not sure how they decide but the online test is automatic, think they take both your application and online assessment into account
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
The test is automatic.
According to their website, they allocate a minimum score to each aspect of the application section:
Scores are allotted to your application based on your responses throughout the application form and to the competency questions. All candidates must achieve the minimum academic requirements and a minimum criteria score on the competency questions to be invited to the next stage of the process. By assessing the application in this way, we are able to look at the whole you, without focusing on simply one part of your history.
Minimum requirements of the role of a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths, demonstrated throughout the application process, including:
- achieving a minimum score on the competency questions
- achieving a minimum overall application form score
- achieving a minimum score on the strengths-based assessment
Hello!
This is a really common piece of feedback, and something I definitely struggled with during my first couple of interviews. However, it is definitely fixable with a bit of structure and practice!
A big part of being concise is having a clear structure in your head before you start speaking. For most answers, I would try to think in a simple framework such as: point -> example -> result. You almost want to lead with your conclusion first (so that it is clear what you are discussing), rather than building up to it. For example, instead of talking around an experience and hoping the point becomes clear, I would start with the key message and then briefly support it - for example, "I developed my ability to manage competing deadlines during my internship at X, where I...".
It can also really help to limit yourself to one strong example per question. It might be that your answers become longer as you are trying to include lots of information - I can totally understand why, as it might be that a few of your experiences fit the question, but one well-explained example is almost always more effective than three rushed ones.
Additionally, I would aim for answers that are around 60-90 seconds in length. When practising, it helps to actually time yourself with a stopwatch and see how long you are taking. It can definitely feel slightly unnatural at first, but it quickly builds an internal sense of what "concise enough" sounds like, and you'll often realise when you are talking for too long.
You might also find it useful to signpost your answer as you - even something simple such as "there are two main things I took from this experience..." helps keep you focused and reassures the interviewer that your answer is structured and concise. However, I would be cautious of doing this with video interviews unless you are able to practice first, as it might be that you run out of time and are unable to make the final point you wanted to make.
Finally, I would try to avoid being afraid to stop once you have made your point. In my experience, I kept talking during interviews as the silence made me uncomfortable and I felt a need to fill it, but in interviews, clarity is much more important than filling space for the sake of it.
If you can, I would really recommend recording yourself answering some of the more common questions, as it is one of the fastest ways to spot where you are over-explaining or going off track. This is something that you can improve really quickly with practice, so try not to worry too much about it!
The more cycles I go through the longer these tests are taking. The HL one and the Ashurst one combined took me probably around 5 hours. It's getting ridiculous.
They say you should be able to compelte them in 60 mins. Maybe true for Ashurst if I dont spend too long on the ambiguous questions, but certainlyyyyyyy not for HL....
They say you should be able to compelte them in 60 mins. Maybe true for Ashurst if I dont spend too long on the ambiguous questions, but certainlyyyyyyy not for HL....
Ashurst took me almost 2 hours and I didn't even spend that much time on each question. And just when you think you're finally done, they bring in the critical reasoning Qs
Dyeah to be able to say i comfortably answered the questions, 2 hrs sounds right... sersiouly missing the watson glaser days lol.Ashurst took me almost 2 hours and I didn't even spend that much time on each question. And just when you think you're finally done, they bring in the critical reasoning Qs
The Gibson Dunn test was the worst one. It was a Cappfinity test so SJT and WG, but they added a proof-reading SPAG test to it too. They said the test would take 60 mins… It took me 2 hours and 30 mins… Ashurst took me around 90 mins… HL and FF were about the same…
Flashbacks to Millbank making us answer 2 200 words questions in half an hour lmao
iirc i believe it's 2 mins (i think) to prep for 2 of the questions and unlimited prep time for the other 2 questions
I wish we could just do one test per provider per cycle and use the same scores for each application
The issue would just be that it might lead to mass rejections for multiple firms without area for improvement or trying out different approaches.
hi! wondering if someone can share their experience from macfarlanes' simulation (2nd stage)? how long do we have to prep for the video questions, how many are there, and what were they like?
Does anyone know when can we expect to hear back from ashurst regarding dtc applications progression?
It’ll be around the first week of May. They sent the SJT and WG 27/03 and gave a week for it. I’d assume they only review apps of the people who pass the SJT and WG (it’s an initial filter).
It’s been Easter break so I don’t think they have started looking at any apps yet and will start the process from Tuesday. That’ll take a few weeks so I think we’ll hear back early to mid May.
They will probs send a holding email out soon and give a later date, e.g., 19 June. That will be a mass PFO day based on what Ashurst had done in all the previous cycles or for the VSs this year.
It’s been Easter break so I don’t think they have started looking at any apps yet and will start the process from Tuesday. That’ll take a few weeks so I think we’ll hear back early to mid May.
They will probs send a holding email out soon and give a later date, e.g., 19 June. That will be a mass PFO day based on what Ashurst had done in all the previous cycles or for the VSs this year.
Thanks, it's just that I wanted a clarification since their site said that 1st stage interviews and final stage interviews will be conducted in May and June respectively.
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