TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Andrei Radu]

Any insights on Dechert's Written Exercise? Or more broadly, any tips on how to best prepare for them? I feel its almost impossible to actually practice for them

Hi @M85672 while I do not have any insight on Dechert specifically here, and while I agree that it is in general very difficult to prepare for written exercises because of how much they can differ on a firm-by-firm basis, I think you can improve your chances of doing well in this assessment by developing the underlying skills tested in every written exercise: time-management and work under pressure, clarity of writing and structure, commercial awareness and analysis, ability to digest large amounts of information, etc.

To do that, I think it is useful to both practice actual case studies and to read more widely about the commercial matters that might be relevant for them. A particularly helpful resource for me was the course offered by TCLA on the matter (which you can find here). It includes a number of mock PE and M&A case studies, recordings of two hour long sessions explaining how to think through written/interview style M&A case studies, and a number of questions that are analyzed in depth by the TCLA team. To link a few other useful free resources on TCLA:

• An amazing guide for M&A written exercises by @Jacob Miller, which includes both a mock case study and a model answer with detailed explanations of how you should think through the materials (which you can find here).
• A glossary of M&A terms by @Amma Usman here.
• On a fee-basis, a mock exercise with individual feedback from the TCLA staff available here

Besides these, I have also found a few external resources you may want to take a look at:

• A great LSE article giving an overview of case studies and preparation methods for each element
• An article with tips from the Oxford Careers Service
• A Next City Lawyer case study available on a fee basis

 

[nbjani]

I'm doing the WFW application and I have two questions.
1) There's three skills/competency questions (unexpected obstacle, collaboration, constructive feedback). I'm a career changer in events/sales/hospitality in my 30s and I've had a lot of jobs with relevant experiences, but my current role (2 1/2 years) provides the best examples. Is it an issue to draw from the same job for these questions if the examples are varied and relevant?
2) This question - "Provide an example of when you collaborated with others to reach a goal, and outline the role you played to support the team". My best examples involve me having some form of ownership of a project or part of it and collaborating by project managing. Is this the right way to go or should I try to think of less project manage-y examples, even if they're not as strong? The wording makes me feel like they're looking for a less assertive example.
Thanks in advance

 

[M85672]

Hi @M85672 while I do not have any insight on Dechert specifically here, and while I agree that it is in general very difficult to prepare for written exercises because of how much they can differ on a firm-by-firm basis, I think you can improve your chances of doing well in this assessment by developing the underlying skills tested in every written exercise: time-management and work under pressure, clarity of writing and structure, commercial awareness and analysis, ability to digest large amounts of information, etc.

To do that, I think it is useful to both practice actual case studies and to read more widely about the commercial matters that might be relevant for them. A particularly helpful resource for me was the course offered by TCLA on the matter (which you can find here). It includes a number of mock PE and M&A case studies, recordings of two hour long sessions explaining how to think through written/interview style M&A case studies, and a number of questions that are analyzed in depth by the TCLA team. To link a few other useful free resources on TCLA:

• An amazing guide for M&A written exercises by @Jacob Miller, which includes both a mock case study and a model answer with detailed explanations of how you should think through the materials (which you can find here).
• A glossary of M&A terms by @Amma Usman here.
• On a fee-basis, a mock exercise with individual feedback from the TCLA staff available here

Besides these, I have also found a few external resources you may want to take a look at:

• A great LSE article giving an overview of case studies and preparation methods for each element
• An article with tips from the Oxford Careers Service
• A Next City Lawyer case study available on a fee basis

Thank you so much!

 

[alphabravocharlie]

What angle should we play for D&P questions: Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why? 300 words and
Please tell us something that not many people know about you. 250 words

 

[Bread]

Have the mishcon sjts been for spring summer or both?

 

[jojo23]

ur so funny please never go bald

especially since you love those slicked ponytails and big bows yknow

why are you the way that you are

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Omg what an inspiring journey, we're so lucky to have you here!!

