TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[CamilaPG]

Does anyone have any insight for Vinson & Elkins video interview (Spark Hire)? And recruitment process in general for a VACS?

 

[Deleted member 43346]

for spring or summer ?

They only have winter and summer so summer

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock , I was wondering if you had any advice on answering situational questions in interviews (e.g. "Imagine xyz happened, how would you react"). Is there a structure I could follow or any tips to keep in mind? Thanks so much

Hello!

For situational questions, I'd say that the graduate recruitment team (or the interviewers) are usually looking at how you think, rather than a "perfect" answer - this means that a light structure can really help keep you focused!

In the past, I have approached it through:

• Start by showing you understand the situation and any competing pressures (e.g. clients, deadlines, risk, etc.).
• Then talk the interviewers through how you would prioritise and respond in practice - this could involve gathering the relevant facts, checking any guidance, and communicating with people where needed. It also helps to explain why you're taking those steps, as this helps the interviewers understand your thought process.

Some more general tips:

• Try not to rush into a solution (and I have been guilty of this in the past!) - it's absolutely okay to pause and think out loud, and talk the interviewers through the steps that you might consider
• Acknowledge any uncertainty or where you would require additional information - you could show that you would ask questions or seek support from others where appropriate
• Link your response to the firm's values - this helps to tailor and personalise your answer to this specific firm

If you can, you could also reference a previous experience that you have had where you did something similar (e.g. "I've faced something similar in X, so I'd approach it by..."). This can help make your answer feel more authentic - however, it is not necessary, and I would avoid trying to force a link!

I hope that assists, and best of luck

 

[NorthernerInLondon]

This is so impressive you should be so proud of yourself!, I personally would ask for more time from firm A, committing to a firm is a big deal and the worst they can say is no! Well done again

Thank you, definitely going to speak to Firm A on this front and see what happens!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock Hi I haven't heard back from GD at ALL since my application + automatic test. Would you recommend emailing them? I applied 18 Dec.

Hey!

I'd say it's fine to send a polite email if you are worried, but they may be working their way through applications in batches - I'm sure you'll hear back soon!

 

[S0l1c1t0r]

I had my Skadden interview this morning, and I’m not sure I did well. I do have a few doubts/questions about the interview process, though, and I’d really appreciate the help of anyone who has already gone through it.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your interview like?

 

[sooae]

I had my Skadden interview this morning, and I’m not sure I did well. I do have a few doubts/questions about the interview process, though, and I’d really appreciate the help of anyone who has already gone through it.

I did it. Not sure I can help but you can pm me

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

So update - no V&E response, no Morgan Lewis, no PW...
I feel like firms are purposefully conspiring to stress me out the most lmao

 

[SamiyaJ]

The WBD SJT email says it takes 5 minutes to complete?? Does anyone have an insight on this?

I’m in a VS WhatsApp group and someone said this:

“If it’s like the neurosight I’ve done before it was like a sentence appears on screen like what’s most important to you/would you rather type quick Qs and there’s four answers to choose from, you hover on one of them and it submits straight away to next Q to try catch ur first instinct”

 

[S0l1c1t0r]

I had my Skadden interview this morning, and I’m not sure I did well. I do have a few doubts/questions about the interview process, though, and I’d really appreciate the help of anyone who has already gone through it.

Hi there, if you don't mind me asking what was your interview like?

 

[radssss]

It's nice to complete, but it also feels kinda BS as a test. I kind of worry with these sorts of tests that they miss many good qualities/objective ability.

Personally, I feel all tests except WGT are BS. Not like any applicant answers all questions with complete honesty

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

what kinds of questions can you prepare to ask at the end of an interview if you don't know who your interviewers will be until the actual thing?

Hi!

