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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Does anyone have any guidance/examples for how they approached an icebreaker/bio question for a vac scheme asking what informed your motivation for a career in law? Did you guys describe the characteristics ie fast paced/analytical or law more broadly? Asking cause i have to do this in a very limited number of words and want to make them count
- Feb 17, 2018
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I'd probably go for something personal if you can, such as an experience that led you to become a commercial lawyer.Does anyone have any guidance/examples for how they approached an icebreaker/bio question for a vac scheme asking what informed your motivation for a career in law? Did you guys describe the characteristics ie fast paced/analytical or law more broadly? Asking cause i have to do this in a very limited number of words and want to make them count
I find when writing without experience, it usually sounds a bit cheesy/generic ('I love the intersection of law and business').
Did any of you do the Macfarlanes Direct TC vid interview? Have any of you heard back? Also how did you guys answer the Ambush marketing q I found it pretty difficult !
- Feb 17, 2018
- 4,914
- 9,378
I did the AC recently - they said they hold 1 AC for the DTC intake. The vac scheme is where most of the future trainees come from.
just realised they changed the dates. Thank you for the update. Im guessing they hold that AC for internals mostly
ah no worries, lmk if and when you do pls
I don’t want to do it as I only emailed last week
Can I make a suggestion that one person take one for the team and apply for this https://shlondon-businessservicesca...gxNzYkbzIwMyRnMSR0MTc3NDQ1ODE4MiRqNTQkbDAkaDA.
Then hire the rest of us for the vac scheme
Then hire the rest of us for the vac scheme
Hey!
This is a really good question, and I would definitely echo what has already been said so far!
I'd say that the strongest answers usually anchor themselves in a challenge that directly affects the firm, but are informed by wider market developments - therefore, I'd approach it by linking the two together.
For example, you might pick something such as geopolitical instability, shift trade relationships or regulatory change, but the key is then explaining:
- How that impacts Stephenson Harwood's clients (e.g. shipping, international trade, energy clients, etc.), and
- What that means for the firm itself (e.g. changes in demand for certain practice areas, pressure on fees, need to adapt expertise or strategy)
Equally, you could take a more firm-specific challenge (like AI, pricing pressure, or competition from US firms), but again, try to avoid treating it in isolation and make sure that it is relatively unique to Stephenson Harwood.
As Jaysen mentioned, it is really key for your answer to feel clearly relevant to Stephenson Harwood. For reference, I had a look at what the question was last cycle, and it asked you to discuss challenges that "all law firms will face over the next five years". Therefore, I'd say they have deliberately altered the question to ensure your answer is firm-specific and tailored.
The way I would frame it is: "This trend is happening in the market -> it affects the firm's clients in X way -> which creates Y challenge (+ possibly opportunities) for Stephenson Harwood specifically because of Z"
Best of luck with your application!
Hi Abbie, I had access to the TCLA premium application database, may I ask why I can’t see it on my dashboard? Thank youHey!
This is a really good question, and I would definitely echo what has already been said so far!
I'd say that the strongest answers usually anchor themselves in a challenge that directly affects the firm, but are informed by wider market developments - therefore, I'd approach it by linking the two together.
For example, you might pick something such as geopolitical instability, shift trade relationships or regulatory change, but the key is then explaining:
This way, you are showing wider commercial awareness and law firm awareness, which covers both areas that they are likely testing.
- How that impacts Stephenson Harwood's clients (e.g. shipping, international trade, energy clients, etc.), and
- What that means for the firm itself (e.g. changes in demand for certain practice areas, pressure on fees, need to adapt expertise or strategy)
Equally, you could take a more firm-specific challenge (like AI, pricing pressure, or competition from US firms), but again, try to avoid treating it in isolation and make sure that it is relatively unique to Stephenson Harwood.
As Jaysen mentioned, it is really key for your answer to feel clearly relevant to Stephenson Harwood. For reference, I had a look at what the question was last cycle, and it asked you to discuss challenges that "all law firms will face over the next five years". Therefore, I'd say they have deliberately altered the question to ensure your answer is firm-specific and tailored.
The way I would frame it is: "This trend is happening in the market -> it affects the firm's clients in X way -> which creates Y challenge (+ possibly opportunities) for Stephenson Harwood specifically because of Z"
Best of luck with your application!
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