both? Any help with how to structure this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @TCLA Community Assistant I am applying for a paralegal role that requires a CV. The application also requests a personal summary requesting I "tell them about myself". Should I focus on breaking down my previous legal experience or focus on extracurricular activities or both? Any help with how to structure this would be greatly appreciated.

Hey!

For the personal summary, its best to strike a balance between your legal experience and the wider qualities you bring, but with a clear emphasis on what's most relevant to the paralegal role. A helpful structure is:

1. A concise opening line about your professional identity: briefly state your current stage (e.g. recent graduate, career changer, or someone with prior legal or admin experience) and the specific legal area or type of work that you are interested in. This provides a nice opening and sets the tone!
2. Briefly highlight your most relevant legal experiences: I would focus on the skills and responsibilities that match the job description - this could be research, drafting, admin, case management, etc. You don't need a full breakdown (as that is what the work experience section on the CV is for), but 2-3 sentences that show how your experiences make you a good fit is ideal.
3. Add personality and well-chosen extracurriculars: include any extracurricular activities only where they reinforce your key competencies - things such as attention to detail, commitment to the legal sector, or commercial awareness. This could be mooting, volunteering, pro bono work, or non-legal activities that show discipline or initiative.
4. Finish with what you are looking for: a good way to wrap up your personal summary is to add a line about what you hope to bring to and gain from the role.

Overall, I'd keep it professional, positive, and relevant to the specific paralegal role. Think of the personal summary as a narrative of your key experiences and traits that summarises your CV as a whole.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the paralegal application!

 

[tc252627]

Hey!

For the personal summary, its best to strike a balance between your legal experience and the wider qualities you bring, but with a clear emphasis on what's most relevant to the paralegal role. A helpful structure is:

1. A concise opening line about your professional identity: briefly state your current stage (e.g. recent graduate, career changer, or someone with prior legal or admin experience) and the specific legal area or type of work that you are interested in. This provides a nice opening and sets the tone!
2. Briefly highlight your most relevant legal experiences: I would focus on the skills and responsibilities that match the job description - this could be research, drafting, admin, case management, etc. You don't need a full breakdown (as that is what the work experience section on the CV is for), but 2-3 sentences that show how your experiences make you a good fit is ideal.
3. Add personality and well-chosen extracurriculars: include any extracurricular activities only where they reinforce your key competencies - things such as attention to detail, commitment to the legal sector, or commercial awareness. This could be mooting, volunteering, pro bono work, or non-legal activities that show discipline or initiative.
4. Finish with what you are looking for: a good way to wrap up your personal summary is to add a line about what you hope to bring to and gain from the role.

Overall, I'd keep it professional, positive, and relevant to the specific paralegal role. Think of the personal summary as a narrative of your key experiences and traits that summarises your CV as a whole.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the paralegal application!

Thank you so much Abbie! This is very helpful.

 

[yk1906]

Wow! I absolutely hated it. I found the VIs at random places so jarring.

Also, I find it very strange that they don’t ask about uni! I actually worked pretty hard to get into/complete university and its an achievement that I value, so to not even be asked about it felt borderline insulting 😅

I know right 😭😭😭 I tried fitting in a little bit of my work experience in one of the motivation questions… But, of course, its not enough.

 

[Interested_In_Law]

A&O Shearman Direct TC AC