Hey guys I know this is quite late but I'm confused - I'm trying to figure out if the Autumn budget truly led to high tax rises? income tax didn't increase. there is fiscal drag but this affects individuals and high earners. from my understanding businesses are not affected significantly from the budget, with the only changes being to min wage, capital allowance relief and more compliance requirements. Would the dividends tax increase be problematic? I'm not sure what to make of this from a business POV. Would love some help!
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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It's double edge sword, recently the UK wants to mirror US whistleblower tax policy, the Parliament still consider it with a prospect to be enacted in 2026. The HMRC stated even though only high earners got the direct impact, it influences business. Many high earners work at big business even for SMBs, the owner or the head also can be HNWI. So, that can be challenging, we've seen that many people moved their residency to GCC such as Revolut CEO, even some move their corporate HQ elsewhere too.
The UK remains a hotspot for market segmentation for business and sourcing high talent, better than US due to their current lucrative immigration and income tax policy. I think that without whistleblower, it's perceived as negative as the HNWI tax isn't effective and unfriendly to business.
Hey!
I'm really sorry to hear about that situation - it's incredibly frustrating when things go wrong that are out of your control.
It's difficult to say either way, and I couldn't say whether an individual firm has a policy on adjusting outcomes for technical issues, even when they're genuine. That said, emailing them promptly and clearly explaining what happened was absolutely the right thing to do, and it means the issue is at least on record.
A weaker first answer doesn't automatically equal a PFO, especially if the rest of your interview was solid and they know you had technical issues to deal with. I'd say that the graduate recruitment team are generally aware that the VI interface isn't always intuitive, so they may have a policy in place for these situations.
At this stage, you've done everything you reasonably could. I'd try not to assume the worst based on one disrupted answer, and hopefully the strength of your preparation and later answers will carry more weight
Hey!
Generally, yes - making brief notes during the preparation / reading time is acceptable unless the firm explicitly says otherwise. In previous VIs, I have used the preparation time to structure my thoughts on paper, and I haven't ran into issues with this. "Independently and unaided" is usually aimed at preventing candidates from using external help (e.g. other people, pre-written scripts, websites, or AI), not at stopping you from jotting down a few structure points.
As long as the notes are made during the prep time, they're based only on the question and your own ideas, and you're not reading from a pre-prepared script or external materials, then this is typically fine and very common practice.
I would just make sure to check the specific VI instructions carefully - some platforms explicitly allow note-taking, while a few may ask you not to. If it's not prohibited, brief bullet-point notes for structure are generally understood and acceptable.
Best of luck with the VI!
Any tips for preparing for Freshfields stage 2 would be great, thanks! ☺
Is the VI all strengths-based? Thanks!Any tips for preparing for Freshfields stage 2 would be great, thanks! ☺
just completed the Ashurst test, it's like Latham's first stage test but much much longer (the personality slider thing and ordering ABCD based on what you would most likely do and least likely do). it has WG at the end similar difficulty to Latham's second stage WG, it's not split into different sections like Latham's test but you can go back to your previous answers. if you've done Latham's test i would say just go for it and do Ashurst's asap, don't waste time preparing for it it's really not needed in my opinion
This is such detailed, helpful advice. Thank you!
May I know where you found the practice test? Tried searching online but couldn't find a link
People applying to Kirkland, could you please tell me if you're answering the open question at the end? "Is there anything else you would like to add in support of your application?"
I've just noticed this and not sure whether they are expecting an answer
I've just noticed this and not sure whether they are expecting an answer
They sent me the link alongside the test, I'm pretty sure!May I know where you found the practice test? Tried searching online but couldn't find a link
I didn't... I added lots of details to my CV. But better ask someone who progressed to later stages, as I submitted the app yesterday!
For those that have completed the Weil test, were you required to have your camera turned on during the assessment (SJT section)?
Not really - the 2024 Budget was one of the worst budgets in history with the punishing attack on big employers such as supermarkets who went from paying £0 NI on part-time workers to hundreds of pounds each.
There is also the issue of Business Rates where particularly hospitality businesses were getting huge rate relief during covid and there are changes but again this is probably the last Budget. There's also carried interest, again the last budget.
This one was pretty dull, just more of the same, the fiscal drag is an issue and you also have salary sacrifice, and the fact that it's often a bad idea to go over£100k salary due to insane tax levels, so I suppose this exacerbates that, but it's not necessarily the kind of "commercial issue" in the way that the last Budget would inevitably harm business and determine employment. just more of a "we are permanently governed by idiots" issue.
The issue of dividends also doesn't come in for several years, so there is the point that specifically entrepreneurs have gone from paying much lower taxes than employees 10+ years ago to now higher taxes, but I'm not sure if it's particularly important..
Yea, but Amberjack only check you in the beginning, it doesn't record you.
May I know where you found the practice test? Tried searching online but couldn't find a link
SJT
i will be taking the mayer brown OA tomorrow. their deadline is 15th 11.59 pm and they operate on a rolling basis. i know someone here said that they passed the assessment but the firm stopped reviewing apps. i am quite anxious this will happen to me since i will be submitting so close to deadline. is that something i should be concerned about?
Thank you!!if the link doesn't work , just search up A&O Shearman Practice test and it will lead you to an article about Dos and Don'ts - if you scroll to the bottom bottom of the page there's a line saying "we've created a practice test for you" or something, and the link is there!SJT
assessment.weareamberjack.com
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