BCLP TC app question

[Cho]

I would like to ask something about this question as well:

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?

Would you regard the task you have been working on for an associate = the summary note of the research?
Or would it be an additional task on top of the task that you have been working on? I initially thought that I would have probably been working the research for the associate, but I would be interested to know what everyone else thinks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I would like to ask something about this question as well:

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?

Would you regard the task you have been working on for an associate = the summary note of the research?
Or would it be an additional task on top of the task that you have been working on? I initially thought that I would have probably been working the research for the associate, but I would be interested to know what everyone else thinks!

Assume the task from the associate is separate from the task of the partner - potentially not even the same client as it says “a client” rather than “the client”.

Even if it was the same client, the task you could have been given by the associate is just research rather than a summary note for the client. So this is an additional task for you no matter what.

I think people are in danger of over analysing this question though. It basically boils down to “you are being asked to do additional work in a very short deadline while the person you report into and probably knows a lot more than you on the topic is away. How do you feel about and react to that situation?”

The question isn’t actually worded very well and maybe that is purposely so. If you are making assumptions, I would make sure that is clear in your answer.

 

[Cho]

Assume the task from the associate is separate from the task of the partner - potentially not even the same client as it says “a client” rather than “the client”.

Even if it was the same client, the task you could have been given by the associate is just research rather than a summary note for the client. So this is an additional task for you no matter what.

I think people are in danger of over analysing this question though. It basically boils down to “you are being asked to do additional work in a very short deadline while the person you report into and probably knows a lot more than you on the topic is away. How do you feel about and react to that situation?”

The question isn’t actually worded very well and maybe that is purposely so. If you are making assumptions, I would make sure that is clear in your answer.

Thank you Jessica! I agree with what you said, I will make any assumptions I make clear

 

[FutureCity]

I would like to ask something about this question as well:

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?

Would you regard the task you have been working on for an associate = the summary note of the research?
Or would it be an additional task on top of the task that you have been working on? I initially thought that I would have probably been working the research for the associate, but I would be interested to know what everyone else thinks!

From my understanding, the quote says “wants a summary note of the research”, by using the definitive before research, it means you have supposedly already done the research and need to compile a summary of that for the partner.

 

[Jessica Booker]

From my understanding, the quote says “wants a summary note of the research”, by using the definitive before research, it means you have supposedly already done the research and need to compile a summary of that for the partner.

Although there is no clarity on whether you have completed the task from the associate, only that you have been working on it (if that is the case).

The more I think about this question, the more I wonder whether it is particularly ambiguous in several important parts to see how people interpret it and therefore whether the can consider the factors that will influence how you react.

 

[FutureCity]

Although there is no clarity on whether you have completed the task from the associate, only that you have been working on it (if that is the case).

The more I think about this question, the more I wonder whether it is particularly ambiguous in several important parts to see how people interpret it and therefore whether the can consider the factors that will influence how you react.

Your point about overanalyzing is true. I don't think the question is trying to trip you. If it's still ambiguous, you can email the graduate recruitment but that's an extreme measure.

The two qualities the question is trying to gauge, from my opinion, are: 1) time management, and 2) communication ability.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Your point about overanalyzing is true. I don't think the question is trying to trip you. If it's still ambiguous, you can email the graduate recruitment but that's an extreme measure.

The two qualities the question is trying to gauge, from my opinion, are: 1) time management, and 2) communication ability.

I wouldn’t recommend contacting graduate recruitment. If they wanted to provide clarity on this, they would do so in instructions or their website.

The other thing this is analysing is whether you understand the realities of the job and how work is done.

 

[Amy_22]

Hi

I wondered if anyone could please help me in distinguishing between BCLP's departments. In a YouTube video dated 2018, the firm's London managing partner stated that the four main departments were: Litigation and Corporate Risk, Real Estate, Corporate and Finance. However, the firm's website isn't clear on the separate departments, rather they are clear on the sectors and practice areas. I wanted to mention a department in response to the first TC question and wasn't sure whether referring to the firm's 'Litigation and Dispute Resolution' department was incorrect?

Thanks in advance

 

[Alice G]

Hi

I wondered if anyone could please help me in distinguishing between BCLP's departments. In a YouTube video dated 2018, the firm's London managing partner stated that the four main departments were: Litigation and Corporate Risk, Real Estate, Corporate and Finance. However, the firm's website isn't clear on the separate departments, rather they are clear on the sectors and practice areas. I wanted to mention a department in response to the first TC question and wasn't sure whether referring to the firm's 'Litigation and Dispute Resolution' department was incorrect?

Thanks in advance

Hi there!
I appreciate the confusion here. May I ask which practice area you were thinking of? I personally think this question you refer to is a little confusingly stated but I think you’d be fine to refer to the practice area itself if I’m honest

 

[Amy_22]

Hi Alice

The first part of the question asks for sectors/departments so I mentioned their Real Estate Department and I also wanted to mention Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Litigation and Dispute Resolution is a large heading on their website with various practice areas under that so do you think it would be ok to mention Litigation and Dispute Resolution as a whole department? In the second part of the question where they've asked for areas, I've specifically mentioned Real Estate Finance and International Arbitration.

Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Alice

The first part of the question asks for sectors/departments so I mentioned their Real Estate Department and I also wanted to mention Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Litigation and Dispute Resolution is a large heading on their website with various practice areas under that so do you think it would be ok to mention Litigation and Dispute Resolution as a whole department? In the second part of the question where they've asked for areas, I've specifically mentioned Real Estate Finance and International Arbitration.