The main advice I was given in relation to this is to ask questions that you can't find from the firm's website or promotional materials - this could be topics such as:

• Training and Development: how trainees are supported day-to-day, how feedback is given, or what tends to differentiate trainees who really excel at the firm
• Firm Culture: collaboration between teams, the level of responsibility given to trainees, or how people are supported during busy periods
• Forward-Looking: what challenges and opportunities the firm is anticipating in the next few years and how trainees might be exposed to those.

I also found it helps to ask a few more personal questions to the interviewers, even if you don't know who they will be before the actual interview. This could be things such as "What have you personally enjoyed most about working at the firm?" or "What draw you to the firm?".

I'd also remain flexible - if you prepare questions in advance but have questions come to mind during the actual interview, it's better to tailor them slightly to the interviewer. This will show genuine engagement with them, and show a real interest!

Best of luck!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

anyone ever email grad recruitment about being unavailable for an AC date? Im currently enrolled in a course which is quite strict on tutorial attendance and the AC would clash with 2 classes.

Hello!

I was in a similar(ish) situation last cycle with my Reed Smith AC, as the only available dates I could see were during a vacation scheme I was on. I would definitely email the firm to explain that you are unavailable on that AC date, and politely ask if there are any other available dates - some firms release them in batches, so you may be able to wait to book an AC in a later batch

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Personally, I feel all tests except WGT are BS. Not like any applicant answers all questions with complete honesty

I mean any sort of critical thinking, numerical reasoning, deductive reasoning, error checking tests etc are pretty objective.
If I were running a recruitment process for example, I'd have an application form with 0 questions.
Automatically allocated test (based on grade requirements) with WG+ deductive reasoning + numerical reasoning.
Automatic timed long answer question test based on passing benchmark - I'd have 4 questions randomly allocated from a question bank of 40 questions (10 questions per type). I'd publish all questions online so that nobody would have an unfair advantage from communicating with people who took the test.
Then AC.

Of course, no process can be completely objective, but I still think SJTs are a non-evidence based way to thin out applicants. (Of course, you could argue that people who practice and research SJTs deserve to do better on average, and to an extent I agree)

 

[Eudora]

Has anyone actually received an AC invite yet? I completed my VI on 17 Jan and haven’t heard back so far.

 

[hanz123]

Has anyone actually received an AC invite yet? I completed my VI on 17 Jan and haven’t heard back so far.

Haven’t even heard back post critical thinking

 

[LH4]

So update - no V&E response, no Morgan Lewis, no PW...
I feel like firms are purposefully conspiring to stress me out the most lmao

I got the morgan lewis TI today but i think other people got it last week so they are prob just sending out in batches so dw yet! I'm also waiting on PW summer

 

[DoNotRedeem]

I mean any sort of critical thinking, numerical reasoning, deductive reasoning, error checking tests etc are pretty objective.
If I were running a recruitment process for example, I'd have an application form with 0 questions.
Automatically allocated test (based on grade requirements) with WG+ deductive reasoning + numerical reasoning.
Automatic timed long answer question test based on passing benchmark - I'd have 4 questions randomly allocated from a question bank of 40 questions (10 questions per type). I'd publish all questions online so that nobody would have an unfair advantage from communicating with people who took the test.
Then AC.

Of course, no process can be completely objective, but I still think SJTs are a non-evidence based way to thin out applicants. (Of course, you could argue that people who practice and research SJTs deserve to do better on average, and to an extent I agree)

WGT is ironically not a test of critical thinking lol. I actually think if you critically think too hard the answers become unclear but someone who thinks in a surface level manner will just select the right choice, although they admittedly are the winners here. On the job, I bet it becomes far less clear.

 

[fTS3002]

Any insight into the Bakers VI?? PLSS GUYS I'VE BEEN TERRIBLE AT VIs SO FAR

 

[Sharkfin]

Any insight into the Bakers VI?? PLSS GUYS I'VE BEEN TERRIBLE AT VIs SO FAR

30s prep, 90s answer
3 questions

Very commercial focus (less so "give us a random story", moreso "what do businesses care about and why")