TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[silonthesofa]

Does anyone know if the Taylor Wessing written exercise is done while on a zoom call/video call with recruiters? In the invitation email it said "we look forward to meeting you online," so I was just wondering what the format was, i.e. if you just do it yourself or have to be on a call with other applicants or recruiters? would be grateful if anyone knows

It's a video call via their online platform. You'll be in a virtual room with other candidates, you will all have your cameras on. You'll join, they'll give you a brief and then you begin.

 

[Z48]

hey is the AG voice interview like a telephone interview?

When you’re recording it looks like a video interview but grad rec don’t see the video when assessing

 

[soph107048]

It is a zoom call with a recruiter and other test takers. It totally caught me off guard at first and I was even worried I was going to get a PFO for not looking personable cause I just was not ready for human interaction

also we dont have to present what we write, right? as in do we just complete it and submit and leave the call?

 

[silonthesofa]

also we dont have to present what we write, right? as in do we just complete it and submit and leave the call?

No presentation (lol)

 

[ilikelaw]

what kind of questions should you prepare for for a VI? aside from why you / why law / why the firm?

 

[BealMcAlly]

what kind of questions should you prepare for for a VI? aside from why you / why law / why the firm?

Some firms include commercial awareness questions. Mostly competency and scenario based questions.

 

[TCGrad1642]

have white and case, akin and milbank given out all their acs for spring?

 

[summersun]

Have just been given my allocated slot fyi

thanks ! Got the email too so must have filled the form correctly

 

[iklawapps]

Out of curiosity, what's the longest someone has been waiting after an AC and still gotten a positive response rather than a PFO :' )

If it's been over a week, I should probably move on huh?

 

[Novaa]

what kind of questions should you prepare for for a VI? aside from why you / why law / why the firm?

Commercial Awareness:

- What challenges/opportunities for Clients? (Look at their strategic vision / [Core Practice Areas] trends for 2026 presentations)

- What clients look for in firms?

- Tell us about a deal that interests you (Prepare to include why? How the firm can advise?)

I think this should give you a solid foundation for any commercial awareness question

Competency:

- I would have two STAR examples you could mention for the following core competencies (Collaboration, Communication, Conflict Management, Time Management, Leadership)

 

[Deleted member 43292]

Out of curiosity, what's the longest someone has been waiting after an AC and still gotten a positive response rather than a PFO :' )

If it's been over a week, I should probably move on huh?

Did they tell you when to expect to hear back?

Sometimes if there are ACs still to run after you've done yours, it can take much longer to hear back. Most firms have to finish all their ACs before they take some time to make final decisions. Obviously other firms do things differently, especially if they give out offers on a rolling basis

 

[ilikelaw]

Commercial Awareness:

- What challenges/opportunities for Clients? (Look at their strategic vision / [Core Practice Areas] trends for 2026 presentations)

- What clients look for in firms?

- Tell us about a deal that interests you (Prepare to include why? How the firm can advise?)

I think this should give you a solid foundation for any commercial awareness question

Competency:

- I would have two STAR examples you could mention for the following core competencies (Collaboration, Communication, Conflict Management, Time Management, Leadership)

omg youre a legend thank you

 

[startupgeek]

Out of curiosity, what's the longest someone has been waiting after an AC and still gotten a positive response rather than a PFO :' )

If it's been over a week, I should probably move on huh?

it depends on the firm, for Macs they would usually call in the evening after the AC if u have been successful but I have also heard of some other firms taking longer to respond due to high number of strong candidates.

 

[Novaa]

why do some grad rec have to be so sweet? They make me want to do well and stay with the firm...but I now just feel guilty because I did so bad and probably will not be progressing with the firm haha

Shoutout to all the grad recs out there

HONESTLYYY!! My fav part of an AC is yapping with grad rec

Us during the day:

Me a week later:

 

[PrayingforaTC2026]

Weil AC!! They’re definitely doing it in batches guys……don’t lose hope!!

Congrats!! If you don't mind, could I ask when you applied and sat the test?

 

[T. Rainee]

Low-key is anyone tempted to email FF grad rec to ask when we should expect to hear back from them. Or have the ACs secretly all been handed out and people are being quiet about it.

Only ACs I’ve seen going out are for vac schemes, still waiting for DTC but it’s takes forever!!

 

[maylawwww]

BCLP spring PFO but v expected

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

When you realise White & Case got auto-corrected to White Cabbage

 

[EfficientBag123]

Effectively took a [X] on my cleary cover letter. Absolute doozy of a grammatical error in the final paragraph. Sums up this app cycle quite nicely.

 

[jj238]

I didn’t get the AC. It’s an amberjack SJT and there’s no VI yet.

Thank you for your reply and sorry you didn't get the AC.

In the SJT, I was told there is some applied verbal elements? Are these in Watson Glaser-style, proofreading or something else?