TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[S87]

What do you guys think about Wilkie?

 

[Cantab_95]

Weil rejection this year. Made it to the AC last year

 

[JM1998]

Hi! Congrats on the TC. Just wondering how the BCLP interview went, and how soon after you received feedback/were invited to the AC? thanks!

I enjoyed it, everyone was very friendly. I heard back quite quickly afterwards

 

[caitlinayre]

How did everyone's Reed Smith VI go?

 

[M991]

Weil rejection this year. Made it to the AC last year

Hello! I am sorry to hear that, but the problem might not have been in your application. Some firms do not allow candidates to re-apply for a year or two after being unsuccessful at the AC/final interview stage.

 

[M991]

Has anyone heard from MoFo (Spring Scheme - TC 2023)?

 

[21wajsz]

Has anyone heard from BCLP for the Summer Scheme since receiving the feedback report?

 

[George Maxwell]

What do you guys think about Wilkie?

Hi @S87,

So I can only speak from my experience interviewing with them. I did not take up my vacation scheme offer.

My interviewers were memorably lovely, enthusiastic and welcoming. Knowing a few trainees/future trainees at the firm now, Willkie is one of those firms that will facilitate opportunities for you if you are self-motivated and are willing to put yourself out there.

I saw a crazy statistic that within the past few years they have grown 90%+ in London(?!) which is a little terrifying.

Strong insurance and White Collar crime practices when I applied.

@James Carrabino did a vacation scheme there so he is better placed than me to answer. However, overall my feeling is that it is a firm that will respect you as a candidate and allow you to accelerate your career if you put in the work 🚀

 

[James Carrabino]

Hi Guys,

Would someone be kind enough to post the Addleshaw G application questions?

• What attracts you to a career in commercial law? (2000 Characters with spaces)
• What do you think attracts clients to AG as opposed to other firms? (2000 Characters with spaces)
• What do you feel will be the biggest challenges for the legal sector over the next 12 months? (2000 Characters with spaces)
• Covid and Brexit have brought many changes and challenges to a number of sectors over recent years. Please discuss one of the sectors you believe has been affected. (2000 Characters with spaces)
• Is there any additional information you would like to disclose for us to consider alongside your application? (1500 Characters with spaces)

 

[James Carrabino]

What do you guys think about Wilkie?

Hi @S87,

So I can only speak from my experience interviewing with them. I did not take up my vacation scheme offer.

My interviewers were memorably lovely, enthusiastic and welcoming. Knowing a few trainees/future trainees at the firm now, Willkie is one of those firms that will facilitate opportunities for you if you are self-motivated and are willing to put yourself out there.

I saw a crazy statistic that within the past few years they have grown 90%+ in London(?!) which is a little terrifying.

Strong insurance and White Collar crime practices when I applied.

@James Carrabino did a vacation scheme there so he is better placed than me to answer. However, overall my feeling is that it is a firm that will respect you as a candidate and allow you to accelerate your career if you put in the work 🚀

Willkie's London office is a very friendly, rapidly growing place! Private Equity and Disputes are the office's two main focuses but the other teams definitely feel like fully fledged teams as well and are growing by a lot each year. I really enjoyed my seat in Competition, for example, which was doing a lot of its own work unrelated to the firm's corporate clients. Let me know if you have any other more specific questions

 

[TcApp97]

How did everyone's Reed Smith VI go?

I found it to be really enjoyable, probably one of the better video interviews I have completed. They are definitely generally the worst part of application processes for me as I essentially forget how to speak and start babbling every time. As long as you know your strengths and points about the firm you should be fine.

 

[James Carrabino]

What kinds of examples help demonstrate integrity? Everything I can think of relates better to reliability than integrity.

I used an example of a time I tried to give back scholarship money because I felt that I had not been able to adequately fulfil my terms of the grant (due to the pandemic/circumstances outside of my control). The foundation then insisted that I keep it as I had been upfront with them and had still gone out of my way to complete the course of study that I had outlined in my proposal, despite having to modify it somewhat.

