TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[smasher]

Hi guys,

I'm struggling with the "what recent work at x has interested you" questions. I know I should pick a deal/case and explain why it specifically caught my interest, but I'm struggling to find information on a lot of these cases on firms websites. They generally just provide an overview of the deal, without much extra information as to complexities etc. that could enable me to provide more thoughtful analysis. Any tips?

 

[TheLegalEdit]

I have received my Watson Glaser results yet but for sky I received commercial thinking and working with others as highest, leadership as lowest, cri

That’s great! The sjt is hard to judge for me personally because all these skills are essential to a trainee. I am assuming sjt, WG and our general application will all play a part in the next round.

 

[Hopefully2025]

Anyone who's given the HL job simulation assessment, would you be willing to disclose how many VI questions it has and what category they are? (i.e. Competency, motivational, skills, commercial, SJT)

 

[c.t.tc]

Has anyone heard anything back from the following firms post test?

• Taylor Wessing
• Hogan Lovells (I’ve done the first assessment and aware people have started to receive the second)
• HSF Kramer (reached the benchmark)
• NRF
• Clyde & Co
• Bird & Bird (WG)

For Taylor Wessing one of the early careers team told me that if someone fails the test outright they would find out 'shortly' after their test window closes - I'm not sure how helpful that is but if a few weeks go by with no news I would assume it means you passed the test and 'in the running' for the next stage

 

[Bbhu19]

That’s great! The sjt is hard to judge for me personally because all these skills are essential to a trainee. I am assuming sjt, WG and our general application will all play a part in the next round.

I would think so, tbh with such a high Watson Glaser I wouldn’t worry about critical thinking being your lowest grade!!

 

[Bbhu19]

Did anyone get an email about Weil insight day, as I got rejected but they were “impressed by my application and I should apply to their second open day” is that a generic response?

 

[SamiyaJ]

For Taylor Wessing one of the early careers team told me that if someone fails the test outright they would find out 'shortly' after their test window closes - I'm not sure how helpful that is but if a few weeks go by with no news I would assume it means you passed the test and 'in the running' for the next stage

That’s really good to know, thank you for the insight! I did mine on 28 Sept so fingers crossed🤞🏽

 

[SamiyaJ]

Omg Willkie VI invite!!! Super surprised as my uni grades are not the best

 

[Amgrad]

For Taylor Wessing one of the early careers team told me that if someone fails the test outright they would find out 'shortly' after their test window closes - I'm not sure how helpful that is but if a few weeks go by with no news I would assume it means you passed the test and 'in the running' for the next stage

Wow that's very reassuring. I had not applied yet for the VS, but I'll do it after the open day! I want to get to know them better before submitting my app. Thank you for confirming this, so I can prepare too.

 

[yasmars]

Omg Willkie VI invite!!! Super surprised as my uni grades are not the best

Amazing news! I would say Willkie definitely have a holistic approach to reviewing applications which is great so congrats 🎉

 

[tk.42_]

Does Willkie review on a rolling basis?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Amazing news! I would say Willkie definitely have a holistic approach to reviewing applications which is great so congrats 🎉

Thank you! Xx

 

[TortillaTC]

Omg Willkie VI invite!!! Super surprised as my uni grades are not the best

Congrats!! Was this the open day or their spring vac scheme?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Congrats!! Was this the open day or their spring vac scheme?

Thank you! It’s for the VS (to be considered for both spring and summer as they don’t give you an option to choose)

 

[TortillaTC]

Does Willkie review on a rolling basis?

On their website it says: “We do not recruit on a rolling basis as two of our application stages (written exercise and partner-led interview) will not take place until after the application deadline, meaning we won’t make any offers at all until after the deadline and will not fill up places before the deadline.”

I think this means that VI invites are sent out before DL but the rest of the stages are after.

 

[berocca567]

What is the White and Case automatic assessment? Is there a video interview element?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi Reed Smith">@Abbie - Reed Smith

Given that my questions were ghosted by HL and W&C confirmed last week that they won't sponsoring visa for VS, I am considering Reed Smith.

