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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

meredithgrey

Star Member
  • Nov 7, 2025
    30
    29
    i would love for anyone who has been involved in the recruitment side of an SJT to explain what they see and how they use our responses to filter us, it makes 0 sense to me as a tangible differentiator
    I spoke with someone at Mills & Reeve and they said that you’re given points based on your responses. E.g. for ranking questions you need to get the most likely and least likely correct to get the points.

    Not sure if this is also the case for other firms but I thought this may provide some insight.
     

    LaDiva

    Distinguished Member
    Premium Member
  • Jul 7, 2025
    56
    34
    Hi, I had an interview yesterday and got asked follow ups on just under half of my responses. Is this a bad sign? To me it seemed like my initial answers were incomplete hence the probing interview style so I feel like a rejection may be incoming
    I'm yet to have an inperson interview, but I think they were just testing how well you can think on your feet, check your deeper understanding etc..
     
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    FutureTraineeMaybe

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Feb 15, 2024
    300
    357
    Not related to applications, but keen to know - how do you guys manage upcoming assignment deadlines and making VS applications? What's the best strategy?
    Snow White Coffee GIF
     

    hxnnahrobinson

    Star Member
    Dec 19, 2022
    33
    48
    Not related to applications, but keen to know - how do you guys manage upcoming assignment deadlines and making VS applications? What's the best strategy?
    Structure your week appropriately. I am a non-law student and have video interviews, as well as three exams in January and February. I have two days per week dedicated to interview preparation, three days committed to revision and two days off. Keeping that structure is the only way I can remain sane (I hope!)
     
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    ninarosee

    Distinguished Member
    Dec 18, 2023
    52
    212
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    Abbie Whitlock

    Administrator
    Staff member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Sep 11, 2025
    704
    705
    Hi, I had an interview yesterday and got asked follow ups on just under half of my responses. Is this a bad sign? To me it seemed like my initial answers were incomplete hence the probing interview style so I feel like a rejection may be incoming
    Hello!

    This is actually very common and I wouldn't say it is a bad sign at all. If you are asked follow-up questions, this usually means that the interviewer was engaged with your answers and wanted to understand your thinking more clearly, not that you were "failing" to answer correctly. If your responses were way off base or uninteresting, they likely would have moved on rather than probing further! I've found in past interviews that some interviewers deliberately use this style of interviewing to see how candidates think and communicate when prompted.

    It's also worth remembering that interviews rarely feel as good as they look from the other side. I remember thinking my Reed Smith interview wasn't great, but it worked out in the end! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and looking back, it can definitely feel like answers were incomplete - however, that doesn't mean that is how your answers were perceived by the interviewers. Until you hear back, I'd try not to read too much into one aspect of the interview - there are many factors that are involved! :)
     

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