People who are still waiting for Bakers post Amberjack, its likely PFO right
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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Hey!
Thank you for the kind words - that's my ego boost of the day, haha!
From my experience, pre-recorded interview tend to sit somewhere in the middle. I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to answer completely off the cuff, but equally, I don't think they are looking for a memorised script (+ I wouldn't recommend trying to write a script for every possible question).
I found it particularly helpful to have a strong idea of how I would answer the more common topics/questions (e.g. "why law", "why this firm", recent news story question, strengths, motivations, etc.) and then practise adapting those points to slightly different question wording. It often sounds stronger if you can clearly explain your experiences and motivations well, rather than simply trying to recall a perfectly memorised answer. For motivational questions in particular, I do think these are ones that you can prepare for more directly in advance. As long as you have a solid understanding of why you want to pursue law, why you are interested in that particular firm, and can support those motivations with your own experiences, you'll be in a strong position regardless of the exact wording of the question.
In terms of preparing for competency questions, one thing I found really helpful was creating a mini bank of my own experiences. Rather than trying to prepare answers to every competency question imaginable, I listed my key experiences and examples, and then noted the different skills and attributes I could discuss within each one (e.g. teamwork, resilience, communication, leadership, etc.). This meant that if I was asked a competency question that I hadn't specifically prepared for, I already had a range of examples I could draw from and adapt accordingly.
I also really wouldn't underestimate delivery, and this is something I particularly struggled with in pre-recorded video interviews. As it is pre-recorded, there is no interviewer in front of you to help carry the conversation or to build rapport with, so things like energy, structure, and clarity are even more important. I've found that a concise and well-structured answer that is delivered confidently will usually land better than a longer answer where you are trying to cram in every point you've prepared. It is easy to think you have to come across as 'robotic' or scripted for a pre-recorded video interview, but I think it is really important to try and show your personality and enthusiasm through your answer.
For commercial awareness questions, I would focus less on predicting the exact story that they might ask about and instead focus on being comfortable discussing a few recent developments and, crucially, why they matter to the firm, its clients, and the wider market. It is this analysis of the commercial deal that is likely to make you stand out, rather than just being able to recite the facts of the news story itself. There isn't necessarily one right answer, so I'd just make sure that you can clearly articulate your thought process and how you have reached the conclusions you are making.
If you are given some preparation time before you have to record each question, I'd use that to quickly jot down your main points and create a rough structure to follow, rather than trying to script the entire answer word-for-word. It also helps to run the answer through your head before recording, just to make sure that it flows logically and covers all of the points that you want to make. I'd also ensure that you are incorporating your own experiences where you can in order to back up any points that you are making!
Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!
W&C holds in-person ACs, at least for the DTC. You can email the early careers team to check if they can be done virtually but this may be difficult since there's a group exercise.
@Abbie Whitlock - what an incredibly useful answer. I really, genuinely appreciate you taking the time to help me (/anyone else preparing)!!
Thank you Abbie!!! I and I’m sure many others find this incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was wondering how you might ask rogue personality type questions which assess how you think like I‘be revently heard of questions asking about pop references or how you form opinions which is like such a different league!! Sorry ik this is ridiculously niche but in risk adverse fashion I just want to be super prepared! Have a fantastic and restful weekend!!Hey!
Thank you for the kind words - that's my ego boost of the day, haha!
From my experience, pre-recorded interview tend to sit somewhere in the middle. I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to answer completely off the cuff, but equally, I don't think they are looking for a memorised script (+ I wouldn't recommend trying to write a script for every possible question).
I found it particularly helpful to have a strong idea of how I would answer the more common topics/questions (e.g. "why law", "why this firm", recent news story question, strengths, motivations, etc.) and then practise adapting those points to slightly different question wording. It often sounds stronger if you can clearly explain your experiences and motivations well, rather than simply trying to recall a perfectly memorised answer. For motivational questions in particular, I do think these are ones that you can prepare for more directly in advance. As long as you have a solid understanding of why you want to pursue law, why you are interested in that particular firm, and can support those motivations with your own experiences, you'll be in a strong position regardless of the exact wording of the question.
In terms of preparing for competency questions, one thing I found really helpful was creating a mini bank of my own experiences. Rather than trying to prepare answers to every competency question imaginable, I listed my key experiences and examples, and then noted the different skills and attributes I could discuss within each one (e.g. teamwork, resilience, communication, leadership, etc.). This meant that if I was asked a competency question that I hadn't specifically prepared for, I already had a range of examples I could draw from and adapt accordingly.
I also really wouldn't underestimate delivery, and this is something I particularly struggled with in pre-recorded video interviews. As it is pre-recorded, there is no interviewer in front of you to help carry the conversation or to build rapport with, so things like energy, structure, and clarity are even more important. I've found that a concise and well-structured answer that is delivered confidently will usually land better than a longer answer where you are trying to cram in every point you've prepared. It is easy to think you have to come across as 'robotic' or scripted for a pre-recorded video interview, but I think it is really important to try and show your personality and enthusiasm through your answer.
