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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Do they give extra time for the video question? Or that needs to be submitted by tomorrow as well?
After 5 application cycles, I received a TC offer today from an elite US firm!
Honestly, I can't quite believe it!
A huge thank you to all the lovely, supportive people on TCLA. The community on here is absolutely phenomenal!
Honestly, I can't quite believe it!
A huge thank you to all the lovely, supportive people on TCLA. The community on here is absolutely phenomenal!
Sorry lol I was thinking we were in 2025…. I realise now my question was stupid!
Hi all.
I’m really feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It seems that I just don’t seem to get the competency interviews. I’ve done ACs before, TC interviews before ( after I passed the million video interviews and whatever they require); job interviews etc. but a TC/VS interview is just different than a normal job interview.
I’m literally going insane. I’ve been trying since Oct 25. I had many interviews for big firms. So I’m able to express myself in apps, but interviews…… are another story.
If I knew a firm is opening up their applications, I prep weeks/ months in advance and it drives me crazy. I’m just feeling so down. I ace the group interviews, the WEs, the WG, everything else.
But I break during the competency interviews. I ask for feedback but they never give it to me. English isn’t my first language so I feel like I just blank UNLESS I learn off answers by heart. And I think that’s where I fk up.
But I would appreciate if someone can help me as I’m feeling really hopeless atm. I just have some questions
1. Is it bad to be TOO chatty in interviews. Try crack a joke, laugh. Is this the reason I might fail as they’re very friendly and I try to match their attitude. Perhaps poker face and neutral attitude is needed?
2. Competencies drive me INSANE. Feedback I get- USE different examples. Stop repeating example. What does that even mean?? If I have
Tell me about a time you made a mistake
Tell me about a time you worked under pressure
Am I not allowed to use my same workplace, but different SITUATIONS ofc.
I have like 20+ competencies so it’s impossible for me to find different? I only had two jobs.. yes I volunteered and moot competitions but that only gives me 4-5 situations max?
3. Unstructured responses. Be succint. Bad structure.
I always use STAR but I have gotten this in the past. What does that even mean? I usually take about 1 min 45 sec to answer a TC competency interview Q. I keep ST short, and 70% of the Answer is focused on actions and the rest on result.
I would appreciate and be forever grateful if anyone could answer. My brain is fried. Thank you in advance
I’m really feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It seems that I just don’t seem to get the competency interviews. I’ve done ACs before, TC interviews before ( after I passed the million video interviews and whatever they require); job interviews etc. but a TC/VS interview is just different than a normal job interview.
I’m literally going insane. I’ve been trying since Oct 25. I had many interviews for big firms. So I’m able to express myself in apps, but interviews…… are another story.
If I knew a firm is opening up their applications, I prep weeks/ months in advance and it drives me crazy. I’m just feeling so down. I ace the group interviews, the WEs, the WG, everything else.
But I break during the competency interviews. I ask for feedback but they never give it to me. English isn’t my first language so I feel like I just blank UNLESS I learn off answers by heart. And I think that’s where I fk up.
But I would appreciate if someone can help me as I’m feeling really hopeless atm. I just have some questions
1. Is it bad to be TOO chatty in interviews. Try crack a joke, laugh. Is this the reason I might fail as they’re very friendly and I try to match their attitude. Perhaps poker face and neutral attitude is needed?
2. Competencies drive me INSANE. Feedback I get- USE different examples. Stop repeating example. What does that even mean?? If I have
Tell me about a time you made a mistake
Tell me about a time you worked under pressure
Am I not allowed to use my same workplace, but different SITUATIONS ofc.
I have like 20+ competencies so it’s impossible for me to find different? I only had two jobs.. yes I volunteered and moot competitions but that only gives me 4-5 situations max?
3. Unstructured responses. Be succint. Bad structure.
I always use STAR but I have gotten this in the past. What does that even mean? I usually take about 1 min 45 sec to answer a TC competency interview Q. I keep ST short, and 70% of the Answer is focused on actions and the rest on result.
I would appreciate and be forever grateful if anyone could answer. My brain is fried. Thank you in advance
Hi all.
I’m really feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It seems that I just don’t seem to get the competency interviews. I’ve done ACs before, TC interviews before ( after I passed the million video interviews and whatever they require); job interviews etc. but a TC/VS interview is just different than a normal job interview.
I’m literally going insane. I’ve been trying since Oct 25. I had many interviews for big firms. So I’m able to express myself in apps, but interviews…… are another story.
If I knew a firm is opening up their applications, I prep weeks/ months in advance and it drives me crazy. I’m just feeling so down. I ace the group interviews, the WEs, the WG, everything else.
But I break during the competency interviews. I ask for feedback but they never give it to me. English isn’t my first language so I feel like I just blank UNLESS I learn off answers by heart. And I think that’s where I fk up.
But I would appreciate if someone can help me as I’m feeling really hopeless atm. I just have some questions
1. Is it bad to be TOO chatty in interviews. Try crack a joke, laugh. Is this the reason I might fail as they’re very friendly and I try to match their attitude. Perhaps poker face and neutral attitude is needed?
2. Competencies drive me INSANE. Feedback I get- USE different examples. Stop repeating example. What does that even mean?? If I have
Tell me about a time you made a mistake
Tell me about a time you worked under pressure
Am I not allowed to use my same workplace, but different SITUATIONS ofc.
