TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

W&C WVS!!!! I am in so much shock right now

Huge congratulations!!! That's an amazing achievement, and you should be super proud 🥳 🥳

 

[msclm]

where are u seeing this in the interview email? thank you though!

I asked them in my response to the email

 

[abc124]

Hello!

You definitely can use hypothetical answers for scenario-based questions, and I wouldn't say it is a bad approach, but the ideal approach is to use a mix of both. The graduate recruitment team mainly want to understand your thought process, so a clear and structured hypothetical answer is absolutely acceptable if that's what helps you stay calm and concise within the 2-minute limit.

That being said, weaving in even a very brief real example can strengthen your answer because i shows you've actually applied that approach in practice. It doesn't have to be a full story - even a single sentence such as "For example, in my part-time job at X I handled something similar when..." is enough to show credibility without using too much of your time.

Something that really helped me was writing a small bank of examples in advance - a few for teamwork, a few for conflict, a few for organisation, etc. Then in the interview, I didn't have to search my brain for stories and I already knew which quick example I could mention to anchor my hypothetical answer.

A good structure could be:

• Explain your approach hypothetically (explaining your reasoning and steps)
• Add one short real-life reference from your example bank
• Finish with the outcome you'd aim for

However, if sticking to hypotheticals are what allow you to stay clear and structured, that's totally okay - content and clarity will matter more than forcing a long example. It's better to give a strong and coherent hypothetical answer than a rushed, half-finished real-world one.

I hope that helps!

That’s so helpful, thank you so much!!

 

[jacksollaf]

Good evening everyone,

Wanted to ask you all, or whoever would like to assist, for some advice. Basically, I'm a final year law student in London, and I did not manage to secure a TC yet (did a vac scheme but couldn't convert). I obviously applied this year for vac schemes and direct TCs but I feel less hopeful about securing a TC.

Accordingly, I am really wondering whether I should pursue the LLM SQE myself next year ; or whether I should go to a national/local firm in the GCC (where my father is a partner) and just work two years there to convert that into QWE and then in Sep 2029 (so with two years of experience) do my LLM SQE and pass the SQE... Is the wait better, in terms of chances of transferring back to the UK, or would me leaving the UK be sort of an impossible way to return for grad recs in London?

I ask this because applications this year are for 2028, so if I do my LLM, I would technically be unemployed from June 2027 until Jan/March/Sep 2028 (although I could work in the local firm in the meantime)...

Also, assuming I choose the working two years abroad option, after returning and doing my LLM SQE (technically at this point I would become a solicitor), how would I even enter the UK legal market? would they want another training contract, or as an associate? would it be more difficult than me currently trying to secure a TC or slightly more relaxed? Would I need to work a few extra years abroad so I gain even more experience, so say PQ1+ or it would work without? because I really want to work in London but it's just so competitive...

Idk who to @ but I guess whoever could help that would be truly appreciated. Many thanks.

 

[BillSikes]

What does Freshfields stage 1 test consist of?

 

[qaz99]

congrats!! when did you apply?

18 Oct!

 

[TCLAUser1]

For those who did Mishcon test is it worse than HL test and FF test. I am thinking of applying for Mishcon but don't know what to expect from it like whether its worth putting my mental health through it to get that pfo. I did the HL test and that was the worst from allof the tests this cycle. I can provide advice for other firms in return.

Honestly it wasn't that bad in terms of difficulty as you can spend as much time as you like on the answers, and the chat AI bot will respond directly to what you've said. But it did take me hours and you have to be locked in for the whole time to check your expression, grammar, spelling etc. so that part was really not enjoyable. I also don't know what or how they're assessing it so I have no gauge as to how I did

 

[DavidJC]

Hey that is super interesting. Have you found yourself passing past the SJTs if you were more polarising with your answers? It's a real weakness for me right now-- Haven't managed to pass a single SJT yet which is quite demoralising. I personally try be closer to the centre, but it seems that might be the reason why I'm being rejected?

In my experience (I've tested this approach a few times with non-law grad schemes that I wasn't very interested in) and from some research and online discussions, it looks like you do better if you're decisive/polarising in your answers as it shows that you're not trying to "please" by sitting in the middle, that you're self-aware, and that you have the specific strengths they may be looking for. The broad headline skills you get at the end with a feedback report with the usual words like Communication/Teamwork/Drive/Resilience can give you an idea of these strengths, and there's usually some minor indication of what they're expecting you to respond with. I've previously been told that I'm naturally collaborative but don't take any personal responsibility, and if I try to match my answers more towards personal responsibility, it says that I'm poor at collaboration (I think this is clearly undesirable in literally any job/profession).

The best general advice remains to consider what a trainee solicitor, with all their skills and limitations, should be doing in the situation.

It's tricky to try and understand if this is necessarily where you're falling short because virtually all firms both law and non-law will send an SJT automatically before reading your application. Unless you're explicitly receiving poor feedback reports or being told that you didn't meet their benchmark score, I would probably revisit the application. It's also a process of luck, unfortunately.

Fact of the matter is, online assessments will not be fair if you're completely honest as Grad Rec advises you to be. They're called assessments rather than personality questionnaires for a reason. It's just an extra step that you need to know how to tackle in the same way people talk about personalising your application answers with your own experiences, highlighting what you did, learned, and gained from the experience and how it's linked to the firm/role etc.

I know I wrote a lot, but hopefully that helps!