TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Still getting aired by Milbank after doing their AC 3 weeks ago...
Hi @Ram Sabaratnam,
I hope you are well.
I am trying to answer this question: 'Please provide three examples (with relevant detail) of how Stephenson Harwood as a law firm differs from its competitors?'.
How do you think I should approach it? Can I mention one of their distinctive practices and international strategy? Should I mention benefits for the clients or trainees?
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
I hope you are well.
I am trying to answer this question: 'Please provide three examples (with relevant detail) of how Stephenson Harwood as a law firm differs from its competitors?'.
How do you think I should approach it? Can I mention one of their distinctive practices and international strategy? Should I mention benefits for the clients or trainees?
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
has anyone officially gotten a PFO from w&c post-ac? for either spring or summer?
CONGRALUTIONS. what office was this? Has anyone heard back from Reading office yet? Also CRS anyone?
why am I hearing that jones day in their ac have switched out their normal case study interview for asking a single question about law firms' role in promoting sustainability among their clients 💀 please someone tell me this is fake news
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @AS24
When tackling this, I’d focus on showing a clear understanding of Stephenson Harwood’s (SH) strategic positioning, sector strengths, and I think quite unique approach to professional development. I think a strong response will not only highlight what makes the firm unique from competitors but also explain why you think these differences matter, e.g. for clients or for your own development as a trainee.
1. Balanced Practice Areas and Market Positioning
Given the firm's expertise in shipping and litigation, SH is usually compared to firms such as HFW and WFW. It might be worth thinking about how SH really stands apart from such competitors, especially in light of how much more well-developed SH's corporate and finance practices are in London, particularly in the lower mid-market (£10m-£100m transactions) compared to HFW. You could also mention the unique combination of contentious and transactional work, particularly in sector specialist areas, coupled with strong individual representation in areas like fraud litigation and personal insolvencies. This is also one reason why the firm seems to have done impressively well from a revenue standpoint in the last few years (this article from The Lawyer explicitly draws this connection in relation to the firm's revenue and balanced practice areas).
2. Strategic Growth and International Expansion
As you mentioned, you can also discuss their targeted approach to growth and expansion. They've generally appeared to avoid growing by way of mergers. While it has a strong presence in APAC, the Middle East, and key shipping hubs like Piraeus, it has also been doubling down on its Dubai office in response to increasing Gulf investment. Another way the firm has committed to growing is through expanding its sectoral expertise. The firm’s recently announced five-year strategy is another major differentiator, focusing on decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. This sector-focused approach ensures the firm stays ahead of market trends while maintaining its core strengths when compared again to firms such as HFW and WFW.
3. Innovative approach to talent and professional development
For trainees and junior lawyers, I think one of the things that I've found most compelling about SH is their quite unique approach to professional development. In 2022, they launched their ‘fast track to equity’ programme, which accelerates junior partners into equity positions by developing their management and business development skills. This article from The Lawyer also highlights quite bold steps they've taken in relation to the place of associates at the firm. It mentions that SH has announced plans to get ride of the role of ‘senior associate’ in favour of new ‘managing associate’ title. The managing associate role will be aimed at individuals who have partnership potential and aims to develop the skills they will need at that level. Again, all of this is quite unusual/innovative and demonstrates real investment in talent that goes beyond what is traditionally found at most firms, including its competitors.
These are all just some prompts to get you started on drafting an answer. You definitely don't need to use any of these. Overall, though, I think by structuring your answer around discrete issues, you’ll demonstrate that you understand the firm's positioning from several different angles. Hope that helps. Good luck with your application!
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It was Leeds it sounds like it was just Manchester and Leeds today so I wouldn’t worry
@Ram Sabaratnam hi was wondering if you had any insight into this question- I was wondering if you could provide some insight into Gibson Dunn and what makes them different from other US firm other than their strong transactional vs contentious spilt and their broad internal presence. I am also interested in understand their clients from what I’ve understood the firm clientele is quite broad across various industries, but perhaps some insight on if certain practice groups have a specific market segment focus - this would be great. Thank you!
Ok so this is borderline a conspiracy theory but I looked at last year's thread and Travers sent all pfo's on a single day in March. Maybe they just had that pfo day earlier this time and those of us still here are getting interviews? At the same time though, back then, no one got interviews after the pfo day, at least not on the forum (so it was kinda like the Ashurst pfo day, where the pfos were sent to anyone remaining)
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Thank you! I’ve heard from neither so I am trying to hold on to a glimmer of hope which is probs pointless 😂
This is probably the likely scenario. It might be they have finished sending out interview invites for the time being and now will start sending out PFO’s to mostly everyone remaining. They could have a number of ‘reserve’ candidates that they can offer interviews to if those doing interviews at the moment get PFO’d after it or if successful people decline their SVS offer. 🥲
In my PFO email, they kind of alluded to how they were unable to offer me an interview slot but that they were really impressed by my application and that I should re-apply?? Idk how those two things can be true at the same time lmao. I assumed it meant all interviews had been sent out, especially because they only interview 5-10% of applicants. If they get 1,500 applications, 75-150 get interviews and the remaining 1,350 to 1,425 get PFO post application. 🥲
In my PFO email, they kind of alluded to how they were unable to offer me an interview slot but that they were really impressed by my application and that I should re-apply?? Idk how those two things can be true at the same time lmao. I assumed it meant all interviews had been sent out, especially because they only interview 5-10% of applicants. If they get 1,500 applications, 75-150 get interviews and the remaining 1,350 to 1,425 get PFO post application. 🥲
Possibly. I think there’s too many waiting to hear back to be reserve (same for R&G) but maybe that’s just me hoping. I’m hoping more interview offers (and maybe PFOs too) are due to come out.
TLT VAC SCHEME OFFER! 😍
Not bad for a international student on a graduate visa with average grades from a non-RG / average home country uni!
Happy to share advice where possible.
EDIT: Just to clarify, my undergrad was from my home country and my masters / conversion course was from ULaw.
Not bad for a international student on a graduate visa with average grades from a non-RG / average home country uni!
Happy to share advice where possible.
EDIT: Just to clarify, my undergrad was from my home country and my masters / conversion course was from ULaw.
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