If anyone wants to be added to a group on here for OC's Virtual AC lmk! x
(it's full now sorry - it won't let me add more people!)
(it's full now sorry - it won't let me add more people!)
Last edited:
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hey!
I can totally see the confusion - they are very similar questions! I would try to separate them by changing the overall angle of your answer.
Q1: Why Kingsley Napley
This question is more focused on your motivation for the firm itself. I would focus on:
- What attracts you to KN specifically (e.g. culture, practice mix, reputation, client base, etc.)
- How that aligns with your own interests and values
- Using concrete examples to back this up (e.g. a practice area, case, initiative, or the firm's approach, and why that attracts you based on your past experiences).
Q2: Why this programme
This should be more focused on what you'll gain and how it fits into your future. I would focus on:
- What the work experience programme offers (e.g. exposure, skills, insights, etc.)
- How those experiences will help you develop, both personally and professionally
- How it moves you closer to your long-term goals (e.g. training contract, a certain type of practice, building commercial awareness, etc.)
When comparing them directly, I'd think of it as:
- Q1 is firm-focused and relates to your current situation.
- Q2 is development-focused and relates to your future goals.
I hope that helps to distinguish them slightly - there is definitely some overlap, so you are not alone in finding these tricky! Best of luck with the application
Hey!
You can definitely email the graduate recruitment team to ask! I initially applied for Stephenson Harwood's summer VS last cycle but after receiving other summer VS offers, I emailed and asked if my application could be moved to the spring scheme and they had no problem with this - it'll vary between firms, but it is entirely reasonable to ask (even if you are still going through their application process)
This is insane?? Like genuinely, insane.
Hey!Hey, I have an upcoming AC with a US firm where the structure is: motivation interview, written exercise and group assessment. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on how best to prepare for these exercises and with a US firm too (as this is my first time) I'd greatly appreciate ANYTHING!
Congratulations on receiving the AC invite!! I've collated some general advice from a few of my previous forum posts which will hopefully offer some guidance - just shout if you have any follow-up questions.
Motivational Interview
When preparing for the motivational interview, I'd encourage you to have a think about the following beforehand:
- Be clear on why a US firm (e.g. lean teams, responsibility early on, client exposure, etc.)
- Then narrow it down to why this US firm - practice strengths, the type of deals that they work on, the office culture, and any recent matters that interested you
- Expect follow-up questions that test the depth of your knowledge on the firm / work (e.g. why corporation litigation vs disputes, why the London office, etc.)
- Be prepared to back up your motivations with examples from your past experiences - for example, if you discuss wanting to have a lot of responsibility early on, you can strengthen your answer by discussing a past experience where you found that you enjoyed this aspect.
Written Exercise
- Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
- Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
- Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
- Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
- Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
- Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!
The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.
I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.
I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!
I've also previously created a post on client emails as a written exercise format - I have linked that here as well!
Group Exercise
- In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
- Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
- Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
- If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.
I hope that helps - wishing you the best of luck with the AC, and I'm sure you'll do great!!
just logged on and just saw that there are already some people with covington ACs?? FOR SUMMER? ITS BEEN TWO WEEKS THIS IS CRAZYYY
I applied on the deadline. I'm not sure whether OC send ACs in batches. I would have a look at last cycles thread as an indication.For people who have received AC invites for OC London, when did you apply? And does anyone know from experience if they send ACs out in batches or whether it’s a PFO
Just wondering if everyone got the Clyde & Co survey email, and whether there’s been much AC movement today?
Hey!does anyone have any general tips for preparing for live interviews because i'm kinda stressing out, i've never actually done an interview for a law firm before (aside from VIs) and have no idea what to expect
It's totally normal to feel stressed - live interviews typically feel more daunting, but I'd say they are generally a nicer experience than VIs as you are able to genuinely build a rapport and speak with the interviewer (and they are sometimes more conversational as a result). The interviewers won't be trying to catch you out - they're simply trying to get a sense of how you think, how you communicate, and whether you'd be someone that they'd enjoy working with day-to-day.
In terms of preparation, it really helped me to get comfortable with the core story that I was telling. Make sure that you are clear on why you are interested in working in commercial law (or law more generally), why you wish to work at that firm, and what draws you to their training contract. Additionally, I would create a 'bank' of competency examples from your previous experiences so that you have them in the back of your mind - for example, times that you have worked in a team, handled pressure, or taken responsibility. This gives you something to fall back on, even if the question isn't phrased in the way that you expected. I also found that practising my answers for the more common questions out loud really helped to calm my nerves and helped me feel prepared, even if it was a little awkward at first!
