Hi everyone! I have recently received a good number of direct messages on LinkedIn asking me for advice on securing Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts this cycle, so I thought I'd post my top three tips for securing a TC on the TCLA forum, hoping that it can benefit others here as well 
I have also consolidated TCLA forum posts from previous cycles that I found most useful, so that my post can be a one-stop-shop for applicants, as I often found myself spending a good amount of time searching for advice posted previously.
Some background about me:
I was an international student who studied law in the UK and secured a training contract (after completing my vacation scheme) at an international law firm in my second cycle of applications. I was unsuccessful at three assessment centres in my first cycle, and I hope that what I learnt through my failures, which then helped me succeed in my second cycle, can be of use to those currently applying to law firms this cycle.
#1: Apply for law firm Open Days and events.
You have probably heard from many people by now that you should research every law firm you apply to thoroughly. I often found that simply reading about a law firm online was insufficient in helping me understand a law firm's culture or the traits they were looking for in their future trainee solicitors, and found that attending law firm events, where I got to meet firm representatives and actually speak to lawyers about their work, was the best way to learn about a firm. Moreover, applying for law firm events increased my visibility to a firm and served as a low-stakes way to 'test' whether my application for a certain firm was on the right track before submitting my Vacation Scheme application, which could only be submitted once per application cycle. I also found that speaking to lawyers about their journey in commercial law made me reflect on how I could more effectively leverage my personal experiences to demonstrate why I am interested in becoming a commercial lawyer.
If you would like some tips on how to craft a good Open Day application, I highly recommend reading this post: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2025-26.9717/post-215781
#2: Master answers to the questions 'Why commercial law', 'Why [law firm name]' and 'Why you'.
If you have been on the TCLA forums for a while, you might have seen Jaysen emphasise the importance of crafting air-tight responses to these three questions. In almost every application I drafted and assessment centre I attended, I was asked these three questions. Having well thought-out answers to each of these three questions at your fingertips will also demonstrate genuine interest when in conversation at law firm networking events.
My advice for answering each of these questions is as follows:
a) Why Commercial Law:
When I was trying to answer this question, I reflected on my attitude (what I liked) and aptitude (what my natural strengths were) for various tasks. For example, in school, I was always much better at subjects that required qualitative rather than quantitative reasoning (i.e. humanities subjects); this demonstrated to me that I was naturally better at drafting documents than at tabulating balance sheets. As for attitude, reading was a big hobby of mine, and so was starting and running my own small businesses/non-profits. I looked for careers that could combine my aptitude for drafting/writing and my natural enjoyment of reading. Law and business journalism were two options that naturally aligned with both my aptitude and attitude. I used a push-pull factor analysis to decide between these two career paths. For example, a huge push factor of journalism was that it was a career often subject to public scrutiny. In the end, I realised law had more pull factors (greater privacy, more stability, more direct impact on businesses) than journalism did.
b) Why [law firm]
First, identify certain factors that law firms possess that you feel are important to you, AND write down reasons why these factors specifically are important to you. For example, trainee cohort size was a factor I found important BECAUSE I wanted more direct mentorship from senior lawyers and higher levels of responsibility, AS I found that was the way I learnt things most efficiently and effectively. Conversely, I have friends who wanted a larger trainee cohort because they wanted greater diversity among their cohort (which a larger intake would naturally be more likely to have). Other factors include law firm practice areas, secondment opportunities, and features of their trainee programme. The more extensively you research law firms, the more aspects of each firm you'll learn about. I would caution against mentioning a partner's name simply for the sake of name-dropping (especially if you have not actually spoken to this partner), as partners do come and go between firms, and you may not actually end up having a chance to work with them even if you end up being a trainee at the firm. However, if you did spend some time speaking to a firm representative at an event and felt that what you learnt through the conversation was particularly pertinent to your motivations for applying to the firm, then there is no/little harm in including the name of the person you spoke to, if you have sufficient word count to do so.
c) Why You?
