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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

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radssss

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adekuku said:
Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?
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I’m very far behind personally, 15

I am going to take the “numbers game” approach this year so I’m gonna have to speed up now because the applying to lesser firms approach didn’t work for me, I’ve graduated from uni now and really want to get a tc asap😭
 
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Harvey Specter

Harvey Specter

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adekuku said:
Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?
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I’ve sent around 18 so far since Sept and want to send around 9-10 more for VS. I know there are mixed feelings about how many firms is a decent number. Some people will try say less than 10 to ensure each app is of the highest quality, others say send at least 50 cos it’s a numbers game.

I think it should be both as there’s truth to either honestly. I’ve tried to find a balance between the two so I rly want to send around 25-30 apps. This whole process is competitive so I guess trying to maximise your chances is fair game? Ultimately do what works best for you individually.

It’s hard to balance apps with other responsibilities like working and/or studying but the effort is gna be worth it in the end when we get our TCs!​
 
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Abbie Whitlock

Abbie Whitlock

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J333 said:
Hi, does anyone have any advice for the PwC virtual AC 🥹 This is my very first AC so any help or insight would be very appreciated!
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Hello!

First of all, huge congratulations on being invited to the PwC virtual AC - that's an amazing achievement! Whilst I'm not too sure on the specifics of PwC's AC, I can share some general advice when it comes to preparing for a virtual assessment centre, as I completed a few last cycle. I have also quoted some of my previous posts below that discuss other assessment types that might be useful, as I wasn't too sure what is involved in the PwC AC.

Some general tips:
  • Prepare the basics: you may have already been doing this, but make sure you understand PwC's values, business areas, and the current market issues that will affect them. You don't need to know absolutely everything (so try not to panic!), but it's good to have an awareness of what PwC does so that you can link this to why you are interested
  • For group exercises: usually, the focus of the group exercise isn't actually what you say - it is how you interact and communicate with the others around you. Focus on being collaborative rather than trying to dominate the conversation - I always tried to be neither the quietest nor the loudest (which can be a tricky balance!). I found this particularly challenging for virtual ACs where it can be difficult to get the timing right, but try to listen actively and build on others' ideas. When you do present your part of the group exercise, make sure to clearly explain your reasoning and thought process!
  • For interviews: if you are asked competency questions, it's always helpful to have the STAR structure in the back of your mind, and have a few examples ready that show teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. As part of my preparation for assessment centres, I used to spend an hour or so just noting down all my experiences and what skills / competencies came out of each. This means you aren't desperately racking your brain for examples in the moment!
  • Virtual elements: it sounds silly, but make sure that you test your technology beforehand (i.e. WiFi, camera, microphone) and choose a quiet space - I even made sure to let all of my housemates know so that none of them disturbed me. I would make sure that you have water and a notebook nearby, as you never know when you might need to jot something down.
Most importantly, be yourself! Focus on showing how you think and work with others when you are performing at your best, rather than trying to be "perfect" overall. Firms are often looking for potential, not perfection!

Everyone is nervous going into ACs, so you're definitely not alone! You've earned your place there by excelling in the process so far - so just go into it and try your best :) Wishing you the best of luck, you've got this! 💪

Abbie Whitlock said:
Hello!

Huge congratulations on getting an invite - that's a great achievement, especially in your first cycle!

Case studies are usually designed to test your commercial awareness, logical reasoning, and ability to interpret financial information. Whilst I haven't completed the case study interview at A&O Shearman, here are a few general tips:
  • Get comfortable with basic financial concepts: as you mentioned, I would have a look at thinks such as revenue vs. profit, market share, valuation, interest rates, and how macroeconomic factors can impact businesses. I would recommend sites such as Investopedia, as this is what I used when trying to digest all of the basic financial concepts for commercial awareness.
  • Practice breaking down information / data logically: you might be given a short brief and asked to make recommendations or discuss implications. Focus on structuring your thoughts clearly - identify the key issue, explain the relevant factors, and conclude with a reasoned judgment. There won't necessarily be one 'right' answer, however, you should make sure to show your thought process and be able to defend your stance if questioned (although make sure you are also flexible if it is an aspect that you hadn't thought of!).
  • Stay calm under time pressure: it can feel very overwhelming to be handed a bundle of documents and know that you have to go through it all under the time limit. I would start by reading through all of the documents, and then go back over and start highlighting the important parts and areas that you would want more information. They're more interested in how you think and communicate than whether your answer is 'right'.
  • Brush up on A&O Shearman's key practice areas: if this is a finance-based case study, make sure to have a look at their finance, M&A, and restructuring teams. Have a look at recent deals, and see if you can link these to your reasoning in the case study.
  • Practice: if you have time before your AC, I would try a few practice case studies online just to get used to analysing data quickly.
  • Structure: I would go into the case study interview with a clear structure of how you have analysed the brief and what your conclusions are. How you want to structure this is completely personal to you, but I would make sure that you have a rough idea so that you can go into the interview and discuss all the most important points without missing something out. Some case study interviews have set questions, whilst others will be a conversation on the brief, but going in with a rough idea is a great way to prepare yourself and manage nerves.
There are also some amazing resources on TCLA that I used when I was preparing for the AC that resulted in my TC, so I would absolutely check these out as they were a lifesaver:
Overall, I would treat it as a conversation where they're assessing how you approach problems. If you show curiosity, commercial reasoning, and an open-mind - you'll do great!

