TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BobThebIlly]

Oh brother I just practiced recording VI answers and I wanna shoot myself

Bro I sound so robotic and scripted even tho in my head i was very expressive

Sigh

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Oh brother I just practiced recording VI answers and I wanna shoot myself

Bro I sound so robotic and scripted even tho in my head i was very expressive

Sigh

I consciously throw in a giggle every now and then (even though nothing is actually funny at all ) to try and come across as less scripted and a bit more personable hahahaha

They probably think I'm a weirdo tho because why is this girl laughing about a scenario involving document review

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Oh brother I just practiced recording VI answers and I wanna shoot myself

Bro I sound so robotic and scripted even tho in my head i was very expressive

Sigh

Nah igy cos it’s the same for me. Idk how people can be so expressive and performative during a VI cos every time I practice my voice just sounds like scratching chalk and reading off a script, but the whole time I’m literally using a few bullet points for the structure. My natural speaking voice is quite monotone too which doesn’t help me at all. Does anybody have any suggestions for this?​

 

[M85672]

What structure should I follow for a VI question like "what practice areas interest you and why?"

 

[Sophia L]

Out of curiosity what is universally seen as a ‘good’ amberjack score out of 36?

I am not sure but at the weil open day they said they will wait for a large number of people to do the test then create a benchmark from what I remember

 

[BobThebIlly]

Nah igy cos it’s the same for me. Idk how people can be so expressive and performative during a VI cos every time I practice my voice just sounds like scratching chalk and reading off a script, but the whole time I’m literally using a few bullet points for the structure. My natural speaking voice is quite monotone too which doesn’t help me at all. Does anybody have any suggestions for this?​

I tried the “giggle method” too and now it jsut sounds like I scripted a giggle

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

I tried the “giggle method” too and now it jsut sounds like I scripted a giggle

*insert a giggle here so I don’t sound scripted* x3

Idk does the “pause method” work for anybody?

*pause after this line so I don’t sound scripted* x3​

 

[BobThebIlly]

*insert a giggle here so I don’t sound scripted* x3

Idk does the “pause method” work for anybody?

*pause after this line so I don’t sound scripted* x3​

ik im rlly not helping here BUT EVERYTIME I PAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IVE FORGOTTEN SMTH LORD I HATE THIS

So yeah I’m also looking for advice

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

Does anyone know graduate recruitment's stance on saying 'PW' instead of 'Paul, Weiss'? I'm really trying to reach the word count....

 

[Donna Paulsen]

ik im rlly not helping here BUT EVERYTIME I PAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IVE FORGOTTEN SMTH LORD I HATE THIS

So yeah I’m also looking for advice

I pause too but it ends up with me just staring at the camera with a creepy smile and I hate it omfg

 

[c.t.tc]

ik im rlly not helping here BUT EVERYTIME I PAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IVE FORGOTTEN SMTH LORD I HATE THIS

So yeah I’m also looking for advice

I have the worst tendency to look around as I’m speaking so even if I’m super prepared I look like I’m looking at my notes UGH

 

[llblawstudent]

Hi Guys,

I have just received an interview invitation for Slaughter and May's Summer Work Experience Programme (Non-Law). I would like to know if anyone has gone through the interview process before and could share any insights on how to best prepare for it. The interview will consist of a written exercise on the Talview platform, which will take 30 minutes, and a discussion of a current affairs article, as well as a discussion around my CV and cover

Unrelated but Slaughters sending stuff out on the last Sunday night before Christmas is genuinely crazy work, fair play to their grad rec

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

I pause too but it ends up with me just staring at the camera with a creepy smile and I hate it omfg

These VIs have yous looking at the camera like this to come across slightly more ‘personable’:​

 

[londonlawyer]

Hi Guys,

I have just received an interview invitation for Slaughter and May's Summer Work Experience Programme (Non-Law). I would like to know if anyone has gone through the interview process before and could share any insights on how to best prepare for it. The interview will consist of a written exercise on the Talview platform, which will take 30 minutes, and a discussion of a current affairs article, as well as a discussion around my CV and cover letter.

Thanks in advance!

DM me - I did their interview last year!

 

[Bree]

Just completed 20 applications for my first cycle with 1 acceptance and 5 rejections, really hoping the rest work

 

[Maria56]

Hi, can anyone provide insights on Mayer Brown assessment? Especially the VI
I am so bad at those, totally blew my Weil one today..

 

[James Wakefield]

5 VIs done this week. No wonder I feel burnt out. Hopefully that’s it now until Christmas!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

These VIs have yous looking at the camera like this to come across slightly more ‘personable’:​

Next year's halloween costume: me in a video interview

 

[Lawlawland]

I just completed the Mishcon de Reya test and got the impression that their scoring system was back to front.

I usually score highly for verbal reasoning but middling for maths (that is often my downfall with these tests).

But with Mishcon, I got top marks for maths and middling for verbal reasoning. The first time that has happened.

Anyone else notice that something was off?

I just completed the test, I realised they have the same scenario for verbal intelligence test like other Amberjacks (Simmons, Weil, Mayer Brown etc) but have tweaked the questions and answers to some extent... So it's possible to go in with the confirmation bias (I did!!!) and that might have to some extent impacted the verbal score, as we might not have flagged the minor tweaks.

I luckily flagged them, helped be get full scale on it !

So I would suggest anyone who's doing the Mishcon SJT to read the question fully before clicking the answer, as they've definitely tweaked it a little.

 

[c.t.tc]

Oh also anyone doing the MDR sjt reminder that it isn’t actually untimed! They factor time into the scores