TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi. Can anyone please clarify the following TC application question:

“Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor?”

Is this asking me to focus on one skill I developed from a single experience or could it be numerous skills I gained from one experience?

Hiya @FCL25

Given that the word limit for the Shoosmiths application questions is 300, I think it's worth discussing more than one skill. While the prompt says to focus on one experience, I don’t think that restricts you to just one skill. I think @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would have more to say here, but I think you should fine if you could distill 2-3 specific and concrete skills that you’ve developed through a single meaningful experience.

I'd also encourage you to avoid generic phrases like "analytical" or "research" skills. Break down what you actually did that showed those skills in action. For example, if you’re highlighting adaptability, show what the challenge was, how you responded to the challenge, and what you learned. Then briefly connect it back to life as a solicitor at Shoosmiths. When making the connection, draw out how those skills will help you navigate client work, take initiative, or thrive in the firm's environment. That final link helps show that you’re not just reflecting on the past experience, but applying it to the sort of environment alluded to in the question prompt. If you’re unsure which experience to choose, I’d suggest picking one where you were clearly out of your comfort zone but rose to the occasion by drawing on 2-3 specific skills that are transferrable.

Good luck with the application!

 

[a3736y]

Hi there. Does anyone have any advice on how to deliver a 5-minute presentation during an AC? The topic is "tell me an interesting news story" on my initial app. I am struggling in terms of structure as I need to add new developments and nuanced analysis on top of the written answer I've provided. Many thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi. Can anyone please clarify the following TC application question:

“Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor?”

Is this asking me to focus on one skill I developed from a single experience or could it be numerous skills I gained from one experience?

I would go with 2-3 skills or characteristics developed from one experience.

It will be important to explain how that skill(s) will support you as a lawyer too.

 

[fbtrainee]

Anyone have any advice insights on the bclp ac? I have one coming up soon, the ac will have a case study presentation, mark up exercise and a strength based interview. You get 90 minutes to prep for a 15 minute presentation based on the case study, within that time you're also expected to complete a mark up exercise. I'd really appreciate any tips on this!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

@Jessica Booker Hi jessica! Just wanted to ask a Q about the VS accelerator programme - how long is it?

Edit: Also whether the VS exercises have been uploaded. If not, then by what date can we expect to have this content available? Just asking so I can be strategic about purchasing the Gold subscription!

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Is Shoosmiths deadline tmr a midnight deadline?

 

[BillSikes]

Laughing just seen my Browne Jacobson scores.

I got 4,3,6 last year - and Middle for both verbal/numercial intellect and got invited to TI so don't worry.

 

[BillSikes]

Is Shoosmiths deadline tmr a midnight deadline?

yeahhhh

 

[brbgp]

4 minutes, twenty questions, 12 seconds each, I suggest making sure you have a good PC, internet connection, and a mouse (laptop trackpad/pointer slows you down).

Did anyone else find some of the questions insanely difficult? or am I just stupid lol

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Would love to hear examples of what people who were successful for the VS wrote about for the client issue question for the Bakers application

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Lol GD PFO when I applied 2nd sept and they ghosted me until now! I did their first year insight day two years ago lol...

 

[Paul Jules Steullet]

Skadden emailed our practice areas. I’m super happy! Got my 2 first choices and hope everyone is happy with theirs. I got Lit/Arbitration and M&A

 

[Miss Chocolate]

yeahhhh

thank u xx

 

[Mayooshi]

Is anyone still waiting to hear back from Bevan Brittan

I still haven't gotten a reply from them

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi there. Does anyone have any advice on how to deliver a 5-minute presentation during an AC? The topic is "tell me an interesting news story" on my initial app. I am struggling in terms of structure as I need to add new developments and nuanced analysis on top of the written answer I've provided. Many thanks!

Hi @a3736y I think with most presentation task you just want to ensure you (i) have a very clear structure; (ii) deliver it in a composed and articulate manner; and (iii) focus on the interesting points of analysis and discussion. For (i) the details of the exact structure you employ will differ significantly based on the topic and the amount of information you want to convey. For example, it could look something like this:

1. First 15-30 seconds: you state the the topic and lay out the structure of your presentation
2. Next 1-1.5 minute: explain in a concise format the essential facts about the news story
3. From minute 2 to minute 3: note down new developments
4. From minute 3 to 4.30: analyze any controversial points and different views about the issues, providing some outline of an argument for your view
5. Final 30 seconds: summarize the points you have discussed and open the floor for questions

However, I think you would probably benefit the most by trying to fit your presentation into different formats and see what works best in practice. For (ii), again i think practice will be essential. You should record and assess your performance yourself, or, even better, have a friend do it for you. Then, repeat the presentation again and again until you are happy with your delivery. Finally, for (iii) I think you should try to read widely in the press about the chosen topic so that you can discuss the main arguments backing up the different viewpoints.

 

[CupOfTea17]

Hello! I am just completing an assessment now and I have been asked about recent changes in the legal industry which may affect the firms business. As this is my first application round and I am still very new to all this - would talking about the recent Spring Statement be good? I know it is not strictly the legal industry but obviously it will have impacts
Any advice would be amazing!

 

[toad92]

I still haven't gotten a reply from them

they said we would hear back by the 4th after the VI

they sent lots of VIs on the actual day they said they would get back to us post app so im guessing everyone will hear on the 4th

 

[toad92]

was going to apply to kingsley napley work experience but its a month of unpaid work ?!?!? in london ?!?!? u expecting me to be working for free while paying my rent and no longer having student loan ?!!!??💀

and u cant do it if u have a TC so i shall be optimistic and hope i will secure a TC either there or elsewhere by the time of the work experience in september🫠

 

[Andrei Radu]

Does anyone have any advice for preparing for the Macfarlanes dinner phone interview. The email said it would be discussing motivations for the dinner and research on the firm but 15 mins for that just for a dinner seems quite excessive so I don't know if I should prep other things?
Thanks

I do not think the 15-miunte time slot necessarily indicates that the firm actually expects the interview to ask for that long. It may be that they only plan to ask 3-4 questions and are accounting for potential 2-3 minute answers, introductions, and potential delays when calculating how much time they should book to make sure one interview does not overlap with the one scheduled next.

As for the questions they could ask, I do not expect they could go much further beyond the following:

• The general motivational ones: probably the why commercial law, why firm, why you are all fair game
• Application strategy questions: what other firms have you applied to, why would you prefer Macfarlanes
• Firm research questions: could be simple ones such as explaining what their main practices areas do or how a current issue impacts them, but also more complex questions around the firm's strategy and market position.

Finally, in terms of preparation advice, I think it is similar to what I would say for most interviews, in that practicing as much as you can and then critically assessing your performance is the right way to go about it. The one point of difference I would mention is that with phone interviews, since your interviewer will not be able to see you and infer anything from body language and expression, you should focus a lot more on improving the clarity of your oral communication.

 

[Mayooshi]

they said we would hear back by the 4th after the VI

they sent lots of VIs on the actual day they said they would get back to us post app so im guessing everyone will hear on the 4th

it's just because I've seen people either get a VI or rejection, buy I haven't received any. Thanks tho, hope for the best on the 4th