Wishing you the best of luck, and I'm sure you'll smash it :)
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Abbie Whitlock said:
Of course, no problem at all!!

Since client emails are such a common format in written exercises, it's definitely worth getting comfortable with how to approach them! A few things that I kept in mind when preparing:

Understand the Purpose and Audience

Before you start writing, clarify who you are writing to (e.g. a client, supervisor, or a colleague) and what information they need from you. The tone, level of formality, and structure will vary depending on whether it's an internal email or an email to an external client.

For example, if you are emailing a client, you want to ensure that they are able to understand any legal principles that you are outlining in your email. As such, it's important to make sure you write it in layman's terms and don't just recite the information given in the materials. However, if you are emailing a supervisor, I would focus on highlighting the most important pieces of information as you are effectively trying to save them time in going through the materials themselves. I would always aim to write in a professional way, and frame it like you would an actual email - such as a subject line and a closing sentence.

Use a Clear and Logical Structure

The main thing that I changed when approaching written exercises was making sure that I had a clear and logical structure. A good client email should be easy to follow. A simple structure could look like:

  1. Opening: A brief, polite greeting and context for why you're writing (and what you'll be discussing in the email). If you're emailing a supervisor, it might be useful to include a short summary of your findings at the top (i.e. an early conclusion), and then go into more detail below.
  2. Main Body: Summarise the key points or advice clearly and concisely, using short paragraphs. It might be appropriate to use headings and subtitles, especially if there is a lot of information. The goal is to make sure that the client can follow along, and that it isn't just a massive wall of text that is difficult to read.
  3. Closing: End with next steps, an offer of assistance, or a polite sign-off (e.g. "Please let me know if you'd like to discuss further"). These elements distinguish an email exercise from a general report or memo, and shows that you are following the brief exactly! If you are emailing a supervisor, I would try to show some proactivity in the closing parts - such as offering to write a first draft of a document or client email.

Keep your tone professional and approachable

I would aim for clear, confident language without being overly formal (but still professional). This can be tricky, but phrases such as "I'd recommend..." or "It may be helpful..." strike a nice balance. Avoid overly technical language or long-winded phrasing - simplicity often conveys professionalism! As stated above, I would definitely avoid legal jargon if you are writing to a client, unless you are certain that a client would understand it.

Also remember that tone can shift slightly depending on the client's relationship with the firm. If you are told this information, a longstanding client might suit a warmer tone, whilst a first-time contact may call for a more formal approach. However, if in doubt, I would always go for a more formal approach - especially in a professional context!

Be precise and client-focused

Remember the purpose for why you are actually writing to the client, and tailor your response to the client's actual issue. I would avoid copying large chunks of background information from the brief (as the client will already have this information!) - instead, demonstrate understanding of their issue by reframing the key points in your own words and applying them directly to the client's situation. Make sure to keep your advice practical - clients care more about what they should do next than about the legal theory behind it. You might find it useful to use signposting phrases such as "In summary..." or "Based on the information provided..." to make your reasoning easy to follow. If there are uncertainties, I would make sure to address them but be reassuring - e.g. "Further details would be needed to confirm this position, but at this stage...".

Check for clarity and tone at the end

Before your time runs out, take a moment to review your email. I always found it helpful to read it aloud (if possible) or follow along with my finger - this helps you catch sentences that are too long, unclear, or sound abrupt. Look for opportunities to simplify, and if a sentence takes more than one breath to read, it's probably too long! Make sure your sign-off fits the context (things such as "Kind regards" or "Best wishes" usually work best). The graduate recruitment team / assessors will be looking for professionalism in formatting and presentation - consistent spacing, clear paragraphing, and correct spelling and grammar will all make a strong impression.

As a practical tip to practice: You could start by taking short case studies and draft sample emails that summarise your advice in 200-300 words. This helps you get used to organising your thoughts quickly and writing in a professional, accessible way.

I hope that helps!
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Abbie Whitlock said:
Hello!

