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

[Jessica Booker]

I have an interview at Slaughter & May coming up and have a question about answering questions like 'why the firm' and 'why commercial law'. I have already written a cover letter that covers these two questions. Does that mean I should expand on what I have already written, repeat it in new words or have a completely new answer?

It’s about expanding your answers more than repeating the same thing or saying something completely different.

 

[Rob93]

I have an interview at Slaughter & May coming up and have a question about answering questions like 'why the firm' and 'why commercial law'. I have already written a cover letter that covers these two questions. Does that mean I should expand on what I have already written, repeat it in new words or have a completely new answer?

Yes, I would take this as an opportunity to build out what you've already said and add anything you might have omitted from the application but which you think might be an interesting conversation point.

 

[Miki3999]

I have an interview at Slaughter & May coming up and have a question about answering questions like 'why the firm' and 'why commercial law'. I have already written a cover letter that covers these two questions. Does that mean I should expand on what I have already written, repeat it in new words or have a completely new answer?

Think these answers through many times because partners will likely grill you and ask, for example, why you did something related to public law/academia etc despite the fact that you are applying for a corporate law job. Think also how they can question you on these answers (they are not asking tricky questions, but will likely question you from every possible angle to see how you react to such questions)

 

[Amanpreet Kaur]

Right so JD really runs this as a USP - I'm not sure how different they really are than some other firms on this point, but it's obviously very important to them.

One thing here is structural - JD operates a unitary partnership, including profit share across borders. Cf. Baker McKenzie, which is similarly globally distributed but operates as a Swiss Verein, with profits siloed by operating entity (usually per jurisdiction).

What proponents of unitary Partnership will tell you is that their model is better because it means that the team in, say, Singapore is fully incentivised to give their all on an instruction originating in, say, Paris. The criticism of the Verein model by contrast is that there is an incentive in each office to prioritise work originated there over work brought in from other offices. Proponents of the Verein will say this problem is overstated, that there's a global commitment to the brand, and the offices aren't siloed for operational purposes. All of this is debatable - JD obviously leans into the unitary model so think through those advantages.

The 'no home office' component follows a related line of argument. There's a perception that the global firms which have grown out of the US and UK are still 'domiciled' in their home country, that they're best suited to work originating in the home country or to be conducted in that home country. This is obviously somewhat true for like, Slaughters and Wachtell, which have minimal global footprints. It is arguably somewhat true for the American PE heavyweights/spec firms, simply because a huge amount of PE work is American capital flowing into int'l businesses - although the UK, Europe and Asia all have their own thriving PE industries, American investment firms loom large.
Firms like JD, W&C, Bakers, (the list goes on) will say 'it doesn't matter where we came from, what matters is where we are and where we're going' - they do not want to be perceived as American firms. This is partly about projecting global competence (we can deal with your problem in any jurisdiction) and partly about appealing to global clients (we are not a local office of a foreign outfit, we are as much part of the legal market of [country] as [notable domestic firm].'

Thank you so much for the detailed response!! This has definitely clarified the two main reasons for their 'one firm worldwide' ethos.

 

[Law2022]

Does anybody know where you can find a list of some of Skadden's clients? TIA

 

[Rob93]

Thank you so much for the detailed response!! This has definitely clarified the two main reasons for their 'one firm worldwide' ethos.

My pleasure. A fun anecdote I'll share - back in the Before Times I went into JD's office for a presentation evening. This would've been autumn 2019. An attendee grilled the partners on the firm's association with Donald Trump - I believe they represented him on some matters, and there was a revolving door between the DC partnership and the White House.

The London partner to whom the question was addressed went to great pains to dissociate the London office from all of this - I can only imagine how alienating that must have been to any more conservative-minded aspirants in the room. I suppose 'one firm worldwide' substantiates his point to the extent that London is not subordinate to DC. On the other hand I'm not sure how 'well, we really have nothing to do with all of that' fits in with that motto. In any case I got a chuckle out of it.

None of this is a dig at JD, they were all lovely people and I've got a friend who's teed up to train there. I just find this very funny.

 

[S87]

Does anybody know where you can find a list of some of Skadden's clients? TIA

Legal 500

 

[Rob93]

Does anybody know where you can find a list of some of Skadden's clients? TIA

The way I usually approach this is to pick a practice area, search up partners in that area and see their recent deals (or instructions, if you're looking at contentious stuff). It'll say what the matter was and for whom they worked.

 

[Rob93]

Legal 500

This also

 

[Law2022]

Legal 500

The way I usually approach this is to pick a practice area, search up partners in that area and see their recent deals (or instructions, if you're looking at contentious stuff). It'll say what the matter was and for whom they worked.

Thank you both so much! Really useful

 

[S87]

Thank you both so much! Really useful

Plus in the news section, they mention deals and clients. I was actually surprised of how detailed they are!

 

[Law2022]

Plus in the news section, they mention deals and clients. I was actually surprised of how detailed they are!

Thank you! I think the nerves for my interview tomorrow is making me incapable of processing any actual information lol. Thanks so much

 

[average_jo123]

Has anyone who applied for Pinsents heard anything back? I haven’t even had the critical thinking assessment pinged to me, just wondering if these means anything )

I spoke to a future Pinsents trainee from my uni and he said that he only heard back and got invited to take the psychometric test at the end of January, so I wouldn't worry too much about not hearing back yet now. His application was with the Leeds office though so idk if the timeframe is any different for other offices.

I also emailed grad rec to ask a few questions before I submitted my application and they said this:

"Of the 1500+ applications received approximately 200 will be invited to undertake an online psychometric test, with those who pass being invited to an assessment centre where they will have a one to one commercial/behavioural interview with a Partner and a business simulation exercise. The assessment centres are conducted in February, virtually and/or in house".​

 

[LEL]

Anyone have an unconventional response to 'which area should we expand into?' - I usually say ESG to fit the growing agenda etc., but this firm has a whole practice area just for ESG so they're clearly following client needs. Any help appreciated!

 

[kmax301]

Anyone have an unconventional response to 'which area should we expand into?' - I usually say ESG to fit the growing agenda etc., but this firm has a whole practice area just for ESG so they're clearly following client needs. Any help appreciated!

Crypto/Metaverse, Biotechnology, infrastructure (if it's not a practice are already)

 

[John Doe]

Applied 6th, heard back 7th

Hi, again sorry I couldn't offer any advice 😅. I applied on the 6th too. Do you know if AG's VI is automatic?

 

[Samir_O]

Anyone have any tips for the Irwin Mitchell VI in terms of what types of questions their VI typically covers? not too experienced with VI's and havent done one for Irwin Mitchell so would definitely appreciate any tips/guidance/insight!

 

[Law2021vacschemer]

Anyone have an unconventional response to 'which area should we expand into?' - I usually say ESG to fit the growing agenda etc., but this firm has a whole practice area just for ESG so they're clearly following client needs. Any help appreciated!

Expertise in class actions? Since they’re growing in the Uk

 

[LEL]

Crypto/Metaverse, Biotechnology, infrastructure (if it's not a practice are already)

Believe it or not they already have practices for all of these too 🙃 thank you!

 

[LEL]

Expertise in class actions? Since they’re growing in the Uk

Ah worth looking into, thanks