BCLP TC app question

[Alice G]

I agree with everything said above. With these questions at interview I’d say it’s good to take a moment to think through very carefully and come to a logical structure and a sort of step by step run down of what you would do, whilst always communicating your thought process. I had an SJT interview last year and my feedback (which was entirely fair) was that I hadn’t structured my answers well enough sometimes which meant they were not always really clear and well directed. Try to think through these scenarios like this:

step 1. In the first instance I would do X because XYZ

Step 2. Following this, or instead of this if X was the case then I would do XYZ

clarity and structure are arguably as important as the substance of what you say

I hope this helps

 

[vickystar]

I agree with everything said above. With these questions at interview I’d say it’s good to take a moment to think through very carefully and come to a logical structure and a sort of step by step run down of what you would do, whilst always communicating your thought process. I had an SJT interview last year and my feedback (which was entirely fair) was that I hadn’t structured my answers well enough sometimes which meant they were not always really clear and well directed. Try to think through these scenarios like this:

step 1. In the first instance I would do X because XYZ

Step 2. Following this, or instead of this if X was the case then I would do XYZ

clarity and structure are arguably as important as the substance of what you say

I hope this helps

Thank you Alice, that is a super helpful structure! I appreciate it

 

[vickystar]

It’s not necessarily associate work - it is just your supervisor is away. This is the type of task a trainee can often be given.

You can’t contact your supervisor as they are away, so you have to think of other methods of ensuring you are on the right track.

Oh I understand, I only suggested that as I was under the impression that the trainee supervisor and the associate in the finance department were different people. So I'm thinking would resources like Pratical Law/ Lexis Lib/Library staff etc be the best course of action to help with this research task or consult other colleagues (if any) that may be working on the case for guidance?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Oh I understand, I only suggested that as I was under the impression that the trainee supervisor and the associate in the finance department were different people. So I'm thinking would resources like Pratical Law/ Lexis Lib/Library staff etc be the best course of action to help with this research task or consult other colleagues (if any) that may be working on the case for guidance?

It’s important to make sure you are reading the question and it’s specific detail correctly.

the question you posted stated:

Imagine you are a trainee at BCLP and you have been working on a task for an associate in the Finance department. The associate is away and a partner in the department urgently wants a summary note of the research to send to a client, and has asked you to send it to them by tomorrow morning. How would you react?

So there isn’t a third “supervisor”.

You don’t really have to focus on what the materials are - definition of the research note is vague so the resources you have listed might be useful/might not.

Think about the initial conversation you need to have with the partner, think about who else may have the expertise or experience to support you, think about how you will turn the piece of work around successfully by tomorrow.

 

[vickystar]

It’s important to make sure you are reading the question and it’s specific detail correctly.

the question you posted stated:

Imagine you are a trainee at BCLP and you have been working on a task for an associate in the Finance department. The associate is away and a partner in the department urgently wants a summary note of the research to send to a client, and has asked you to send it to them by tomorrow morning. How would you react?

So there isn’t a third “supervisor”.

You don’t really have to focus on what the materials are - definition of the research note is vague so the resources you have listed might be useful/might not.

Think about the initial conversation you need to have with the partner, think about who else may have the expertise or experience to support you, think about how you will turn the piece of work around successfully by tomorrow.

Ok, thank you for the advice

 

[IntrepidL]

It’s important to make sure you are reading the question and it’s specific detail correctly.

the question you posted stated:

Imagine you are a trainee at BCLP and you have been working on a task for an associate in the Finance department. The associate is away and a partner in the department urgently wants a summary note of the research to send to a client, and has asked you to send it to them by tomorrow morning. How would you react?

So there isn’t a third “supervisor”.

You don’t really have to focus on what the materials are - definition of the research note is vague so the resources you have listed might be useful/might not.

Think about the initial conversation you need to have with the partner, think about who else may have the expertise or experience to support you, think about how you will turn the piece of work around successfully by tomorrow.

Hi @Jessica Booker, the word limit for the two situational questions are 300 words. Kind of think that the word limit is a little long.

Should we be as comprehensive as possible in talking about the steps we would take to fully utilise the word limit? Or, would it be sufficient to talk about 3/4 steps? Kind of trying to avoid sounding really rambly :/

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, the word limit for the two situational questions are 300 words. Kind of think that the word limit is a little long.

