TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys, I have my SM interview tomorrow and wanted to ask if anyone has any advice. I feel particularly nervous about the article discussion, so I would appreciate any insights or general advice on how it would be best to approach this. Thanks in advance

I hope this is not too late but my main advice would be to try try to walk the fine line of advocating for your position to the best of your abilities while also avoiding to seem unresponsive to the points the partners make to challenge you. You should be aware that the arguments the partners will make are not always ones which they actually believe would refute your view. One of the main purposes of the article discussion is to test whether you are able to hold your ground when challenged by someone in a position of authority - a skill that every good lawyer needs to develop. As such, if you think a point they made is flawed, or valid but insufficient to persuade you to change your view, you should not back down.

At the same time, you want to avoid looking like you're irrational and that you cannot learn during the conversation. Some of the points the partners make will be quite relevant for the debate, and the debate topics are specifically chosen to be ones involving a nuanced cost-benefit analysis and allowing for reasonable disagreement. As such, you should aim to acknowledge and address their points. A move I would often make would be to say something of the sort 'I definitely understand where you are coming from, and I agree this is certainly a drawback of my view/an upshot of yours. However, I do not think the drawback is quite as impactful as you said/I do not think the point should be weighed so heavily because...'. Another option is to accept the relevance of their points and then address them by integrating them into your view: ie 'I agree this might be a problem, but I think under my approach we might hedge against the risk in this way'.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Are there any summer vs scheme applications open anymore?

There are a few smaller and regional firms still open - https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/WorkPlacementDeadlines

 

[Andrei Radu]

It probably sounds obvious but how do I actually answer ‘why me’ or any other question which essentially asks this in an AC interview? Should I make 3 points with a STAR analysis for 3 qualities they look for? I don’t want to waffle but also want to say enough😂

Yes, I think this is essentially the right approach. I would just take a lot of care to maintain proper structure by continuously signposting and using connectors. For me, the answer therefore ended up looking something like this:

1. There are three key reasons you should hire me: as I will explain and as my prior experience and achievements demonstrate, I am X, Y, and Z (name the three qualities).
2. Firstly, during ... (introduce example and go through a concise version of it using the STAR structure). This demonstrates X quality, which makes me a great fit for the job because ... (explain its relevance to the role of a trainee/commercial law in general. To the extent possible, make an argument that this quality is perhaps more important for success than the other commonly named relevant ones).
3. Repeat for Z and Y.
4. To conclude, my experiences demonstrate I am X, Y, and Z, which make me a great fit for the position.

 

[baj5]

does anyone have any advice on how to approach the Kinglsey Napley TC questions? So odd!

 

[1768972]

Skadden removes diversity content from UK grad rec site as firm comes under fire over $100 million Trump deal - Legal Cheek

Exclusive: Reference to D&I networks taken down

www-legalcheek-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[mulan0]

Yes, I think this is essentially the right approach. I would just take a lot of care to maintain proper structure by continuously signposting and using connectors. For me, the answer therefore ended up looking something like this:

1. There are three key reasons you should hire me: as I will explain and as my prior experience and achievements demonstrate, I am X, Y, and Z (name the three qualities).
2. Firstly, during ... (introduce example and go through a concise version of it using the STAR structure). This demonstrates X quality, which makes me a great fit for the job because ... (explain its relevance to the role of a trainee/commercial law in general. To the extent possible, make an argument that this quality is perhaps more important for success than the other commonly named relevant ones).
3. Repeat for Z and Y.
4. To conclude, my experiences demonstrate I am X, Y, and Z, which make me a great fit for the position.

Thank you so much @Andrei Radu can I ask how long I should be aiming to speak for as whilst practising, my first point took me 2 minutes which is too long

 

[Andrei Radu]

Any tips on how to approach a cover letter for Accutrainee? A bit stuck as it is very different from a traditional law firm

I think the 'Why law' and 'Why you' sections should not end up being too different from responses you would write in traditional law firm cover letters. The 'Why Accutrainee' part will however end up looking more unique, as Accutrainee operates a unique TC model which involves seconding its trainees for periods lasting from 3 to 12 months to various law firms and companies with in house positions. Three main benefits of that include (i) an opportunity to experience work and training in a variety of organizations, which can make for a more interesting TC experience and might mean you will be in a more informed position to decide what you want to do post-qualification; (ii) a higher likelihood of getting exposure to substantive legal work, as companies and law firms will only use Accutrainee when they have a shortage of trainees for their projects; and (iii) an opportunity to make connections in many businesses and expand your professional network.

In terms of drawbacks, this TC might be more unpredictable than the traditional one and will necessitate an ability to integrate quickly into new organizations. This is because you might move many times between very different types of firms and companies, who operate in different practice areas/sectors/market segments, who have different client bases, sizes of teams, cultures, and training approaches. Thus, I believe it will be essential to highlight your adaptability; and explain why for you this type of experience is actually an exciting opportunity more than anything else.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much @Andrei Radu can I ask how long I should be aiming to speak for as whilst practising, my first point took me 2 minutes which is too long

The acceptable time you take when responding to a quite broad question of this sort will vary depending on the context. In my case, in one interview I took around 6-7 minutes or so to go through my entire response for a 'Why the firm' question and the partners absolutely loved it. That said, this was a rather exceptional situation. I had come prepared with a shorter version of my answer but I noticed I was getting very positive cues whenever I was deviating from my plan and going more in depth (including direct interventions from partners to support/add to my points) and as such I decided to continue doing that (while however making sure to check I was not taking up too much time and reading for any negative cues - such as partners checking their watches, seeing them get impatient etc). I think for a 'Why firm' question it is also the case that there is simply more detailed and impressive analysis you can always make, which is not the case for every explanation of a competency and experience (as here, more detail does not always tend to add something).

