Ask 3 future trainees (Magic & Silver Circle, International Elite) ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

[small_turtle]

Hi all! On vacation schemes, please may I know what are some good questions to ask associates? Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all! On vacation schemes, please may I know what are some good questions to ask associates? Thank you

There is a very similar question in one of the other threads...

I'd avoid thinking like this. Associates are all different and so are you as a candidate. One person's good question to one associate, may not apply to the next associate, let alone may not apply to you. Context also means a lot - the questions you may ask over an informal coffee might be very different to a formal talk/presentation on a specific subject.

Just ask genuine questions you are keen to learn more about. If you are really stuck, just ask for the associate's opinion on something that is important to you (e.g. you want to learn more about it).

 

[Kubed]

Hi @Jacob Miller - I wasn't sure where to to post this so hopefully my question is appropriate for this thread. Having read a few of your posts (including the recent one about competition law/GIPHY), I'm really impressed by the way you're able to combine commercial trends with legal knowledge. While I think I'm pretty comfortable talking about purely commercial issues in-depth, I struggle to identify specific pieces of law or cases that relate to these trends (despite having completed the GDL) - what did you do to develop this knowledge and are there any resources you can recommend? It's something I want to work on ahead of my vac schemes this summer. Thanks in advance

For reference, this is the post I referred to above: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....n-raises-competition-concerns.3725/post-75495

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi @Jacob Miller - I wasn't sure where to to post this so hopefully my question is appropriate for this thread. Having read a few of your posts (including the recent one about competition law/GIPHY), I'm really impressed by the way you're able to combine commercial trends with legal knowledge. While I think I'm pretty comfortable talking about purely commercial issues in-depth, I struggle to identify specific pieces of law or cases that relate to these trends (despite having completed the GDL) - what did you do to develop this knowledge and are there any resources you can recommend? It's something I want to work on ahead of my vac schemes this summer. Thanks in advance

For reference, this is the post I referred to above: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....n-raises-competition-concerns.3725/post-75495

Hey,

What I would honestly say is that it isn't necessary to be able to cite treaties, statutes, cases etc vac schemes or apps/ interview. This isn't expected of you and, in all honesty, I don't actually think it would particularly strengthen you as an applicant in any meaningful way (although @Jessica Booker may differ in view?).

Remember, when I'm creating content for the forum, I'm always trying to provide as much wider contextual information as possible and this will often involve giving a little of the legal context for something. The reason for this is that we want users to be able to build a wider understanding of commercial-legal issues and also understand where the bridge is between 'law' and 'commercial' in that same context. I'm also a massive nerd and generally try to research things quite deeply when posting.

With that in mind, I really don't think you should stress yourself about this.

Nevertheless... if you really are set on improving your ability to recall knowledge like this just for personal satisfaction, I think it really is just more or less a matter of memory: having something in your mind to link X to Y. Cue cards can be decent for this.
Being totally honest here, I've never really made a concerted effort to memorise things like this (I pretty much had a photographic memory when I was younger and, while it's not as sharp as it was, it's still naturally decent), so I'm not able to give a huge amount of info in re memorising stuff. Apologies!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey,

What I would honestly say is that it isn't necessary to be able to cite treaties, statutes, cases etc vac schemes or apps/ interview. This isn't expected of you and, in all honesty, I don't actually think it would particularly strengthen you as an applicant in any meaningful way (although @Jessica Booker may differ in view?).

Remember, when I'm creating content for the forum, I'm always trying to provide as much wider contextual information as possible and this will often involve giving a little of the legal context for something. The reason for this is that we want users to be able to build a wider understanding of commercial-legal issues and also understand where the bridge is between 'law' and 'commercial' in that same context. I'm also a massive nerd and generally try to research things quite deeply when posting.

With that in mind, I really don't think you should stress yourself about this.

Nevertheless... if you really are set on improving your ability to recall knowledge like this just for personal satisfaction, I think it really is just more or less a matter of memory: having something in your mind to link X to Y. Cue cards can be decent for this.
Being totally honest here, I've never really made a concerted effort to memorise things like this (I pretty much had a photographic memory when I was younger and, while it's not as sharp as it was, it's still naturally decent), so I'm not able to give a huge amount of info in re memorising stuff. Apologies!

Completely agree - there isn’t usually any need to cite specific factual information about law such as cases etc. It’s more about understanding trends, cause and impacts, and how things effect outcomes. This is why to me “commercial awareness” is far more important than reciting laws.

