Hey everyone, I have an AC at King & Spalding next week and would really appreciate if anyone has advice please !
Anything would help!
Anything would help!
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
- Sep 9, 2024
- 722
- 1,333
Hi @jacksollaf and congratulations for getting to the AC! I have found a post on TCLA of a candidate discussing their Kings & Spalding AC experience from 2021. While it is quite possible that the firm changed their assessment processes since then, it should give you at least some indication as to what you can expect. Besides this, I have linked here my Complete Competency Interviews Guide (describing my step by step approach for interview preparation) and have quoted bellow some posts with AC advice (one for general interview tips, one for written exercises, and one for group exercises.
My top tip would be to focus on doing well and not on being perfect. Many people go to ACs thinking they need to blow away the partners and the recruiters to succeed, but I think this is the wrong attitude to have. First of all, while your achievements and skills might be impressive for this stage, it is quite unlikely you will manage to overly impress anyone no matter how hard you try - you will know a lot less about any given commercial law subject than lawyer in the firm. Secondly, this attitude will make you feel even more stressed than you would normally be and will therefore likely impact your performance. If you will be assessed for a total time of a few hours, it is impossible to be perfect in every moment. When you notice an imperfection in an answer, the right reaction is to acknowledge it but then to move past it and make the best of the rest. Instead, the overly perfectionistic candidates tend to stress about it a lot more than they should, and in attempting to fix the initial mistake they do a lot more harm to their progression chances. People with this mindset thus often end up creating negative feedback loops for themselves: they make a small error, then they begin overthinking it, which decreases their self-confidence, which impacts their next answer, which in turn further intensifies their anxiety; a series of events which can end up completely derailing one's performance.
To avoid this, instead of aiming to excel everywhere, I would simply aim to perform well - to do a good job on every task and score well on every relevant assessment criterion. This boils down to using your preparation to make decent substantive points and communicate them in a clear and confident manner. If you manage to do this you will have performed better than the majority of candidates and in most cases should be enough to get you progressed - it did for me 4/4 times. If you reframe your task in this way, I think you should feel a lot less anxious about it: while perhaps it is difficult to convince yourself that you will pull of an extraordinary performance, you should feel a lot more confident in being able to respond sensibly to tasks and to cover all your bases well.
A final piece of advice I have for calming down on the day and to avoid blanking out is to take your time:
Finally, know that just by getting to the AC you have proven yourself to be one of the very best candidates out of a huge pool, which means you have all it takes to succeed! Best of luck
- Firstly, taking your time before starting your answer. Instead of just jumping into a response the instance the interviewer stops speaking (which is a very natural temptation) take 3-4 seconds to think about and structure your answer. This will significantly decrease the number of times you find yourself blanking out mid-answer or having difficulty finding the right way to end a sentence.
- Secondly, if you have difficulty with finding sensible points for a question, it is perfectly acceptable to request some thinking time - just say 'May I please take a minute to consider my answer?'. In the unlikely case you do not find anything after that, explain that you are unsure what to say; but also walk the interviewer through your thought process of your best guess.
- Thirdly, aim to speak more slowly. When you are anxious, your hear rate goes up and you naturally start speaking at a higher pace, which is problematic in that this simply means taking less time to think as you answer. This naturally reduces how articulate and confident you seem, especially since speaking quickly more often leads you to losing your chain of thought or expressing yourself in unclear language. As such, try to slow down. Also, use strategic 2-3 second pauses in your speech to add emphasis to points and to get valuable thinking time as you are moving between the different parts of your answer.
!
Hi @FutureTraineeMaybe for the group exercise I think you need to strike the right balance between showcasing teamwork and collaboration but also demonstrating your capacity for commercial analysis and leadership. Since there is a tight time limit and since everyone will be aiming to show the same qualities, there is a natural tension between the two. As such, many candidates end up either being too passive (in not getting sufficient airtime because everyone else always wants to speak as well) or too assertive (in constantly interrupting others to get their points across). However, there are a couple of strategies you can use to ensure your individual contributions shine through without undermining others:
For the written task, I will quote bellow a number of posts I have recently written with my best tips - but do let me know if you have any follow up questions. Best of luck
- Offer to keep the time: this shows a proactive attitude while not being very demanding as to your mental focus. It also enables you to (i) avoid taking the responsibility of any required writing, which is more demanding; and (ii) naturally intervene at certain points in the discussion to mention time considerations, which is also an opportunity for you to add substantive points.
- Try to introduce structure and organization: although many candidates will want to immediately start the analysis, instead of simply throwing yourself into discussing substantive points, try to introduce a framework: what points will you discuss, in what order, how much time will you spend on each, and what relevant assessment criteria should you keep in mind when analyzing the points? This will ensure a more comprehensive overview and a more clear output.
