TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

This may have been asked already but... I have an in-person AC interview coming up and I believe that there will be (at a minimum) two fee-earners interviewing me. When one of them asks me a question, and I have to respond, should I look at both interviewers back-and-forth when responding? Or should I only focus on the person that’s asked me?

Alternatively, does it depend on the question/who is writing notes on my answers lol💀

@Jessica Booker @Amma Usman

You should ensure you are getting eye contact with both interviewers - it does not matter who is taking notes.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica, I submitted my application and interview experiences in the middle of the week, and I assume the forms were not closed as I was able to complete them. The email said the gift cards would be issued by 31 Jan - if I didn't get them, does that mean what I submitted was not valid?

You should email [email protected] with this query and someone from the team will be able to follow up on this.

 

[jta227]

As part of an AC, I've been asked to put together a 10 minute presentation on a current social, political or economic issue currently impacting the UK economy and how that issue impacts commercial law firms (picking out specific sectors affected, what opportunities/challenges there are for law firms in relation to the issue, how it will impact clients etc).

Does anyone have any advice on how to go about picking a topic/issue to present on? Very aware that 10 minutes isn't actually a lot of time to go into much depth on anything so not sure how to go about picking a topic that's not too narrow!

I’d try something unlikely to be picked by several people that would make me stand out positively (but is still a good point), and if there is time for questions after then also try not to pick something super niche and relevant to your assessors’ practice areas unless you are super confident and can withstand a grilling on the topic (was advice from NRF open day, if you don’t know your assessors then ignore the 2nd point)

 

[thelawjournal]

Hi! Does anybody know which the fourth pillar of the SJT for PW is (aside from numerical, verbal reasoning and applied intellect)?

 

[thelawjournal]

Also is the SJT for PW timed?

 

[hehostressed]

i only got the online test on thursday and i applied on the deadline day so waited about 19 days 😂

Mind if I ask which office?
Tbh I also applied on the deadline date 🫠

 

[futuretrainee!]

Just did the PW SJT:

Top for verbal, middle for numerical but mixed feelings about the pillars-7,7,6,1 lmao. 1 being applied intellect 💀Never scored so low for empathy/collaboration in other tests so feeling like I’ve bombed this one 😭 On the plus side, the scores are much better compared to the Reed Smith one I did a few weeks back… feeling argh!

If Paul from Paul, Weiss is watching from a distance.. I promise you I’m very friendly, collaborative and have a heart!! 😂😭

Reed Smith was something else - I got 3 for applied intellect and I am a Christian 😭

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! Does anybody know which the fourth pillar of the SJT for PW is (aside from numerical, verbal reasoning and applied intellect)?

The pillars are not the elements of the exercise like the numerical and verbal reasoning. The pillars are more the competencies that are being assessed and are as follows:

 

[wqueens8]

What do the numbers mean!? Is high in one good? Is equalising all of them better? Is a 9 and a 1 better than a 6 and a 3? Why is amberjack so vague on what anything means 😞

I have no real information, but from what I've seen on here higher is better of course, but I suspect there might be a benchmark of a certain level in each section, this might vary with firms though I'm not sure. I also think it is one of those tests where it's impossible to score very highly in all sections. The highest I've seen here was like 9, 8, 5, 6 or something, never seen all of them high high. So if that's true I guess some amount of equalisation is better?

This is entirely speculation though lol, so don't read too much into it

 

[thelawjournal]

The pillars are not the elements of the exercise like the numerical and verbal reasoning. The pillars are more the competencies that are being assessed and are as follows:

View attachment 6746

Thank you! Do you know by some chance whether the test is timed?

 

[Bread]

Anyone else’s PW test not loading…

 

[Kakaboo]

Did anyone who did the Gateley Cappfinity assessment not get a confirmation email? Cappfinity or the firm usually confirm submission but I haven’t get a confirmation email.

No I didn’t, but I’ve just got my results. My highest were personal responsibility and growth mindset and my lowest was relationship manager. Wbu?

 

[Kakaboo]

I’ve done a cappfinity assessment and my highest was growth mindset and personal responsibility and my lowest was relationship manager. Is this any good? Also does this mean I did ok on the WG style questions? Sorry I just really love this firm!

 

[gazdgazd11]

No I didn’t, but I’ve just got my results. My highest were personal responsibility and growth mindset and my lowest was relationship manager. Wbu?

When did you get your results? I did it yesterday and still haven’t received anything :/

 

[Kakaboo]

When did you get your results? I did it yesterday and still haven’t received anything :/

48 hours exactly after haha I always get capp test results at the latest they sat

 

[bb123]

Pinsent Masons AC for Manchester (Received on the 30th of Jan). Anyone have any tips? Anything I should be researching prior? Anything at all would be really really helpful!!!

 

[shana]

Nope the verbal reasoning is answering multiple choice Qs based off a passage on info and a question asked by a ‘client’ and the numerical reasoning you’re given graphs and stuff

Was the test timed?

 

[Harvey Specter]

Was the test timed?

I have seen a few people on the forum who have taken the test say that it isn’t timed. 🙂

 

[member7830]

is asking the lawyers where they would choose to go on secondment if they were trainees now a stupid question at the end of an interview ahah

 

[MaryAra299]

Just did the PW SJT:

Top for verbal, middle for numerical but mixed feelings about the pillars-7,7,6,1 lmao. 1 being applied intellect 💀Never scored so low for empathy/collaboration in other tests so feeling like I’ve bombed this one 😭 On the plus side, the scores are much better compared to the Reed Smith one I did a few weeks back… feeling argh!

If Paul from Paul, Weiss is watching from a distance.. I promise you I’m very friendly, collaborative and have a heart!! 😂😭

Hey, I got the exact same feedback word to word tbh. Top for verbal, average for numerical with some emphasis on being more collaborative