TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[James Wakefield]

DLA Piper WG 🙂

 

[Amgrad]

So standard amberjack uses 4 pillars i cant remember them all but it's something like grit, digital mindset and 2 others
Simmons one uses 3- commercial acumen, people skills and self management

Interesting, I didn't apply Simmons as I am ineligible. Did you take Weil VI? Could you tell me which one is harder for you, Reed Smith or Weil? As I thought both have the quite similar type.

 

[apap]

Thx anyway, I saw your concern about em-dashes on Chat GPT. However, you can stop it by going to setting.. You can find a comprehensive tutorial here: https://ruben.substack.com/p/emdash

You can always change the writing style of your GenAI, I worked with LLM consultant before and it's work the same for other tools like Perplexity, Claude, Mistral, DeepSeek, and Gemini.

So, if someone thought em-dashes are always AI, they are crap. Even semicolon can be generated by LLM too 🤣

For example: "Systematically replace em-dashes (“—”) with a dot (”.”) to start a new sentence, or a comma (”,”) to continue the sentence. Use semicolon (";") for a long sentence to replace em-dashes effectively".

You just need to write the prompt properly to always choose your preferences including word choices too, the most effective method is through the settings and it's completely free. What I see here em-dashes is a default setting, but not everyone knows this hack.

I just tried this as per the person's instructions on the substack and it does not work.

*reloaded multiple times - closed and reopened, checked settings, checked the customisation is enabled and base style set to robot.

 

[404]

DLA Piper WG 🙂

Congrats! When did you submit your application?

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Radio silence from Weil, honestly, I should have known it was not a good idea when there was no opportunity to add my work experience. I don't have good grades, so it's very valid of them 🥲 I will focus on applying to firms that let me put in my work experience aha

Hey. Please don't beat yourself up. I applied on the first day and got my invite on Monday. It's rolling, and different people in the team look at different applications. Wishing you all the best

 

[p2bv]

Hi guys I just had a first stage interview with a recruiter (not a member of the early careers team) and was told if i have any questions to direct it the early careers email instead of asking during the interview. I was wondering if i should email the early careers team general questions that you would typically ask at the end of an interview about what the role is like etc or if they just mean if i have any specific questions about the recruitment process to email. I don’t know if it’s expected to ask questions or if it would look weird if I asked the early careers team about trainee life etc

 

[silonthesofa]

Anyone else received the Taylor Wessing PFO? If we haven't are we through to the next round? (for spring)

It honestly doesn't mean anything. Last year, I completed the online assessment December 12th and received the PFO January 14th. Maybe *maybe* if you didn't get PFO'd right away, it means you at least met their benchmark, but I don't even know if they have a set benchmark because they look at your application holistically. The email I received after submitting the test this year said I'd hear more by the end of November, so I take it to mean exactly that.

 

[James Wakefield]

Congrats! When did you submit your application?

Sunday

 

[Amgrad]

I just tried this as per the person's instructions on the substack and it does not work.

*reloaded multiple times - closed and reopened, checked settings, checked the customisation is enabled and base style set to robot.

Mine worked quickly and don't need to reload some, maybe you missed a step. There is a quick video tutorial as well https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rube...d&rcm=ACoAADQuMxsBhvxEabyPREepFxCLZKCUF9IP484

If the problem still persist you can ask help at Open AI. There are plenty of free courses at Open AI Academy too where you can learn some tips for using LLM effectively and wisely.

 

[hawkins19]

does anyone know if Payne Hicks beach is rolling?

 

[c.t.tc]

Anyone else received the Taylor Wessing PFO? If we haven't are we through to the next round? (for spring)

It’s sort of a half stage - if you don’t meet the benchmark you get a PFO. If you pass the test then you’re ‘éligible’ for the next stage but still have to be actively selected for the written exercise.

