TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[DavidJC]

Hi @Andrei Radu Was hoping to hear your perspective.
Right now, I'm trying to write about the UK's recent relaxing of the capital rules for banks.
I'm struggling though to get deep into the analysis outside of the obvious increase in dealmaking. (I.e PE/ M&A transactions rely on a lot of leverage. Now that banks have more capital to invest with, these two areas will likely boom).
How can I then flesh this out/ have more commercial depth?
Is it fair to say that certain practice areas will benefit more/ less? Will drug research/ life sciences see additional increases in activity because of how capital intensive this area is?
Alternatively, is this perhaps not the best topic to use for a commercial issue application answer? I just wanted to hear your opinion, since I remember you saying how your answer was on a similarly broad commercial topic like how low interest rates affect deals.

Not Andrei, but I was looking into the impact of changing capital requirements previously (re Basel 3.1 Regs) and the key thing is that it means banks can take on more risky assets i.e. they have more room to trade riskier debt, structured debt/assets etc which can lead to more LevFin, M&A etc as rightly pointed out. Generally speaking, it will boost transactional and financing activity and all the subsequent impacts from that. I can't speak to sector-specific stuff but I hope that helps.

 

[wooliewoo]

Just finished the HSFK test, got moderate fit in all and high fit for one. Praying I've passed the benchmark lol!

 

[jacksollaf]

DLA Piper TI invite, does anyone have any insights? please would be grateful!

 

[wooliewoo]

Hey quys, does anyone know whether the Macfarlanes 2nd stage test needs to be completed before the deadline. Thank you!

 

[SemperParatus]

Guys I just saw this on my portal for DLA piper: ‘Thank you for working with us during our recruitment process. We are enjoying getting to know you’.
What does this mean? I wonder if this is a pfo in disguise

 

[Goodbyetc]

Guys I just saw this on my portal for DLA piper: ‘Thank you for working with us during our recruitment process. We are enjoying getting to know you’.
What does this mean? I wonder if this is a pfo in disguise

Mine just updated to that straight after they emailed I passed to TI so I wouldn’t read too much into that

 

[SemperParatus]

Mine just updated to that straight after they emailed I passed to TI so I wouldn’t read too much into that

Woah, I haven’t got a TI invite email at all, does this mean I got a TI invite?

 

[applicant457]

so the Clyde & co OA is the same as the VI?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Has anyone got a Reed Smith AC recently? I’ve been waiting for a month now post test, wondering if I should just assume PFO 😭

Hello!

I wouldn't assume a rejection based on the timeframe - I waited over a month in between completing my Reed Smith online assessment and receiving an assessment centre invite! There are various factors that go in to when invites are sent out, and the application window is still open - for the time being, I would take no news as good news

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Anybody know what I should expect with strength-based interviews for a law firm? Thanks!

Hi!

Just to add to Andrei's advice, I thought I'd share my past experiences with strengths-based interview questions!

For these types of of questions, the important element is to answer truthfully and be yourself. They are typically looking to see how you would handle specific problems, your general working style, and the traits that you naturally possess that would make you a good fit for the firm. In preparation for the interview, I would make a note of what your key strengths are, and how they align with the skills needed to be a trainee (and what the role involves).

If you are given a hypothetical scenario, I'd talk the interviewer through each step that you would take to address the situation, and how you would use your personal strengths to aid you in handling anything that comes up.

Additionally, I've also found that the questions can be reflective in nature and may ask you specific questions about your way of workings. For an interview I did on a vacation scheme, I was asked "What type of person are you under pressure?" (which definitely threw me off!). There isn't necessarily one right answer here, and I would take a moment to actually think your answer through and consider how you usually approach these situations. It might be helpful to reflect on your past experiences and weave these into your answer, so that the interviewer can see that you are rooting your answer in concrete examples.

I hope that helps!

 

[sadboi]

Three - and I passed.

Good luck!

Do you have any tips for the HSFK test? I've been told that it's kinda arbitrary

 

[abc124]

Hello!

I wouldn't assume a rejection based on the timeframe - I waited over a month in between completing my Reed Smith online assessment and receiving an assessment centre invite! There are various factors that go in to when invites are sent out, and the application window is still open - for the time being, I would take no news as good news

I was under the impression that most people would hear back within a month, so that's really reassuring to hear. Thanks so much for replying

 

[BillSikes]

DLA Piper TI invite, does anyone have any insights? please would be grateful!

When did you do WG

 

[anonymous.15]

i got an email as soon as i did it

I just got a mail saying hit the benchmark that's it

 

[anonymous.15]

when did you complete your wg if you don’t mind me asking?

nov first week around

 

[anonymous.15]

Just finished the HSFK test, got moderate fit in all and high fit for one. Praying I've passed the benchmark lol!

How do you see 'moderate fit' and high fit? I have just gotten a mail saying you hit the benchmark nothing else

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Guys I just saw this on my portal for DLA piper: ‘Thank you for working with us during our recruitment process. We are enjoying getting to know you’.
What does this mean? I wonder if this is a pfo in disguise

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

 

[SemperParatus]

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

They probably updated mine by mistake haha, I haven’t received a TI invite, I’m really pessimistic tbh

 

[Legallylaw]

You can and definitely should keep some things similar, particularly main themes and motivations. Since you have previously progressed, graduate recruiters will likely expect less in terms of how much you will have changed your answers. That said, I would highly encourage you to at least change some things, even if it is only a change in terms of how you structure an answer and how you formulate a given substantive point - you want to avoid similarity checkers showing your answers as nearly identical to last year, as this is generally not a good look ( some recruiters say they interpret this as you not having enough motivation to try to seek to improve).

Thank you Andrei, this has been really helpful. In terms of why this firm? I was talking about a deal which I really liked and cannot find another one in the firm news that mirrors that. Would you recommend changing that still or using the same one but maybe updating it slightly with new legislation or my experiences? Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question

 

[RSC2001]

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

Mine says something different 🤔