TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Mikeross750]

@Abbie Whitlock thank you for your continued help!!

Would you say it would be a good idea to email my supervisors prior to the vacation scheme, introducing myself and asking whether there are any steps they'd like me to take to prepare for the week?

For reference, I have two associates as supervisors and one trainee buddy. If emailing is a good idea, do you recommend contacting all three individuals?

Thank you in advance for your insight.

 

[florrrrnnn76]

Finally SH pfo

 

[Donna Paulsen]

SH PFO - email said:

‘Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unfortunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress your application on this occasion.’

 

[j_1888]

gg SH PFO

 

[Meg_Thee_Applicant]

SH PFO - email said:

‘Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unfortunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress your application on this occasion.’

Same, would love to know what the score benchmark is

 

[STEM Student]

Random question, but is it okay to wear a kufi to insight events at law firms? @Abbie Whitlock

 

[Isobel.liddle]

SH PFO- exact same response

 

[randomrhino]

SH PFO. Funnily enough had emailed like 15 minutes before asking if they had a timeline for decisions. Also asked if there’s any opportunity for feedback on the VI, but will let you know what they say.

 

[Shaky_Pete]

SH PFO - email said:

‘Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unfortunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress your application on this occasion.’

Same. Potentially means they didn't even watch the VI part? Spent ages on that!

 

[TCLAuser2002]

For SH Amberjack Assessment peeps that got a PFO, could you please share your scores? Thank you!

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Same. Potentially means they didn't even watch the VI part? Spent ages on that!

That’s what I thought! Also wondering why they couldn’t just reject me earlier if it was merely down to my scores lol

 

[Donna Paulsen]

For SH Amberjack Assessment peeps that got a PFO, could you please share your scores? Thank you!

7, 6, 6, 6 on pillars and mid numerical and verbal

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Same, would love to know what the score benchmark is

Genuinely haha, I’m guessing high numerical and verbal which I did not get LOL x

I don’t think I did that bad on the pillars so I think it was down to my numerical and verbal but who knows

 

[Shaky_Pete]

7,3,6,6 high verbal, mid numerical

 

[Hanzeeb]

@Abbie Whitlock and everyone. I have a first round interview for a paralegal position at an international law firm. Do you or anyone have any advice on how to best prepare/ what to expect. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any tips for the Ward Hadaway AC mine is coming up soon and I haven't done an AC in nearly two years! Starting to get nervous Also in general what is the best way to prepare for an AC (involves a group activity, written exercise and interview)

Hey!

Congratulations on the AC invite, that is fantastic news!! Totally understandable to be nervous, but I'm sure you'll do great

Whilst I don't have any specific Ward Hadaway AC insights, I have written a few previous posts on the tasks that you have outlined - I have quoted them below. If you have any follow-up questions, just shout - wishing you the best of luck!!

Hi @LegallyBrunette_ !

Huge congratulations on being invited to AC - what a fantastic achievement!

In the AC that I completed for my TC, I had to complete both a group exercise and a case study interview, so I can understand wanting to do all you can to prepare in advance. I can share what worked best for me!

Group Exercise

• In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
• Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
• Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
• If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.

Case Study Interview

• You'll usually be given a business / legal scenario with background documents. I would start by reading quickly to understand the big picture, and then go back to confirm the smaller details.
• Structure your response clearly - identify the client's goals, outline the key issues, and suggest practical next steps.
• They won't expect you to know black-letter law. Focus on logic, prioritisation, and showing that you can think commercially.
• Talk the interviewer through your thought process - even if you get stuck or seem confused, they can see how you reason.
• If given a contract to assess, make a note of the exceptions and calculations in the contract. You might be asked how your stance would change if X event occurred, and it's useful to be mindful of when it might fall under any exceptions.

I would also brush up on Jones Day's structure (e.g. their non-rotational training system and international work) just in case it comes up. They're assessing potential, not perfection - so as long as you stay calm and do your best, you'll be fine.

At the end of the day, they want to see the real you - someone who can think clearly, work well with others, and stay composed under pressure. If you go in with a collaborative mindset and a clear structure for approaching problems, you'll put yourself in a strong position.

