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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hey! Has anyone done the Dentons virtual AC? I've only done one other AC and it was in person, so not sure how this will go. Do you lose the flow of conversation etc due to the virtual aspect rather than being in person? Also, were you able to use your notes for interviews etc during the process, as its online?
hey! I haven't done the dentons AC, but I did a virtual AC for bird & bird which I assume will be quite similar. I found it to be okay tbh - the conversation flowed well still, but the interview was slightly less 'conversational' than my in-person ACs (not too sure if this is more down to the interviewer's style of questioning though)! It's a little harder to build that immediate rapport but all in all, it wasn't too different to in person.
I guess you could use notes but I would advise against it - I think it's quite obvious when your eyes are flitting across the screen and you might lose your train of thought by reading and answering at the same time! however the option is always there and I did have my notes open in case I was completely stumped, which was quite reassuring
Thanks for this. Yeah I think the reassurance alone might be worth keeping notes open, but trying to avoid going back to them.hey! I haven't done the dentons AC, but I did a virtual AC for bird & bird which I assume will be quite similar. I found it to be okay tbh - the conversation flowed well still, but the interview was slightly less 'conversational' than my in-person ACs (not too sure if this is more down to the interviewer's style of questioning though)! It's a little harder to build that immediate rapport but all in all, it wasn't too different to in person.
I guess you could use notes but I would advise against it - I think it's quite obvious when your eyes are flitting across the screen and you might lose your train of thought by reading and answering at the same time! however the option is always there and I did have my notes open in case I was completely stumped, which was quite reassuring
Just did mine, couldn’t finish the last paragraph and a half because I completely forgot about the 15-minute timer haha
Just did mine, couldn’t finish the last paragraph and a half because I completely forgot about the 15-minute timer hahahaha. Also, did you hear back yet?
hey i was j preparing qs for an insight day - the firm is v Private Equity focused what could i ask that shows comm awareness that links to the practice area? ive seen a lot of increase in secondaries recently but idk how to phrase it. would be greatful for any advice @Abbie Whitlock
@Abbie Whitlock
I applied for summer, I think I finished my VI around two weeks ago!
Hello!
Congratulations on receiving an interview invite!!
Whilst I'm not too sure on the specifics of Slaughters' interview process, I can share some general tips on how I'd prepare. I would definitely recommend that you read this forum post by Andrei that goes into depth on competency interviews - it's really useful!
I have quoted some posts below on previous advice I have shared for preparing for an interview - I would say that my main last minute tips is to make sure that you have your core motivational answers prepared (i.e. why Slaughters, why commercial law, and why you). Almost every interview will include these questions, and it is important that you tailor it to the firm and back up any points with examples from your past experiences (for example, if you say you enjoy X practice area, back it up with evidence of how this interest developed).
Additionally, I would prepare an answer for common commercial awareness questions such as "Tell us about a recent news story that interested you" or "Who do you think our main competitors are, and why". You don't need to have an in-depth technical understanding of every aspect - simply being able to explain the trends in the market and how these will impact firm's and their clients should be enough!
I hope that assists, and wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!
Hello!
Scenario-based interviews can feel intimidating, but once you find a method that works for you, they actually become a great opportunity to show how you think and work! One thing that really helps is using a clear structure, such as the STAR method, as this helps keep your answer focused and makes sure that you hit all the important points without rambling.
I've also found it really useful in the past to build a "bank" of examples ahead of time. Have a look at some of the most common scenario-based questions involve, and think of key moments from your previous experiences where you have displayed these - things such as solving a problem, working through a conflict, supporting a team member, etc. If you take a few minutes to map these out in advance (and perhaps quickly note which skills each experience highlights), you can quickly adapt them to whatever scenario the interviewer throws at you.
When you are actually answering the question, try to walk the interviewer through your thought process. They won't necessarily just be looking for the final outcome - they will want to hear why you made the choices you did and how you approached the situation. At the end, it also helps to tie the experience back to the role that you are applying for and what it taught you overall.
A little preparation goes a long way, and once you have a structure and a handful of solid examples, you'll feel more confident going into the interview.
I hope that helps!
Hey!
