TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[elle woods]

This is my biggest gripe with VIs becoming standard. Law firms take for granted how hard it can be when you're with your family to find a quiet space 😭

😂 one time I contemplated whether I should carry my laptop out to the fields so I could just do it in 10 mins and head back

but then I realised I wouldn't have good enough wifi...

 

[KuriTH]

Does anyone know what a strengths-based style of interview would entail? I have one for Freshfields tomorrow and ngl I’ve got no idea what to expect or how to prepare for this at all lmao.​

If it’s Freshfields, then I assume it’s the case-study-focused one?

Essentially, it’s mainly a scenario behavioural assessment with multiple-choice options. There is also one written task, and you have to record a few short videos mostly focused on explaining what you would do if you were the trainee in each scenario.

I completed mine end of nov/start dec. Haven't heard back. Expecting rejection

 

[BuddyingLawyer744]

If it’s Freshfields, then I assume it’s the case-study-focused one?

Essentially, it’s mainly a scenario behavioural assessment with multiple-choice options. There is also one written task, and you have to record a few short videos mostly focused on explaining what you would do if you were the trainee in each scenario.

I completed mine end of nov/start dec. Haven't heard back. Expecting rejection

Hey is this for DTC or VS

 

[Meg_Thee_Applicant]

Bates Wells VS WG invite wooo!

 

[llblawstudent]

I relate to this as someone with 3 young brothers who cannot be quiet for longer than 2-3 mins. In my Weil VI, I had to give grad rec the heads up that there’d probs be background noise. It didn’t help that my neighbours had decided to begin house renovations at the same time either. So there was a lot of banging and drilling sounds echoing in the background lmao. They said it was totally fine and seeing I haven’t received an auto PFO just yet they probs weren’t bothered. From their end it probs sounded like this:

​

On the topic, any ac news from Weil?

 

[llblawstudent]

Are you asking me? 😂


If you're asking me, no not yet

Sorry I meant to reply to the post above yours mb haha

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

I relate to this as someone with 3 young brothers who cannot be quiet for longer than 2-3 mins. In my Weil VI, I had to give grad rec the heads up that there’d probs be background noise. It didn’t help that my neighbours had decided to begin house renovations at the same time either. So there was a lot of banging and drilling sounds echoing in the background lmao. They said it was totally fine and seeing I haven’t received an auto PFO just yet they probs weren’t bothered. From their end it probs sounded like this:

​

This is actually so reassuring 😭

 

[M123]

If Willkie are getting back to us about the VI outcomes on the 19th and the Written Exercises begin on the 21st, would this be enough time to prepare? I wonder if it’s a proof-reading exercise which is why we may have less time to prep?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Yep I thought so as well, and I never added examples, but idk that's what the feedback said. I don't think you'd necessarily be marked down but maybe it just comes across as a more well-rounded answer? And i kinda get the point that it adds credibility. I think the approach probably varies between recruiters, so I now aim to add just two short lines at the end of my answer just in case

Just went back to check the feedback from my DTC pfo and you're right, it says exactly that. I can't remember if I referenced anything specific in those. Hoping my motivational one where I referenced similar behaviours through specific examples balances it out in terms of credibility.

I guess it's a PFO otherwise 🤭😅

 

[nbjani]

Hey @nbjani congratulations on your AC. I think Avani has made a great post on how to prepare here. https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ssment-centres-how-to-prepare.4534/post-93642

Just to add in my two cents, I think it is possible to prepare for the others - not content wise, but mentally. The truth is, each aspect of the AC assesses different skills and capabilities, such as the group exercise which is looking at how well you work within a team, your ability to navigate multiple personalities and engage with other opinions, notwithstanding being able to advocate for yours (flexibly).

The best piece of advice I can give you for the other components, is to understand what the assessors are looking for here and making yourself comfortable with being able to display those skills.

Thanks!