Thank you

yes, that is fine

 

[Matt_96]

So for the sectors/departments question, does 'departments' refer to the way BCLP has grouped its various practices (i.e. Tax & Private Client work are under one group that doesn't really fall into a sector) or is it just another word for sectors?

 

[Eliza9999]

Anyone received the BCLP test and know what it entails? Theres no information about whether it is a WG/Verbal Reasoning or a Games-based test. I didn't realise they introduced a test for their applications.

 

[OB]

Anyone received the BCLP test and know what it entails? Theres no information about whether it is a WG/Verbal Reasoning or a Games-based test. I didn't realise they introduced a test for their applications.

There's various posts on TCLA about the test. Its a SJT with a WG-style section at the end.

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker Sorry for bringing this up again but it seems there's a lot of confusion about this BCLP question! For reference this is 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 words)

For the first part of the question, regarding what we find attractive about BCLP's sectors / areas, I mentioned a lot of them, including M&A, finance, real estate, employment, and 1 or 2 others, and gave some small linking reasons as to why I'm interested in them. But the crux of my answer was that I'm interested in ALL of these areas, so I love the fact that BCLP has such a full-service approach, which is only complemented by their international presence.

I approached my answer to the 2nd part in a relatively broader way. I didn't refer to the specific group names which they might use on their website / Chambers Student, I just said I'm interested in real estate for XYZ reason, and litigation for ABC reason, and I'd love to engage with those two on the TC.

Do you think my approach to parts 1 and 2 of this question are good?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Sorry for bringing this up again but it seems there's a lot of confusion about this BCLP question! For reference this is 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 words)

For the first part of the question, regarding what we find attractive about BCLP's sectors / areas, I mentioned a lot of them, including M&A, finance, real estate, employment, and 1 or 2 others, and gave some small linking reasons as to why I'm interested in them. But the crux of my answer was that I'm interested in ALL of these areas, so I love the fact that BCLP has such a full-service approach, which is only complemented by their international presence.

I approached my answer to the 2nd part in a relatively broader way. I didn't refer to the specific group names which they might use on their website / Chambers Student, I just said I'm interested in real estate for XYZ reason, and litigation for ABC reason, and I'd love to engage with those two on the TC.

Do you think my approach to parts 1 and 2 of this question are good?

I am slightly concerned the “small link” might be too superficial. Being able to prove your interest in 7 practice areas in 500 words alongside other parts of an answer sounds tough. Could be possible, but normally answers like this that tend to include as many different points tend to lack depth and specificity, and typically my advice is to focus on fewer points but explain them well.

You can still keep the reference in to full-service firm but remember as a trainee you won’t experience that full service - by default you will only get exposure to sections of it due to seat rotations and the 2 year time limit

 

[Velikilawyer123]

I am slightly concerned the “small link” might be too superficial. Being able to prove your interest in 7 practice areas in 500 words alongside other parts of an answer sounds tough. Could be possible, but normally answers like this that tend to include as many different points tend to lack depth and specificity, and typically my advice is to focus on fewer points but explain them well.

You can still keep the reference in to full-service firm but remember as a trainee you won’t experience that full service - by default you will only get exposure to sections of it due to seat rotations and the 2 year time limit

Got it, thank you!

Do you think not referring to the firm's departments by the name used on their website / Chambers Student, and instead just saying "M&A" or "real estate", is fine?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Got it, thank you!

Do you think not referring to the firm's departments by the name used on their website / Chambers Student, and instead just saying "M&A" or "real estate", is fine?

yes, that is generally fine

 

[Amy_22]

@Jessica Booker Sorry for bringing this up again but it seems there's a lot of confusion about this BCLP question! For reference this is 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 words)

For the first part of the question, regarding what we find attractive about BCLP's sectors / areas, I mentioned a lot of them, including M&A, finance, real estate, employment, and 1 or 2 others, and gave some small linking reasons as to why I'm interested in them. But the crux of my answer was that I'm interested in ALL of these areas, so I love the fact that BCLP has such a full-service approach, which is only complemented by their international presence.

I approached my answer to the 2nd part in a relatively broader way. I didn't refer to the specific group names which they might use on their website / Chambers Student, I just said I'm interested in real estate for XYZ reason, and litigation for ABC reason, and I'd love to engage with those two on the TC.

Do you think my approach to parts 1 and 2 of this question are good?

Hey

I approached this question differently. For the first part, I focused on two sectors/departments (Real Estate and Litigation/Dispute Resolution) and explained why I was interested in them, etc. Then for the second part, I expanded on the sectors/departments I had previously mentioned. For example, a specific area I am interested in is Real Estate Finance, and this flowed from the Real Estate Department. Another area I mentioned was International Arbitration which flowed from the general Litigation/Dispute Resolution paragraph. I'm sure you can approach the question in a variety of ways but for me, it made to sense to further evidence my interest in the department by honing in on individual practice areas.

On the flip side, you may find a BCLP sector/department attractive but you may also want exposure in a completely different practice area. As long as your points are genuinely grounded and evidenced you should be fine.

I also agree with Jessica's comment above in relation to the difficulty in explaining your interest in seven practice areas within 500 words. I always opt for quality over quantity!

 

[Mena M]

Maybe this is an obvious question, but under which of BCLP's sectors does M&A fall under, if any? I want to write about both real estate and M&A, and whilst I know I can talk about the real estate sector and small practice areas within it, I cannot seem to do the same for M&A. Would that matter, if not, how would you structure answer? Also, if M&A doesn't fall under any of their 6 sectors, how would it seem to the firm if I talk about a practice area that doesn't fall within one of their specialised sectors?