TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica for your response. If I were keen to qualify into litigation in private practice - would you say this would be more feasible?

I would say this would actually be quite difficult. In-house roles tend to be much more corporate/commercial based, with general advisory work (eg regulations) rather than having a litigation focus. There might be some in-house roles that are more litigation specific and in those cases it could be okay. But ultimately if you want to work in private practice and especially in litigation, I would recommend training in private practice rather than in-house.

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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.

As for the skills you can work on prior to the VS to maximize your chances of completing your tasks to a high standard, I would list the following:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Thank you so much Andrei! I also wanted to ask what resources are usually available on the firm-provided device for such research? Is there open access to the web?

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Thank you so much Andrei! I also wanted to ask what resources are usually available on the firm-provided device for such research? Is there open access to the web?

Sorry for double-posting @Andrei Radu! But do you have any tips for preparing for a client pitch exercise and a negotiation exercise? How can I go about preparing for each and what can I expect?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much Andrei! I also wanted to ask what resources are usually available on the firm-provided device for such research? Is there open access to the web?

Glad I could help . Yes, you should have open access to the web (bar some sites designated as a security threat or as improper by the system; but this is not something likely to hinder your research efforts). Besides that, you will likely have: (i) some sort of Intranet or firm-wide resources platform, which will give you access to training materials, examples of past work, document formats etc. and (ii) subscription to the most important legal research resources, such as Westlaw and LexisNexis (and, likely, some more niche resources as well, depending on areas of expertise).

 

[tomaspessanha]

I scored 3 average and 2 below average with work ethic, ownership and social adaptability as my top strengths.

In previous years, some candidates progressed to the telephone interview stage with below average, while others didn’t progress despite having above average scores.

2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

If it's helpful - my rejected application for the Freshers Meet Freshfields 2018 event was updated in January 2021, so I really don't think you guys need to be too concerned about when the portal was updated.

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

Wow I've just caught up with this and gone on a whole journey from university debates to Gordon Ramsay memes, I love this forum 🤩 Regarding the RG vs Non-RG universities debate, I was just wondering whether GR typically take subjects into account (beyond the law vs non-law level) as well? I ask...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

I also noticed that some candidates progressed with the same strengths to mine, so I’m hoping Mayer Brown still values those same strengths 😅

2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

Does anyone have any tips for the White & Case Video Interview? Are the questions pretty standard? How many questions and how long to prepare/answer?

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Hearing Back from Law Firms, Assessment Centres & Interview Tips - 2019 - 2020

Has anyone here ever gotten average scores for all but one with the Mayer Brown VRT & progressed ? I feel as though, those scores are perhaps what they look out for more than the situational judgement. So if you score a over average in all, plus have a good app..the you get through. Cause the...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Great, thank you!

 

[ilovegardening1111]

I would say this would actually be quite difficult. In-house roles tend to be much more corporate/commercial based, with general advisory work (eg regulations) rather than having a litigation focus. There might be some in-house roles that are more litigation specific and in those cases it could be okay. But ultimately if you want to work in private practice and especially in litigation, I would recommend training in private practice rather than in-house.

Thanks for the advice

 

[A worried graduate]

Hill Dickinson AC being 7.5h long and not even the Last stage is mad

When did you hear from them?

 

[gazdgazd11]

When did you hear from them?

AC invite on 26/03 - marine

 

[gazdgazd11]

am i right in thinking it’s the assessment day 24th april, then if successful we get invited to insight day and training contract final interview mid june??? the wording of the emails is confusing me!

I think so

 

[millieplatt1]

Does anyone have any insights into the Payne Hicks Beach TC AC? Thanks very much in advance!

oh wow have you heard from them!

 

[legallyells]

I think so

you're right, just confirmed with HR

 

[A worried graduate]

AC invite on 26/03 - marine

Seems everyone who has heard post VI heard on that day for some reason.

Does not hearing mean that a PFO is coming or not?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Sorry for double-posting @Andrei Radu! But do you have any tips for preparing for a client pitch exercise and a negotiation exercise? How can I go about preparing for each and what can I expect?

For a client pitch, I think there are three areas to consider (although the first one is likely to be of central importance):

1. The firm's unique selling points from a client perspective, when compared to main competitors: essentially, you need to classify the type/types of legal services the particular client would need for the specific matter they are seeking to contract a firm for. From that perspective, you need to then ask two questions: firstly, who are the main competitors in the area - who are the other firms likely to have the most compelling pitches for this work? (you should be able to easily come up with a few examples based on Chambers/Legal 500 rankings); and secondly, what are the firm's unique/distinguishing aspects that could be attractive to a client when considering whether to contract us or our rivals? This second question is more difficult to answer and will require more extensive research on your part, but to mention some examples of what USPs could consist of: expertise and market recognition in the practice area; expertise in the sector; expertise in matters falling under both the relevant practice area and the sector; past experience working on deals/cases/matters presenting similar other features to the current one; past experience working for the client; geographical reach; growth of firm's practice, expertise in complimentary practices, availability of specific renowned practitioners etc.
2. The specific team: for any pitch, the firm will advertise a few of the top practitioners (normally, partners or counsel) who it could staff on the matter. In many cases, it is the reputation of the individual practitioners for matters of that type, rather than the reputation of the firm as a whole, that the clients will care more about. As such, you should research who are the biggest names within the firm for that specific type of work and be ready to explain their expertise during the pitch.
3. Billing rates: while this does not always come up, I know it sometimes does, normally in the Q&A part at the end of the pitch. If possible, try to get an idea as to what the going billing rates are for the firm's associates and partners, and be ready to justify those by appealing to its USPs and market position if necessary. If for some reason you estimate they may be lower than those of any competitors (say if this is a Silver Circle firm, and the competitors are US firms), this could be presented as a reason to prefer your firm.

 

[confusedbird]

I got my feedback report (if you can really cal it that, quite short and pretty boiler plate). Nothing else before though so you should be fine so long as you clicked submit. Took a day to get the report

Got it today! Thank you again!
I went down a spiral for no reason 🤡

 

[User5678]

Is it fair to assume a pfo from PHB considering they said they will get back to all applicants today

 

[millieplatt1]

Is it fair to assume a pfo from PHB considering they said they will get back to all applicants today

i saw someone on here asking for advice about the AC so i’m assuming they’ve heard, i haven’t either

 

[User5678]

i saw someone on here asking for advice about the AC so i’m assuming they’ve heard, i haven’t either

Hmm most likely a pfo then considering their ac is on 8 9 10

 

[trainee4u]

Hmm most likely a pfo then considering their ac is on 8 9 10

i assume when they said "everyone will hear whether or not" they meant it. but maybe we'll get our pfos in the morning!?

 

[iklawapps]

I saw some people got either AC offers or rejections from King & Spalding, but I haven’t received anything yet. Is anyone else in the same boat?

 

[iklawapps]

Are we assuming PFO from K&S if we haven’t heard yet?

Any news yet? I haven’t gotten anything - assuming pfo now lol