 

[elle woods]

If Willkie are getting back to us about the VI outcomes on the 19th and the Written Exercises begin on the 21st, would this be enough time to prepare? I wonder if it’s a proof-reading exercise which is why we may have less time to prep?

It could be enough time to prepare, though you can defo start earlier if you want

Skadden did the same - they announced on the 16th and the exercise was on the 18th. And to answer your question, it could be a proofreading exercise, but most likely not. If it's a replacement for doing the written exercise at the AC, then it most likely will be an actual written exercise - email, report, analysis etc.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Latham

 

[EfficientBag123]

Does anyone have any tips for why me in a cover letter?

 

[KuriTH]

Hey is this for DTC or VS

DTC

 

[switchingup]

Gonna stop quoting my long post bc it’s so tiresome haha but you can see it on my page if you want info on other firms! Update below.

• DLA Piper (London): applied 19th Nov
  • Received WG invite: 26th Nov
  • Took WG: 29th Nov - scored 'Strength to leverage' for assumptions and arguments, 'Further exploration' for Critical thinking, and 'Opportunity for development' for conclusions. My worst performance on any WG! Don't take these tests when exhausted. 💀
    • Report came immediately after completing the assessment
  • Received what vaguely resembles a passed benchmark email: 1st Dec
  • Portal updated to (paraphrase) "We're enjoying getting to know you": 4th Dec
  • Portal updated to "Thank you for your interest in DLA Piper. We are fully considering the information provided": 9th Dec
  • PFO: 7th Jan ❌

 

[Shiv Lawy]

My understanding from my WE (at US firm) is that political talk is pretty much banned among staff at US firms - for me personally I wouldn't bring it up in an interview

Do you think it would disadvantage an applicant to have business and work experience within the political ecosystem itself? I have worked for MPs and have a political consultancy, although I'm very careful about the way I frame these (Strictly parliamentary procedure/constituency work and the business/legal admin involved in running a business)... I hope it's not seen as an automatic rejection to have worked with politicians?

 

[wooliewoo]

kept getting cut off in my goodwin vi so my answers weren't rounded up properly at the end fml 🙃 1 min 30s is definitely not enough.

 

[M123]

It could be enough time to prepare, though you can defo start earlier if you want

Skadden did the same - they announced on the 16th and the exercise was on the 18th. And to answer your question, it could be a proofreading exercise, but most likely not. If it's a replacement for doing the written exercise at the AC, then it most likely will be an actual written exercise - email, report, analysis etc.

Thanks for replying ! 🫶

 

[yasmars]

Gonna stop quoting my long post bc it’s so tiresome haha but you can see it on my page if you want info on other firms! Update below.

• DLA Piper (London): applied 19th Nov
  • Received WG invite: 26th Nov
  • Took WG: 29th Nov - scored 'Strength to leverage' for assumptions and arguments, 'Further exploration' for Critical thinking, and 'Opportunity for development' for conclusions. My worst performance on any WG! Don't take these tests when exhausted. 💀
    • Report came immediately after completing the assessment
  • Received what vaguely resembles a passed benchmark email: 1st Dec
  • Portal updated to (paraphrase) "We're enjoying getting to know you": 4th Dec
  • Portal updated to "Thank you for your interest in DLA Piper. We are fully considering the information provided": 9th Dec
  • PFO: 7th Jan ❌

I love how you structure your updates! I hope you hear positive news soon!

 

[abc124]

Just went back to check the feedback from my DTC pfo and you're right, it says exactly that. I can't remember if I referenced anything specific in those. Hoping my motivational one where I referenced similar behaviours through specific examples balances it out in terms of credibility.

I guess it's a PFO otherwise 🤭😅

Don’t worry, if your answers were otherwise strong I’m sure it’s not automatically a PFO, especially if you had a good SJT score! I think the examples thing is something that may get you some extra marks but I don’t think they penalise you for not referencing stuff if that makes sense? They’ve got your work experience etc in your app, I think it would be more of a bad strategy for firms that don’t ask for work experience/extracurriculars in their app and the vi is your only chance to sell yourself