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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

justagirl23

Active Member
Jul 28, 2022
14
9
Hey @Abbie Whitlock and everyone else that can help!!

I have an assessment centre soon and my first one, I am quite worried about the group interview and the written task + presentation. This is what I know so far:

Written Task and Presentation
- Written task is first then followed up with a separate follow-up virtual conversation, this will be the presentation task. Both will be based on the same scenario/brief. 50 minutes long in total. 5 minutes to review your instructions and 45 minutes to read the information provided and complete written response. 10 minute break in between written task and presentation. The presentation will be an opportunity to discuss the approach you had taken earlier in more detail. 40 minutes total for presentation so 5 minutes to review instructions given by assessor and 10 minutes to prepare for the presentation and then 25 minutes to present and discuss.

Group Exercise
Group of 3 or 4 candidates. In the morning before you are introduced to the exercise you will be told who your team is and if you are doing defendant summary A, B or C. Assessor will introduce the exercise and themselves then begin preparation time. You will evaluate defendant summary and give feedback to the group. As a group you will discuss how you will reach a conclusion to brief. 5 minutes to review instructions given. 10 minutes to read information provided. 15-20 minutes to do a group discussion. 20 minutes to present back to assessors and q&a.

I have no idea how or what to prepare so please anyone help! Thank you so much
 
Reactions: Abbie Whitlock

applicant457

Esteemed Member
Premium Member
Jan 23, 2025
89
90
Links rejection post-AC.

They said my competency interview went well, but basically my commercial awareness interview, which I thought went well, was really poor.

The feedback indicated an anxious presentation, unclear structuring of answers, and insufficiently articulated reasoning. It also noted limited responsiveness to interviewer prompts and an overreliance on legal terminology at the expense of clear, commercially grounded analysis.

I thought I wasn't anxious and I really tried to show my thought process, however it seems that I tried to show legal knowledge and that wasn't what they wanted at all.

Really demoralised by this and am wondering if I just come off poorly as a person.
 

Novaa

Legendary Member
Dec 2, 2022
342
1,292
TOO LATE CC! Already added you to the 2025/2026 logbook of shamelessness!

Animated GIF
 

elle woods

Legendary Member
Dec 4, 2025
722
1,633
Links rejection post-AC.

They said my competency interview went well, but basically my commercial awareness interview, which I thought went well, was really poor.

The feedback indicated an anxious presentation, unclear structuring of answers, and insufficiently articulated reasoning. It also noted limited responsiveness to interviewer prompts and an overreliance on legal terminology at the expense of clear, commercially grounded analysis.

I thought I wasn't anxious and I really tried to show my thought process, however it seems that I tried to show legal knowledge and that wasn't what they wanted at all.

Really demoralised by this and am wondering if I just come off poorly as a person.
Heart Love GIF


First of all, it is NOT a reflection of you AT ALL. I know it can feel extremely demoralising and like it's an attack on you as a person, but trust me, they've only had like 4hrs to see you, that is NOT you at all. And remember, different firms look for different things - perhaps your legal reasoning and use of jargon would've impressed partners at a US firm for example.

I am really proud of you for getting this far - take some time off for yourself and push on forward soldier! Rejections do not define you - like I said earlier today, applying to firms is like dating - if you're not a match for each other, then it would be a disservice for both you and them to continue the relationship - I trust you will find the one (law firm) for yourself!!

And a lot of the times, these outcomes are a result of a mixture of luck, timing, and mood etc. You could get lucky and get a partner that resonates well with you, or the opposite could happen too. Don't hinge your self-worth on these things - it's not accurate at all. You are clearly really bright to have made it to the AC, and it sounds like you did really well overall! Good job, and use this opportunity as an experience to take forward with you in the future - whether as motivation, improvement, or overall personal growth.

This hits home for me too, I also got PFOed post AC today - let's both do our best going forward okay? 💗
 
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