Should we be as comprehensive as possible in talking about the steps we would take to fully utilise the word limit? Or, would it be sufficient to talk about 3/4 steps? Kind of trying to avoid sounding really rambly :/

I would try to use the word count as best as you can (230 words plus really). I would think three steps is looking at it a little too simplistically.

 

[IntrepidL]

I would try to use the word count as best as you can (230 words plus really). I would think three steps is looking at it a little too simplistically.

@Jessica Booker Thank you

 

[Alice G]

I agree with Jess here. I also think that word count still might be quite tight if you are showing the thought processes behind your responses which is what I would advise doing with these.

 

[SuperLawyer18]

"What do you find attractive about BCLP's sectors/departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why?"

I am interested in how everyone will tackle the first half of the above question.

Would you tailor your research/answer to the sectors/departments that your chosen office (i.e. London, Hong Kong etc) specialise in OR would you give a holistic answer that covers all of BCLP's sectors/departments?

 

[Jessica Booker]

"What do you find attractive about BCLP's sectors/departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why?"

I am interested in how everyone will tackle the first half of the above question.

Would you tailor your research/answer to the sectors/departments that your chosen office (i.e. London, Hong Kong etc) specialise in OR would you give a holistic answer that covers all of BCLP's sectors/departments?

You choose whatever you are motivated by - I suspect this isn’t all sectors/departments though.

 

[FutureCity]

Thank you so much for your reply!
Do you know if BCLP recruit predominantly from VS?

It’s a split. I’d say about 60% from VS. But they also have alternative routes that people get TC offers like their placement year program with QMUL.

 

[FutureCity]

"What do you find attractive about BCLP's sectors/departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why?"

I am interested in how everyone will tackle the first half of the above question.

Would you tailor your research/answer to the sectors/departments that your chosen office (i.e. London, Hong Kong etc) specialise in OR would you give a holistic answer that covers all of BCLP's sectors/departments?

Just a small note, the use of the word ‘sector’ in the question is on purpose since the firm (recently?) introduced a sector approach focusing on six sectors.

 

[SuperLawyer18]

Just a small note, the use of the word ‘sector’ in the question is on purpose since the firm (recently?) introduced a sector approach focusing on six sectors.

Thanks for pointing this out. Now, looking at their other sectors may be a bit of a challenge as BCLP made a great name for themselves in the Real Estate sector. I will have to do thorough research about their works/successes in the other 5 sectors.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for pointing this out. Now, looking at their other sectors may be a bit of a challenge as BCLP made a great name for themselves in the Real Estate sector. I will have to do thorough research about their works/successes in the other 5 sectors.

this is more about you than them. I wouldn’t expect it to need through research really unless you are only motivated by prestige.

 

[FutureCity]

Thanks for pointing this out. Now, looking at their other sectors may be a bit of a challenge as BCLP made a great name for themselves in the Real Estate sector. I will have to do thorough research about their works/successes in the other 5 sectors.

You don’t need to focus on all six sectors + BCLP has strengthened its capabilities in other sectors post-merger

 

[Sophie111]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to distinguish the first part and second part of the question. '
What do you find attractive about Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s sectors/ departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why? (500)'

The areas that I want to have exposure in my TC and why is the same, for example, as why I find the real estate practise attractive.

Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to distinguish the first part and second part of the question. '
What do you find attractive about Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s sectors/ departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why? (500)'

The areas that I want to have exposure in my TC and why is the same, for example, as why I find the real estate practise attractive.

Thank you

I don’t know how the training contract works but I would think there might be some differences in:

Do you sit in sector groups or are you going to sit in a practice area?

Are there any compulsory seats or restrictions on what seats you can do (eg you might only be able to spend 3-6 months in particular teams)?

Are there any secondment opportunities?

 

[Alice G]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to distinguish the first part and second part of the question. '
What do you find attractive about Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s sectors/ departments and which area(s) are you interested in having exposure to in your Training Contract and why? (500)'

The areas that I want to have exposure in my TC and why is the same, for example, as why I find the real estate practise attractive.

Thank you

I think you will need to look at how BCLP organise their firm in terms of departments and teams to truly get to the heart of this as usually 'areas' to me means in terms of 'practice areas'. Maybe they are referring to which practices and sectors in the use of the word 'areas' but you will need to look at their website to gauge whether this might really be the case or whether the change in language is intentional for good reason.

 

[Eliza9999]

Is it ok to use a deal that BCLP have worked on in their Paris office to explain why their work is interesting or should I stick to deals their London office are only doing, especially as I am applying to their London office?