- Focus on finding more niche/less-obvious analysis points: as you are given a brief for the group exercise task, you will normally have a bit of preparation time during which you can think what points to bring up. You will find some points that are really intuitive which you will know the others likely also thought of. Instead of focusing on those and fighting with everyone to get to express those obvious points, I would use that time (and the extra thinking time in the initial discussion phase when everyone is fighting to say the obvious points) to find relevant ideas that others may have missed. The, as the discussion is winding down on that subpart of the task, I would mention these more niche points. This will avoid making you seem competitive and also showcase ability for more nuanced analysis.
- Focus on synthesis and weighing: another similar strategy for impressive contribution which may not require too much fighting over airtime is to once again seek to contribute as the discussion on the substantive points is winding down. What you can do here is intervene to summarize what everyone has contributed, weigh their points, and then make an informed argument as to what the decision should be.
Ashurst sending out Cappfinity test tomorrow. Any advice for passing that test? Not one I've passed to date. So any advice would be great. Good luck to others taking it.
I think the best thing you can do is (1) familiarise yourself with the test and what exactly it is looking to assess you on and (2) try complete some practice tests, bearing that information in mind. These links might be useful. Best of luck with the Ashurst test!
www.graduatesfirst.com
Cappfinity Assessments 2025. Practice Tests. Full Guide.
Step-by-step 2025 guide for Cappfinity strength assessment tests and video interview tools. Including key tips from our team of experts to help you succeed.
www.graduatesfirst.com
Last edited:
What a week.
I’ve sent out applications to Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Mayer Brown, Farrer & Co and Shoosmiths.
Now can enjoy a few hours break this evening. 😅🫡
I’ve sent out applications to Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Mayer Brown, Farrer & Co and Shoosmiths.
Now can enjoy a few hours break this evening. 😅🫡
Finally submitted my DTC application to Baker McKenzie - my first one ever! 😅
I am aiming to send around 8-9 more DTC applications from now to July. 🥲
I am aiming to send around 8-9 more DTC applications from now to July. 🥲
Last edited:
I don't have much hope with HL, but given that I haven't heard back from them since WGT, if I get an invite for AC, I will not be able to attend in person. Can anyone tell me whether HL will provide me with an option to attend the AC virtually, as I am an international candidate and can't travel to the UK on such short notice? Please feel free to tell me anything that can be of help to this concern of mine!
It might be worth telling them. Both stages are interviews I believe. Easier to do those online right? Well, easier for some I guess. See what they say about it.
@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam Hi! Starting a VS soon. I'm aware there's a lot of focus on quality of tasks submitted over the course of the VS. What are the usual tasks assigned/what skills do you reckon would be helpful to hone in on/develop prior to the VS?
Are we assuming PFO from K&S if we haven’t heard yet?
Holding myself accountable (Ashurst test invite)
CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅❌
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅❌
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅❌
Latham ✅❌
Milbank ✅❌
Kirkland ✅❌
Dechert ✅❌
Ashurst* ✅📝
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅❌
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅❌
Slaughters* ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅❌
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅❌
Morgan Lewis ✅📞❌
Paul Hastings* ✅
White & Case* ✅
Morgan Lewis* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅📝
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅❌
Arnold & Porter ✅❌
Baker McKenzie ✅📝❌
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅❌
Morrison Foerster ✅❌
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌
Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 📞 = TI; 🎥 = VI; ❌ = rejection.
*Training Contract applications.
Automatic but a win's a win.
CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅❌
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅❌
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅❌
Latham ✅❌
Milbank ✅❌
Kirkland ✅❌
Dechert ✅❌
Ashurst* ✅📝
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅❌
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅❌
Slaughters* ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅❌
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅❌
Morgan Lewis ✅📞❌
Paul Hastings* ✅
White & Case* ✅
Morgan Lewis* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅📝
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅❌
Arnold & Porter ✅❌
Baker McKenzie ✅📝❌
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅❌
Morrison Foerster ✅❌
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌
Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 📞 = TI; 🎥 = VI; ❌ = rejection.
*Training Contract applications.
Automatic but a win's a win.
- Sep 7, 2024
- 469
- 1,082
Hiya @badmintonflyinginsect
First of all, congratulations on your vacation scheme! Just wanted to chime in, but I'm sure that both @Amma Usman and @Andrei Radu would have some stellar advice for you as well. Although everyone’s experience can be a bit different, in my case, I’ve found that the tasks you’re given can vary. They can vary depending on the seat you’re in, the firm you're at, or the type of work the team has going on. That said, there were definitely some common threads across my various vac schemes.
Typical tasks I completed:
- Proofreading: One of the most frequent tasks. I’d often be given a draft document (e.g. sometimes a contract, sometimes internal guidance or client comms) and be asked to check it for typos, formatting issues, hyperlinks, numbering errors, or clarity. Attention to detail really matters here. At one firm, I was able to stand out because I had figured out that there were some mistakes made in the calculation of certain figures in the document. Attention to detail can be a difficult skill to master, but I always think it's something that's worth practising now and into your scheme.