I saw someone asked about your life at Reed Smith whilst work as SQE intern on the another thread, but you didn't reply.

How you balance your studies and juggle with work, especially in the recent SQE passing rate drops, below 50%?

I've written my application since weekend and seems like stronger now and ready to submit, but I want to hear more from you, other than what TCLA offers and shows in general through email subscription last week.

Hi!

My working days at the firm are Wednesday and Thursday, so I will definitely be replying to the AMA thread later this week (I just haven't been in the office yet!)

To answer your question here, it's definitely a complicated balance, but the firm is incredibly supportive and understands that your studies take top priority (especially given the recent SQE pass rates). There is an emphasis on not working beyond office hours on your intern days, and if you do (i.e. you work an event), they'll make sure you work less on the other days. There is study space in the office as well, and a lot of the SQE interns come in to study together which is really nice! As well as the really interesting work you get to complete as an SQE intern, it's been super lovely for me to meet my cohort, especially as someone who came through the direct route.

Personally, I have been following the SQE study schedule provided by the College of Legal Practice, which allows me to stay on top of the sub-units whilst also revising previous topics. As we are working alongside it, the course is part-time! I've really enjoyed the course so far (as much as you can enjoy the SQE...), and I haven't felt overwhelmed by my SQE intern days alongside it - in fact, I quite enjoy the break from studying!

If you have any further questions on the SQE internship or Reed Smith, please do put them in the AMA thread and myself and the rest of the Early Careers interns will get back to you later this week

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Received my written exercise invite for Dechert today. Can anyone provide some insight? I’m struggling to find anything online. Thanks!!!!

Hello!

Congratulations on receiving the written exercise invite! Whilst I am not too sure on the specifics of the Dechert exercise, I've outlined some advice below that I gave a little while ago in relation to preparing for written exercises.

• Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
• Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
• Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document. For example, you might be asked to write an email to a client, a letter, a memo, or a report. Have a look at what the structure of each of these should be, and have a go drafting a couple to get used to it in advance.
• Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
• Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
• Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!

I'd focus on condensing large chunks of information into clear, concise summaries, and then presenting these within a straightforward structure that flows logically and leads to a well-reasoned conclusion.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the written exercise - we'll all be rooting for you! 🎉

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

macfarlanes opened in August and they're rolling - is it too late to apply to the spring vac scheme?

Hey!

As the deadline isn't until December, I would say that it isn't too late to apply! Whilst it is advantageous to apply earlier in the window when it is a rolling deadline, the most important thing is that you are submitting a strong and tailored application. If you're confident that you can do this before the deadline, I would always encourage you to apply!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi guys,

I'm struggling with the "what recent work at x has interested you" questions. I know I should pick a deal/case and explain why it specifically caught my interest, but I'm struggling to find information on a lot of these cases on firms websites. They generally just provide an overview of the deal, without much extra information as to complexities etc. that could enable me to provide more thoughtful analysis. Any tips?

Hello!

I totally get where you're coming from - firm websites are often quite surface-level when it comes to deal details. A few tips that might help:

• Use multiple sources - Look up the deal on sites like Legal Cheek, The Lawyer, or Financial Times to get more commercial context. There may also be press releases from clients which can reveal why the deal was significant.
• Focus on the 'why', not just the 'what' - even if you only have a short summary, you can still reflect on why that kind of work interests you. For example, if it's a cross-border M&A deal, maybe you're drawn to the international coordination or the strategic rationale behind it.
• Look for themes - firms often highlight similar types of work. If you can connect that trends to your interests or something that you've studies, that can make your answer sound more insightful even without deep technical detail.
• Listen to firm podcasts or read their insights - many firms will publish news articles or insights that hint at the complexities behind their deals. It might be worth having a read of the section of the website.

You definitely don't need insider-level knowledge - they're mainly looking for curiosity and commercial awareness, and an interest in the commercial law world. I would pick a deal in a sector or topic that interests you, and try to find some more information using the methods above. You can tie this back to your own skillset, previous experience, or future career aspirations. This will make your answer personal and tailored, and show that you have done research into the firm.

I hope that helps!