 

[Kubed]

Hey,

What I would honestly say is that it isn't necessary to be able to cite treaties, statutes, cases etc vac schemes or apps/ interview. This isn't expected of you and, in all honesty, I don't actually think it would particularly strengthen you as an applicant in any meaningful way (although @Jessica Booker may differ in view?).

Remember, when I'm creating content for the forum, I'm always trying to provide as much wider contextual information as possible and this will often involve giving a little of the legal context for something. The reason for this is that we want users to be able to build a wider understanding of commercial-legal issues and also understand where the bridge is between 'law' and 'commercial' in that same context. I'm also a massive nerd and generally try to research things quite deeply when posting.

With that in mind, I really don't think you should stress yourself about this.

Nevertheless... if you really are set on improving your ability to recall knowledge like this just for personal satisfaction, I think it really is just more or less a matter of memory: having something in your mind to link X to Y. Cue cards can be decent for this.
Being totally honest here, I've never really made a concerted effort to memorise things like this (I pretty much had a photographic memory when I was younger and, while it's not as sharp as it was, it's still naturally decent), so I'm not able to give a huge amount of info in re memorising stuff. Apologies!

Completely agree - there isn’t usually any need to cite specific factual information about law such as cases etc. It’s more about understanding trends, cause and impacts, and how things effect outcomes. This is why to me “commercial awareness” is far more important than reciting laws.

Thanks both for your answers, really useful to know. To be honest my question was partly based around improving this just for personal satisfaction, so great to get your insights regardless.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi guys. Hope you are doing well. Wanted to ask you, is the Brexit course on TCLA worth doing, as in, can we expect it in interviews in 2022? (cos I'm going to make my first apps in Dec 21) . If yes then how should we go about it? Should we prepare scripted answers to how Brexit happened etc? Can we be asked to recite the timeline of events?

Thanks.

 

[Dheepa]

Hi guys. Hope you are doing well. Wanted to ask you, is the Brexit course on TCLA worth doing, as in, can we expect it in interviews in 2022? (cos I'm going to make my first apps in Dec 21) . If yes then how should we go about it? Should we prepare scripted answers to how Brexit happened etc? Can we be asked to recite the timeline of events?

Thanks.

So I didn’t get asked a single question on Brexit in any of my interviews across two cycles. I think firms are very unlikely to ask about it simply because there are bigger trends affecting the market right now. That being said, I think doing the TCLA course on Brexit will help just in case it did come up in interviews. You will not be asked to recite the timeline of Brexit and no you shouldn’t prepare scripted answers on how it happened. I especially doubt you will be asked the how it happened question because it was over 5 years ago now. Just have a working knowledge of the latest developments surrounding it, particularly what the U.K. is having difficulties coming to an agreement on with the EU and how it will affect the U.K. economy going forth. Again I highly doubt you’ll be quizzed on it in depth (unless it’s something you actively bring up) so just a basic knowledge will be fine.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

So I didn’t get asked a single question on Brexit in any of my interviews across two cycles. I think firms are very unlikely to ask about it simply because there are bigger trends affecting the market right now. That being said, I think doing the TCLA course on Brexit will help just in case it did come up in interviews. You will not be asked to recite the timeline of Brexit and no you shouldn’t prepare scripted answers on how it happened. I especially doubt you will be asked the how it happened question because it was over 5 years ago now. Just have a working knowledge of the latest developments surrounding it, particularly what the U.K. is having difficulties coming to an agreement on with the EU and how it will affect the U.K. economy going forth. Again I highly doubt you’ll be quizzed on it in depth (unless it’s something you actively bring up) so just a basic knowledge will be fine.

Thank you so much for your answer Dheepa!

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi all. Hope you are doing well. Could you please answer one question of mine relating to the pitch that the firm has to make in order to be chosen for the transaction on behalf of the company to which the pitch is made. I wanted to know, is making this pitch the task of the Corporate dept.? (particularly, the M&A Department?) or can it be done by any department randomly?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all. Hope you are doing well. Could you please answer one question of mine relating to the pitch that the firm has to make in order to be chosen for the transaction on behalf of the company to which the pitch is made. I wanted to know, is making this pitch the task of the Corporate dept.? (particularly, the M&A Department?) or can it be done by any department randomly?

There are likely to be representatives from whatever practice areas the pitch relates to. It could be all litigation work, and therefore the reps are likely to be senior litigators and possible senior people from business development.

Pitches are generally put together to get on a business’s legal panel/roster. Depending on conflicts of interest, it isn’t always the case they need to pitch for individual projects (unless they are huge matters) because they sit on that panel and have already been allocated specific legal subjects.