I have like 20+ competencies so it’s impossible for me to find different? I only had two jobs.. yes I volunteered and moot competitions but that only gives me 4-5 situations max?
3. Unstructured responses. Be succint. Bad structure.
I always use STAR but I have gotten this in the past. What does that even mean? I usually take about 1 min 45 sec to answer a TC competency interview Q. I keep ST short, and 70% of the Answer is focused on actions and the rest on result.
I would appreciate and be forever grateful if anyone could answer. My brain is fried. Thank you in advance
1. I think there’s a middle ground between being poker faced and cracking jokes/trying too hard to be liked. Just be pleasant without being cringe?
2. That’s a tricky one but I wouldn’t ignore the value that things like mooting or your education can bring. Even examples from your personal life can be good for certain attributes like resilience and teamworking. I’m also not sure that you have to go in with the idea of having to share your 20+ competencies. Stick to the ones asked.
3. I’m gonna go off your comment about 20+ competencies. If you’re asked about teamwork, you don’t need to slip in a bunch of qualities that you showed in that same situation.
Overall interviews are a lot about how you present yourself as a person as well as a professional. It’s important to calm down and not come across as too intense/arrogant and even boring!
Hi @Jaysen
I hope you're well!
I was once asked how the skills I gained from my A Levels would support me as a lawyer (for context I did Math, Psychology, and Economics). I just said that Psychology and Econ are essay-based subjects, helped me develop written communication skills, while Math strengthened my logical thinking, which is important in dispute resolution and problem solving.
I knew my answer was quite brief and weak. I would really appreciate any advice you or anyone else might have on how to approach this question.
Thank you so much in advance!
I hope you're well!
I was once asked how the skills I gained from my A Levels would support me as a lawyer (for context I did Math, Psychology, and Economics). I just said that Psychology and Econ are essay-based subjects, helped me develop written communication skills, while Math strengthened my logical thinking, which is important in dispute resolution and problem solving.
I knew my answer was quite brief and weak. I would really appreciate any advice you or anyone else might have on how to approach this question.
Thank you so much in advance!
Hi @Jaysen, hope all is well!I've just asked a team member to come back on this shortly (probably tomorrow if okay), as they were in exactly this positioned and handled it well
I just wanted to kindly follow up on the above and ask whether your colleague was able to share any insight? No problem at all if not
Hi, firstly, huge congratulations on your offers! That’s a fantastic achievement, and it also sounds like you’ve handled this really thoughtfully and transparently, which is great to see.
I was in a somewhat similar position myself, though perhaps not exactly the same, but I think the underlying principles are transferable here.
On the facts you’ve set out:
- Firm A is aware you have a training contract and has still explicitly invited you to attend their vac scheme
- There is nothing in your current contract with Firm B preventing you from doing so
Practically, these are some of the best lawyers in the world drafting or overseeing these contracts and offer letters. If there isn’t a clause preventing this kind of situation, it’s very unlikely to be an oversight. More realistically, it suggests they don’t take issue with it in principle.
I also think some of the common concerns here particularly around how Firm B might perceive this can be a bit overstated. In practice, recruitment processes are often handled by different individuals and teams, rather than something that attracts close personal scrutiny.
It’s still worth being thoughtful about timing of communication. If your contract doesn’t require disclosure at this stage, there isn’t necessarily an obligation to raise it proactively but it’s something you can keep under review depending on how things develop.
Overall, I’d view this as a positive situation and a good opportunity to exercise judgement, balancing professionalism, transparency, and your own interests. These are exactly the kinds of skills you’ll use as a solicitor.
The best career advice I received from a Senior Associate was to be bullish about my career — I’d extend the same advice to you
Hope that helps, and congratulations again!
no idea but various firms do this - I immediately mark such instances as "rejection", and move on with my life.
Thank you so much for your insight, Awurakua!Hi, firstly, huge congratulations on your offers! That’s a fantastic achievement, and it also sounds like you’ve handled this really thoughtfully and transparently, which is great to see.
I was in a somewhat similar position myself, though perhaps not exactly the same, but I think the underlying principles are transferable here.
On the facts you’ve set out:
In those circumstances, attending the scheme does not strike me as inherently problematic.
- Firm A is aware you have a training contract and has still explicitly invited you to attend their vac scheme
- There is nothing in your current contract with Firm B preventing you from doing so
Practically, these are some of the best lawyers in the world drafting or overseeing these contracts and offer letters. If there isn’t a clause preventing this kind of situation, it’s very unlikely to be an oversight. More realistically, it suggests they don’t take issue with it in principle.
I also think some of the common concerns here particularly around how Firm B might perceive this can be a bit overstated. In practice, recruitment processes are often handled by different individuals and teams, rather than something that attracts close personal scrutiny.
It’s still worth being thoughtful about timing of communication. If your contract doesn’t require disclosure at this stage, there isn’t necessarily an obligation to raise it proactively but it’s something you can keep under review depending on how things develop.
Overall, I’d view this as a positive situation and a good opportunity to exercise judgement, balancing professionalism, transparency, and your own interests. These are exactly the kinds of skills you’ll use as a solicitor.
The best career advice I received from a Senior Associate was to be bullish about my career — I’d extend the same advice to you
Hope that helps, and congratulations again!
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