TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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

 

[BobThebIlly]

😂 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...

last year, I did SH's VS SJT and VI in the lake district in the middle of my hike. I didn't get it, but i gen recommend doing a VI in a field for funsies bc it was probabaly the least stressful VI i've done lmao

 

[HarveySpecta123]

Has anybody heard from DLA Manchester?

 

[Bread]

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?

Don’t be ridiculous 😂😂

 

[elle woods]

last year, I did SH's VS SJT and VI in the lake district in the middle of my hike. I didn't get it, but i gen recommend doing a VI in a field for funsies bc it was probabaly the least stressful VI i've done lmao

bahaha i think i might give it a go one day then

the fields around here are really peaceful...apart from the occasional cow LMAO

do you think having a cow look over your shoulder at the questions counts as violating the terms and conditions of the exercise?

 

[alphabravocharlie]

Don’t be ridiculous 😂😂

unless its reform uk.....

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

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?

Definitely not! Sorry to alarm I was referring to American politics specifically

 

[kukubird]

Cleary WG invite, also did Goodwin VI today I have no idea how to feel about it 😥

 

[BobThebIlly]

Cleary WG invite, also did Goodwin VI today I have no idea how to feel about it 😥

just about to sit goodwin i've been procrastinating til the very last second

 

[Saul_specter]

God this empty inbox is killing me

 

[corporatebaddie1506]

Hi everyone!

I have applied to Hill Dickinson LLP (Manchester office), and completed the online assessment (Amberjack & recorded interview) on the 5th of January.

Does anyone have any idea of when roughly to expect any information regarding the Assessment Centre? Or the average time I can expect to hear back from them regarding this, as I know they recruit on a rolling basis 🧐

Many thanks in advance!

 

[kukubird]

just about to sit goodwin i've been procrastinating til the very last second

wishing you all the best!

 

[Harvey Specter]

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

Cooley must be gangsta then cos at the open day the partners and associates were firing shots at the administration at every opportunity they could find. They brought up representing Jenner & Block in fighting against their executive order and how they are still standing for DEI as a firm unlike others firms (names were mentioned as well lmfao). 😭

 

[Rejections PFO]

Just did my goodwin VI and I hope it went well??? I feel like it was good (Basically guessed 3/4 of the questions so if I don't make it then rip)

 

[Novaa]

Cooley must be gangsta then cos at the open day the partners and associates were firing shots at the administration at every opportunity they could find and made the point about representing Jenner & Block in fighting against the executive order and how they are still standing for DEI as a firm unlike others firms (names were mentioned as well haha).

Wait but I love when Firms throw shade at eachother! I be sat in the corner writing my notes like 🤭

 

[jamieclarke]

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?

I refer to my committee role with Labour Society in applications and have done for many years.

I got told before that political roles involving mainstream parties are fine (Labour, Tories LibDem) - but to avoid political positions that relate to more outward views (Marxism etc - popular at universities I believe!)

Although I have always held the belief to refrain putting this on apps for US law firm - just because I view them as being more right leaning and the smaller firms more left leaning.