Congratulations on being invited to an assessment centre with A&O - that's a fantastic achievement! 🎊 Whilst I haven't participated in an assessment centre at A&O specifically, I can share some more general advice and tips for assessment centres. From what I've found online, I can see that it includes: a case study interview, a scenario-based interview, and a Q&A session with trainees.

Partner Case Study Interview

For the Partner case study interview, the key is to show structure and clarity in your answers and reasoning. As you have 40 minutes of prep time, I'd focus on:
  • Understanding the client's objectives and challenges: the main thing that you want to consider is what is the client actually asking for? What is their main goal, and what are the main elements that are likely to impact their business that they will want you to take into account?
  • Prioritise the key issues: linked to the above, make sure that you use your time well and focus on the main and most important issues. If you can't cover absolutely everything, make sure to focus on those main areas.
  • Structuring your answers logically: if you can show your thought process for each decision or recommendation, this will help the Partner follow along. This could be along the lines of - background -> issues -> analysis -> recommendation.
  • Considering commercial impact: remember that as a commercial lawyer, you will also have to factor in the wider commercial impact of any legal advice you give. Think about how you can give the best advice to the client, whilst also safeguarding their business.
When you discuss your answers with the Partner, be confident explaining your reasoning but be prepared for them to challenge. It's completely fine to stick to what you originally stated if you can expand on your reasons, but also be open to altering your viewpoint if they bring up a point that you hadn't considered. They're more interested in how you think, rather than whether you're necessarily "right" or "wrong".

I've also linked a previous post that I made on case study interviews - there are some really useful resources within it (particularly Jacob Miller's post!), so it's definitely worth checking that out :)

Scenario-Based Interview

This is designed to test how you think on your feet and respond to real-world situations that trainees might face. You don't necessarily need to know any black-letter law - it's more about your judgment, communication skills, and overall approach. A few things I would consider before the task:
  • Pause and structure your thoughts: take a moment to think through the situation in your head and come up with a structure. This avoids you jumping straight into the answer and rambling (which I've definitely been guilty of in the past!) and allows you to clearly talk them through each step you would take.
  • Clarify assumptions: if anything seems uncertain, make sure to show that you would clarify this. For example: if you're asked how you'd handle a client who's unhappy with advice, you could say something such as: "Before deciding how to respond, I'd want to understand whether the client is unhappy with the outcome itself, the way it was communicated, or the time it took to deliver. Can I assume the issue is about the advice itself?". This shows that you don't jump to conclusions, and demonstrates clear analytical and communication skills.
  • Explain your reasoning step by step: the interviewer wants to understand how you reach decisions, not just what your decisions are. This is why a structure is particularly helpful - talk the interviewer through why you would approach each aspect that way.
  • Balance professional and commercial considerations: this is something that most commercial firms (and A&O) will place a lot of emphasis on. As a commercial lawyer, you're not just there to give the "legally correct" answer, but also one that makes sense for the client's business objectives. The best responses show that you can think like a business advisor whilst maintaining professional integrity and protecting their legal interests.
  • Use the STAR method: I would use the STAR method if you are describing past experiences. However, for hypothetical scenarios, I'd focus on: identifying the key issue(s), outlining possible approaches, and explaining why you'd choose one over another.

Q&A Session with Trainees

Whilst I haven't encountered an exercise in this format before (so I'm not too sure on what they'd be assessing - or if it is even assessed!), I can imagine this is likely to be more relaxed and conversational. It's your opportunity to get a real feel for what life is like at A&O. The trainees might not necessarily be assessing you, but you'll still make an impression through the quality of your questions and curiosity. I would:
  • Prepare 2-3 genuine questions that show insight and interest, and make sure they are tailored to you. This could be by linking them to your previous experiences, or by asking questions to see that the firm is a good fit for your long-term career goals.
  • Avoid overly generic or factual questions - if you can find the answer on the website, I definitely would not ask it at a firm event!
  • Show enthusiasm and openness, and try to come across as friendly, approachable and engaged. If they have mentioned something that you find interesting or relatable, strike up a conversation (depending on the setting) and express your enthusiasm.
  • Be yourself! It's very cliche advice, but this part of the assessment is also about fit and curiosity, not performance.
Most importantly - stay calm, be yourself, and treat the day as a genuine opportunity to learn more about the firm and see if it is a good fit for you! They already know that you're capable, and they're now assessing how you think and communicate to see that you're a good fit! :)

Wishing you the best of luck - you've got this! 💪
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Abbie Whitlock

Abbie Whitlock

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londonlawyer said:
Guys, is it bad to have my window blinds visible in a video interview? I've tried positioning my laptop pretty much all around my room, but can't get a clear background
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Hello!

This is likely to be completely fine - as long as your background is neat and professional (for example, no laundry hanging in the background!), the graduate recruitment team won't have an issue with it :)
 
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