TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[OliverTwist]

Has anyone heard from CMS post-VI for the London TC, or does anyone know when we can expect to hear back? Thanks!

No still waiting myself, but only took it on Sunday!

 

[Lawlawlaw2]

Has anyone gotten a Pinsent Masons AC or know someone who did?

 

[Zaidoz10]

White & Case Middle East anyone? They said they’re rolling but are taking really long.

 

[Samridhi Jain]

Anyone heard from Travers Smith?

 

[User5678]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Hey, I have just started an application and have been asked 2 ques I am very confused about answering:

1. What is your weakness - I don’t want to write anything which will be a deal breaker and will mention points of how I am improving from this weakness but please could you give an example?

2. What are the firms competitors and how is the firm doing better/doing to stay ahead of the curve from it’s competitors - I am unsure about the best way to approach this. Should I focus on their main and strong sectors or look at the firm as a whole?

Thanks very much

 

[legallybrunette8]

CMS VI invite! did the WG about a month ago

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Is anyone else still waiting on Dechert WVS…

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Hey, I have just started an application and have been asked 2 ques I am very confused about answering:

1. What is your weakness - I don’t want to write anything which will be a deal breaker and will mention points of how I am improving from this weakness but please could you give an example?

2. What are the firms competitors and how is the firm doing better/doing to stay ahead of the curve from it’s competitors - I am unsure about the best way to approach this. Should I focus on their main and strong sectors or look at the firm as a whole?

Thanks very much

Hey @User5678, @Ram Sabaratnam might be able to tell you more but here's my take on your two questions:

1. You have identified the two important points about a good answer here: not having a deal-breaker weakness and showing improvement. My response here (which I actually got to explain in a final successful TC interview) was around networking skills. I would start by explaining how I historically suffered from a level of social anxiety and how an office environment and the City in general was an unfamiliar and slightly daunting environment for me. Then, I told the interviews that I realised that networking skills, like many other skills, are not something you're either born with or without. Of course, personality traits and the environment you lived in can influence how good you can become at networking and of course, some people have it easier than others. But I knew that this was no reason to stop me from doing my best to improve myself in this regard. I then went on to explain the concrete action steps I took to address it. Firstly, I actively stepped out of my comfort zone and put myself 'out there' by signing up and applying for dozens of careers events. By repeated exposure and lots of practice, I got better at it, as you do with any other thing. Secondly, I started observing how people who are good at networking interact with others, and I started learning from them. Finally, I showed the interviewers the concrete results of my efforts, as during my VS at the firm I got to know many people and actually formed valuable connections, something which I would have found a lot more difficult in the past. At the end, I could tell they really liked my answer.

2. As to how to conceive of competitors, I think the right answer is both. Try to answer it both in terms of competitors as most similar type of firm and in terms of competitors as strongest other firms in a given practice area/sector (depending if the firm you are applying to is a sector-focused or practice areas-focused one). Once again, when I pointed out this distinction in the interview I got a lot of credit for it. For the second part of the question - how your firm is staying ahead - I would look to see what are the recent big announcements and achievements that the firm has (be it expansions, announcements of new strategic objective, investments into tech or particular practice areas, lateral hires, winning new clients or mandates etc). If possible, I would then connect that with some commentary on the dynamics of the legal market - ie. given this or that trend or event, clients will care more about X, and the firm is better place to advise on it because of Y.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Does anyone know which firm for direct training contract applications put a strong emphasis on grades?

Slaughter and May is widely thought to put a lot of emphasis on grades, but besides that as far as I am aware no UK firm has a particular reputation in this regard. There are a couple of historical 'white shoe' US firms who are also thought to emphasize academics more, but I think they only recruit through the VS track.

