TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[e_turbo2]

W&C WVS!!!! I am in so much shock right now

CONGRATS!!! Truly deserved 🤝

 

[BobThebIlly]

100Qs WG is crazy

It genuinely irked me so bad. Genuinely drained me

 

[CharlesT47]

I'd say I hope they all move to something more like Amberjack if they really wanna keep online assessments. The options are more sensible and not as much of a false dichotomy as they are in Cappfinity imo but as long as VSs/TCs remain this competitive, they're gonna use whatever they can to filter people out.

It's such a shame as well because promising candidates get tripped up by these false dichotomies esp in Cappfinity tests. Take the slider questions where you get examples like "I'm practical and down-to-earth vs I'm thoughtful and reflective" (I've learned the hard way that you get better scores if you hard commit to one side rather than sit in the middle). In this example, I'd say being thoughtful and reflective can lead to you becoming practical and down-to-earth. The Cappfinity reports don't give useful, quantifiable, or seemingly substantiated feedback (as compared to e.g. Amberjack's pillars) either.

These companies must really have some excellent salespeople considering they earn millions in revenue by essentially scamming major employers within the the market for "screening high volumes of applications". Ironically, after being tripped up by a lack of clarity on the ranking questions (it didn't state if 1 was best/most likely or worst/least likely) in a non-law test once, I've been asking the firms that use Cappfinity if they've looked into this before I even make an application, and a couple of firms did say that they spotted that and made sure to adjust the wording on their tests lmao.

Really does feel like we're all being made to jump through fiery hoops and walk across trapezes on our hands to even get to an AC these days. I do hope, at the very least, that law firms move away from Cappfinity.

Hey that is super interesting. Have you found yourself passing past the SJTs if you were more polarising with your answers? It's a real weakness for me right now-- Haven't managed to pass a single SJT yet which is quite demoralising. I personally try be closer to the centre, but it seems that might be the reason why I'm being rejected?

 

[c.t.tc]

lol when do TW reply to us it’s been forever

Definitely not until next week and most likely the week after that so I’m choosing to forget about it haha

 

[c.t.tc]

Mishcon said at their open day that they would get back to people about the next stage around mid december. Surely it will take way longer with how the test got delayed in being sent out? Or is that a stupid thought process

 

[WillKitchen]

I'm rather disappointed that I didn't get invited for the next VS stage at Simmons.

I put a lot of time and work into that application over the last year, including working with a firm mentor through Aspiring Solicitors, attending three in-person office events in London and Oxford, and 1-on-1 calls with two different firm partners. My prep was solid.

The thing was... I am pretty sure that I was rejected for a low score in the maths test! It would be such a shame to fall down over something like that.

 

[Bread]

I'm rather disappointed that I didn't get invited for the next VS stage at Simmons.

I put a lot of time and work into that application over the last year, including working with a firm mentor through Aspiring Solicitors, attending three in-person office events in London and Oxford, and 1-on-1 calls with two different firm partners. My prep was solid.

The thing was... I am pretty sure that I was rejected for a low score in the maths test! It would be such a shame to fall down over something like that.

Welcome to the game, we hate it here

 

[qaz99]

W&C WVS!!!! I am in so much shock right now

Congrats!! When was your interview?

 

[WillKitchen]

Got the Invite!

Me too. See you there!

 

[firmfirm]

100Qs WG is crazy

wow here I was thinking it was a normal WG. these firms are something else

 

[ninarosee]

wow here I was thinking it was a normal WG. these firms are something else

yeah let's hope it doesn't become standard practice!

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Congrats!! When was your interview?

The 7th

 

[emily3827]

does anyone know at what point in the process Dechert contacts references?

 

[Chelsea101]

Mishcon 's test was horrible! I kept missing some typing mistakes because I could not see my answers well and I even sent a few with typos by mistake because it sent them when I was still correcting my parapgraphs 😭 Basically spent two hours typing just to purely expect a PFO....

Same to all of what you just said- how did people find the MDR VI question after. My brain was so fried from staring at a screen for almost three hours I messed up so badly

 

[sadboi]

does anyone know at what point in the process Dechert contacts references?

Presumably after the AC?

 

[llblawstudent]

684 in Simmons 😭😭😭😭

 

[WillKitchen]

Same to all of what you just said- how did people find the MDR VI question after. My brain was so fried from staring at a screen for almost three hours I messed up so badly

I'm really sorry to hear that. The Mishcon test was one of my favourites so far!

Yes, it takes a long time. But I felt like I had much more control over things. The video section was short and simple, and not as stressful as others.

Mishcon really stand out from the crowd with the AI chat. I'd like to see more of that, but I know not everyone will agree.

 

[yasmars]

Same to all of what you just said- how did people find the MDR VI question after. My brain was so fried from staring at a screen for almost three hours I messed up so badly

Idek if I can even be bothered to do the test. I don’t wanna spend ages on something I’m going to mess up

 

[user55998384]

Simmons AC!

congrats!! when did you apply?

 

[lawyersum]

Idek if I can even be bothered to do the test. I don’t wanna spend ages on something I’m going to mess up

It is literally impossible to tell how you've done. Just make sure you and your strengths shine through. It's a strange way of assessing people but they have to take some people through to the next stage and it may well be you, so do it!!