TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[RasAlGhul]

Does anyone have any insight into Fieldfisher first stage interview? (DTC)

Congrats on reaching this stage, that’s already a really good sign.

I did the Fieldfisher first-stage interview for the DTC about two years ago, so while things can evolve slightly year to year, the overall structure and focus are likely to be very similar.

From memory, it was a fairly straightforward and friendly interview rather than anything designed to catch you out. The emphasis was much more on motivation and fit with Fieldfisher than on technical legal knowledge. Expect questions around:

Why Fieldfisher specifically (and this is where being clear on their sectors and culture really matters)
Why commercial law / why a training contract
Your experiences to date and what you’ve taken from them
Competency-style questions (teamwork, dealing with challenges, communication etc)

What stood out to me was that they were genuinely interested in how you think and whether you’d be a good fit for the firm, rather than testing you on black-letter law. Having clear, well-structured examples and being able to explain why Fieldfisher appeals to you, beyond surface-level points, went a long way. Also, a BIG TIP, try not to use the same points you made in your applications, using some points from it and adding something new is ideal.

Best of luck and well done again on getting to this stage!

 

[ninarosee]

Has anyone heard from Kirkland since applying?

I heard back today! I applied a day before the deadline and I saw someone else here who applied and heard back the next day

 

[lawyersum]

haahah i hope they don't (it sure would take them a long time if they do) - for mine I was speaking to myself and making these contorted expressions too HAHA, literally sounded like a mad-woman 😂

I hope they don’t because I was pulling all sorts of faces at some of the questions I had for Weil’s SJT and lowkey look homeless asf rn. I was speaking to myself to try work out the answers to the maths questions lmfao. 😭​

i hope they don’t ahh!! i lowkey had my computer screen pushed all the way back for some questions as that’s how i read the screen best. must’ve looked so weird smh. but thanks for the reassurance that I’m not the only one looking a mess atm

 

[Chelsea101]

RS PFO - this one cuts deep since I applied and went to Open Day, poured heart and soul into app, thought VI went well so I can only think the numerical reasoning bit brought me down (got full bars on verbal reasoning). Such a shame - never been good at maths.

 

[e_turbo2]

Eversheds pfo thank you for letting me know.

Sorry to hear this! Please may I ask when you applied?

 

[TheSlapDotCom]

Its been 41 days since I last heard from simmons.

Chances of me getting married seem to be higher at this rate🙄

41 days is crazy wtf😭🙏reminds me of when HL ghosted me for 2 months and i forgot that i even applied😍

 

[elle woods]

I heard back today! I applied a day before the deadline and I saw someone else here who applied and heard back the next day

oh woah! I applied on the deadline, haven't heard back from them ahhh was it the VI that they sent you? May I ask how many days they give you to do it?

 

[RasAlGhul]

Hey, does anyone have any insights/tips for Dentons VI?

Hey, congrats on getting a Dentons VI, that’s a great position to be in.

I did the Dentons VI a little while back, so happy to share what I remember and what I’d focus on if I were doing it again.

Overall, it was very commercial, but with a clear structure behind it. They weren’t trying to trip you up on technical law, the focus was much more on why Dentons, how you think about business, and whether you’d work well in a global firm environment.

A few things that are really worth preparing:

Why Dentons (specifically)
Go beyond “global”, lots of firms are global. Be ready to talk about how Dentons’ polycentric model, client base, and sector strengths appeal to you, and what that means for the type of trainee you want to be.

Commercial awareness
You don’t need to know everything, but you should be comfortable discussing a recent commercial issue and explaining why it matters to Dentons’ clients. They are more interested in your reasoning than the “right” answer.

Your experiences
Expect competency style questions, but again, they want reflection rather than a perfect outcome. Be clear on what you learned and how that links to being a trainee at Dentons.

Global mindset and collaboration
One thing that felt quite distinct was their interest in how you work with others, adapt to different perspectives, and handle ambiguity, which makes sense given how the firm operates across jurisdictions.

If you’re prepared, it’s actually quite an enjoyable VI.

My biggest tip: don’t over rehearse scripted answers. Dentons seems to value authenticity and commercial curiosity, and that comes across best when you’re thinking out loud rather than reciting.

Best of luck, and well done again on getting the VI.

 

[elle woods]

41 days is crazy wtf😭🙏reminds me of when HL ghosted me for 2 months and i forgot that i even applied😍

about to be me fr - did their test 1 like November and waiting for a PFO rn 😭😂 but haven't heard a peep from them

 

[nbjani]

Clyde and Co VI! I’m both excited at terrified, Clyde is one of my absolute dream firms. Thanks to everyone on this forum for your insights and support getting from 16 first stage rejections last cycle to being able to get through various stages this time. Would anyone have any insights into this VI specifically? I also have DLA TI tomorrow morning too and insights would be appreciated. Keep smashing it everyone!

