TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[Monica Badescu]

What might the Dechert written exercise include? Any tips for structuring and writing a good response? @Antoni Trochimowicz

Hey!

I don't have any direct insight into the exact format/content of Dechert's written exercise, so I wouldn't want to speculate too much on what the specific task will involve. However, from my personal experience with written exercises, there are a couple of things that worth keeping in mind.

The first thing I would do is read through the task carefully before starting and make sure you fully understand what it is actually asking you to do. I found it really helpful to identify the audience (whether a senior lawyer or a client with limited legal knowledge, etc), the purpose of the task, and the key issues before writing anything. Even under time pressure, spending a couple of minutes doing this can stop you from going off track.

I would also try to keep your answer as focused and to the point as possible. In a lot of written exercises, you are given more information than you realistically need, so I think part of the assessment is showing that you can identify what is relevant and communicate it clearly, rather than trying to include every single detail.

A few things I always keep in mind are:

• Plan briefly before writing so your answer has a clear structure and logical flow.
• Prioritise the key points rather than treating every piece of information as equally important.
• Explain your reasoning if you are making a recommendation or reaching a conclusion.
• Tailor your tone and level of detail to the audience you are writing for.
• Leave a few minutes to proofread for grammar, spelling, names/figures and whether you have answered every part of the task.

I also found practising under timed conditions really useful. I would take a short commercial article or case study and practise turning it into a concise summary or recommendation within a set amount of time. That helped me get much more comfortable with processing information quickly and writing clearly under pressure.

Best of luck with the exercise!

 

[Monica Badescu]

Does anybody have any tips on how to pass the Arctic Shores gamified assessments?

Hey!

From my own experience with Arctic Shores assessments, I found it helpful to treat them like any other assessment and think about the skills firms are likely to be looking for in a trainee solicitor. Some firms even list their key trainee competencies or values on their website, so I would definitely have a look at those beforehand and keep them in mind throughout.

Different games also seemed to be testing quite different things. For example, I felt that some focused more on logical thinking and pattern recognition, while others seemed to test things such as collaboration, patience, adaptability or your willingness to embrace change and be flexible.

That said, I would not overthink every individual click or try too hard to work out exactly what each game is measuring while you are completing it. I found it much easier to understand the instructions carefully, think about the broader skills expected of a trainee and then approach each task as naturally and consistently as possible.

I would also recommend doing any practice material available beforehand, just so the format feels a little less unfamiliar on the day

 

[wrpark]

Any insights into the Gibson Dunn online test? Is it just SJT + Critical thinking? Is it timed?

 

[alanshore]

Sorry, not very relevant since I haven't yet heard back from them, but do you know people this cycle who already got invited to stage 2/ have you?
Last year they rejected me for the first-year scheme like months after successful candidates got stage 2, so I'm trying to figure out if I've already been unsuccessful

I asked on a different forum and one persono apparently has recieved an invite to stage 2. I have not however.