 

[User5678]

Hey @User5678, @Ram Sabaratnam might be able to tell you more but here's my take on your two questions:

1. You have identified the two important points about a good answer here: not having a deal-breaker weakness and showing improvement. My response here (which I actually got to explain in a final successful TC interview) was around networking skills. I would start by explaining how I historically suffered from a level of social anxiety and how an office environment and the City in general was an unfamiliar and slightly daunting environment for me. Then, I told the interviews that I realised that networking skills, like many other skills, are not something you're either born with or without. Of course, personality traits and the environment you lived in can influence how good you can become at networking and of course, some people have it easier than others. But I knew that this was no reason to stop me from doing my best to improve myself in this regard. I then went on to explain the concrete action steps I took to address it. Firstly, I actively stepped out of my comfort zone and put myself 'out there' by signing up and applying for dozens of careers events. By repeated exposure and lots of practice, I got better at it, as you do with any other thing. Secondly, I started observing how people who are good at networking interact with others, and I started learning from them. Finally, I showed the interviewers the concrete results of my efforts, as during my VS at the firm I got to know many people and actually formed valuable connections, something which I would have found a lot more difficult in the past. At the end, I could tell they really liked my answer.

2. As to how to conceive of competitors, I think the right answer is both. Try to answer it both in terms of competitors as most similar type of firm and in terms of competitors as strongest other firms in a given practice area/sector (depending if the firm you are applying to is a sector-focused or practice areas-focused one). Once again, when I pointed out this distinction in the interview I got a lot of credit for it. For the second part of the question - how your firm is staying ahead - I would look to see what are the recent big announcements and achievements that the firm has (be it expansions, announcements of new strategic objective, investments into tech or particular practice areas, lateral hires, winning new clients or mandates etc). If possible, I would then connect that with some commentary on the dynamics of the legal market - ie. given this or that trend or event, clients will care more about X, and the firm is better place to advise on it because of Y.

Thank you so much, your responses are always super helpful !!

I really appreciate it

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Hey, I have just started an application and have been asked 2 ques I am very confused about answering:

1. What is your weakness - I don’t want to write anything which will be a deal breaker and will mention points of how I am improving from this weakness but please could you give an example?

2. What are the firms competitors and how is the firm doing better/doing to stay ahead of the curve from it’s competitors - I am unsure about the best way to approach this. Should I focus on their main and strong sectors or look at the firm as a whole?

Thanks very much

1) The only deal breaker will be if you try to dress up a strength as a weakness (eg go down the “perfectionist” route). I’d really isn’t about what you choose, it’s more about how you frame that you are purposely addressing it as a development area and finding ways to push yourself to get better in that area.

2) either approach is fine, but defining how you have classified competitors and how you ah e approached the question is a good thing to include in your answer

 

[m25]

Hi, is Irwin Mitchell rolling or non-rolling?

 

[Az]

Slaughter and May is widely thought to put a lot of emphasis on grades, but besides that as far as I am aware no UK firm has a particular reputation in this regard. There are a couple of historical 'white shoe' US firms who are also thought to emphasize academics more, but I think they only recruit through the VS track.

Thank you for the response

I've already interviewed there awaiting response (I don't think it went well) but was just asking to find out if there are any more that strongly put emphasis onto grades.

 

[gazdgazd11]

Hi, I have 2 qs:

1. Slaughter and May: How long after submitting the app have you heard back - both good news and rejection?
2. Has anyone heard back from Dentons or Travers Smith?

 

[Zaidoz10]

Anyone hear back from White & Case Middle East? Or CMS Middle East?

 

[Az]

Hi, I have 2 qs:

1. Slaughter and May: How long after submitting the app have you heard back - both good news and rejection?
2. Has anyone heard back from Dentons or Travers Smith?

1. For my application it was exactly two weeks after submission and that was for an interview

 

[TCseeker17]

Thank you for the response

I've already interviewed there awaiting response (I don't think it went well) but was just asking to find out if there are any more that strongly put emphasis onto grades.

when did you interview?

 

[Az]

when did you interview?

Within the last 9/10 days

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Hi, I have 2 qs:

1. Slaughter and May: How long after submitting the app have you heard back - both good news and rejection?
2. Has anyone heard back from Dentons or Travers Smith?

Nothing from Travers Smith yet

 

[User5678]

1) The only deal breaker will be if you try to dress up a strength as a weakness (eg go down the “perfectionist” route). I’d really isn’t about what you choose, it’s more about how you frame that you are purposely addressing it as a development area and finding ways to push yourself to get better in that area.

2) either approach is fine, but defining how you have classified competitors and how you ah e approached the question is a good thing to include in your answer

Thank you very much Jessica! I really appreciate you help