It's totally normal to feel stressed - live interviews typically feel more daunting, but I'd say they are generally a nicer experience than VIs as you are able to genuinely build a rapport and speak with the interviewer (and they are sometimes more conversational as a result). The interviewers won't be trying to catch you out - they're simply trying to get a sense of how you think, how you communicate, and whether you'd be someone that they'd enjoy working with day-to-day.
In terms of preparation, it really helped me to get comfortable with the core story that I was telling. Make sure that you are clear on why you are interested in working in commercial law (or law more generally), why you wish to work at that firm, and what draws you to their training contract. Additionally, I would create a 'bank' of competency examples from your previous experiences so that you have them in the back of your mind - for example, times that you have worked in a team, handled pressure, or taken responsibility. This gives you something to fall back on, even if the question isn't phrased in the way that you expected. I also found that practising my answers for the more common questions out loud really helped to calm my nerves and helped me feel prepared, even if it was a little awkward at first!
On the day, remember that it is completely okay to pause and think before answering. Silence is not a bad thing, and you won't be expected to respond instantly - it's usually more effective to give yourself a few seconds to think before jumping into an answer. If a question isn't clear, it's also perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification to ensure that you answer the question in the way that they are looking for. It sounds silly, but I'd also try to engage with the interviewers as people - maintaining eye contact (and as someone who is neurodivergent, I know this can be tricky at times!), listening properly, and responding naturally can go a long way. I'd also encourage you to show genuine interest in the interviewers and their careers as well - you could ask them questions on their work and practice areas at the end of the interview, which will show them that you genuinely want to learn more about the firm.
It helps to try to shift how you frame the interview in your mind - try to treat it like a two-way conversation rather than a performance. They are assessing whether you'd be a good colleague just as much as whether you can answer questions well. Almost everyone is nervous during interviews, even if it doesn't look like it! A partner during one of my vacation schemes said that it is a good thing to be nervous before an interview, as it shows that you care - I'd try to use it to your advantage!
Overall, I'd just encourage you to be yourself and show your motivations for working at the firm. You have clearly impressed them already to be invited to the interview stage, so try to remain confident in your own abilities and I'm sure you'll smash it! Best of luck!!
Completely stumbled over my answers in CRS VI. I'm so annoyed because I love the firm but onwards I guess
Hey!hey i was j preparing qs for an insight day - the firm is v Private Equity focused what could i ask that shows comm awareness that links to the practice area? ive seen a lot of increase in secondaries recently but idk how to phrase it. would be greatful for any advice
I'd say that is a really strong angle, especially for a PE-focused firm. Rather than just naming secondaries as a trend, I would try framing it around why they are increasing and what that means for clients. For example, you could ask about what is driving the rise in GP-led secondaries and how that has changed the advice that PE sponsors are seeking.
You could potentially also touch on how higher interest rates or longer exit timelines are shaping PE strategies. I personally found that trying to phrase questions as open-ended and using "why/how" helped to frame the questions in the right way for insight days! Overall, I think the best way to show commercial awareness at events is to be genuinely curious - make sure to ask questions on practice areas that you are interested in, as well as those that the firm is known for!
Best of luck with the insight day - sounds like you're preparing well already!
thank you so much!Hey!
I'd say that is a really strong angle, especially for a PE-focused firm. Rather than just naming secondaries as a trend, I would try framing it around why they are increasing and what that means for clients. For example, you could ask about what is driving the rise in GP-led secondaries and how that has changed the advice that PE sponsors are seeking.
You could potentially also touch on how higher interest rates or longer exit timelines are shaping PE strategies. I personally found that trying to phrase questions as open-ended and using "why/how" helped to frame the questions in the right way for insight days! Overall, I think the best way to show commercial awareness at events is to be genuinely curious - make sure to ask questions on practice areas that you are interested in, as well as those that the firm is known for!
Best of luck with the insight day - sounds like you're preparing well already!
Hi all! Any tips for the Irwin Mitchell AC? The guidance states that it will be based around strengths and how you would respond to certain scenarios. So I am guessing to prep my motivations linked to specific areas of the firm and cases, as well as how I would respond to scenarios such as building rapport with the client, responding to a supervisor changing a deadline etc?
It’s not competency based, so they aren’t looking for STAR as such
It’s not competency based, so they aren’t looking for STAR as such
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