 

[apap]

Mine worked quickly and don't need to reload some, maybe you missed a step. There is a quick video tutorial as well https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rube...d&rcm=ACoAADQuMxsBhvxEabyPREepFxCLZKCUF9IP484

If the problem still persist you can ask help at Open AI. There are plenty of free courses at Open AI Academy too where you can learn some tips for using LLM effectively.

I literally copy and pasted what you wrote in the quotes and added it to my custom settings following what the substack guy says to do...

 

[apap]

Mine worked quickly and don't need to reload some, maybe you missed a step. There is a quick video tutorial as well https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rube...d&rcm=ACoAADQuMxsBhvxEabyPREepFxCLZKCUF9IP484

If the problem still persist you can ask help at Open AI. There are plenty of free courses at Open AI Academy too where you can learn some tips for using LLM effectively and wisely.

see examples

 

[eshal]

Looking for Weil VI insights as well!!

I’ve got insights for Mayer Brown VI, A&O VI, Latham VI, HL stage 1 & 2, Simmons VI and Pinsent Masons VI

Hi, how many VI questions are there in HL test stage 2, are they more motivational, sjt or competency style

 

[silonthesofa]

it was slightly harder, I thought I did well but clearly did not practise the enough (I did all the prep tests multiple times lol)

Slightly harder is an understatement. Problem with the practise portal – apart from not being as difficult – is that the content started to repeat, so it had limited utility after the first couple of practice sections. Also, the actual test is adaptive, so in a way, take it as a good thing that it got progressively harder.

Also, don't be so sure that you didn't do well on the tests. They mean it when they say they take into account your whole application. Like, I think back to my application last year and I'm amazed it wasn't tossed faster. It was completely non-specific and for one of my answers, I don't think I even directly answered the question.

So you know, ultimately, this whole process is extremely opaque and abstract. We don't actually have any idea how they make their decisions. Some firms put more weight on this, some more weight on that. Maybe you got unlucky in that your application was reviewed later in the day when they were tired – or even reviewed by one member of the team instead of another.

 

[apap]

Slightly harder is an understatement. Problem with the practise portal – apart from not being as difficult – is that the content started to repeat, so it had limited utility after the first couple of practice sections. Also, the actual test is adaptive, so in a way, take it as a good thing that it got progressively harder.

Also, don't be so sure that you didn't do well on the tests. They mean it when they say they take into account your whole application. Like, I think back to my application last year and I'm amazed it wasn't tossed faster. It was completely non-specific and for one of my answers, I don't think I even directly answered the question.

So you know, ultimately, this whole process is extremely opaque and abstract. We don't actually have any idea how they make their decisions. Some firms put more weight on this, some more weight on that. Maybe you got unlucky in that your application was reviewed later in the day when they were tired – or even reviewed by one member of the team instead of another.

I ran on the assumption that if you hear back within a week of your online assessment window closing, it means you did not meet their test benchmarks.

I think you're somewhat right about them reviewing holistically but I have heard the above from someone who was told this by one of their early careers advisors.

 

[silonthesofa]

It’s sort of a half stage - if you don’t meet the benchmark you get a PFO. If you pass the test then you’re ‘éligible’ for the next stage but still have to be actively selected for the written exercise.

You know this for a fact or are speculating? It's sensible that that'd be the case, but I've also learned not to always apply the word 'sensible' to this process. Like, it's a classic necessary, but not sufficient condition, but I also haven't found anything to concretely support that if you don't pass it, you get a quick PFO.

 

[jojo23]

Interesting, I didn't apply Simmons as I am ineligible. Did you take Weil VI? Could you tell me which one is harder for you, Reed Smith or Weil? As I thought both have the quite similar type.

I haven't applied for weil😭

 

[Amgrad]

see examples

Try 'default' and remove the last sentence. Ask in a new chat box. If that's not working try clean your cache, update your browser and app, check bug/server issues and contact the team at https://help.openai.com/en

 

[TCLA0322]

DLA piper wgt invite submitted on 6th Nov