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

[Rob93]

I did not know this thank you for this. It was just at their Legal Cheek event their trainee said they are higher ranked for PE than Weil.

That's interesting, curious where they got that from.

 

[Commerciallaw]

Fair point - will make a point of clarifying this when using made-up terms in future. I'll take this opportunity to also mention that it's best not to use the term 'magic circle' when interviewing at a magic circle firm, they don't particularly like it.

Can I ask why they don't like being called a MC firm - I would have assumed it would be a privilege?

 

[Audrey219]

CMS AC 🥳
This is my first ever AC so if anyone has any tips then please let me know!

 

[Rob93]

Can I ask why they don't like being called a MC firm - I would have assumed it would be a privilege?

Two main reasons - one is that it flattens out the ways in which they perceive themselves as different from one another.

The other is that it has a certain smack of Englishness, and with the arguable exception of Slaughters they're quite keen to cast themselves as part of the so-called 'global elite' firms, not just the UK market leaders - some US-based firms rankle similarly at being branded as 'US firms' in the UK.

 

[psr23]

For those who were progressed to Mayer Brown’s job simulation exercise, how long did it take you to find out following your completion of the online tests?

I think it was about 5 days

 

[Asil Ahmad]

That's interesting, curious where they got that from.

Don't remember the source but if I find it will let you know.

 

[Donuttime]

How do people prepare for competency interviews?

 

[awd1998]

CMS AC 🥳
This is my first ever AC so if anyone has any tips then please let me know!

Congrats, if you don't mind me asking, when did you do your VI?

 

[Audrey219]

Congrats, if you don't mind me asking, when did you do your VI?

Completed my VI on the 8/01 and it was reviewed on the 14/01

 

[Jessica Booker]

Can I ask why they don't like being called a MC firm - I would have assumed it would be a privilege?

They haven’t liked the term pretty much since it was created by the legal press several decades ago.

It just is a really crude term (in terms of how basic it is) and was based purely when there was a huge gulf between them and other firms on revenue and particularly PEP. But the legal landscape has changed significantly now, not only down to the growth of US firms but also the growth of large international firms, particularly through mergers. They are now competing much more with other firms than just other MC firms.

 

[ZaraB]

Has anyone received an email from Bristows that their application has been progressed to a round of screening by the partners of the firm post-VI? Received it this morning and was wondering if it was generic!

 

[unserious candidate]

im really struggling to find a compelling answer to "why Clifford Chance". they are easily my favourite firm and the firm im most suited to but don't know how to explain why, in a convincing, non-generic way?

 

[violeta]

Has anyone got any info on the Dechert VI and written exercise please? Been invited to it this morning (applied for summer vac) but can't find any tips online other than to have a commercial story prepared.

 

[Jessica Booker]

im really struggling to find a compelling answer to "why Clifford Chance". they are easily my favourite firm and the firm im most suited to but don't know how to explain why, in a convincing, non-generic way?

The compelling answer is a genuine one. Pick out the specific aspects of CC that appeal to you and then provide the rationale as to why those things appeal/how you and the firm align. It doesn't matter if the theme is generic - the alignment won't be.

 

[violeta]

Also has anyone that applied to Addleshaw Goddard's London office heard anything post-app?

 

[kmax301]

Also has anyone that applied to Addleshaw Goddard's London office heard anything post-app?

Radio silence so I assume it's non-rolling...

 

[aspiringlawyer123_]

Has anyone received an email from Bristows that their application has been progressed to a round of screening by the partners of the firm post-VI? Received it this morning and was wondering if it was generic!

Think it’s generic

 

[kmax301]

im really struggling to find a compelling answer to "why Clifford Chance". they are easily my favourite firm and the firm im most suited to but don't know how to explain why, in a convincing, non-generic way?

Try to look at this in the following way:
Let's say you like travelling by plane more than travelling by train. Most likely, there are some rational reasons for that but not just `I like it because I feel like I like it.` For instance, you might not enjoy trains because of the length of journeys or you like food or comfort in planes. These are all reasons that influence your choice when you have to decide.
Coming back to real life, there should be rational reasons why you like CC more than any other firm. Whether it`s areas of work, quality of work, reputation, people, all these factors are quite relevant. I doubt that two people will have entirely the same reasons for applying to a firm. So, if you explain your reasons with particular references to the firm and if you do not write `I want to work in CC because I want to be a lawyer and get a lot of money`, your application will not be generic no matter how generic it might look to you.

 

[MensRea93]

Is anyone else still waiting to hear back from Macfarlanes re Vac Scheme? Wondering whether to give them a call.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Try to look at this in the following way:
Let's say you like travelling by plane more than travelling by train. Most likely, there are some rational reasons for that but not just `I like it because I feel like I like it.` For instance, you might not like trains because of the length of journeys or you like food or comfort in planes. These are all reasons that influence your choice when you have to decide.
Coming back to real life, there should be rational reasons why you like CC more than any other firm. Whether it`s areas of work, quality of work, reputation, people, all these factors are quite relevant. I doubt that two people will have entirely the same reasons for applying to a firm. So, if you explain your reasons with particular references to the firm and if you do not write `I want to work in CC because I want to be a lawyer and get a lot of money`, your application will not be generic no matter how generic it might look to you.

An excellent way to describe it!