TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Kakaboo]

Manchester 😄 you?

Leeds!

 

[londonlawyer]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst?

One of my friends got a call on Monday confirming his VS offer

 

[Kakaboo]

Hi congrats what office

Leeds

 

[Legallylaw]

I normally integrate this to why this firm:

1. Business strategy - internationally and locally (focusing on practice areas is not the best since a lot of competitors are neck and neck).

What I mean is do they open their own office or do they collaborate with local firms? Why? How does that affect their presence in the region?

Where are they opening the offices? Why? What business opportunities are there in those locations? Does it show the firm as ‘forward thinking’ - link back to their values


2. Client retention- do they work with the same clients often (I.e. links is known for their biggest clients being repeat clients and they liked when I mentioned it in the AC)

3. Here talk about practice areas and the links to one another (but the niche ones): i.e. strong banking and finance department but also band 1 shariah = more Middle Eastern clients/ presence (working with the market trends/ opportunities).


For skills:

Honestly, here you can pick any skill but the key thing is to:

1. Identify the skill

2. Link it back to how and why a trainee/ solicitor might use it.

3. Then link it back to something you’ve done and how it showed you the importance of it in practice.

Thank you so much!!

 

[PFOenthusiast]

CMS Insight programme offer!

 

[zoobla20]

Does anyone else’s parents indirectly put pressure on them or make them feel worse about not having a TC (I’m early 20s)

This morning, I inquired about any reputable dentists in my area to one of my parents as I’ve been saving for dental treatment… their response- “well if you were working in a law firm you wouldn’t have to worry about all of this, you’d have private medical insurance etc etc, why is it taking you so long”

I really just feel like sometimes parents don't understand the gravity of how much work goes in to each application, then dealing with 4/5 stages and also improving commercial awareness, work experience and interpersonal/interview skills. In my opinion, this is one of the most challenging careers to join.

Maybe explaining the process to them could help? Early 20s is still so, so early - I'm in my mid/late twenties and the average age of qualification is about 29 now, showing how difficult it is to get a TC/become a solicitor.

 

[trainee4u]

Partner interview with Stevens & Bolton.

 

[zq522]

anyone heard from Trowers post AC?

Was thinking this exact thing! What office did you apply for? I recall them saying sometime end of feb/beginning of March. Do you know if they will call or email?

 

[xxx]

Was thinking this exact thing! What office did you apply for? I recall them saying sometime end of feb/beginning of March. Do you know if they will call or email?

If I remember correctly its an email (and feedback call to follow), and yes end of feb we are supposed to hear back. 😥

 

[a1024]

Any insight on Taylor Wessing AC?

 

[SonghaivAngel]

Still getting aired by Milbank after doing their AC 3 weeks ago...

 

[AS24]

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.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

has anyone officially gotten a PFO from w&c post-ac? for either spring or summer?

 

[summerk27]

Gateley AC!! So excited if anyone has any advice please let me know

CONGRALUTIONS. what office was this? Has anyone heard back from Reading office yet? Also CRS anyone?

 

[aphelion]

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

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

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.

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!

 

[Kakaboo]

CONGRALUTIONS. what office was this? Has anyone heard back from Reading office yet? Also CRS anyone?

It was Leeds it sounds like it was just Manchester and Leeds today so I wouldn’t worry

 

[Willgetthere]

@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!

 

[baj5]

Has anyone gotten a pfo from orrick or k&l gates?

 

[James Wakefield]

Anything from Ropes & Gray or Travers Smith today anyone?