To effectively answer this question, I reflected on my strengths, how I have previously demonstrated these strengths, and the attributes a good trainee should have. For example, I believe myself to be a team player. I demonstrated this on the rugby pitch, when my ability to take instructions from teammates under time pressure and fill in gaps (out of my designated position) in crucial moments allowed us to win an important game. Trainees are typically the most junior lawyers in a larger team and must learn to take instructions from senior lawyers, be versatile enough to fill in gaps for the team, and transition between different types of tasks. To answer this question-type specifically, I also highly recommend reading this post: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2025-26.9717/post-215779
Tip #3: Overcome the online assessment barrier.
I have increasingly noticed over the last few cycles that law firms are using assessments to filter out applicants before reading their applications, simply because the number and quality of applicants has increased exponentially over the years. Put bluntly, if you struggle to meet the benchmark for the online assessment, there is little significance in having a well-crafted written application. In my experience (and this is likely to keep changing as law firms try to mitigate the use of AI in assessments), most law firms use Amberjack or Cappfinity as their assessment providers, and typically have a situational judgement, verbal reasoning, and sometimes numerical reasoning section, followed by a video interview.
To help you improve your online assessment scores, I have compiled: a) advice I found useful for acing the SJT, and b) a website with resources for acing Amberjack-style questions (which has previously helped me do well in my Amberjack assessments).
a) Situational Judgement Test advice:
For scenario-based SJT questions, where you either have to pick a single best answer or select what you would 'most likely' and 'least likely' do, I recommend reading this post as a starting point: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/the-best-sjt-advice-on-the-forum.4350/ , https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/situational-judgement-tests.9481/post-198381
*The post talks about ensuring the answer you select is well-aligned with the values of the firm you are applying to. One way I made sure of this was by creating a table with the firm's values and ticking off the values I felt each option demonstrated - see photo attached for an example of such a table.
@ZNadeem's tips were also advice I found extremely helpful for my SJTs last year. Here is the advice copy pasted:
[General tips for SJTs:
For sliding-scale SJT questions (e.g. often seen in Cappfinity-style SJTs), I found advice from the previous TCLA forum Community Assistant Abbie Whitlock on the TCLA WhatsApp group particularly useful, so I thought I'd paste it here for those who no longer have access to these messages:
[With slider bar SJTs, the trick is to avoid treating them like a simple agree/disagree scale. Here's how I'd think about it: if you strongly agree with one end, but the other end also reflects a positive trait (e.g. "working independently" vs. "working collaboratively"), don't push it fully to the extreme. Instead, lean towards the side you agree with while still leaving room to acknowledge the value of the other skill. Firms know that real situations often call for a balance. If the other end represents something clearly undesirable or unprofessional (e.g. "ignore the client's instructions" vs. "listen carefully to the client"), then yes, you should absolutely slide it all the way to the side you agree with. Context really matters - firms design these tests around the competencies they value. For example, some might prioritise collaboration and teamwork over independent initiative, while others might place more weight on leadership or commercial awareness. It's worth checking the firm's values page beforehand and keeping that in mind when answering. So, in short: avoid extremes unless one side is obviously wrong, and otherwise show judgment by favouring one side while still recognising the value in the other.]
b) For Amberjack-style practice questions: https://aptitude-test-prep.com/test-providers/amberjack-assessment/
Whether this is your first or fifth cycle applying, I know the process can be extremely demoralising and challenging at times. Therefore, if you need further advice on video interviews, assessment centres, or even how to start researching law firms, please feel free to reach out. Best of luck to everyone applying this cycle, you're capable of more than you think!
I have also consolidated TCLA forum posts from previous cycles that I found most useful, so that my post can be a one-stop-shop for applicants, as I often found myself spending a good amount of time searching for advice posted previously.Some background about me:
I was an international student who studied law in the UK and secured a training contract (after completing my vacation scheme) at an international law firm in my second cycle of applications. I was unsuccessful at three assessment centres in my first cycle, and I hope that what I learnt through my failures, which then helped me succeed in my second cycle, can be of use to those currently applying to law firms this cycle.
