probably a stupid question, but would you guys consider most extracurriculars as positions of responsibilities? just trying to gauge what's acceptable to include in Willkie's question.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Simmons is holistic with their approach, which is great because that's how it's supposed to be. The people were really lovely too, so supportive and most importantly not gatekeeping. And a really diverse workforce.true, then it's their loss ultimately
Positive thinking - Bristol is less competitive than London, I had worse scores and made Simmons AC last year
A no-brainer if I could manage to prove I can be a fit.
Speaking of Simmons, have there been any more AC invites? I did my VI a week ago and still waiting to hear back.
Might be a silly question but you reckon it’s worth giving them a quick call or email, I don’t think it’s unreasonable given the lack of clarity surrounding the process hahah
They said at the OD in Bristol they would invite for ACs in Jan
They explicitly confirmed in the breakthrough event that they're waiting till the end of the deadline for AI internship, as it's a niche thing and first of it's kind, and want to give all of the people interested and enthusiastic an equal chance for consideration.
So I would probably wait until December 18/19 (deadline is December 15) to check on it.
But I don't think approaching them would make it look bad, if that gives us peace haha
Okay thanks so much and best of luck, come back to the thread when you hear I am rooting for you!!
Okay, thank you so much. I really appreciate your insight it has calmed my nerves.
Congratulations! It is not automatic and may I know when have you applied?
A mate of mine said it is not, apparently they review applications and then select people to give the test to. I just got it as well. Good luck!
Hello!
It's totally normal to feel nervous, especially if it's your first video interview - a bit of structure and preparation can make a huge difference! Whilst I have not completed the VI for Latham & Watkins before, I've copied some advice below that I have previously provided for approaching VIs, which is hopefully a useful starting point!
I would also really recommend this forum post by Andrei for approaching competency questions - there is a specific section for competency questions in VIs, which is super useful!!
In terms of what you should do in the 1 minute preparation time, i would use it to quickly outline your answer rather than trying to script it. For example, I'd try to:
- Identify the example you'll use (try not to overthink this - pick one and commit to it!)
- Map it to STAR in bullet form: what was happening (S), what was your responsibility (T), what you did (A), and what happened + what you learned (R).
There are a few ways to make your answer stand out - a strong video interview usually shows three things:
- Clear structure: using something such as STAR helps you stay focused and prevents rambling. This allows you to deliver your answers in a more clear and concise way, which allows the graduate recruitment team to follow along easier
- Personal insight: the graduate recruitment team want to understand why you made certain choices and what you learned. Adding reflection is what lifts a seemingly generic answer into something memorable and personal
- A real sense of motivation: this is where your genuine enthusiasm and research can come in. Show that you understand the firm, the role of a trainee, and that you've thought about how your skills and ambitions make you a good fit.
As some more general tips in order to stand out in video interviews, I always used to try to:
- Prepare a bank of examples for each competency in advance: this meant that I was able to refer to them quickly if they were asked in a video interview, which made it easier to incorporate more of my own personal experiences when I didn't have loads of time
- Be specific, not vague: instead of simply saying "I worked well in a team", explain exactly what you did and what the impact was. This is where specificity is really key - using measurable results can really help hone this in!
- Bring energy and presence: I always found that in my earlier video interviews, I came across as slightly robotic and 'stiff' due to not being used to the VI format. However, this isn't necessarily how you would act in a normal interview - things such as good posture, eye contact with the camera, and natural tone make a big difference and really let the graduate recruitment team see your personality. Remember, whilst you have to have the skills for the role, they are also looking to hire trainees they can imagine would be a good fit!
- Link back to the role of a trainee: wherever you can, it's always useful to link how any skills or traits that you discuss will help you succeed as a trainee at their firm. Even a quick line such as "This is relevant to the role of a trainee at X because..." shows that you understand the role and the firm.
For video interviews in particular, structure is really important - using the STAR method can help keep your answers focused and prevents rambling (which I used to be guilty of!). It also really helped me to practice in advance, particularly making sure that you are speaking clearly and at a steady pace - don't be afraid to pause briefly to think before answering. I can totally understand how awkward video interviews can feel, but making sure that you are looking at the camera and treating it like you would a normal interview is really important.
It is also worth brushing up on a few recent commercial or legal developments that interest you so that you can demonstrate commercial awareness if prompted, particularly with the firm's key practice areas / sectors. I would try to show genuine enthusiasm and authenticity - this can feel tricky over VI, but they're assessing how you communicate and whether you'd be a good fit for their culture, so it's important that you are yourself!
I've linked the TCLA Wiki page on video interviews - there are a couple of resources here that might be useful to have a read over before your VI.
Lastly, it's totally normal to feel anxious before / during any kind of interview (and I know I definitely do!). I would keep water nearby, and make short bullet-point notes during the preparation time to give you something to refer to in case your mind goes blank. They're assessing communication and self-reflection, not perfection - it's completely fine if something goes slightly wrong!
I hope that helps - and best of luck with your VI, I'm sure you'll smash it!
Hey!
That's a great question - it can feel a bit unclear at first, but the way that it is worded suggests that Farrer & Co is looking for anything you've done beyond academics and formal work experience that shows initiative, genuine interest in law, or development of relevant skills.
You are not limited to legal events - you can include both law-related engagement and extracurricular activities that helped you build qualities valuable to a future solicitor.
As such, I would break it down into two parts:
1. What you have done outside education / work experience
Examples could include:
- Open days, law firm events, webinars
- Mooting / negotiation / debating
- Legal podcasts, newsletters, books you have read
- Volunteering, clinics, pro bono
- Societies, sports teams, leadership positions
- Hobbies that show discipline, teamwork, resilience, communication, etc.
2. Why those experiences helped prepare you for a legal career
Focus on the skills or insights that you developed, such as:
- Legal research, advocacy, and commercial awareness
- Teamwork, time management, and organisations
- Exposure to the legal profession and understanding of different practice areas
- Commitment, initiative, and curiosity about the profession
You might structure your answer as:
- Brief intro sentence
- One or two legal-focused activities and what you learned from them
- One or two extracurricular / hobby examples and the relevant transferable skills
- Make it clear why these position you well for training at Farrer & Co
From my time on the firm's vacation scheme, I really got the sense that Farrer & Co value individuality and want to understand what makes each candidate unique, rather than just seeing a checklist of legal experience. Therefore, if you have a hobby or extracurricular that's meaningful to you and has helped you develop transferable skills (e.g. teamwork, resilience, organisation, communication, etc.), it's definitely worth including it! It doesn't have to be strictly legal - the firm appreciates well-rounded applicants. Just make sure you explain why the activity helped prepare you for a career in law, rather than just listing it.
I hope that helps - best of luck with the application!
Hi!
Not a stupid question at all!
Extracurriculars can count as positions of responsibility, but usually only if you had an active role - e.g. society committee, team captain, project leader, mentoring, organising events, etc.
Simply being a member of a club is valuable, but not typically classed as a "position of responsibility" unless you took on specific duties. I'd focus on any examples where you demonstrated initiative, leadership, or transferable skills
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