- Meeting attendance and note-taking: I had the chance to join several internal or client-facing meetings during various vacation schemes (even attending one with the Prime Minister of a certain country!). During these, I was typically asked to take notes of the meeting and then circulate them afterwards to those who had attended. These didn’t have to be transcripts, but I aimed to summarise as many key discussion points, action items, and next steps clearly and concisely.
- Drafting opportunities: During one scheme, I had the chance to draft an agreement entirely from scratch, based on some basic instructions. I typically found templates for these on Practical Law or by asking more senior trainees if they had any precedent documents on which I could go off of. At other firms, I was asked to revise certain clauses in contracts in order to ensure that they better met the client's goals.
- Research: Research tasks varied widely in scope and complexity. Some were highly technical (e.g. researching insolvency provisions or the application of chemicals regulations) while others were more practical, such as checking public filings on Companies House or identifying regulatory triggers in M&A transactions. I’d highly recommend getting familiar with how to navigate Companies House if you're doing a transactional seat in particular.
- Transactional tasks: In more corporate-heavy seats, I worked on conditions precedent (CP) checklists, reviewed share purchase agreements, and tried redrafting particularly tricky provisions that were apparently driving causing some challenges for the client. Sometimes, I’d also be asked to summarise the impact of certain clauses for a partner or associate, which required both comprehension and clear written explanation.
- Microsoft Office: It sounds basic, but being able to confidently navigate the Microsoft Office suite can be very helpful. This includes Word, Outlook, Excel, and Teams. You may be given lots of tasks which involve formatting documents, navigating tracked changes, creating internal tables of contents, and using Excel for lists or schedules. In particular, found that having strong Excel skills (e.g. filtering, basic formulas, formatting) made me stand out on a few schemes.
- Practical Law/Lexis Nexis: If your university/work place has a subscription to either West Law or Lexis Nexis, I'd highly recommend taking a look at these sites and just learning how to navigate them. They are incredibly useful platforms, and learning how to use their search functions and resources effectively can really help you get through the tasks you're given, including any research and drafting tasks.
- Responsiveness and professionalism: Responding to emails promptly (even if it’s just to say you’re on it or that you won't be able to take on a task due to capacity) is a skill that can go a long way. It shows that you’re reliable and thinking like a future trainee.
- Initiative and curiosity: Sometimes a task won’t come with full instructions. If I wasn’t sure what a term meant or wanted to understand the deal/case more broadly, I’d take a few minutes to look things up myself before asking questions. That said, if something was genuinely unclear or ambiguous, I never hesitated to just ask other trainees or associates for clarification. This can make a big difference and help you better appreciate why a specific task is particularly relevant to the client matter.
Good luck with the vacation scheme!
Last edited:
- Sep 9, 2024
- 722
- 1,333
The tasks that I have completed in my vacations schemes I think were quite illustrative for what one may expect to find in the respective practice areas:
- In corporate M&A/PE: reviewed contracts for chance of control clauses, reviewed and prepared a memo on a due diligence report prepared by the seller's counsel, drafted clauses for ancillary documents, took notes on meetings, researched legal uses of particular legal instruments in transactions (such as purpose of using a deeds in an M&A deal).
- In litigation: many research-centered tasks, whether on substantive legal points pertaining to a dispute, procedural rules for submission of documents to a court, or past damages figures awarded for similar litigations.
- In financial regulatory (although I suspect it applies more broadly to advisory practices): again research-heavy tasks, which were however more focused around regulatory frameworks and prior decisions of regulatory bodies such as the FCA and PRA.
- Research skills: as you have seen legal and commercial research is a core part of work in a law firm, particularly for juniors. As such, it could be very helpful to familiarize yourself with Westlaw and LexisNexis, particularly in relation to use of short cuts and filters.
- Drafting skills: as important as research skills is the ability to communicate legal points in a precise manner. In transactional practices this is essential, as the details of your writing will one day determine the rights and obligations of the parties, but it should not be overlooked for advisory and contentious practices either. In most cases, you will need to communicate your findings via an email or a memo and you will need to simplify your research into a shorter format whilst retaining all the relevant nuance. Moreover, more generally, a big part of the assessment of your work product will come down to how well structured and clear your writing is.
- Planning skills: a significant part of ensuring you complete many tasks to a high standard will come down to proper planning, ensuring you (i) have enough on your plate to keep you busy but not so much that you get overwhelmed; and (ii) have received proper instructions. Both of these I think come down to asking the right set of questions when you are receiving a task and noting down answers and further instructions.
Anyone got a PFO from Harbottle yet? Im still waiting to hear back.
You run out of patience and hope after receiving so many rejections. You start to wonder whether your law degree is worth anything.
I can't even secure paralegal work as a temporary job, so I'm considering a career change at this point. Horrifically bad market right now.
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
- Sticky
- Locked