But to come back to your question, for a general 'Why you' question I think a response time of around 3 minutes should generally be fine. As such, I would advise you to prepare a version of your answer fitting that time frame. If you think this will necessarily mean foregoing to mention some relevant details, you can do what I did and prepare a longer-form version as well. Then, you can assess the context and simply make a judgement call on the day as to the level of detail you want to go into for every part of the answer.

 

[thelawstudent]

@Jessica Booker can i apply to 2027 tc's, and request to pushback to sept 2028? i would be doing gdl and sqe post grad (i grad in 2026)

 

[mulan0]

The acceptable time you take when responding to a quite broad question of this sort will vary depending on the context. In my case, in one interview I took around 6-7 minutes or so to go through my entire response for a 'Why the firm' question and the partners absolutely loved it. That said, this was a rather exceptional situation. I had come prepared with a shorter version of my answer but I noticed I was getting very positive cues whenever I was deviating from my plan and going more in depth (including direct interventions from partners to support/add to my points) and as such I decided to continue doing that (while however making sure to check I was not taking up too much time and reading for any negative cues - such as partners checking their watches, seeing them get impatient etc). I think for a 'Why firm' question it is also the case that there is simply more detailed and impressive analysis you can always make, which is not the case for every explanation of a competency and experience (as here, more detail does not always tend to add something).

But to come back to your question, for a general 'Why you' question I think a response time of around 3 minutes should generally be fine. As such, I would advise you to prepare a version of your answer fitting that time frame. If you think this will necessarily mean foregoing to mention some relevant details, you can do what I did and prepare a longer-form version as well. Then, you can assess the context and simply make a judgement call on the day as to the level of detail you want to go into for every part of the answer.

That’s so helpful thankyou😁!!

 

[Andrei Radu]

does anyone have any advice on how to approach the Kinglsey Napley TC questions? So odd!

Hi @baj5 I would love to give some input - could you post the questions here?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker can i apply to 2027 tc's, and request to pushback to sept 2028? i would be doing gdl and sqe post grad (i grad in 2026)

Generally no - it would be better to wait for the 2028 cycle to open than apply now. A firm would see what stage of your academics you are in and then most likely reject you anyway as you could not start by that start date - in the exact same way they would if a 2nd year law student doing a four year LLB would be.

 

[baj5]

Hi @baj5 I would love to give some input - could you post the questions here?

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

 

[trainee4u]

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

Bit odd. I've seen "use AI to answer the question" and then "criticise the AI answer" questions before. This can be quite easy to work with as the AI can make lots of silly mistakes.

These questions don't appear to be "use AI", but simply "find the best location given our client base and practice areas". 5 seconds on their website shows they specifically market American, Anglo-French, and Dubai and UAE as areas of speciality, so these are obvious starting points.

then the second question is:

"what problems are with the location in Q1".

There's an additional issue in that KN doesn't have any overseas offices, so part of your answer to Q2 could reference the challenge of opening overseas offices for firms that are currently single location City firms, and follow that up with perhaps research on challenges faced by international law firms in those jurisdictions, which could be competition, local regulations, etc.

 

[baj5]

Bit odd. I've seen "use AI to answer the question" and then "criticise the AI answer" questions before. This can be quite easy to work with as the AI can make lots of silly mistakes.

These questions don't appear to be "use AI", but simply "find the best location given our client base and practice areas". 5 seconds on their website shows they specifically market American, Anglo-French, and Dubai and UAE as areas of speciality, so these are obvious starting points.

then the second question is:

"what problems are with the location in Q1".

There's an additional issue in that KN doesn't have any overseas offices, so part of your answer to Q2 could reference the challenge of opening overseas offices for firms that are currently single location City firms, and follow that up with perhaps research on challenges faced by international law firms in those jurisdictions, which could be competition, local regulations, etc.

that's a great starting point/ approach. Thank you for the input!

 

[floral.tcla]

Is anyone else who’s going to linklater’s event tomorrow also returning to Cambridge University in the evening? If so, pls message me so we can walk together (I don’t want to walk by myself in the dark at 10:30pm😭🙏)

 

[g.cl.2020344]

any news from Orrick post AC?

 

[Justin]

Hello, I have recently been offered a VS at a regional firm but I still have outstanding applications which I will hear back after the deadline to reply to the firm. Does anyone have any advice or has had similar issues in accepting an offer but withdrawing depending if other firms send subsequent offers and the schemes run within the same timeframe?

Thanks!

 

[Paul Jules Steullet]

Love this! It’ll be a great chance to see how things work from both a contentious and transactional perspective. Let us know if you have any questions, and good luck on the vacation scheme!

Thanks! I’m so excited!

 

[andrecsaa]

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

You can check it out where other firms are opening and closing offices.

If it helps, AG took over Linklaters' premises in Warsaw, expanding to the Polish market (https://www.addleshawgoddard.com/en...onal-reach-addition-linklaters-warsaw-office/). Meanwhile, Mayer Brown shut down the office in Mexico (https://www.globallegalpost.com/new...rio-of-partners-launching-new-firm-2102121408).

BCLP, Reed Smith, Kirkland, L&W, White & Case, Baker McKenzie and Quinn are establishing new businesses in Saudi Arabia (https://www.ziplaw.uk/why-are-law-firms-betting-big-on-saudi-arabia/). I would also look for big law operating in Dubai and Africa.