Hey @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu , if a why firm question is asked, and I haven't been to any of their open days/insight days, how can I make my reasoning stand out?
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hey!
Most firms will have some form of assessment / interview that they will factor in alongside your performance on the scheme. One vacation scheme that I completed that didn't have a final 'interview' was Travers Smith - they ask you to submit an essay before the scheme, and then assess you on the scheme based on a written task, negotiation, and your overall performance. You are therefore not required to complete an interview during the scheme, which is quite rare! However, all of the other vacation schemes I have completed involved final partner interviews that were factored in alongside performance
Congratulations! May I ask when you submitted your app and got the test invite please?
Hey!
It makes total sense to feel fear and dread when you have had tough assessment centres before - your brain is trying to protect you from something it remembers as stressful! I felt a similar way before my DTC AC as I had never been the best at assessment centres in the past, and it was easy to spiral into what could go wrong.
There are some constructive ways to approach this round to try and put yourself in a healthier mindset for approaching the AC.
1. Focus on the positives you've earned
You were invited to the AC because you've already impressed them. Application form, tests, video interviews - they have clearly seen potential for you to make it this far. That is not luck - it is proof that you belong in this process and that you are more than capable of receiving an offer!
2. Be proud you are at this stage
A lot of really strong candidates might not make it this far - and you have managed to multiple times! Even if past ACs didn't go how you hoped, the fact you're trying again shows resilience and growth.
3. Look at where you can improve rather than what went wrong
Instead of replaying past negatives (which is easier said than done, I know!), try to break down what specific areas you felt weaker in - maybe interviews, group exercises, or commercial awareness. This makes it feel more manageable to work on them in small, targeted ways, and improvement itself builds confidence.
4. Remember what you did well last time
Even in an AC that felt bad, there were definitely still things that went right - perhaps communication, time management, written tasks, etc. Make sure you remember those parts when you reflect on your past experiences, as they are part of your performance too - use it to build your confidence!
5. Remind yourself its a new AC
New people, new exercises, and a brand new opportunity to make a great impression. What happened before is not automatically what will happen again, and you are able to start afresh and give it your all.
6. Choose at least one "win" goal that isn't outcome-based
What really helped me to manage my expectations and anxiety going into an AC was to give myself a clear goal alongside "doing my best" in all the tasks. For example:
- "I'll contribute clearly in the group exercise"
- "I'll keep calm breathing before each segment"
- "I'll back myself when answering questions"
Remember that you are not starting again from zero every time - you're starting from everything you've learned. Whilst the past ACs feel like bad memories, I would try to remember that they were practice to make you more resilient and determined for the ones to come.
Wishing you the best of luck
Hello!
You definitely do not need to have attended an open / insight day to give a strong "Why this firm?" answer - I only attended an open day at one of the firms I was successful with overall! The main ways that you can stand out:
1. Show you've done deeper research than the website itself
Look for things such as:
- Recent deals, cases, or matters the firm worked on that have interested you
- Industry sectors or client bases that they're growing in
- New offices, strategy changes, hires, or expansions
- Awards or rankings that match your interests
2. Link the firm's strengths to your personal motivations
My main advice for all motivational questions is to constantly link the unique aspects of the firm back to your own past experiences to demonstrate genuine interest, and where the interest has grown.
For example, rather than saying "I want to work at X because they are strong in Y", I'd say something more along the lines of: "Your growth in private equity appeals to me as I enjoy analytical, long-term client relationships as show through my experience as X"
Making that connection is what helps set your application apart, and makes it feel more personal and tailored overall.
3. Talk about what you can contribute to the firm
A really useful way of showing an interest in a firm is by demonstrating that you know what they value, and that you have those qualities yourself. For example:
- A technical interest in a certain area
- Prior sector experience
- Client-facing or leadership skills
4. Highlight what makes the firm different to its competitors
This can be across a range of different factors, but some of the most common starting points are:
- Culture or training approach
- Client base
- Seat structure
- Early responsibility
- International opportunities
Even without open days, a well-researched and personal answer can easily stand out more than someone who simply says "I went to the firm presentation and liked the culture". It's all about showing your genuine interest and motivations for the firm through your research, and tying this into why you'd be a good fit based on your past experiences.
