Hi everyone, I was wondering if anybody here knows any good preparation sites for sjt and/or watson glaser? Essentially I need to take the freshfields online test soon, and I found it rather tough last year. Used their own prep and jobtestprep and found both of those easier than the real thing, especially when it came to wgt, – any advice?
-
Hey Guest, applications for Reed Smith’s Vacation Scheme Open Day close at 5pm on 28 September. Apply for the Open Day.
Applications for its 2027 Vacation Schemes close at 5pm on 18 December. Apply for the Vacation Schemes.
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27
- Thread starter Abbie Whitlock
- Start date
Furthermore, in regards to your second question, it is not silly! Sometimes the 'obvious' things are tougher by nature.
You could talk about any times you were under pressure, working to meet tough deadlines. There is clear commercial awareness / legal technical ability involved, alongside being able to communicate effectively and adapt that communication depending on your target audience.
Granted, I have not been a paralegal and am now coming to realise my knowledge of what the role exactly consists of is smaller than it probably should. Nevertheless, I hope some of my pointers have been helpful
!
Hi, that's exactly what I did (putting them all into one)
!
Hello @Antoni Trochimowicz
I'm currently writing my Skadden application, and have a few questions:
What qualities or skills do you possess that would enable you to thrive on the Skadden training contract? (300 words) - for this, is it better to include 2 or 3 qualities, and therefore paragraphs? I only have the capacity to write 2 due to words.
If you could choose a career other than Corporate law, what would you choose? - for this question, what's the best structure to follow to make sure the distinction between chosen career and corporate law is clear like to make it intertwined?
Thank you
I'm currently writing my Skadden application, and have a few questions:
What qualities or skills do you possess that would enable you to thrive on the Skadden training contract? (300 words) - for this, is it better to include 2 or 3 qualities, and therefore paragraphs? I only have the capacity to write 2 due to words.
If you could choose a career other than Corporate law, what would you choose? - for this question, what's the best structure to follow to make sure the distinction between chosen career and corporate law is clear like to make it intertwined?
Thank you
Hi, I think quite often it will be difficult to truly stand out from other applicants as realistically you will never find something that only you have written about. This is particularly difficult when researching online. As a result, I always tried to approach these questions with a different mentality.
Rather than finding a point about the firm no one else would have written about, try to find a point that allows you to showcase why that is more important for you rather than for others.
While I was never personally interested in Paul, Weiss I took this approach with other firms. For instance, for Slaughter and May, it's safe to say the vast majority of applicants will mention the multi specialist approach. However, what I tried my hardest to brainstorm is why that is so special to me? Why am I suited best for that?
I do not know much of the Paul, Weiss unique selling points but that sort of mentality certainly transfers. Have they made particular strategic hires in a field you're interested in? Do they have a unique twist in their TC? What sort of work do they usually take on, and could that, in combination with another factor, offer a unique package in comparison to other firms that may only do one of those things?
Hopefully that was a little helpful
!
Hi, that's an interesting question. I would say you definitely don't have to follow the order presented but of course capture each point. The way that I would do it, while following your usual structure, is:
Why Law
Why Firm -- including the London Office
Why You -- detailing a specific achievement that showcases that, alongside a separate paragraph capturing the prizes etc.
My guess would be to have four paragraphs (two of which falling into why you).
Hi, I don't have a list personally but I do know Slaughters definitely hires a lot, if not predominantly, from its DTC, they certainly do not have a clear preference for the VS.
Great, thank youHi, I think quite often it will be difficult to truly stand out from other applicants as realistically you will never find something that only you have written about. This is particularly difficult when researching online. As a result, I always tried to approach these questions with a different mentality.
Rather than finding a point about the firm no one else would have written about, try to find a point that allows you to showcase why that is more important for you rather than for others.
While I was never personally interested in Paul, Weiss I took this approach with other firms. For instance, for Slaughter and May, it's safe to say the vast majority of applicants will mention the multi specialist approach. However, what I tried my hardest to brainstorm is why that is so special to me? Why am I suited best for that?
I do not know much of the Paul, Weiss unique selling points but that sort of mentality certainly transfers. Have they made particular strategic hires in a field you're interested in? Do they have a unique twist in their TC? What sort of work do they usually take on, and could that, in combination with another factor, offer a unique package in comparison to other firms that may only do one of those things?
