oh woah! I applied on the deadline, haven't heard back from them ahhh
was it the VI that they sent you? May I ask how many days they give you to do it?-
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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was it the VI that they sent you? May I ask how many days they give you to do it?Hey, congrats on getting a Dentons VI, that’s a great position to be in.
I did the Dentons VI a little while back, so happy to share what I remember and what I’d focus on if I were doing it again.
Overall, it was very commercial, but with a clear structure behind it. They weren’t trying to trip you up on technical law, the focus was much more on why Dentons, how you think about business, and whether you’d work well in a global firm environment.
A few things that are really worth preparing:
Why Dentons (specifically)
Go beyond “global”, lots of firms are global. Be ready to talk about how Dentons’ polycentric model, client base, and sector strengths appeal to you, and what that means for the type of trainee you want to be.
Commercial awareness
You don’t need to know everything, but you should be comfortable discussing a recent commercial issue and explaining why it matters to Dentons’ clients. They are more interested in your reasoning than the “right” answer.
Your experiences
Expect competency style questions, but again, they want reflection rather than a perfect outcome. Be clear on what you learned and how that links to being a trainee at Dentons.
Global mindset and collaboration
One thing that felt quite distinct was their interest in how you work with others, adapt to different perspectives, and handle ambiguity, which makes sense given how the firm operates across jurisdictions.
If you’re prepared, it’s actually quite an enjoyable VI.
My biggest tip: don’t over rehearse scripted answers. Dentons seems to value authenticity and commercial curiosity, and that comes across best when you’re thinking out loud rather than reciting.
Best of luck, and well done again on getting the VI.
about to be me fr - did their test 1 like November and waiting for a PFO rn 😭😂 but haven't heard a peep from them
Clyde and Co VI! I’m both excited at terrified, Clyde is one of my absolute dream firms. Thanks to everyone on this forum for your insights and support getting from 16 first stage rejections last cycle to being able to get through various stages this time. Would anyone have any insights into this VI specifically? I also have DLA TI tomorrow morning too and insights would be appreciated. Keep smashing it everyone!
Okay thanks. Is this standard? I read that someone only got 3 day to prepare last year? Or was that an anomaly?
Okay, so…. Silence from Eversheds as well 🫣😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬 please be a VI even though I messed up my a levels section and had to write a note
hey everyone, is hogan lovells first assessment with a VI? I'm not sure if it the first or second stage, they named it the 'Online Immersive Assessment'
Congrats, that’s a really strong position to be in.
For transparency, I passed Weil's assessments, so I’ll share what I found actually mattered at each stage.
The SJT is much more about judgment and commercial common sense than legal knowledge. What helped me was constantly asking:
What’s the most sensible outcome for the client?
What protects the firm’s reputation and manages risk?
What would a good junior actually do in this situation?
Avoid extreme answers. Weil doesn’t want someone who escalates everything, but they also don’t want you acting independently when it’s inappropriate. The strongest answers usually involve prioritising, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility while knowing when to loop someone in.
The VI was intense but fair. A huge focus was on:
Why Weil - not just “US firm” or “high-quality work”, but why this platform, this culture, and this type of responsibility appeals to you
Commercial thinking - they cared much more about how I reasoned through issues than whether I landed on a “perfect” answer
Self-awareness - they were genuinely interested in whether I understood the pace and pressure and had actively chosen it
One thing I think helped was being honest about the intensity of Weil and framing it as something I’m drawn to, rather than trying to downplay it or pretend it’s for everyone.
Happy to answer specific questions if you have them, and best of luck.
Just received an ES video interview invite! Is this automatic or selective? Good luck to everyone else!❤️
Omg yay!! This is the first time I’ve progressed to this stage of an application! Super happy🥺❤️
Just to add, I was really convinced I would get a PFO after completing the WG. Very pleasantly surprised!
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