I hope that helps, and best of luck with your applications!
hi !!Hi guys - I'm going through the Mischon de Reya application form, and have a quick query to ask. If anyone's got any advice, I'd be really grateful
On the form, there's a section marked "Work Experience", but it only contains 4 available spaces (all of which are only 150 words long). The next section on the form is titled "Activities & Achievements"; here, there's 5 spaces available, all of which are 200 words long.
Would it be right to assume that the "Activities & Achievements" section is only for extra-curricular stuff (and so it wouldn't be a good idea to use it to list any examples of work experience that I couldn't fit into the previous section)?
at their open day they said the work experience section should ideally contain like paid work you’ve done. and then volunteering, university society positions, one-off achievements and other extracurriculars can go in the activities section
Dear @Andrei Radu, the Davis Polk cover letter states "Please include your cover letter in the space provided below. Within your cover letter please include why you are specifically interested in Davis Polk, why you are attracted to the work that we carry out, and the skills that you have developed that would contribute towards your success in the role." How do you think we should go about structuring it, and should we still mention why commercial law (as in typical cover letters)?
Hi guys,
Is it worth it to apply to rolling firms (HL,Bird&Bird) around 2 weeks before their deadline?
Is it worth it to apply to rolling firms (HL,Bird&Bird) around 2 weeks before their deadline?
I'm taking a lot more time than I anticipated to make my Mishcon application, maybe because I'm thinking a lot about the kind of questions A might come up with the content we feed it via our application...
Thank you Abbie this is so sweet I needed this 🥺Hey!
It makes total sense to feel fear and dread when you have had tough assessment centres before - your brain is trying to protect you from something it remembers as stressful! I felt a similar way before my DTC AC as I had never been the best at assessment centres in the past, and it was easy to spiral into what could go wrong.
There are some constructive ways to approach this round to try and put yourself in a healthier mindset for approaching the AC.
1. Focus on the positives you've earned
You were invited to the AC because you've already impressed them. Application form, tests, video interviews - they have clearly seen potential for you to make it this far. That is not luck - it is proof that you belong in this process and that you are more than capable of receiving an offer!
2. Be proud you are at this stage
A lot of really strong candidates might not make it this far - and you have managed to multiple times! Even if past ACs didn't go how you hoped, the fact you're trying again shows resilience and growth.
3. Look at where you can improve rather than what went wrong
Instead of replaying past negatives (which is easier said than done, I know!), try to break down what specific areas you felt weaker in - maybe interviews, group exercises, or commercial awareness. This makes it feel more manageable to work on them in small, targeted ways, and improvement itself builds confidence.
4. Remember what you did well last time
Even in an AC that felt bad, there were definitely still things that went right - perhaps communication, time management, written tasks, etc. Make sure you remember those parts when you reflect on your past experiences, as they are part of your performance too - use it to build your confidence!
5. Remind yourself its a new AC
New people, new exercises, and a brand new opportunity to make a great impression. What happened before is not automatically what will happen again, and you are able to start afresh and give it your all.
6. Choose at least one "win" goal that isn't outcome-based
What really helped me to manage my expectations and anxiety going into an AC was to give myself a clear goal alongside "doing my best" in all the tasks. For example:
I found this was a great way to maintain control of my performance, and allowed me to find the small wins even if overall it felt like it went 'badly'.
- "I'll contribute clearly in the group exercise"
- "I'll keep calm breathing before each segment"
- "I'll back myself when answering questions"
Remember that you are not starting again from zero every time - you're starting from everything you've learned. Whilst the past ACs feel like bad memories, I would try to remember that they were practice to make you more resilient and determined for the ones to come.
Wishing you the best of luck
Oct 27th Application. Received invite for test 21st Nov. Did test on 23rd and invited on 24th
Hello!
Yes, I would definitely still encourage you to apply! Whilst it is advantageous to submit as early as you can for a rolling deadline, most firms will still receive the bulk of their submissions the last few days before the deadline.
Firms will review any application that has been submitted before the deadline, so there is still plenty of chance to be progressed. I would focus on writing a strong and tailored application, as this is the most important part.
Best of luck with the applications!
Is anybody having trouble viewing the Article Archive in TCLA Academy? I've been trying to view older news for a week now but can'taccess it. Is there any way i can resolve this? @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
It keeps showing this :
It keeps showing this :
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It really didn’t seem to feed off my application at all, more the responses I gave, not sure on others experiences but it wasn’t quite as clever as I’d though it would be!
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