 

[scoffee]

Hey, congrats on getting a Dentons VI, that’s a great position to be in.

I did the Dentons VI a little while back, so happy to share what I remember and what I’d focus on if I were doing it again.

Overall, it was very commercial, but with a clear structure behind it. They weren’t trying to trip you up on technical law, the focus was much more on why Dentons, how you think about business, and whether you’d work well in a global firm environment.

A few things that are really worth preparing:

Why Dentons (specifically)
Go beyond “global”, lots of firms are global. Be ready to talk about how Dentons’ polycentric model, client base, and sector strengths appeal to you, and what that means for the type of trainee you want to be.

Commercial awareness
You don’t need to know everything, but you should be comfortable discussing a recent commercial issue and explaining why it matters to Dentons’ clients. They are more interested in your reasoning than the “right” answer.

Your experiences
Expect competency style questions, but again, they want reflection rather than a perfect outcome. Be clear on what you learned and how that links to being a trainee at Dentons.

Global mindset and collaboration
One thing that felt quite distinct was their interest in how you work with others, adapt to different perspectives, and handle ambiguity, which makes sense given how the firm operates across jurisdictions.

If you’re prepared, it’s actually quite an enjoyable VI.

My biggest tip: don’t over rehearse scripted answers. Dentons seems to value authenticity and commercial curiosity, and that comes across best when you’re thinking out loud rather than reciting.

Best of luck, and well done again on getting the VI.

Thank you so much, this is so helpful!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

How many days do they give you to prepare? Like how many days in advance is the invitation? Thanks

2 weeks

 

[nicoledm]

Congrats on reaching this stage, that’s already a really good sign.

I did the Fieldfisher first-stage interview for the DTC about two years ago, so while things can evolve slightly year to year, the overall structure and focus are likely to be very similar.

From memory, it was a fairly straightforward and friendly interview rather than anything designed to catch you out. The emphasis was much more on motivation and fit with Fieldfisher than on technical legal knowledge. Expect questions around:

Why Fieldfisher specifically (and this is where being clear on their sectors and culture really matters)
Why commercial law / why a training contract
Your experiences to date and what you’ve taken from them
Competency-style questions (teamwork, dealing with challenges, communication etc)

What stood out to me was that they were genuinely interested in how you think and whether you’d be a good fit for the firm, rather than testing you on black-letter law. Having clear, well-structured examples and being able to explain why Fieldfisher appeals to you, beyond surface-level points, went a long way. Also, a BIG TIP, try not to use the same points you made in your applications, using some points from it and adding something new is ideal.

Best of luck and well done again on getting to this stage!

Thank you so much! This is super helpful, good luck on your applications!

 

[p2bv]

Eversheds VI!

 

[Goingtogetatc]

I am so confused, I got a CMS AC invite but last week they rejected me ?

 

[Harvey Ross]

2 weeks

Okay thanks. Is this standard? I read that someone only got 3 day to prepare last year? Or was that an anomaly?

 

[yk1906]

Okay, so…. Silence from Eversheds as well 🫣😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬 please be a VI even though I messed up my a levels section and had to write a note

 

[annalise.joyn]

hey everyone, is hogan lovells first assessment with a VI? I'm not sure if it the first or second stage, they named it the 'Online Immersive Assessment'

 

[e_turbo2]

Eversheds VI!

Congrats! That is amazing news. Please may I ask when you applied? 🙏

 

[RasAlGhul]

S&C PFO, Weil SJT and VI, anyone willing to chat please PM me.

Congrats, that’s a really strong position to be in.

For transparency, I passed Weil's assessments, so I’ll share what I found actually mattered at each stage.

The SJT is much more about judgment and commercial common sense than legal knowledge. What helped me was constantly asking:

What’s the most sensible outcome for the client?
What protects the firm’s reputation and manages risk?
What would a good junior actually do in this situation?

Avoid extreme answers. Weil doesn’t want someone who escalates everything, but they also don’t want you acting independently when it’s inappropriate. The strongest answers usually involve prioritising, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility while knowing when to loop someone in.

The VI was intense but fair. A huge focus was on:

Why Weil - not just “US firm” or “high-quality work”, but why this platform, this culture, and this type of responsibility appeals to you
Commercial thinking - they cared much more about how I reasoned through issues than whether I landed on a “perfect” answer
Self-awareness - they were genuinely interested in whether I understood the pace and pressure and had actively chosen it

One thing I think helped was being honest about the intensity of Weil and framing it as something I’m drawn to, rather than trying to downplay it or pretend it’s for everyone.

Happy to answer specific questions if you have them, and best of luck.