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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Abbie Whitlock

Administrator
Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 11, 2025
622
562
Anybody know what I should expect with strength-based interviews for a law firm? Thanks!
Hi!

Just to add to Andrei's advice, I thought I'd share my past experiences with strengths-based interview questions!

For these types of of questions, the important element is to answer truthfully and be yourself. They are typically looking to see how you would handle specific problems, your general working style, and the traits that you naturally possess that would make you a good fit for the firm. In preparation for the interview, I would make a note of what your key strengths are, and how they align with the skills needed to be a trainee (and what the role involves).

If you are given a hypothetical scenario, I'd talk the interviewer through each step that you would take to address the situation, and how you would use your personal strengths to aid you in handling anything that comes up.

Additionally, I've also found that the questions can be reflective in nature and may ask you specific questions about your way of workings. For an interview I did on a vacation scheme, I was asked "What type of person are you under pressure?" (which definitely threw me off!). There isn't necessarily one right answer here, and I would take a moment to actually think your answer through and consider how you usually approach these situations. It might be helpful to reflect on your past experiences and weave these into your answer, so that the interviewer can see that you are rooting your answer in concrete examples.

I hope that helps! :)
 
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Reactions: Chelsea101

abc124

Esteemed Member
Aug 9, 2025
93
46
Hello!

I wouldn't assume a rejection based on the timeframe - I waited over a month in between completing my Reed Smith online assessment and receiving an assessment centre invite! There are various factors that go in to when invites are sent out, and the application window is still open - for the time being, I would take no news as good news :)
I was under the impression that most people would hear back within a month, so that's really reassuring to hear. Thanks so much for replying :)
 
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Reactions: Abbie Whitlock

Legallylaw

Active Member
Feb 17, 2025
12
7
You can and definitely should keep some things similar, particularly main themes and motivations. Since you have previously progressed, graduate recruiters will likely expect less in terms of how much you will have changed your answers. That said, I would highly encourage you to at least change some things, even if it is only a change in terms of how you structure an answer and how you formulate a given substantive point - you want to avoid similarity checkers showing your answers as nearly identical to last year, as this is generally not a good look ( some recruiters say they interpret this as you not having enough motivation to try to seek to improve).
Thank you Andrei, this has been really helpful. In terms of why this firm? I was talking about a deal which I really liked and cannot find another one in the firm news that mirrors that. Would you recommend changing that still or using the same one but maybe updating it slightly with new legislation or my experiences? Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question
 

MONA23

New Member
Dec 5, 2025
4
0
I had mine today so idk if maybe im one of the last interviews? I was told that we’d probably hear in the next week for ACs which are in December/jan
Hi, How did it go for you, if you don't mind could you tell me what type of questions did they ask in telephone interview? any commercial awareness related one or if you remember any? Any tips would be helpful too. Thank you!
 

TheSlapDotCom

Star Member
Aug 2, 2025
30
20
GUYSS has literally anyone heard from the following firms:

HSF Kramer: summer vs post passing SJT
Mishcon: summer vs post chat interview
HL: summer vs post job simulation
BCLP: summer vs post SJT

pls im suffering through this excruciating wait i cant take it any longer😭swr they’ve all gone MIA what is this
 

Lawlawland

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Oct 4, 2025
196
265
GUYSS has literally anyone heard from the following firms:

HSF Kramer: summer vs post passing SJT
Mishcon: summer vs post chat interview
HL: summer vs post job simulation
BCLP: summer vs post SJT

pls im suffering through this excruciating wait i cant take it any longer😭swr they’ve all gone MIA what is this
Two of these are non rolling.
Some people are yet to complete there SJT for HSF Kramer, and they clearly say they don't read the applications until deadline passes.
Mishcon is also non-rolling. Given they have introduced a new method of application, I'm sure they'll take sometime before getting back.
Nobody would have possibly heard for either of them yet.

I'm unfamiliar with other two conditions other than the fact that they're rolling.
 

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