On the day, remember that it is completely okay to pause and think before answering. Silence is not a bad thing, and you won't be expected to respond instantly - it's usually more effective to give yourself a few seconds to think before jumping into an answer. If a question isn't clear, it's also perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification to ensure that you answer the question in the way that they are looking for. It sounds silly, but I'd also try to engage with the interviewers as people - maintaining eye contact (and as someone who is neurodivergent, I know this can be tricky at times!), listening properly, and responding naturally can go a long way. I'd also encourage you to show genuine interest in the interviewers and their careers as well - you could ask them questions on their work and practice areas at the end of the interview, which will show them that you genuinely want to learn more about the firm.
It helps to try to shift how you frame the interview in your mind - try to treat it like a two-way conversation rather than a performance. They are assessing whether you'd be a good colleague just as much as whether you can answer questions well. Almost everyone is nervous during interviews, even if it doesn't look like it! A partner during one of my vacation schemes said that it is a good thing to be nervous before an interview, as it shows that you care - I'd try to use it to your advantage!
Overall, I'd just encourage you to be yourself and show your motivations for working at the firm. You have clearly impressed them already to be invited to the interview stage, so try to remain confident in your own abilities and I'm sure you'll smash it! Best of luck!!
thank you very much! i have another question if you don't mind: how many questions are you supposed to ask the interviewers at the end?Hey!
It's totally normal to feel stressed - live interviews typically feel more daunting, but I'd say they are generally a nicer experience than VIs as you are able to genuinely build a rapport and speak with the interviewer (and they are sometimes more conversational as a result). The interviewers won't be trying to catch you out - they're simply trying to get a sense of how you think, how you communicate, and whether you'd be someone that they'd enjoy working with day-to-day.
In terms of preparation, it really helped me to get comfortable with the core story that I was telling. Make sure that you are clear on why you are interested in working in commercial law (or law more generally), why you wish to work at that firm, and what draws you to their training contract. Additionally, I would create a 'bank' of competency examples from your previous experiences so that you have them in the back of your mind - for example, times that you have worked in a team, handled pressure, or taken responsibility. This gives you something to fall back on, even if the question isn't phrased in the way that you expected. I also found that practising my answers for the more common questions out loud really helped to calm my nerves and helped me feel prepared, even if it was a little awkward at first!
On the day, remember that it is completely okay to pause and think before answering. Silence is not a bad thing, and you won't be expected to respond instantly - it's usually more effective to give yourself a few seconds to think before jumping into an answer. If a question isn't clear, it's also perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification to ensure that you answer the question in the way that they are looking for. It sounds silly, but I'd also try to engage with the interviewers as people - maintaining eye contact (and as someone who is neurodivergent, I know this can be tricky at times!), listening properly, and responding naturally can go a long way. I'd also encourage you to show genuine interest in the interviewers and their careers as well - you could ask them questions on their work and practice areas at the end of the interview, which will show them that you genuinely want to learn more about the firm.
It helps to try to shift how you frame the interview in your mind - try to treat it like a two-way conversation rather than a performance. They are assessing whether you'd be a good colleague just as much as whether you can answer questions well. Almost everyone is nervous during interviews, even if it doesn't look like it! A partner during one of my vacation schemes said that it is a good thing to be nervous before an interview, as it shows that you care - I'd try to use it to your advantage!
Overall, I'd just encourage you to be yourself and show your motivations for working at the firm. You have clearly impressed them already to be invited to the interview stage, so try to remain confident in your own abilities and I'm sure you'll smash it! Best of luck!!
I was wondering when Cleary is likely to send out the WG after applying? I submitted mine over the weekend. Also I was wondering if anyone could give any insights on the WG - was it more on the difficult side??? cause I've seen a few PFOs post-WG...thanks!!!
No problem at all!!
It will depend on how much time you have left at the end of the interview, but I always used to prepare around three questions in advance just in case. In practice, I've usually only had time to ask one or two. I probably wouldn't ask more than three or four unless you have a genuinely strong question you'd really like to hear their perspective on
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