TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Ronaldo04]

Does anyone know the benchmark for the Amberjack with 4 pillars - I absolutely bombed it for the first time (I usually go well) and got 4,3,6,6. Does this mean that my VI wont even be looked at?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi everyone!

When video interview/ app answers ask about recent developments that could affect clients, I want to make sure I’m focusing on the right kinds of news.

In your experience, what are the most relevant types of updates to draw on for these questions? For example, do you usually reference things like regulatory changes, shifts in interest rates, major geopolitical developments, new industry-specific regulations, or broader market/economic trends?
But more specifically: which current topics do you think are most value-adding to bring up in an interview?

I’d love to hear what you personally look out for or any go-to sources you use to stay prepared. Any insight would be much appreciated @Abbie Whitlock
@Andrei Radu

Thank you so much!

Hi @FutureTraineeMaybe in my opinion, to do well for this type of question, it matters a lot more how you go about your research and analysis rather than the intrinsic value-add of the topic itself. That is why I would advise you to choose some of the topics where a line of analysis pertaining to impact to the firm's clients makes most intuitive sense to you and about which you think you would be genuinely interested to learn more about. This should naturally lead to you being (i) better informed about the topic, (ii) better able to present your thoughts about it clearly and persuasively; and (iiI) better able to answer follow-up questions and discuss the topic at length, should the partners decide they want to test you on that.

As such, I do not think there is any category among the ones you listed that I would advise you to prioritise ahead of the others. What you should choose will depend on your own preferences, as discussed above, but also on the specific operations of the firm. Different firms will be impacted to a different extent by different developments - i.e. clients of a firm with a heavy tech focus will be significantly impacted by everything and anything going on related to AI, clients of firms with a heavy PE/capital markets focused will care a lot about changes in interest rates and broader economic sentiment, etc.

As for sources, some of the ones that were most useful for me are the following:

• FT News Briefing: as you will likely know, the best all around go-to short podcast to keep yourself updated to news
• BBC Business News and/or Bloomberg Europe: great for more in depth coverage of news, the BBC with more of a UK focus, while Bloomberg with a more financial markets-oriented focus
• Watson's Daily: great for in depth analysis of selected focus; teaches you how to go about commercial analysis
• The Global Legal Post, The Lawyer Podcast, Law, disrupted: great to learn how to connect broader commercial developments with law firms' as businesses + great to learn about how to compare firm's practices and operations
• The FT, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, and just general Google searches: from time to time, I would use these to research a topic that I was particularly interested in.

 

[YS391]

Has anyone received Gibson PFO? I've seen few people progress to interview stage and offer, haven't been progressed but haven't received a PFO either, can they just put me out of my misery.

Same, still haven’t heard back. Probably means we passed the benchmark for the test and our apps are now being reviewed. Perhaps the earlier PFOs are from people who didn’t pass the benchmark. But honestly who knows lol

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hi @FutureTraineeMaybe in my opinion, to do well for this type of question, it matters a lot more how you go about your research and analysis rather than the intrinsic value-add of the topic itself. That is why I would advise you to choose some of the topics where a line of analysis pertaining to impact to the firm's clients makes most intuitive sense to you and about which you think you would be genuinely interested to learn more about. This should naturally lead to you being (i) better informed about the topic, (ii) better able to present your thoughts about it clearly and persuasively; and (iiI) better able to answer follow-up questions and discuss the topic at length, should the partners decide they want to test you on that.

As such, I do not think there is any category among the ones you listed that I would advise you to prioritise ahead of the others. What you should choose will depend on your own preferences, as discussed above, but also on the specific operations of the firm. Different firms will be impacted to a different extent by different developments - i.e. clients of a firm with a heavy tech focus will be significantly impacted by everything and anything going on related to AI, clients of firms with a heavy PE/capital markets focused will care a lot about changes in interest rates and broader economic sentiment, etc.

As for sources, some of the ones that were most useful for me are the following:

• FT News Briefing: as you will likely know, the best all around go-to short podcast to keep yourself updated to news
• BBC Business News and/or Bloomberg Europe: great for more in depth coverage of news, the BBC with more of a UK focus, while Bloomberg with a more financial markets-oriented focus
• Watson's Daily: great for in depth analysis of selected focus; teaches you how to go about commercial analysis
• The Global Legal Post, The Lawyer Podcast, Law, disrupted: great to learn how to connect broader commercial developments with law firms' as businesses + great to learn about how to compare firm's practices and operations
• The FT, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, and just general Google searches: from time to time, I would use these to research a topic that I was particularly interested in.