#1: Apply for law firm Open Days and events.
You have probably heard from many people by now that you should research every law firm you apply to thoroughly. I often found that simply reading about a law firm online was insufficient in helping me understand a law firm's culture or the traits they were looking for in their future trainee solicitors, and found that attending law firm events, where I got to meet firm representatives and actually speak to lawyers about their work, was the best way to learn about a firm. Moreover, applying for law firm events increased my visibility to a firm and served as a low-stakes way to 'test' whether my application for a certain firm was on the right track before submitting my Vacation Scheme application, which could only be submitted once per application cycle. I also found that speaking to lawyers about their journey in commercial law made me reflect on how I could more effectively leverage my personal experiences to demonstrate why I am interested in becoming a commercial lawyer.
If you would like some tips on how to craft a good Open Day application, I highly recommend reading this post: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2025-26.9717/post-215781
#2: Master answers to the questions 'Why commercial law', 'Why [law firm name]' and 'Why you'.
If you have been on the TCLA forums for a while, you might have seen Jaysen emphasise the importance of crafting air-tight responses to these three questions. In almost every application I drafted and assessment centre I attended, I was asked these three questions. Having well thought-out answers to each of these three questions at your fingertips will also demonstrate genuine interest when in conversation at law firm networking events.
My advice for answering each of these questions is as follows:
a) Why Commercial Law:
When I was trying to answer this question, I reflected on my attitude (what I liked) and aptitude (what my natural strengths were) for various tasks. For example, in school, I was always much better at subjects that required qualitative rather than quantitative reasoning (i.e. humanities subjects); this demonstrated to me that I was naturally better at drafting documents than at tabulating balance sheets. As for attitude, reading was a big hobby of mine, and so was starting and running my own small businesses/non-profits. I looked for careers that could combine my aptitude for drafting/writing and my natural enjoyment of reading. Law and business journalism were two options that naturally aligned with both my aptitude and attitude. I used a push-pull factor analysis to decide between these two career paths. For example, a huge push factor of journalism was that it was a career often subject to public scrutiny. In the end, I realised law had more pull factors (greater privacy, more stability, more direct impact on businesses) than journalism did.
b) Why [law firm]
First, identify certain factors that law firms possess that you feel are important to you, AND write down reasons why these factors specifically are important to you. For example, trainee cohort size was a factor I found important BECAUSE I wanted more direct mentorship from senior lawyers and higher levels of responsibility, AS I found that was the way I learnt things most efficiently and effectively. Conversely, I have friends who wanted a larger trainee cohort because they wanted greater diversity among their cohort (which a larger intake would naturally be more likely to have). Other factors include law firm practice areas, secondment opportunities, and features of their trainee programme. The more extensively you research law firms, the more aspects of each firm you'll learn about. I would caution against mentioning a partner's name simply for the sake of name-dropping (especially if you have not actually spoken to this partner), as partners do come and go between firms, and you may not actually end up having a chance to work with them even if you end up being a trainee at the firm. However, if you did spend some time speaking to a firm representative at an event and felt that what you learnt through the conversation was particularly pertinent to your motivations for applying to the firm, then there is no/little harm in including the name of the person you spoke to, if you have sufficient word count to do so.
c) Why You?
To effectively answer this question, I reflected on my strengths, how I have previously demonstrated these strengths, and the attributes a good trainee should have. For example, I believe myself to be a team player. I demonstrated this on the rugby pitch, when my ability to take instructions from teammates under time pressure and fill in gaps (out of my designated position) in crucial moments allowed us to win an important game. Trainees are typically the most junior lawyers in a larger team and must learn to take instructions from senior lawyers, be versatile enough to fill in gaps for the team, and transition between different types of tasks. To answer this question-type specifically, I also highly recommend reading this post: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2025-26.9717/post-215779
Tip #3: Overcome the online assessment barrier.