Best of luck - you've already done the hard part by getting to this stage!

Hey!

Congratulations on receiving the AC invite!! I've collated some general advice from a few of my previous forum posts which will hopefully offer some guidance - just shout if you have any follow-up questions.

Motivational Interview

When preparing for the motivational interview, I'd encourage you to have a think about the following beforehand:

• Be clear on why a US firm (e.g. lean teams, responsibility early on, client exposure, etc.)
• Then narrow it down to why this US firm - practice strengths, the type of deals that they work on, the office culture, and any recent matters that interested you
• Expect follow-up questions that test the depth of your knowledge on the firm / work (e.g. why corporation litigation vs disputes, why the London office, etc.)
• Be prepared to back up your motivations with examples from your past experiences - for example, if you discuss wanting to have a lot of responsibility early on, you can strengthen your answer by discussing a past experience where you found that you enjoyed this aspect.

Overall, I'd try to create a narrative that links your interests to the firm and its work, as well as your long-term career goals.


Written Exercise

• Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
• Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
• Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
• Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
• Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
• Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!

The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.

I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.

I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!

I've also previously created a post on client emails as a written exercise format - I have linked that here as well!


Group Exercise

• In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
• Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
• Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
• If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.

I hope that helps - wishing you the best of luck with the AC, and I'm sure you'll do great!!

Hey!

Congratulations on the interview invite!

I would say that a partner interview tends to be a hybrid type that emphasises your overall judgment and fit to the firm.

A few pointers that might help (from my experience with partner interviews):

• Technical questions, if any, will typically be quite high-level (e.g. spotting issues, weighing up risks, or explaining how you would approach a problem), rather than detailed law. It might help to practice strengths-based questions or scenario questions (i.e. "What would you do if..."), as these are likely to come up.
• There is usually much more emphasis on your motivations and commercial awareness, rather than competency questions (though there may still be a few of the latter) - e.g. why this firm, why law, and why you.
• They are often interested in how you think and communicate, rather than whether you know the "correct" answer. As long as you can explain your thought process in a clear way, you should be able to tackle any question (even if it is slightly unexpected!).
• I'd generally expect a more conversational style - the partners could probe your answers (which is completely normal, and doesn't mean you are wrong!), ask questions about your legal career / education so far, and discuss their own work at the firm.

If you can clearly explain your reasoning and show curiosity about the firm's work / clients, this should be exactly what they are looking for. Ultimately, you want to show that you are genuinely motivated to work at this specific firm, and that you would be someone that is great to work with.

I hope that assists, and best of luck with the interview!!

Hello!

Congratulations on getting the invite! Whilst I haven't completed the Ashurst written exercise, they will usually test your ability to communicate clearly and structure your arguments logically - similar to what you'd do as a trainee when drafting emails or internal notes.

I've outlined some previous tips that I always used when preparing for written exercises below:

• Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
• Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
• Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
• Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
• Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
• Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!

The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.

I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.

I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!

I hope that assists - best of luck with the written exercise, I'm sure you'll smash it!

Of course, no problem at all!!

Since client emails are such a common format in written exercises, it's definitely worth getting comfortable with how to approach them! A few things that I kept in mind when preparing:

Understand the Purpose and Audience

Before you start writing, clarify who you are writing to (e.g. a client, supervisor, or a colleague) and what information they need from you. The tone, level of formality, and structure will vary depending on whether it's an internal email or an email to an external client.

For example, if you are emailing a client, you want to ensure that they are able to understand any legal principles that you are outlining in your email. As such, it's important to make sure you write it in layman's terms and don't just recite the information given in the materials. However, if you are emailing a supervisor, I would focus on highlighting the most important pieces of information as you are effectively trying to save them time in going through the materials themselves. I would always aim to write in a professional way, and frame it like you would an actual email - such as a subject line and a closing sentence.