Thank you!!

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Same, still haven’t heard back. Probably means we passed the benchmark for the test and our apps are now being reviewed. Perhaps the earlier PFOs are from people who didn’t pass the benchmark. But honestly who knows lol

Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

 

[Goodbyetc]

Has anyone heard from sidley

 

[Lawlawland]

Was worrying about CC WGT test and losing my mind over it for one whole month... Only for me to wake up this morning and read "you've already passed the test last cycle, don't need to do the test again mail".

IDK if I have to laugh or worry about the time I spent on worrying and preparing Lmao.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys, I have a telephone interview with graduate recruitment coming up next week and I have never done one before. @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock How should I go about preparing and what should I expect?

Hi @Ronaldo04 I would advise you to read my Competency Interviews Preparation Guide and follow the step-by-step preparation method I set out there; it is somewhat more comprehensive than you may need at this stage (as I wrote it primarily with final stage interviews in mind) so you no not necessarily need to practice answering that wide of a range of questions. Thus, I would focus on the getting really good at answering the most common types of interview questions such as the ones I will list bellow, as it is unlikely you will be asked something very different from that at this stage:

• The big three motivational questions: why commercial law, why you, why the firm; but be prepared to also answer different iterations of such questions - i.e. "Why do you want to be a solicitor, and what other careers have you considered?" "Why the firm rather than our rivals, and what makes you a great fit?" etc.
• Usual skills/competencies questions: Tell me about a time you demonstrated teamwork, resilience, problem-solving skills etc.
• Scenario-based questions: How would you deal with a situation in which you had competing deadlines, had a difficult work relationship etc
• Classic commercial questions: Tell me about a news story you have been following, how it impacts our clients, something that represents a challenge/opportunity for the firm

Besides this, I would advise you to construct answers in a very structured and easy to follow manner, and to focus on being crystal-clear in the way you articulate them when you practice - since during a phone interview the recruiter does not have any helpful visual input and neither do you (in terms of noticing if there is anything you would need to explain in more detail or go over again), the risk that you may lose the focus of your audience is a lot greater. Also, I think you should try to be extra enthusiastic and friendly, as the nature of the format already makes it difficult to truly connect and build rapport.

 

[BillSikes]

Was it as bad as TW?

What is TW test?

 

[pfoapplicant]

Hey!

I think your plan sounds completely fine. The "number grade" box is just so they can see the numerical mark behind the classification, and firm's know that different universities use different marking systems.

If your uni marks out of 200, entering the raw mark (e.g. 140) is a sensible approach as you are also providing:

• The letter grade / classification, so they'll immediately understand the classification band, and
• Your transcript or CV which will explain the marking system, so they can then easily see that 140 corresponds to 70%

Normally, I would always just put the percentage in the number-grade box where possible, but if the form doesn't allow this, I think inputting the raw mark is the next best option (and completely fine!).

I hope that assists

Thank you Abbie - you've been really helpful!

 

[Donuttime]

Did anyone get three emails from A&O about completing the online test and that their application is being reviewed and we will hear back after the deadline?

 

[Chriss]

I got 6,4,7,7 for the Weil SJT pillers. This is the worst I have ever received on an SJT. Has anyone received marks this low and progressed, or is it definitely a PFO with how terribly low I have scored?

I got 4,4,6,9 dont think im progressing either

 

[yk1906]

Is the Taylor Wessing test automatic? If yes, when do they send it?

 

[yk1906]

Gibson Dunn top 3: Adaptability, Resilience, Credible Communicator
Weakness: Judgement

Okay... Not sure what to make of it

 

[yk1906]

Also, Davis Polk is for law only?

 

[safari3]

What is TW test?

WG on steroids

 

[yuhhhh]

Does anyone know the benchmark for the Amberjack with 4 pillars - I absolutely bombed it for the first time (I usually go well) and got 4,3,6,6. Does this mean that my VI wont even be looked at?

Yea I'm curious about this as well, my amberjacks were 6/4/6/6

 

[yasmars]

Im pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the Mishcon test.

 

[WeGotThis!]

Did anyone get three emails from A&O about completing the online test and that their application is being reviewed and we will hear back after the deadline?

Yes and got mini heart attacks in the process too, thinking that it's a PFO

 

[yasmars]

What is TW test?

A critical thinking and verbal reasoning test.