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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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I completely missed your response, so sorry! Thank you so much for your insightful reply. This is very helpfulHey!
That's a really great question, and I can totally see how it can be tough to sound original when everyone's essentially describing the same job. What helps is going beyond just listing tasks and showing some personal reflection.
Essentially, I would say the main things that they are looking for in this question are that you have:
For the first part, rather than just saying "commercial lawyers draft contracts and advise clients", try to describe what this would actually look like in practice - for example, "translating complex regulatory obligations into practical business advice". That kind of distinction shows that you've thought about what the work actually involves on a day-to-day level, and the value that commercial lawyers bring to clients.
- An understanding of what a commercial lawyer does
- Clear motivations for pursuing this career
- A self-awareness of your own skills and areas you'd like to improve on
To make your answer stand out, I would link the reality of the job to your own experiences and motivations. For instance, if you've worked in a business setting, you might say that gave you insight into how legal advice can influence and shape commercial decisions. Alternatively, if you enjoy teamwork or research, show how these strengths would help you in tasks such as due diligence or coordinating across practice areas. Connecting your skills and experiences to the realities of the role shows genuine self-awareness, and an understanding of how you are well-suited for the job.
When it comes to the "challenges" part, I would be honest but reflective - these challenges could include managing competing deadlines, getting comfortable with ambiguity, or perhaps even something like networking or presenting. I would then make sure that you show how you're preparing to develop in those areas (e.g. through time management, adaptability, or even seeking out those settings to gain more exposure!).
In summary, I would follow a structure along the lines of:
This will help make your answer feel distinctive and authentic, rather than a generic description of what the job involves.
- Show how you understand the job in context (with realistic examples)
- Link that to your own skills and motivations (and why they make you suited for the role)
- Reflect on your challenges (and discuss how you intend to work on these areas)
I hope that helps!
Not sure there's been a time quoted - you'd probably need to reach out and ask!
I don't remember which pillar is which or what order but the numbers were 6643 high verbal low numerical (i could probably perform brain surgery better than I can do maths🤣)
The vid interview went much better (something I never thought I'd say in my life)...
Willkie PFO post VI. I’m actually quite gutted?! I thought I prepped and performed very well 😔
One more VI to hear back from at this time- Bird & Bird 🤞🏽
😔One more VI to hear back from at this time- Bird & Bird 🤞🏽
How tho lol. Attended their open day earlier this week and Gemma - the head of recruitment said that apps are non-rolling and that decisions will not be made till the deadline passes.
Non-rolling in the sense that they don’t give out any offers until after the deadline passes. Also, the written exercise will be done after the deadline. But, they do screen applications as they come in and they do invite people to video interview before the deadline.
They do invite people to the written exercise stage but the assessments aren’t actually sent out until after the deadline.
Hi Abbie,Hey! I think the best way to approach these questions is to treat them like mini personal statements. I would keep them personal and tailored to DLA Piper, and reflective of your own experiences when you can.
Here is how I’d break it down:
Personal Experience and Motivation for Law
This question is asking you to go beyond generic motivations (like problem-solving or liking to debate) and focus on something that genuinely developed your interest. This is ideally something that you personally experienced or were actively involved in.
The typical structure I would follow is:
- Briefly explain the context - what was the experience, and why was it relevant?
- Reflect on what you realised from this experience - did it change your perspective? Did it spark an interest in a distinct area, such as regulation?
- Link this to your long-term career ambitions - how did it lead you to pursue a career in law? Why does DLA Piper align with that?
This doesn’t have to be a legal experience! It could be something like helping someone navigate complex systems, a moment that taught you analytical thinking, or a personal situation with a legal element. The main thing is that you have to clearly link it back to your motivation for law!
DLA Piper Insights Article
This is your opportunity to showcase your commercial awareness and understanding of the firm’s work, and how your interests align.
I would structure my response using the following:
- Choose an article on a client sector that you find interesting - this should ideally be something that overlaps with your genuine interests and your background (e.g. emerging tech, ESG, healthcare etc.)
- Summarise the main points of the article in your own words - this should be brief, but show that you understand the commercial and legal implications
- Explain why this topic resonates with you - what does it tell you about the evolution of the legal industry? What part of it excites you? Does it relate to something you have studied or explored in another setting?
- Link to DLA Piper - think about the firm’s international reach, sector focus, innovation, or work with leading clients. How does this article show the kind of work that you’d be interested in working in?
I would avoid picking a random article - choose something that you have a genuine interest in, and clearly explain why that is and how it links to your future career.
I know that there aren’t a lot of words available due to the word limit, so you should aim to be as concise as possible. Hope this helps!
Do you think it would be okay to answer the first question by explaining one experience like an insight day and then saying other T experiences which led on from this (work experience, legal workshops, summer school) to show how your career ambitions have evolved and been shaped by the original experience?
Thanks
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