Use a Clear and Logical Structure

The main thing that I changed when approaching written exercises was making sure that I had a clear and logical structure. A good client email should be easy to follow. A simple structure could look like:

1. Opening: A brief, polite greeting and context for why you're writing (and what you'll be discussing in the email). If you're emailing a supervisor, it might be useful to include a short summary of your findings at the top (i.e. an early conclusion), and then go into more detail below.
2. Main Body: Summarise the key points or advice clearly and concisely, using short paragraphs. It might be appropriate to use headings and subtitles, especially if there is a lot of information. The goal is to make sure that the client can follow along, and that it isn't just a massive wall of text that is difficult to read.
3. Closing: End with next steps, an offer of assistance, or a polite sign-off (e.g. "Please let me know if you'd like to discuss further"). These elements distinguish an email exercise from a general report or memo, and shows that you are following the brief exactly! If you are emailing a supervisor, I would try to show some proactivity in the closing parts - such as offering to write a first draft of a document or client email.

Keep your tone professional and approachable

I would aim for clear, confident language without being overly formal (but still professional). This can be tricky, but phrases such as "I'd recommend..." or "It may be helpful..." strike a nice balance. Avoid overly technical language or long-winded phrasing - simplicity often conveys professionalism! As stated above, I would definitely avoid legal jargon if you are writing to a client, unless you are certain that a client would understand it.

Also remember that tone can shift slightly depending on the client's relationship with the firm. If you are told this information, a longstanding client might suit a warmer tone, whilst a first-time contact may call for a more formal approach. However, if in doubt, I would always go for a more formal approach - especially in a professional context!

Be precise and client-focused

Remember the purpose for why you are actually writing to the client, and tailor your response to the client's actual issue. I would avoid copying large chunks of background information from the brief (as the client will already have this information!) - instead, demonstrate understanding of their issue by reframing the key points in your own words and applying them directly to the client's situation. Make sure to keep your advice practical - clients care more about what they should do next than about the legal theory behind it. You might find it useful to use signposting phrases such as "In summary..." or "Based on the information provided..." to make your reasoning easy to follow. If there are uncertainties, I would make sure to address them but be reassuring - e.g. "Further details would be needed to confirm this position, but at this stage...".

Check for clarity and tone at the end

Before your time runs out, take a moment to review your email. I always found it helpful to read it aloud (if possible) or follow along with my finger - this helps you catch sentences that are too long, unclear, or sound abrupt. Look for opportunities to simplify, and if a sentence takes more than one breath to read, it's probably too long! Make sure your sign-off fits the context (things such as "Kind regards" or "Best wishes" usually work best). The graduate recruitment team / assessors will be looking for professionalism in formatting and presentation - consistent spacing, clear paragraphing, and correct spelling and grammar will all make a strong impression.

As a practical tip to practice: You could start by taking short case studies and draft sample emails that summarise your advice in 200-300 words. This helps you get used to organising your thoughts quickly and writing in a professional, accessible way.

I hope that helps!

Hello!

A few resources below that I used / might be useful:

• Definitive Guide to Law Firm Case Studies (whilst this is a case study, instead of a written exercise, I found it super useful last cycle!)
• TCLA Written Exercises (a good way to practice if you are able to pay to access resources)
• Some law firms upload example written exercises online - I believe DWF has one available!

Hopefully they help as a starting point - best of luck!

 

[MZJxLadha]

BB VI done. Short but couple got me nervous I stumbled a bit rip

 

[Meg_Thee_Applicant]

For SH Amberjack Assessment peeps that got a PFO, could you please share your scores? Thank you!

4,3,6,6 then mid on both intellects

 

[helenaskelton]

Anyone have insights for w&c VI? I have insights for Mayer Brown VI, Baker M VI, Shoosmiths SJT and AC for Sidley Jones Day Gibson Dunn and Sinclair Gibson

 

[Florencejones]

Hey!

Congratulations on the AC invite, that is fantastic news!! Totally understandable to be nervous, but I'm sure you'll do great

Whilst I don't have any specific Ward Hadaway AC insights, I have written a few previous posts on the tasks that you have outlined - I have quoted them below. If you have any follow-up questions, just shout - wishing you the best of luck!!

Thank you so much Abbie for your help!