TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Broadwater]

Literally every other US law firm...?

No? W&C are full-service in London and many US firms in London aren't

 

[neonorange]

Hi everyone, I have an upcoming TI with Morgan Lewis. Does anyone have any insights? TIA

I had mine this morning. It's standard competencies and motivation with nothing to catch you out so as long as you know your examples inside out you'll be fine - the person that I spoke to was very lovely for what it's worth!

 

[Legalstalker]

Does anyone have any advice as to who W&C's competitors are? Thank you

What I do is go onto Chambers look at the firms key sectors and where they rank against others and kinda base those firms as their competitors.

But I could be wrong🫤

 

[Ali A]

Literally every other US law firm...?

I think the firm wishes to follow in Latham's footsteps. Others may be those who are very strong in cap markets space in London and also energy/ projects.

 

[Ajkajk101]

Has anyone who applied for Mayer Brown's Summer Scheme heard back after the test?

 

[irenard]

I had mine this morning. It's standard competencies and motivation with nothing to catch you out so as long as you know your examples inside out you'll be fine - the person that I spoke to was very lovely for what it's worth!

Thank you very much and I hope your interview went well

 

[txl]

taylor wessing VS offer

 

[Deleted member 27336]

taylor wessing VS offer

congrats - when did you do the AC?

 

[RonRod13]

No? W&C are full-service in London and many US firms in London aren't

okay? That doesn't mean that W&C's competitors are only law firms with a full-service practice in London. Law firms are constantly competing with each other all the time for deals, clients, talent etc.

The fact that W&C is full-service in London is a way for W&C to DIFFERENTIATE itself from their competitors. Its a way for W&C to innovate and set itself apart from other law firms. It does not mean that W&C will only now face competition from other full-service London firms.

But of course this is just my view, by all means, I'm welcome to any thoughts and further comments

 

[Ali A]

okay? That doesn't mean that W&C's competitors are only law firms with a full-service practice in London. Law firms are constantly competing with each other all the time for deals, clients, talent etc.

The fact that W&C is full-service in London is a way for W&C to DIFFERENTIATE itself from their competitors. Its a way for W&C to innovate and set itself apart from other law firms. It does not mean that W&C will only now face competition from other full-service London firms.

But of course this is just my view, by all means, I'm welcome to any thoughts and further comments

Not all US firms will be competitors just because W&C is a US firm. Its London office equally competes with the Magic Circle for work as it does with the US firms because of its size and areas of expertise.

I had this same conversation with the managing partner of the W&C London office.

 

[Seven]

Why is there always this one person that acts cheeky with forum members 😭 At this point, I'm convinced it's the same people just with different accounts.

 

[Seven]

Has anyone heard from Simmons post AC for SVS or 10K?

My friend had Simmons allocated to them by 10K last year - and got back in March.

 

[Ali A]

Anyone worried that grades will hinder their future success - the two high-flying partners at Skadden right now (including the managing partner) graduated with 2:2s with one doing his training contract at a high street firm in Hull.

Keep plugging away!

 

[EmileGreen]

Does anyone have any advice as to who W&C's competitors are? Thank you

Skadden and Latham

 

[EliteWhovian]

Anyone worried that grades will hinder their future success - the two high-flying partners at Skadden right now (including the managing partner) graduated with 2:2s with one doing his training contract at a high street firm in Hull.

Keep plugging away!

Thank you for that. Honestly you are truly a positive light in this forum and I just wanted to let you know that your kindness and supportive comments every now and then really don't go unappreciated!

 

[Broadwater]

okay? That doesn't mean that W&C's competitors are only law firms with a full-service practice in London. Law firms are constantly competing with each other all the time for deals, clients, talent etc.

The fact that W&C is full-service in London is a way for W&C to DIFFERENTIATE itself from their competitors. Its a way for W&C to innovate and set itself apart from other law firms. It does not mean that W&C will only now face competition from other full-service London firms.

But of course this is just my view, by all means, I'm welcome to any thoughts and further comments

With respect I wasn't suggesting that. All I was saying was that there's a world of difference between the likes of W&C + Latham vs. Orrick, Goodwin for example

 

[Sunshinepink]

You can mention it briefly - you can’t really leverage the experience having not done it, but you can explain it in a way to show you are pursuing the career or a type of firm.

Okay, thank you so much!

 

[RonRod13]

Not all US firms will be competitors just because W&C is a US firm. Its London office equally competes with the Magic Circle for work as it does with the US firms because of its size and areas of expertise.

I had this same conversation with the managing partner of the W&C London office.

Not all US law firms will be a competitor of W&C- a US law firm?

Please tell me one US commercial law firm which somehow is not competing with W&C.

Law firms are businesses. And businesses which produce the similar goods or services within the same industry are, by definition, competitors.

That said, I welcome any counter-example you may be able to provide me with.

 

[Broadwater]

Not all US law firms will be a competitor of W&C- a US law firm?

Please tell me one US commercial law firm which somehow is not competing with W&C.

Law firms are businesses. And businesses which produce the similar goods or services within the same industry are, by definition, competitors.

That said, I welcome any counter-example you may be able to provide me with.

Yes, all US law firms provide legal services but not all US law firms target the same practice areas, sectors and clients. For example, on the whole Goodwin (VC, life sciences, tech etc.) is marketing its legal services to a very different section of the market than White & Case (broad client base but includes clients that would never instruct Goodwin e.g. oil companies)

 

[Seven]

Not all US law firms will be a competitor of W&C- a US law firm?

Please tell me one US commercial law firm which somehow is not competing with W&C.

Law firms are businesses. And businesses which produce the similar goods or services within the same industry are, by definition, competitors.

That said, I welcome any counter-example you may be able to provide me with.

When a Partner at an interview asks you what their competitors are. They’re speaking of direct competitors. If you want to be literal, then yes, by definition most US firms would be competitors of White & Case by virtue of merely being an international law firm.

But that’s not what they’re looking for. A firm that has a Band 2 ranking in M&A deals with a specialist focus on energy is not a competitor of a firm that has a Band 1 ranking in M&A deals with a specialist focus on TMT. They’re both of different calibres. In order to deduce a competitor, you have to identify the rankings, specialisms, type of clients and deals. Not every US firm will be a direct competitor of each other, regardless of “full-service offering”.

By your advice, if X candidate went into an interview and said that one of White & Case’s competitors is Milbank for example who specialises in high-yield bonds and is tier 2 in projects work compared to White & Case with a tier 1 practice. You would technically be wrong based on a direct competitor.