TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[A_ede]

How would you go about answering why transactional law and not investment banking?

Hi,

I was asked this in my final TC interview and the first thing I acknowledged was the overlap between transactional law and investment banking.

I then went on to discuss three reasons why I was drawn to commercial law. I discussed the team/client relationship within law firms and the value I place on such relationships. I also discussed the analysis, problem solving and skills required in transaction law, relating some experience to this (which at the time was a Vacation Scheme experience but could be any relevant experience). I then also discussed the role that a transactional lawyer takes in a deal and directly compared this with an investment banker's role, and highlighted why this was more attractive to me.

Hope this helps!

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Are people like heavily practising for the WG? I've just been winging it after reading about how it works, there's no where near enough time to practice it extensively, apply and be prepared for my degree work!

 

[elle woods]

Just got the invite myself! Mayer Brown Grad Rec said it would be four questions, of which two have unlimited prep time and two have limited prep time, they all have two mins recording time. I think there was something about the order of these too but I can't quite remember. I was also told to expect the standard motivational questions, and the top tip was to not rush through the answer while the clock ticks down. They find it's almost never the content of the answer that trips people up at this stage, but the overall presentation instead

Thank you that’s very helpful!

 

[xxpip.12]

Hi guys please can I have some honest ideas of what you think is going wrong here because I’m getting constant rejections. I’m on my second application cycle, this time taking a far more tailored approach and only applying to firms I’ve interacted with and been to open days at. All of my applications are proofread by people that have secured TCs and I’ve read lots of successful cover letters so I know I’m along the right lines. I have top grades, study at Cambridge, hold society positions, have work experience law and non-law - please help 😓 I think I’m being filtered out by these assessments but I’ve been practising them loads

 

[Trophy]

Are people like heavily practising for the WG? I've just been winging it after reading about how it works, there's no where near enough time to practice it extensively, apply and be prepared for my degree work!

I never practice hence why i got 1 percentile on my first go haha but the more i did the better i got. My biggest strength is the assumptions but I'm not terrible at conclusions either as I'm always jumping to conclusions myself

 

[elle woods]

quick question how are people's links WG scores looking? I have got the best score I have ever got with them but i got fairly mid in the evaluating arguments section whereas i normally perform the highest in that section. for context the first time i ever took WG i got 1 percentile LMAO and i got 80 on my most recent.

Currently on hold at 70% which means nothing tbh just patiently waiting

I’m at the same exact situation as you! Same percentile and everything I think haha

 

[Sharkfin]

Are people like heavily practising for the WG? I've just been winging it after reading about how it works, there's no where near enough time to practice it extensively, apply and be prepared for my degree work!

Personally, I try and use a "little and often" approach - I cba sitting through an entire practice test every day, so instead I'll get gpt to give me a couple section specific questions (eg inference, assumptions) and just do a few of those whenever im bored. IMO consistency is the best thing for improving test scores, WG or otherwise 🫡

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Hi guys please can I have some honest ideas of what you think is going wrong here because I’m getting constant rejections. I’m on my second application cycle, this time taking a far more tailored approach and only applying to firms I’ve interacted with and been to open days at. All of my applications are proofread by people that have secured TCs and I’ve read lots of successful cover letters so I know I’m along the right lines. I have top grades, study at Cambridge, hold society positions, have work experience law and non-law - please help 😓 I think I’m being filtered out by these assessments but I’ve been practising them loads

I'm gonna pm you!

 

[elle woods]

Hi guys please can I have some honest ideas of what you think is going wrong here because I’m getting constant rejections. I’m on my second application cycle, this time taking a far more tailored approach and only applying to firms I’ve interacted with and been to open days at. All of my applications are proofread by people that have secured TCs and I’ve read lots of successful cover letters so I know I’m along the right lines. I have top grades, study at Cambridge, hold society positions, have work experience law and non-law - please help 😓 I think I’m being filtered out by these assessments but I’ve been practising them loads

Hey I’m at ur uni - if u want to talk id be happy to be dmed!

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Personally, I try and use a "little and often" approach - I cba sitting through an entire practice test every day, so instead I'll get gpt to give me a couple section specific questions (eg inference, assumptions) and just do a few of those whenever im bored. IMO consistency is the best thing for improving test scores, WG or otherwise 🫡

This is a good idea. I mean, it's a bit late... I've done a fair few tests for firms. I got to the job sim for hogan and passed the benchmark for HSF Kramer but I'm not sure how indicative this is. Do they continue to look at scores throughout ? Is there cut off quite low ?

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Hey I’m at ur uni - if u want to talk id be happy to be dmed!

I was not expecting you to be a Cambridge !! I get it tho because I'm at Ox and still feel very imposter syndrome.

 

[johnsmith]

Weil rejection just through, not surprised though as my uni grades just won't be good enough for them and the application style obviously relied on that heavily!

Completed SJT + VI 4th November.

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Just wondering, how many people here are law undergrads?

 

[elle woods]

I was not expecting you to be a Cambridge !! I get it tho because I'm at Ox and still feel very imposter syndrome.

Yeaa haha I don’t even believe that I’m at Cambridge LMAO

I think it’s the fact that I’m from a lower class background so the imposter syndrome never goes away hahaha - genuinely feel like I’m playing catch up in all aspects of my life!

 

[Suii]

Weil pfo after sjt/vi am not surprised with my feedback report.

 

[elle woods]

Weil pfo after sjt/vi am not surprised with my feedback report.

Man I’m terrified to do the OT now 😭😭😭

 

[Sharkfin]

This is a good idea. I mean, it's a bit late... I've done a fair few tests for firms. I got to the job sim for hogan and passed the benchmark for HSF Kramer but I'm not sure how indicative this is. Do they continue to look at scores throughout ? Is there cut off quite low ?

Purely speculative but I imagine they only matter in getting to the next stage like an AC. Following that, I can't imagine they're relied upon throughout.

 

[Diana54]

I completed the Ashurst online test today but I have not received an email confirmation that I have completed the test. Also, I pressed on the like again and it allows to register and do the test again even though I have already completed it.

Have others got an email confirmation when they have completed the test?

 

[Amgrad]

Interesting... Then app questions weren't a particularly high decisive factor, I reckon? I am a coach for one competition, and whenever we assemble a new team, I put their motivational answers into an AI detector before making a final decision. If it's 20%, then I let it go, of course, but if it's 80-90%...

P.S. I am not against AI, but how you use it demonstrates intelligence, in my view

I read an article about AI detector and it turns out can't fully differentiate the human factor. Nowadays LLM is smart, if you prompted them to humanise the respond and specifically elaborate how is your writing style, lexical resources level, use of contractions, emdash, etc that's absurd to identify. Just like weeks ago, I shared how I worked with LLM consultants.

So, many colleges or grad employer in the US never checked applicants writing through AI detector. The UK and EU might be slightly reluctant against AI, what I've seen Sweden is the most progressive memberstate in terms of AI policy, even taught students how to use it properly.

Whereas in Asia, AI is viewed as a productivity tool rather than a part of society's philosophical life. Many businesses laid off because of AI, yet they're struggle to maintain revenue and efficiency like western counterpart because of this false thought of perception.

 

[johnsmith]

Weil pfo after sjt/vi am not surprised with my feedback report.

I'd forgotten it was an amberjack, and my scores were actually quite poor when I look back at it!