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

[Aga123+]

Mayer Brown rejection - post trainee job simulation stage 😎
(applied 6th Dec; summer vacation scheme)

 

[therealellewoods]

Hi everyone!!! I have two questions i was hoping to get help for. I have a few ideas but i do now know if they are the main ones or even accurate.

1) why do law firms keep track of non-billable hours.

- is it because law firms want to be efficient i.e. if they see that a lawyer is doing a lot of non-billables they can reallocate the work. Also, to check if the non-billable work is actually non-billable (.e. mistakes in categorising)​

- Maybe to consider increasing fees - so higher hourly rates?​

- So lawyers can assess the time it takes them to do non-billable work​

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2) What are the adv/disadv of thought leadership?

- Adv (demonstrates client responsiveness, awareness of clients opportunities and threats, expertise, build and attract client relationships, building reputation)​

- disadv (other firms can use that information? costs to develop it?) - i really don't know what else could be a disadvantage​

(edit) I want to also include accuracy - like if they are inaccurate in analysis (especially because mostly lower levels do the research etc..) then that could damage the reputation of the firm. But I do not know if this is accurate or even a good thing to say because the interviewer might feel personally attacked if I say they may not be accurate 😂​

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I work in a law firm and I think a part of why law firms track non-billable hours is so you can show what you've been doing with your time. e.g. if you only recorded 1 chargeable hour one day recording 5 hours of NC might show why. Also I think maybe because it also shows how many hours are being spent on other things like business development/training etc and I guess law firms function like businesses in that way? Sorry I'm not that helpful

For DLA Piper I'm in the same boat as you. Completed WG and heard nothing since.

As for Travers, my cover letter was even longer than yours! I think as long as cover letters aren't ridiculously long it won't matter. If they wanted people to stick to a strict word limit surely they would've added one?

It's soooo hard just waiting. Because my app hasn't even updated I'm assuming they haven't even reviewed it at all yet? And I'm scared everything will fill up by the time they do as I've seen loads of people being progressed (although IDK if they're all for summer or spring etc)

and that's really good to know! It seems people haven't treat that as a strict limit or guidance or anything. So true!

 

[Samir_O]

I work in a law firm and I think a part of why law firms track non-billable hours is so you can show what you've been doing with your time. e.g. if you only recorded 1 chargeable hour one day recording 5 hours of NC might show why. Also I think maybe because it also shows how many hours are being spent on other things like business development/training etc and I guess law firms function like businesses in that way? Sorry I'm not that helpful

It's soooo hard just waiting. Because my app hasn't even updated I'm assuming they haven't even reviewed it at all yet? And I'm scared everything will fill up by the time they do as I've seen loads of people being progressed (although IDK if they're all for summer or spring etc)

and that's really good to know! It seems people haven't treat that as a strict limit or guidance or anything. So true!

I can relate - my DLA Piper app status was last updated back in dec - still waiting post wg but am seeing AC invites and vac offers already on the forum so not quite sure whats happening! the wait kills though so i feel your pain!

 

[AW_08]

Mayer Brown PFO! (post-job simulation)

Really sorry to hear that!

Do you mind if I ask when you completed the VI/JS?

 

[User1726]

HSF AC!!! Summer - applied a day before the deadline as well!

 

[ee300]

hey congrats! when did you apply?

I applied on the deadline

Wooo congrats !! Is this spring or summer?

It's for summer

 

[summer207]

Really sorry to hear that!

Do you mind if I ask when you completed the VI/JS?

I think it was on the 22nd of December

 

[AAA_a]

Is Milbank having AC on a single day for everyone?

 

[thelovelygiraffe]

Is Milbank having AC on a single day for everyone?

No I believe someone said they were given two dates. I was personally only told one date but I guess by the time they called me option 1 was full.

 

[therealellewoods]

I can relate - my DLA Piper app status was last updated back in dec - still waiting post wg but am seeing AC invites and vac offers already on the forum so not quite sure whats happening! the wait kills though so i feel your pain!

Honestly! I check it everyday!!!

 

[lawyer859]

anyone else still waiting on hsf and links for summer? 😅

Yep both of these 😓😓

 

[sami.rehman]

Please can you let me know if GR respond !

I'll keep you in the loop, definitely!

 

[emilyrose99]

I'll keep you in the loop, definitely!

Thank you 😊😊

 

[M&Amakesmyday]

No I believe someone said they were given two dates. I was personally only told one date but I guess by the time they called me option 1 was full.

Do you know if these are the only days Milbank's having ACs on this cycle?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica.

In response to this post. What is your general advice for preparing for a written assignment (a have a few days before my AC).

I'll be honest in saying it is hard to prepare for the written assessment unless you know the very specific subject/topic of the assessment - but even then, firms tend to either have 1) multiple versions of the exercises and so you could never be sure of what topic you will get and 2) some firms are not assessing your technical knowledge, just your drafting/writing skills and general analytical abilities.

In addition, exercises like this are ultimately designed in a way that you shouldn't be able to prepare for them as such.

So it is really about using your preparation time when you get the task to the best of your ability. The points I mentioned in the post you quoted apply to written exercises too. rather than rushing into the writing process, consider the information you have, the task(s) you have been asked to complete (look at the instructions carefully), think about who you are writing for and then try to structure your thoughts accordingly before writing. For instance, some written tasks are much more of a proofreading task where you are given something to correct, while others are more of a drafting something from scratch. Your approach to these will be very different.

If you are tight on time (which is likely in these exercises) think about what your priorities should be. Also ensure you have some time to proofread anything you have drafted - correcting any errors as needed.

The following posts/advice right also be worth a read: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....cheme-applications-discussion.2732/post-76323

 

[Beluga]

weil pfo 🌝

 

[avaelle42]

any tips on trying to move on from disastrous AC?! Feel like I've left myself down!

 

[atrumregina1]

Maybe early to ask but anyone heard from Shearman?

 

[Abii]

any tips on trying to move on from disastrous AC?! Feel like I've left myself down!

Don’t dwell! Things rarely went as badly as you think - most people are their own harshest critic and hold themselves to much higher standards than they would anyone else.

if it did go as badly as you think there is still a benefit to this: it’s an experience to learn from and you know what not to do next time!

 

[Jessica Booker]

any tips on trying to move on from disastrous AC?! Feel like I've left myself down!

Most people are their own worst critic, so there is a decent chance that of all the people involved in the assessment(s), you are the one who thinks it went the worst. It is likely other people will be rating you more highly than you are right now.

And even IF you are right and it was a disaster, see it as a learning opportunity. I suspect you have instances where you didn't get something quite right the first time (mock assessments, completing something to a deadline, not passing something at the first attempt etc) and you learnt from them and then went to do well a subsequent time around. This can also be one of those instances (if you are right - you might not be ).