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

[AvniD]

Hi all! I'm drafting my cover letter and not sure which approach I should take. In explaining 'why me', would it be better to 1) just give details of experiences and let the GR infer the skills or 2) highlight what skills I developed in those experiences and describe how they can be applied in commercial law/the firm?
Appreciate any tips!!

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?

@YUKI1201 I'd suggest stating a skill/attribute you have ➡️ giving an example of how you have applied it ➡️ linking your skill/attribute back to the firm's ethos/vision/goals by stating how you'll apply it in your role. Does this make sense?

@ellek having core reasons and being ready to expand on them with further mini-reasons always worked for me. For example, if I said that I liked a firm's training contract structure, I'd go into specifics about what I liked in particular, including secondment opportunities, seat structure, the support I'd have during my training etc. I hope this helps!

Ugh I sounded SO robotic on my VI. Literally awfully robotic and repeated a lot so disappointed. I’m soooo bad at these. It’s weird because I’m usually quite good at interviews and have no problem passing that stage, but I just struggle with VIs so much

I can also relate to the problem of repeating yourself. I literally just had a VI and in the middle of one of my answers, I got lost in my own train of thoughts and just started to repeat myself. Perhaps each time try only to make 2/3 distinct points and try to answer as concisely as possible? And doing some practice beforehand will surely help. It's something that I need to work on as well, so good luck to you and me!

VIs can be really difficult to master- I remember practising day and night to try and get better at them (not saying that you have to do the same! 😅) I made a post recently with my best tips and resources to practice that I hope will be helpful to you. Let me know how you get on with your applications! Wishing you the best 😇

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Mine was around 1000 words (long I know lol) and I made it to interview last year

Thank you for this and congratulations that is really good.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Also general advice to anyone applying to W&C - at the open day they said they really want to see an interest in the guaranteed international secondment in the cover letter and to think about how this secondment would benefit you/what skills it would give you and how this benefits W&C e.g. knowledge of regulations diff markets and jurisdictions, which would allow you to develop a global mindset which they obvs want in their lawyers. Hope this helps

Thank you for this great advice this is really helpful.

 

[RebeccaJane]

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".​

Thank you )

 

[tc_hopeful]

Does anyone know how long it takes Mayer Brown to send the online tests post-application form?

 

[kmax301]

Good morning! Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard post application? I believe they are non-rolling right?

 

[Legalmel_99]

Last year I researched the Gowling games ect and tried to be someone I wasn’t due to that, I didn’t make it to the VI, this year I played the game as myself and my report came out so much better and more positive.
Morale of the story is just try your best to be natural don’t focus on what others say everyone’s experiences of games is different and everyone enjoys/doesn’t like the same things ☺️ good luck everyone x

Haven’t been on here for a while but - made it to gowlings VI

 

[Legalmel_99]

Anyone applied to gateley and then within a couple of hours get an email stating “You will shortly be invited to complete our interactive assessment as part of the next stage of our recruitment process”

this made me think I’ve passed the application stage or is this automated?

 

[GXA123]

Anyone applied to gateley and then within a couple of hours get an email stating “You will shortly be invited to complete our interactive assessment as part of the next stage of our recruitment process”

this made me think I’ve passed the application stage or is this automated?

Automatic

 

[Arche172372]

Has anyone heard from Gibson Dunn or Akin (post w-g)

 

[skmx]

If anyone is doing the CMS AC this week, please drop me a message!

 

[emmashardlow]

I'm trying to research sale and purchase agreements but can't find any good websites that explain things simply (for a non-law student). Does anyone have any advice on where to look?

 

[thirdtimelucky]

I'm trying to research sale and purchase agreements but can't find any good websites that explain things simply (for a non-law student). Does anyone have any advice on where to look?

Would recommend Jake Schoggers commercial law handbook!

 

[gg332dd]

Complete noob here -- im writing my white & case cover letter, and in the 'why W&C' paragraph I mentioned their global reach and training structure (guaranteed overseas secondment + mix of contentious/non-contentious. -- just wondering if this is too generic, or if there's a way to elevate at all?

 

[anon123456789]

I'm trying to research sale and purchase agreements but can't find any good websites that explain things simply (for a non-law student). Does anyone have any advice on where to look?

As a non-law student I am absolutely loving Chris Stoakes' "All You Need to Know About the City"
I haven't finished it yet so I'm not sure if it incudes S&Ps specifically but its the best thing I have found for improving my commercial awareness as it puts the anatomy of the city in seriously understandable laymen's terms.

Commercial awareness is overwhelming for non-law students as there are so many resources out there you don't know where to start. I have just been highlighting this and tabbing it up like I would a textbook and its been really helpful.

 

[Rob93]

Complete noob here -- im writing my white & case cover letter, and in the 'why W&C' paragraph I mentioned their global reach and training structure (guaranteed overseas secondment + mix of contentious/non-contentious. -- just wondering if this is too generic, or if there's a way to elevate at all?

That content is good to cover, it's something they make a big deal of. The way to elevate it is to give a compelling explanation of why those things appeal *to you.*

 

[S87]

As a non-law student I am absolutely loving Chris Stoakes' "All You Need to Know About the City"
I haven't finished it yet so I'm not sure if it incudes S&Ps specifically but its the best thing I have found for improving my commercial awareness as it puts the anatomy of the city in seriously understandable laymen's terms.

Commercial awareness is overwhelming for non-law students as there are so many resources out there you don't know where to start. I have just been highlighting this and tabbing it up like I would a textbook and its been really helpful.

I understand the love, I actually read it when I feel am failing at everything. I feel good knowing I can understand something about the commercial world lol

 

[Rob93]

As a non-law student I am absolutely loving Chris Stoakes' "All You Need to Know About the City"
I haven't finished it yet so I'm not sure if it incudes S&Ps specifically but its the best thing I have found for improving my commercial awareness as it puts the anatomy of the city in seriously understandable laymen's terms.

Commercial awareness is overwhelming for non-law students as there are so many resources out there you don't know where to start. I have just been highlighting this and tabbing it up like I would a textbook and its been really helpful.

If people want to boost commercial awareness and have fun doing it, read Barbarians at the Gate. Essential reading for anyone interested in PE but also touches on M&A more broadly, corporate governance, finance, all kinds.

A slightly more esoteric companion piece I've been enjoying lately is The Predators' Ball, which revolves around the development of the junk bond market which fuelled the 80s takeover boom.

 

[gg332dd]

That content is good to cover, it's something they make a big deal of. The way to elevate it is to give a compelling explanation of why those things appeal *to you.*

Thank you! I was afraid it may be a bit too generic as they're not the only firm to offer these. Would you say 2-3 sentences are enough to justify my motivations? I'm never sure how much detail you're supposed to go in!

 

[Rob93]

Thank you! I was afraid it may be a bit too generic as they're not the only firm to offer these. Would you say ~2 sentences are enough to justify my motivations? I'm never sure how much detail you're supposed to go in!

It depends what your motivations are. I realise this is vague but say as much as you need to, and no more.

Also AFAIK WC are the ONLY firm to guarantee/require an overseas secondment - this is very different from a firm that runs them but maybe only 20% of trainees get to go in any given year. Apart from the fact that going abroad is cool and fun, also think about what it might mean about the firm's values - is WC committed, in a way others aren't, to training truly international lawyers, to building a truly international brand, to running a truly integrated global operation underpinned by strong relationships between offices?