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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

plsgivemetc

Active Member
Dec 25, 2024
17
62
I had this happen to me but from Clifford Chance post WG for their Direct TC. They literally sent me 4 consecutive PFOs with “WATSON GLASER TEST FAILED: APPLICATION REJECTION” in full caps like bruh why so aggressive chill out wtf…

Angry Spongebob Squarepants GIF by Bombay Softwares
cc was so mean with that:( and then in their email said we will be able to reapply next year like... the audacity to shout the rejection at us and then add a 'you will be able to apply again'
 

BealMcAlly

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Feb 3, 2025
219
260
Why do some firms take on so many vacation scheme candidates but only take on less than 50% of scheme candidates?

It's almost like you're so close but not quite there.
I personally think of a VS as part of the recruitment process and also a trial for you to see if X firm is the right fit for me. Otherwise, you won't really know what the firm is like aside from going to open days and engaging with them.
This might be a dumb question but do you guys mention open days and insight evenings in the work experience section?? I was just attending an event and grad rec advised against doing that which seems a bit weird.
I was at this event and I think they meant they want to only see volunteering, paid employment and significant roles where you developed tangible skills.

You can use open days and insight days in your motivational questions. If not for this firm, you can just put it in your why commercial law answer?
 
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Reactions: Jaysen
Just did the Mills & Reeve SJT and VI. It was an amberjack so thought they would be looking at Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force. Got the feedback report and realised they have their own 5 categories that they were testing. I was so focused on trying to score highly on the Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force that I scored poorly of their specific criteria 🥴 The feedback report doesn't measure in numbers as I expected. They provide a written summary of how you did on their criteria and based on the feedback, I didnt do well in any of the main ones apart from analysis and problem solving. I also scored high on numerical and verbal intellect. Considering I didn't do great in many of their criteria (Client focus and collaboration!!) I'm anticipating a PFO. Or who knows, maybe the VI will be so great that they let me pass...Sorry for the long paragraph but useful heads up for anyone planning on doing it.
 

jamieclarke

Distinguished Member
Dec 30, 2021
66
74
Just did the Mills & Reeve SJT and VI. It was an amberjack so thought they would be looking at Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force. Got the feedback report and realised they have their own 5 categories that they were testing. I was so focused on trying to score highly on the Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force that I scored poorly of their specific criteria 🥴 The feedback report doesn't measure in numbers as I expected. They provide a written summary of how you did on their criteria and based on the feedback, I didnt do well in any of the main ones apart from analysis and problem solving. I also scored high on numerical and verbal intellect. Considering I didn't do great in many of their criteria (Client focus and collaboration!!) I'm anticipating a PFO. Or who knows, maybe the VI will be so great that they let me pass...Sorry for the long paragraph but useful heads up for anyone planning on doing it.
I got to AC few years back with:

Collaboration - missed opportunities to demonstrate
Growth mindset - demonstrated exceptional capability
Getting things done - demonstrated natural talent
Resilience - room for improvement
Client focussed - exceptional capability
Commercial mindset - further development
Analysis - could improve

3/3 for verbal, 2/3 for maths
 
I got to AC few years back with:

Collaboration - missed opportunities to demonstrate
Growth mindset - demonstrated exceptional capability
Getting things done - demonstrated natural talent
Resilience - room for improvement
Client focussed - exceptional capability
Commercial mindset - further development
Analysis - could improve

3/3 for verbal, 2/3 for maths
Thank you for sharing! I only scored excellent in one so I need to be realistic 🤣
 

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