I have increasingly noticed over the last few cycles that law firms are using assessments to filter out applicants before reading their applications, simply because the number and quality of applicants has increased exponentially over the years. Put bluntly, if you struggle to meet the benchmark for the online assessment, there is little significance in having a well-crafted written application. In my experience (and this is likely to keep changing as law firms try to mitigate the use of AI in assessments), most law firms use Amberjack or Cappfinity as their assessment providers, and typically have a situational judgement, verbal reasoning, and sometimes numerical reasoning section, followed by a video interview.
To help you improve your online assessment scores, I have compiled: a) advice I found useful for acing the SJT, and b) a website with resources for acing Amberjack-style questions (which has previously helped me do well in my Amberjack assessments).
a) Situational Judgement Test advice:
For scenario-based SJT questions, where you either have to pick a single best answer or select what you would 'most likely' and 'least likely' do, I recommend reading this post as a starting point: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/the-best-sjt-advice-on-the-forum.4350/ , https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/situational-judgement-tests.9481/post-198381
*The post talks about ensuring the answer you select is well-aligned with the values of the firm you are applying to. One way I made sure of this was by creating a table with the firm's values and ticking off the values I felt each option demonstrated - see photo attached for an example of such a table.
@ZNadeem's tips were also advice I found extremely helpful for my SJTs last year. Here is the advice copy pasted:
[General tips for SJTs:
- Recognise Your Role as a Trainee: As a trainee, you are not yet qualified to provide legal advice independently. Your work will require input and oversight from qualified professionals to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Value Collaboration: Law firms operate as collaborative environments. While it's essential to demonstrate initiative and a willingness to take on tasks, many projects will require teamwork and the support of others to succeed.
- Adopt a Risk-Averse Mindset: Law firms are naturally cautious about risks. Your decisions and actions should align with this approach to protect the firm and its clients.
- Prioritise Quality Over Speed: Delivering thorough, high-quality work is more important than rushing to complete tasks. Precision and attention to detail are critical.
- Optimise Your Time: As your time is billed to clients, it's important to work efficiently. If seeking guidance can help you complete a task faster and more effectively, don't hesitate to do so - it benefits both you and the firm.
- Follow the Priority Hierarchy: Decisions should prioritise the client first, your colleagues second, and yourself last. While this may feel counterintuitive, it ensures that the firm maintains its commitment to service and teamwork.
- Balance Initiative with Responsibility: Taking on additional tasks can demonstrate your drive and determination, but ensure this doesn't compromise the quality or timeliness of your existing commitments. Delegate, defer, or reorganise tasks as needed to maintain balance.]
For sliding-scale SJT questions (e.g. often seen in Cappfinity-style SJTs), I found advice from the previous TCLA forum Community Assistant Abbie Whitlock on the TCLA WhatsApp group particularly useful, so I thought I'd paste it here for those who no longer have access to these messages:
[With slider bar SJTs, the trick is to avoid treating them like a simple agree/disagree scale. Here's how I'd think about it: if you strongly agree with one end, but the other end also reflects a positive trait (e.g. "working independently" vs. "working collaboratively"), don't push it fully to the extreme. Instead, lean towards the side you agree with while still leaving room to acknowledge the value of the other skill. Firms know that real situations often call for a balance. If the other end represents something clearly undesirable or unprofessional (e.g. "ignore the client's instructions" vs. "listen carefully to the client"), then yes, you should absolutely slide it all the way to the side you agree with. Context really matters - firms design these tests around the competencies they value. For example, some might prioritise collaboration and teamwork over independent initiative, while others might place more weight on leadership or commercial awareness. It's worth checking the firm's values page beforehand and keeping that in mind when answering. So, in short: avoid extremes unless one side is obviously wrong, and otherwise show judgment by favouring one side while still recognising the value in the other.]
b) For Amberjack-style practice questions: https://aptitude-test-prep.com/test-providers/amberjack-assessment/
Whether this is your first or fifth cycle applying, I know the process can be extremely demoralising and challenging at times. Therefore, if you need further advice on video interviews, assessment centres, or even how to start researching law firms, please feel free to reach out. Best of luck to everyone applying this cycle, you're capable of more than you think!