Hopefully that was a little helpful
Hi!
There’s this old thread though I’m not sure how accurate it is anymore
Hey bit of a niche one, but what would people do in this position? I’ve been offered a litigation paralegal role starting in late September and, since I’m mainly targeting firms that are highly ranked for litigation, it feels pretty ideal. I’d like to do the job for at least a month so I actually have something useful to write about in the work experience section and draw on in other questions, but I’m conscious that a lot of firms recruit on a rolling basis. Is it worth waiting, especially for vac schemes, or would you just apply early and mention the role? (e..g, if i applied and wrote that i've been in the role for a week or so but my responsibilities WILL include XYZ...) - I feel like even a month would give me some decent things to talk about, but not sure how much firms would really care compared with getting the application in early. Thoughts?
Hi!
I was in this exact position last year and while I don’t have the answer to this question, I will say be careful not to overstate the amount of experience you have gained from the role if possible. I didn’t convert a vac scheme and the early careers team told me that they had been holding me to a higher standard as a paralegal (I had been one for 3 weeks at that point)…
I was in this exact position last year and while I don’t have the answer to this question, I will say be careful not to overstate the amount of experience you have gained from the role if possible. I didn’t convert a vac scheme and the early careers team told me that they had been holding me to a higher standard as a paralegal (I had been one for 3 weeks at that point)…
Yeah makes sense. By the time an interview wold come up, I (hopefully) would;ve been in the role for about 3-4 months, but in terms of the worke experience section , would you semi just give an overview of the role (e..g, I have been in this role for two weeks, and my responsibilities have , thus far, included XYZ, and I will continue to develop XYZ as the my role develops) or smth like that, just to sort of hint at the fact that, by the time i get ONTO the VS to which I'm applying, I'd have acquired more experience and skills etc.
I'd choose to wait until you have something to write about.
Experience as a litigation paralegal is arguably the most relevant kind of experience that you can get for the firms that you're applying to, a factor that is likely to be much more important than applying a few weeks earlier.
The only instances where I'd potentially favour sending an application early are: If it's rolling and there's less than a week left before applications close (which could actually be too late for some rolling firms), or if you're applying to Jones Day, who literally stop accepting applications once they have progressed a sufficient number of candidates for certain schemes, so earlier than the original announced deadline, or at least they did the year I applied.
In all other cases, I'd favour including the experience over sending the application early.
Thanks for the guidance, and tbf I've already sent an app to Hogan , Gibson Dunn and Freshfields which, in retrospect, waiting for the to hear back from the role and then doing it, talking about it would've helped, but nothing can be done now, and they're all rolling so just wanted to get them out as soon as possible
are there any firms that don't have vac schemes and ONLY recruit from direct TCs for second years and above - like clifford chance, irwin mitchell etc.?
anyone know if its fine to call ashurst perkins coie just ashurst after referring to the firm in full at the top of an application?
And is APC fine?
And is APC fine?
Not to be suspicious of firms…. BUT are the questions about hobbies really about our hobbies/personality, or are they trying to see how they relate to the skills we’ll need as trainees?
Also, is there such a thing as a generic skill for those “What skills do you think are important as a trainee?” questions? I put commercial awareness as one, but I’m convincing myself Grad Rec will think that’s expected? But then so are communication, organisation and time management?
You can tell a deadline is looming when I start second-guessing my complete answers.
Also, is there such a thing as a generic skill for those “What skills do you think are important as a trainee?” questions? I put commercial awareness as one, but I’m convincing myself Grad Rec will think that’s expected? But then so are communication, organisation and time management?
You can tell a deadline is looming when I start second-guessing my complete answers.
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
My SQE journey - sitting SQE in Jan 2027
- Latest: Antoni Trochimowicz
Top Members
Posts
-
Jaysen
- +0
- 18
Antoni Trochimowicz
- +0
- 13
anon78365222111
- +9
- 10
user55998384
- +0
- 9
Thanks@2025
-
New
- 7
-
Jaysen
- +114
- 205
Antoni Trochimowicz
-
New
- 97
user55998384
- +113
- 52
anon78365222111
- +122
- 29
alanshore
- +320
- 28
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +3
- 1081
Novaa
- +288
- 456
Jaysen
- +35
- 441
Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner
- +548
- 371
