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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Hey guys, does anyone know how forgiving grad rec is about background noise in VIs? I have to do my Goodwin one and I do not live in a household where it is easy to get 10 minutes of silence (I have a 5 year old brother who loves doing temper tantrums every 5 seconds and a vocal new puppy). I am just worried that they'll either hear my bro stomping and screaming "FINE" or a dog barking and pfo me
 
It took c3 weeks for me. I applied mid Dec and got the test on Monday. Idk if Xmas and NY meant it took longer than usual though. I’m also a fiend for restructuring so hoping Akin or Weil work out!​
Omg I love that, none of my friends like restructuring haha And also congrats!! I applied on the 22nd so hopefully it won't be a super long wait. Good luck with both Weil and Akin!!
 
Reed Smith sent some tips to candidates who were unsuccessful post stage 2 and it seems the best approach is to spend the majority of time explaining how you'd tackle the scenario, but add brief examples to highlight relevant skills/show your experiences to add credibility
I thought adding the brief example was optional and candidates who don't add it aren't marked down for it.
 
I thought adding the brief example was optional and candidates who don't add it aren't marked down for it.
Yep I thought so as well, and I never added examples, but idk that's what the feedback said. I don't think you'd necessarily be marked down but maybe it just comes across as a more well-rounded answer? And i kinda get the point that it adds credibility. I think the approach probably varies between recruiters, so I now aim to add just two short lines at the end of my answer just in case
 
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Hey guys, does anyone know how forgiving grad rec is about background noise in VIs? I have to do my Goodwin one and I do not live in a household where it is easy to get 10 minutes of silence (I have a 5 year old brother who loves doing temper tantrums every 5 seconds and a vocal new puppy). I am just worried that they'll either hear my bro stomping and screaming "FINE" or a dog barking and pfo me

I did one on Christmas eve at about 10:30pm and my mum was talking in the background and I was on video waving a hand at her to shut up. Gonna fail that for sure.
 
Hey guys, does anyone know how forgiving grad rec is about background noise in VIs? I have to do my Goodwin one and I do not live in a household where it is easy to get 10 minutes of silence (I have a 5 year old brother who loves doing temper tantrums every 5 seconds and a vocal new puppy). I am just worried that they'll either hear my bro stomping and screaming "FINE" or a dog barking and pfo me
I relate to this as someone with 3 young brothers who cannot be quiet for longer than 2-3 mins. In my Weil VI, I had to give grad rec the heads up that there’d probs be background noise. It didn’t help that my neighbours had decided to begin house renovations at the same time either. So there was a lot of banging and drilling sounds echoing in the background lmao. They said it was totally fine and seeing I haven’t received an auto PFO just yet they probs weren’t bothered. From their end it probs sounded like this:

Angry Wake Up GIF by Looney Tunes

 
Does anyone know what a strengths-based style of interview would entail? I have one for Freshfields tomorrow and ngl I’ve got no idea what to expect or how to prepare for this at all lmao.​

If it’s Freshfields, then I assume it’s the case-study-focused one?

Essentially, it’s mainly a scenario behavioural assessment with multiple-choice options. There is also one written task, and you have to record a few short videos mostly focused on explaining what you would do if you were the trainee in each scenario.

I completed mine end of nov/start dec. Haven't heard back. Expecting rejection
 
If it’s Freshfields, then I assume it’s the case-study-focused one?

Essentially, it’s mainly a scenario behavioural assessment with multiple-choice options. There is also one written task, and you have to record a few short videos mostly focused on explaining what you would do if you were the trainee in each scenario.

I completed mine end of nov/start dec. Haven't heard back. Expecting rejection
Hey is this for DTC or VS
 
I relate to this as someone with 3 young brothers who cannot be quiet for longer than 2-3 mins. In my Weil VI, I had to give grad rec the heads up that there’d probs be background noise. It didn’t help that my neighbours had decided to begin house renovations at the same time either. So there was a lot of banging and drilling sounds echoing in the background lmao. They said it was totally fine and seeing I haven’t received an auto PFO just yet they probs weren’t bothered. From their end it probs sounded like this:

Angry Wake Up GIF by Looney Tunes

On the topic, any ac news from Weil?
 
I relate to this as someone with 3 young brothers who cannot be quiet for longer than 2-3 mins. In my Weil VI, I had to give grad rec the heads up that there’d probs be background noise. It didn’t help that my neighbours had decided to begin house renovations at the same time either. So there was a lot of banging and drilling sounds echoing in the background lmao. They said it was totally fine and seeing I haven’t received an auto PFO just yet they probs weren’t bothered. From their end it probs sounded like this:

Angry Wake Up GIF by Looney Tunes

This is actually so reassuring 😭
 
Yep I thought so as well, and I never added examples, but idk that's what the feedback said. I don't think you'd necessarily be marked down but maybe it just comes across as a more well-rounded answer? And i kinda get the point that it adds credibility. I think the approach probably varies between recruiters, so I now aim to add just two short lines at the end of my answer just in case
Just went back to check the feedback from my DTC pfo and you're right, it says exactly that. I can't remember if I referenced anything specific in those. Hoping my motivational one where I referenced similar behaviours through specific examples balances it out in terms of credibility.

I guess it's a PFO otherwise 🤭😅
 
Hey @nbjani congratulations on your AC. I think Avani has made a great post on how to prepare here. https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ssment-centres-how-to-prepare.4534/post-93642

Just to add in my two cents, I think it is possible to prepare for the others - not content wise, but mentally. The truth is, each aspect of the AC assesses different skills and capabilities, such as the group exercise which is looking at how well you work within a team, your ability to navigate multiple personalities and engage with other opinions, notwithstanding being able to advocate for yours (flexibly).

The best piece of advice I can give you for the other components, is to understand what the assessors are looking for here and making yourself comfortable with being able to display those skills.
Thanks!
 

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