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi all. Hope you are doing well. Could you please answer one question of mine relating to the pitch that the firm has to make in order to be chosen for the transaction on behalf of the company to which the pitch is made. I wanted to know, is making this pitch the task of the Corporate dept.? (particularly, the M&A Department?) or can it be done by any department randomly?

As Jess mentions, if the pitch is for a specific job, it will be led by the team who will lead the work (i.e. if it's a transaction, will be lead by relevant transactional lawyers/ if it's litigation, will be led by litigious lawyers etc).
If it's a firm pitching to become a panel firm for the client, the pitch will likely include partners from across the spectrum of the firm depending on the departments that either 1) the client has asked to hear from or 2) the firm thinks will be most relevant in the long term for the client.

 

[cryingoverTCs]

I’m not sure if this has been (I do apologise if it has been) but @Dheepa do you have any tips about the Bakers VI?

 

[Dheepa]

I’m not sure if this has been (I do apologise if it has been) but @Dheepa do you have any tips about the Bakers VI?

Hi!

So I think Bakers has a bank of questions that they use. I remember that when I did the VI for the spring vac they were very different questions from the one my friend got when she did hers about a week later. That being said, you can expect to get three competency questions (mine were mostly surrounding teamwork and time management), one commercial question and one "random" question - there was one question along the lines of "tell us something that would help us understand you better."

Hope that helps!

 

[justincase]

Hi all!

Thanks for all your advice on the forum and your gems of wisdom!

If you don't mind, I had a question about actual Training Contract paperwork. Especially as each of you were made offers in this virtual landscape, were you sent physical copies of the Training Contract to sign, or e-documents which you signed electronically? I've never actually thought about the physical (or electronic) contract itself, so I am interested to hear in what format you received yours.

I'm guessing it doesn't make much of a difference, and this is a very niche/pedantic question so thank you so much for your time!

 

[Daniel Boden]

Hi all!

Thanks for all your advice on the forum and your gems of wisdom!

If you don't mind, I had a question about actual Training Contract paperwork. Especially as each of you were made offers in this virtual landscape, were you sent physical copies of the Training Contract to sign, or e-documents which you signed electronically? I've never actually thought about the physical (or electronic) contract itself, so I am interested to hear in what format you received yours.

I'm guessing it doesn't make much of a difference, and this is a very niche/pedantic question so thank you so much for your time!

Mine was emailed over and then I had to sign it, scan it and email it back to them

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all!

Thanks for all your advice on the forum and your gems of wisdom!

If you don't mind, I had a question about actual Training Contract paperwork. Especially as each of you were made offers in this virtual landscape, were you sent physical copies of the Training Contract to sign, or e-documents which you signed electronically? I've never actually thought about the physical (or electronic) contract itself, so I am interested to hear in what format you received yours.

I'm guessing it doesn't make much of a difference, and this is a very niche/pedantic question so thank you so much for your time!

Many firms have moved to electronic documents now, although many were already on that way before Covid.

It really doesn’t make a difference really - you can download/print copies of the electronic copies and you could scan your printed/posted documents (either way, I recommend doing both).

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi all!

Thanks for all your advice on the forum and your gems of wisdom!

If you don't mind, I had a question about actual Training Contract paperwork. Especially as each of you were made offers in this virtual landscape, were you sent physical copies of the Training Contract to sign, or e-documents which you signed electronically? I've never actually thought about the physical (or electronic) contract itself, so I am interested to hear in what format you received yours.

I'm guessing it doesn't make much of a difference, and this is a very niche/pedantic question so thank you so much for your time!

Mine was email-print-sign-scan 🙂

Doesn't make any difference from a practical perspective - if anything, more awkward than an e-sign - but I can't lie it felt great to sign on the dotted line and I much preferred it to an e-sign.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Mine was email-print-sign-scan 🙂

Doesn't make any difference from a practical perspective - if anything, more awkward than an e-sign - but I can't lie it felt great to sign on the dotted line and I much preferred it to an e-sign.

Completely agree - there's something about physically signing and acknowledging that you've sorted the next few years of your career that's really gratifying isn't there

 

[Dheepa]

Hi all!

Thanks for all your advice on the forum and your gems of wisdom!

If you don't mind, I had a question about actual Training Contract paperwork. Especially as each of you were made offers in this virtual landscape, were you sent physical copies of the Training Contract to sign, or e-documents which you signed electronically? I've never actually thought about the physical (or electronic) contract itself, so I am interested to hear in what format you received yours.

I'm guessing it doesn't make much of a difference, and this is a very niche/pedantic question so thank you so much for your time!

Mine was just an email and a send back. Also had one offer that was via DocuSign