TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[lawrlah]

anyone heard from ashurst or simmons & simmons since doing the online assessment?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hi @Afraz Akhtar How long should competency based responses be in an interview?

@Wanda Maximoff Hey, I've noticed a few queries asking about timing in an interview and I'm a little conflicted. Although I think it's wise to think about time and I'm sure others may think its helpful, but I don't think it's a healthy consideration.

The reason being, thinking about timings for your responses in a natural conversational setting inadvertently places pressure on an already stressful situation where you need to make sure your mind is clear. I fear, placing imaginary timers/countdowns are only going to distract you from that clarity and potentially affect the quality of your responses.

Instead, consider how much depth is needed and that should guide the timing of your response. For competency questions, that depth is essentially the STAR method - so the ability to make your point, highlight a task where you displayed that, explain what it is that you did to achieve that, and end off with your key takeaway. Whether this takes you two minutes, or 5 minutes, as long as you provided your answer in a format that is concise, avoids waffling, and gets straight to the point - you've achieved what you were supposed to.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but it's what works well for me 🤷‍♂️

 

[Novaa]

Decided who my weekly application to conquer is! Xx

#GoalSetting 😍

 

[Donuttime]

Decided who my weekly application to conquer is! Xx

#GoalSetting 😍

31st Jan is near we are almost there guys!

 

[elle woods]

Thank you I thought I’d change things up! Ngl it’s a very long app lowkey played myself here.

Is this basically saying I’m spending too much time on the forum (peak jobless behaviour)…

Tbf half of these posts will be from when Chris was on the forum but still 500 is a lot yikes…

These are pointing at me btw (I need to get back on to the app graft immediately lmao)…​

what does this say about me... 600 posts in a month.... HELP hahaha

 

[Donna Paulsen]

what does this say about me... 600 posts in a month.... HELP hahaha

I just realised you only joined in December... girlll 😭 love the dedication hahahaha

 

[elle woods]

I just realised you only joined in December... girlll 😭 love the dedication hahahaha

🥸🥸🥸

it's okay I know that once term starts back up again I will be gone by no choice of my own HAHA

but yea very jobless behaviour from me during the winter break...

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

honestly im a bit stressed. is someone in the same boat? unsure where im going wrong even though i did a top US firm VS last cycle. i have a 2.1 predicted, no 2.2s. i write okay i think (?). idk wtaf

 

[Novaa]

honestly im a bit stressed. is someone in the same boat? unsure where im going wrong even though i did a top US firm VS last cycle. i have a 2.1 predicted, no 2.2s. i write okay i think (?). idk wtaf

Idk if explaining my situation would help or stress you out more LOL, but I can relate to the feeling! Remember you’ve already shown you’re capable with a top US firm VS and consistent high grades. You got this!! 🤩

 

[floral.tcla]

Hey! I’ve heard it’s possible for vac schemes to be deferred but ACs usually wouldn’t be right? I have an important uni deadline which counts towards my degree next week - like I have something ready to submit but it’s a tricky q and I can always apply next cycle - so ideally the ACs could take place after then but I understand they’d have quite limited space available, if at all… and yes i am aware this is a nice problem to have but i’m a finalist and my uni grades soooooo harshly and the workload + expectations are really high 😭

 

[Novaa]

Hey! I’ve heard it’s possible for vac schemes to be deferred but an ACs usually wouldn’t be right? I have an important uni deadline which counts towards me degree next week so ideally the ACs could take place after then but I understand they’d have quite limited space available, if at all… and yes i am aware this is a nice problem to have but i’m a finalist and my uni grades soooooo harshly and the workload + expectations are really high 😭

Heyy, I’d reach out to early careers and explain the situation. They should be understanding I hope, obviously we’re not sure if they have ACs running the week after. But, they hopefully have alternatives which could work like a virtual AC?

 

[floral.tcla]

Heyy, I’d reach out to early careers and explain the situation. They should be understanding I hope, obviously we’re not sure if they have ACs running the week after. But, they hopefully have alternatives which could work like a virtual AC?

Heyy thank you for replying 🥹ahh i already confirmed (and my greedy ahh sent a reimbursement form for travel costs inc the date and time) but I’ll message them later today, thanks I had no idea that you could ask early careers. Ooo i had no idea that was a thing !😄

 

[solicitor_2028]

For those people who completed the OC test, how long was each test?

 

[i-want-a-tc]

For those people who completed the OC test, how long was each test?

exact same format and timing as the practice test. HIGHLY, HIGHLY suggest you take the practice tests. Verbal reasoning was 18 or 19 minutes for 30 questions and deductive reasoning was 18 minutes for 12 questions. Long story short, you have to be quick as the time is not enough for a well thought out answer.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

exact same format and timing as the practice test. HIGHLY, HIGHLY suggest you take the practice tests. Verbal reasoning was 18 or 19 minutes for 30 questions and deductive reasoning was 18 minutes for 12 questions. Long story short, you have to be quick as the time is not enough for a well thought out answer.

I practiced once for each test and wish I did more. Highly suggest to practice practice practice too. That deductive reasoning test killed me off omfg. Was torturous and inhumane.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

I practiced once for each test and wish I did more. Highly suggest to practice practice practice too. That deductive reasoning test killed me off omfg. Was torturous and inhumane.

Hope you did well enough to progress but that was the worst test I've done this cycle, and I've done amberjack 😂 😂 😂

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Hope you did well enough to progress but that was the worst test I've done this cycle, and I've done amberjack 😂 😂 😂

I had to guess the answers to the last two questions because I completely ran out of time😭😭 the format is HORRID.

 

[i-want-a-tc]

I had to guess the answers to the last two questions because I completely ran out of time😭😭 the format is HORRID.

same, my last two were definitely wrong but I read in practice test that you can get negative marking for not finishing test so I submitted unfinished answers😂

 

[Prudentia]

@Wanda Maximoff Hey, I've noticed a few queries asking about timing in an interview and I'm a little conflicted. Although I think it's wise to think about time and I'm sure others may think its helpful, but I don't think it's a healthy consideration.

The reason being, thinking about timings for your responses in a natural conversational setting inadvertently places pressure on an already stressful situation where you need to make sure your mind is clear. I fear, placing imaginary timers/countdowns are only going to distract you from that clarity and potentially affect the quality of your responses.

Instead, consider how much depth is needed and that should guide the timing of your response. For competency questions, that depth is essentially the STAR method - so the ability to make your point, highlight a task where you displayed that, explain what it is that you did to achieve that, and end off with your key takeaway. Whether this takes you two minutes, or 5 minutes, as long as you provided your answer in a format that is concise, avoids waffling, and gets straight to the point - you've achieved what you were supposed to.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but it's what works well for me 🤷‍♂️

@Wanda Maximoff To add to this great answer, the bulk of your response should be about the A - action. A mistake many candidates is focusing too much on the S T and R when the A is where you gain the marks. Interviewers aren’t really assessing the example - they’re often assessing your approach and how you think. So when you’re responding, make sure you’re going into detail about why you did. Bonus points if you can explain why you did it as demonstrates the fact you’re able to reflect.