 

[annalise.keating]

I just finished FF second stage and oh dear....

the last VI had 2 parts and I failed to even get to the second point due to time which was I fear the most crucial question ever (without giving too much away), which sucks because honestly I feel like the other vi's weren't too bad but knowing how brutal FF is ... im scared

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

I'm doing the WFW application and I have two questions.
1) There's three skills/competency questions (unexpected obstacle, collaboration, constructive feedback). I'm a career changer in events/sales/hospitality in my 30s and I've had a lot of jobs with relevant experiences, but my current role (2 1/2 years) provides the best examples. Is it an issue to draw from the same job for these questions if the examples are varied and relevant?
2) This question - "Provide an example of when you collaborated with others to reach a goal, and outline the role you played to support the team". My best examples involve me having some form of ownership of a project or part of it and collaborating by project managing. Is this the right way to go or should I try to think of less project manage-y examples, even if they're not as strong? The wording makes me feel like they're looking for a less assertive example.
Thanks in advance

Hey,

1) No, it is not an issue to draw examples from one experience. However, when you have more experiences at hand - it’s better to tap into them as it may look like you didn’t develop many skills from those opportunities. I worked in sales (selling shoes) and I used this experience to explain teamwork, communication and challenges. Don’t try erasing experiences you think don’t sound good - I remember a partner being super impressed with a candidate who sold Christmas lights.
2) When it comes to collaboration, most tend to think of experiences in management (however, it’s a little bit of a trap). You run the risk of providing an amazing example of leadership and ownership, without touching on what you’re like to work with as a team member. I like to frame the question from the perspective of a trainee. As a trainee, you won’t really be managing much - so show them how you deal with work that has been delegated, do you communicate, do you identify problems, do you take action on behalf of others etc.

Hopefully this helps but if not, let me know and we can run through some examples.

 

[msclm]

Any insights on Dechert's Written Exercise? Or more broadly, any tips on how to best prepare for them? I feel its almost impossible to actually practice for them

Hi! Congrats on the WE I did it for the wvs and got progressed to interview! Feel free to dm!

 

[lolololol]

Is the test for Gibson Dunn automatic? i don’t want to do a whole app just for it be discarded when i do horrible in the test?

 

[nbjani]

Hey,

1) No, it is not an issue to draw examples from one experience. However, when you have more experiences at hand - it’s better to tap into them as it may look like you didn’t develop many skills from those opportunities. I worked in sales (selling shoes) and I used this experience to explain teamwork, communication and challenges. Don’t try erasing experiences you think don’t sound good - I remember a partner being super impressed with a candidate who sold Christmas lights.
2) When it comes to collaboration, most tend to think of experiences in management (however, it’s a little bit of a trap). You run the risk of providing an amazing example of leadership and ownership, without touching on what you’re like to work with as a team member. I like to frame the question from the perspective of a trainee. As a trainee, you won’t really be managing much - so show them how you deal with work that has been delegated, do you communicate, do you identify problems, do you take action on behalf of others etc.

Hopefully this helps but if not, let me know and we can run through some examples.

Thanks for this, super helpful!
Would you be able to go over some potential examples with me? I think I have some, but I worry about framing it as a trainee like you said.

 

[BobThebIlly]

Is the test for Gibson Dunn automatic? i don’t want to do a whole app just for it be discarded when i do horrible in the test?

Omg same here

 

[Sharkfin]

I’ve never heard of motivation qs used for a WE — is this more like app questions?

Thank you for your insight

Perfect way to describe them - and yea icl when I saw them pop up my heart SANK, but they arent too bad all things considered.

 

[User2640]

Does anyone have any insights into Reed Smith VI? Are there many questions?

 

[wrpark]

Anyone else also getting this screen when you try to access the Slaughter and May application portal? It's like this across all my devices and browsers.

 

[Rads]

Anyone else also getting this screen when you try to access the Slaughter and May application portal? It's like this across all my devices and browsers.

No works for me

 

[BobThebIlly]

Perfect way to describe them - and yea icl when I saw them pop up my heart SANK, but they arent too bad all things considered.

Honestly I’ll take anything over a VI after today

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any insights into Reed Smith VI? Are there many questions?

Hello!

Whilst I can't remember the specific number of questions in Reed Smith's VI (and someone else who has completed it this cycle may be able to confirm!), I personally found this video on TCLA really useful when I was preparing for the VI and online assessment last cycle. As discussed in the video, the questions are a mix of motivational and strengths-based questions!

Wishing you the best of luck with your video interview, I'm sure you'll smash it!

 

[TCLAAAA]

It’s so sad to be this sick right now and have to give up applying to firms I actually like . And then I get a DLA Piper PFO post wgt while I’m lying in bed, using muscle memory to check Outlook. I guess my temperature is high enough to burn that PFO.