For commercial awareness questions, I would focus less on predicting the exact story that they might ask about and instead focus on being comfortable discussing a few recent developments and, crucially, why they matter to the firm, its clients, and the wider market. It is this analysis of the commercial deal that is likely to make you stand out, rather than just being able to recite the facts of the news story itself. There isn't necessarily one right answer, so I'd just make sure that you can clearly articulate your thought process and how you have reached the conclusions you are making.
If you are given some preparation time before you have to record each question, I'd use that to quickly jot down your main points and create a rough structure to follow, rather than trying to script the entire answer word-for-word. It also helps to run the answer through your head before recording, just to make sure that it flows logically and covers all of the points that you want to make. I'd also ensure that you are incorporating your own experiences where you can in order to back up any points that you are making!
Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll smash it!!
What’s the longest wait before I assume a PFO? It’s been three whole months since I did the simulated assessment & VI for Macfarlanes, and over a month since my first interview with Withers. This wait is horrible.
Has anyone had an AC with either of these firms recently? I know Macs’ applications are still open, but I was really hoping they’d let me out of my misery soon.
Has anyone had an AC with either of these firms recently? I know Macs’ applications are still open, but I was really hoping they’d let me out of my misery soon.
Hi @Abbie Whitlock, thank you for your great work! How would you go about answering this question? I am a bit confused as I feel like it should be structured differently from the usual "why this firm" questions.
If someone were to read your story so far, what would make them think, ‘This person belongs at Macfarlanes’?
If someone were to read your story so far, what would make them think, ‘This person belongs at Macfarlanes’?
Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has completed a W&C Assessment Centre before? If so, would be super helpful to hear your experience, what you encountered, questions asked, etc!
FYI, I have not been invited just yet; most of us completed the Zoom Interview last week. However, I'm choosing to be optimistic and wondering if any insight is available from prior cycles!
FYI, I have not been invited just yet; most of us completed the Zoom Interview last week. However, I'm choosing to be optimistic and wondering if any insight is available from prior cycles!
Hi!
No problem at all - I'm glad you have found it helpful!
In all honesty, I think questions like this are much less common than it might seem like from what you read online (as people will only post about the questions that were bizarre, rather than those that were expected). Every so often you might get an interviewer who asks something a little unexpected, but in my experience they are rarely looking for a specific "right" answer. They are usually more interested in seeing how you think, how you communicate your ideas, and whether you can remain composed when discussing something you haven't prepared for in advance.
If you do get a rogue question about a pop culture reference, how you form opinions, or something slightly unusual, I wouldn't worry too much about trying to prepare for every possible scenario - I actually think it is impossible to do so! Instead, I'd try to focus on having a clear structure to your thinking when faced with these types of questions. For example, if someone asks how you form an opinion on a topic, you could talk through the information you would seek out, how you would evaluate different viewpoints, and how you would reach a balanced conclusion. The content of your answer is often less important than demonstrating a logical thought process.
I also think it is perfectly acceptable (and often a good idea!) to take a few seconds to think before answering. Most interviewers would much rather hear a considered and thought-out response than one that is rushed.
More generally, I would spend far more time preparing your motivations, commercial awareness, and competency examples rather than worrying about the possibility of a particularly unusual question. Those are the areas that are much more likely to come up and have a bigger impact on the overall assessment.
I hope that provides some reassurance, and for what it is worth, I was definitely someone who worried about every possible question that could be asked before interviews and schemes! However, I found that the things I spent the most time worrying about were almost never the things that actually came up
Hey!
No problem at all, thank you for your kind words!!
I have previously made a post on this question - I have quoted it below! Hopefully it is a useful starting point for answering the question, but just shout if you have any questions
Hello!
I think the best way to approach it is to treat it like a narrative. A structure that could work well is:
- Start with your story so far - highlight a couple of key experiences or decisions that have shaped your interest in law and Macfarlanes specifically (e.g. academics, work experience, or even something outside of law).
- Draw out the qualities they reveal - look at the qualities that Macfarlanes places a lot of emphasis on, and show these through your story.
- Connect to the firm - end by tying it back to why those qualities / experiences mean you'd thrive at Macfarlanes. For instance, if your story shows you enjoy variety, link it to their broad practice areas, etc.
I would avoid simply listing achievements or traits - it's important to weave them into a personal narrative that feels authentic. I'd focus on showing that your journey and career aspirations naturally align with what Macfarlanes are looking for
I hope that assists!
I hate Amberjack... Somehow scored 'Low' on the verbal reasoning test for Stephenson Harwood. I scored high in that category in every prior amberjack and do not know what went wrong this time. Rest of the scores: 6/6/6/9 and mid for numerical. VI went well. How cooked am I? Shame, I really liked SH.
The exact wording they use is "we look into the possibility" to make arrangements for those overseas to attend virtually, it is not a guarantee and also not a hard no.
I’ve just finished my finals and am looking at PGDL courses. It’s looking very likely I will have to self fund as I only have a very few applications still ongoing. I will need to do the PGDL online so I can work part time at home which means I can choose either ULaw or BPP. Just wondering if those of you who have done PGDL could advise if one is better than the other please? Thanks v much.
Hi! Does anyone know what the Fried Frank assessment day consists of? Can't find anything about it online
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