TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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

 

[elle woods]

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.

I would say to give it some time...their portal is known for glitching, though I've never seen that situation before. Last time I tried to access my account, it said I had no account and I had to register for a new one... but then on my 10th try, I managed to log into my old account, and the new account is now who knows where.

but defo if it persists maybe you can let Early Careers know that you can't access your portal.

 

[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!

 

[TCLA0322]

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.

 

[BobThebIlly]

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

Omg this was literally me today. Had to sit weil SJT and VI as I was dying for my life

 

[M_m]

Anyone applied to Reed Smith on deadline day and received positive news?

 

[TCLA0322]

Omg this was literally me today. Had to sit weil SJT and VI as I was dying for my life

And literally I just went back to ldn from holiday to ready to lock in and feeling the worst when the plan disrupted for some random things😵😵😵 I was forced to rest.

 

[elle woods]

I might do MB tonight, I wonder how wild my scores for amberjack will vary with 12 hours in between each test 😂

 

[Sarah.lyon]

Has anyone who applied to Mishcon on deadline day received the AI chat link?

I have, I received the link about an hour after I applied on Friday. They did send an email out today saying they are having issues with the AI chat link and they are looking into it, so might be related to that?

 

[CuriousTrainee]

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.

Why are they sent out so randomly.. just put me out of my misery 😂

 

[dreamer]

Does Paul, Weiss not sponsor visas for vac schemes?

Not to dampen your spirits, but based on what I've read about VS and visa sponsorship, the chances of visa sponsorship are almost zero. But if you're an international student and on a visa, they'd allow you to do a VS provided it falls outside of your term period. I think it would be best to ask the firms you're targeting, though. Hope this helps, cheers!

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

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.

Happy to, so something like "provide an example of when you collaborated with others to reach a goal, and outline the role you played to support the team" is essentially assessing your ability to work well within a team, so any example you provide should bear that in mind - meaning answers which focus around managing others/leadership add little value here and can actually distract away from the points you need to make.

Picture this: The partner takes instructions from the client and delegates the matter to the associate team. The associate team work hard to decide a strategy behind the matter and begin with drafting the documents, asking the trainee for support in research, admin, and pre-drafts of reviews. As a trainee, although you're not leading the matter, your role as a supporter is crucial to the success. All three of you (varying in leadership) striving to reach the common goal of client success. Now, lets look at the question with that scenario in mind - has there been a time where you've supported/collaborated with others to reach a common goal or resolve a particular situation, e.g. close knit team in sales working towards increasing revenue during period of low footfall through communicating with eachother during busy periods to ensure no customer was left ignored whilst others were tended to, sharing ideas as to strategies such as link selling, providing feedback for store performance to manager for further store improvements etc. Although the example itself is fairly simple and may not seem like its moving mountains in the legal world - the question is only assessing skill not legal experience so anything will really do here as long as you can display how it is a good example of teamwork.

Before you begin, think about what makes a good team player and build on from there.

 

[cookedlawstudent]

I really hope so, HL is like my dream firm :'( I took it on Wednesday as well

Hey I just got an email from Early Careers saying that they are currently processing my online assessment and will give me an update next year. As you said you completed it on the same day as I did, you'll probably hear back then aswell