TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Apple

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Jul 23, 2023
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The upcoming cycle is going to be my 2nd application since graduating. I've only been doing retail work and volunteering in this time. Is this something I am likely to be questioned on during interviews? IDK why but it feels like I've done nothing with my time, but I'm committed to law so I haven't felt the need to pursue graduate positions other than vac schemes. I've also had medical issues that made doing things and being active quite difficult, although I'd rather not disclose it to the firms I apply to.

This is something I'm always worried about for whatever reason, does anybody have personal experience or know somebody who has been in this position and succeeded?
 

gazdgazd11

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Feb 27, 2024
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The upcoming cycle is going to be my 2nd application since graduating. I've only been doing retail work and volunteering in this time. Is this something I am likely to be questioned on during interviews? IDK why but it feels like I've done nothing with my time, but I'm committed to law so I haven't felt the need to pursue graduate positions other than vac schemes. I've also had medical issues that made doing things and being active quite difficult, although I'd rather not disclose it to the firms I apply to.

This is something I'm always worried about for whatever reason, does anybody have personal experience or know somebody who has been in this position and succeeded?
I Don’t Think so. I graduated in 2022 and been applying without doing anything in UK law. It’s fine, they understand how hard it is to get a job in law imo. BTW I’ve secured 2 vac schemes and 4 ACs with this background
 

AnAnonymousDuck

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Sep 21, 2024
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Hi @Jessica Booker @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

I have an AC next week where i have to give a presentation based on an answer I provided in my application for a ‘please describe a current news story which is of interest to you and why.’ I decided at the time to use an answer that I had used previously related to competition as I was best able to link it back to myself and my prior experience.

The firm’s London office does not offer a seat in competition nor have a practice area in it. A lot of advice I have seen online for this AC says that candidates should expand on their commercial story and that it is really important to explicitly link it back to the firm and not just rely on knowing the topic well.

I am struggling to find ways to link it back to the firm since they don’t work in competition law and don’t really know how to approach this? Does anyone have any advice?
 

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
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Anyone know if the following deadline from Winston and Strawn means midnight tonight (eg Sunday evening) or midnight tomorrow (eg Monday evening)? So confused by this language!

The deadline to complete this task is midnight on Monday 7th April 2025.
dodgy drafting!

Conventionally style guides suggest it means the end of Monday.

However, it's poor to use in this context, which would be better expressed as 23:59:59 (cf. 00:00, which is unambiguously then Sunday night into Monday morning)
 
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Jessica Booker

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Aug 1, 2019
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How do I answer, " What has attracted you to the role of campus ambassador at Hogan Lovells? " Should I make it relate personally to me, the firm, or both, @Andrei Radu?
I would ensure both are covered. It’s important to make the focus on the brand ambassador role though - the answer should not talk about the firm or opportunity as if it is a TC or VS opportunity.
 

Chris Brown

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Jul 4, 2024
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Hi @Andrei Radu,

I hope you are keeping well.

Breezy has an interview coming up with Paul Hastings for their Phirst Steps SVS. I am asking the following question on his behalf. He is away on a Spring VS at the moment. I think he asked you similar questions on this forum before re Paul, Weiss and Willkie, to which you gave really good answers. I have copied it below:

‘How would you describe Paul Hastings’ position in the City of London? Who are the firm’s closest competitors in relation to (1) the firm’s core practice areas and (2) other US BigLaw firms in London? What makes Paul Hastings unique compared to its competitors?

Could you explain the difference between debt and equity capital markets? Is this the same as PE? Could you also explain what capital markets: securitisation and capital markets: high yield products are? Please help.’​
 
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JasmineM9

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Nov 23, 2019
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Morning everyone, I have a bit of a silly question. How do you actually build your commercial awareness? I have signed up to newsletters such as Little Law and Non-billable which I am trying to be more consistent with my reading. I just realised that I have been passively reading without retain the information 🤣 Any tips to improve your commercial awareness and how to think more commercially are welcome 🙏
 
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