Integrity is about being honest with yourself first and foremost. That will then percolate into your interactions with others and your approach to your work. Being an officer of the law requires you to have the utmost integrity given the potential for abuse of your position. Think of an example that will convince the reader of your unflinching commitment to upholding the law.

 

[S87]

Willkie's London office is a very friendly, rapidly growing place! Private Equity and Disputes are the office's two main focuses but the other teams definitely feel like fully fledged teams as well and are growing by a lot each year. I really enjoyed my seat in Competition, for example, which was doing a lot of its own work unrelated to the firm's corporate clients. Let me know if you have any other more specific questions

Thank you so much!

 

[S87]

Hi @S87,

So I can only speak from my experience interviewing with them. I did not take up my vacation scheme offer.

My interviewers were memorably lovely, enthusiastic and welcoming. Knowing a few trainees/future trainees at the firm now, Willkie is one of those firms that will facilitate opportunities for you if you are self-motivated and are willing to put yourself out there.

I saw a crazy statistic that within the past few years they have grown 90%+ in London(?!) which is a little terrifying.

Strong insurance and White Collar crime practices when I applied.

@James Carrabino did a vacation scheme there so he is better placed than me to answer. However, overall my feeling is that it is a firm that will respect you as a candidate and allow you to accelerate your career if you put in the work 🚀

Thank you so much

 

[starbright]

I found it to be really enjoyable, probably one of the better video interviews I have completed. They are definitely generally the worst part of application processes for me as I essentially forget how to speak and start babbling every time. As long as you know your strengths and points about the firm you should be fine.

That's great, hopefully you get progressed to the AC! This is my first ever VI so I was wondering whether you could share how many questions you were asked? And when you say points about the firm do you mean your reasons for why Reed Smith? Thanks!

 

[TcApp97]

That's great, hopefully you get progressed to the AC! This is my first ever VI so I was wondering whether you could share how many questions you were asked? And when you say points about the firm do you mean your reasons for why Reed Smith? Thanks!

Hi, I can't remember the specific number but it was definitely quite a few (maybe 10ish). Yes, essentially have a think around your motivations, the website gives a good list of things to have a think about.

 

[starbright]

Hi, I can't remember the specific number but it was definitely quite a few (maybe 10ish). Yes, essentially have a think around your motivations, the website gives a good list of things to have a think about.

Thanks so much, I will definitely look at the website!

 

[Lawdolphin]

Hi, I can't remember the specific number but it was definitely quite a few (maybe 10ish). Yes, essentially have a think around your motivations, the website gives a good list of things to have a think about.

Glad to hear it went well for you! It is also my first VI and I was wondering how long it was - ie how long for each question? I was also wondering if the questions are direct questions or if they give you scenarios? Thanks so much!

 

[AvniD]

I used an example of a time I tried to give back scholarship money because I felt that I had not been able to adequately fulfil my terms of the grant (due to the pandemic/circumstances outside of my control). The foundation then insisted that I keep it as I had been upfront with them and had still gone out of my way to complete the course of study that I had outlined in my proposal, despite having to modify it somewhat.

Integrity is about being honest with yourself first and foremost. That will then percolate into your interactions with others and your approach to your work. Being an officer of the law requires you to have the utmost integrity given the potential for abuse of your position. Think of an example that will convince the reader of your unflinching commitment to upholding the law.

This is such a great example @James Carrabino! I think you've broken this down really well 👏 👏 👏

In my mind, you display integrity when you do what's right, despite it being the harder option to choose or you being under pressure to do the wrong thing. James' example fits really well into this definition.

I can think of a few more in the legal context- alerting about and deleting confidential emails that you may have mistakenly received from opposing counsel, returning excess funds you have may receive from your client, calling out any bullying/harassment that you may be witnessing at your workplace. I hope these help @Veep9?

 

[CC03]

Any updates from DLA Piper? Portal updated last week on the 15th?