TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[nonlawstudent04]

Anyone know when the Bakers VI deadline is (summer)? On the first email it said 29th Feb, but on the email with the link it says 26th Feb...

 

[yeezyee]

Has anyone not heard from GT? they said we’d find out by today and no email means a pfo :/

 

[law2022x]

are v&e still giving out invites?

 

[myarkaur]

does anyone have a list of possible questions for interviews/VIs? It's (technically) my first one and I want to give it my all 🥹

Hi, where is it for I can maybe help?

 

[law2022x]

are v&e still giving out invites?

nvm pfo 🥲

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

nvm pfo 🥲

Same

 

[HarmonyN]

how many firms is everyone waiting on? im waiting on 3 and then that concludes my cycle!

7.
Speaking Of, has anyone heard anything from DWF for the SVS?

 

[Ali A]

V&E PFO post-VI

 

[kcr]

V&E PFO. Thank you for the elite seasoning though 🫡

 

[S87]

V&E PFO post-VI

Same

 

[mfuturetrainee]

dear lawd I cant go through another cycle like this 😭 v&e pfo post vi

 

[mhs234]

Has anyone heard from Shoosmiths?

No, it’s the last one i’m waiting to hear back from. They said we should hear back by the 28th

 

[Seville123]

how many firms is everyone waiting on? im waiting on 3 and then that concludes my cycle!

I have no more firms 😅 I tried to make a small number of tailored apps this cycle. Although I did get a vac scheme at an MC firm which I am really grateful for, I didn’t convert it 🥹

I am now going to apply for some direct TCs.

But what are people planning on doing if they have not secured a TC or VC?

 

[studentdelaw786]

how many firms is everyone waiting on? im waiting on 3 and then that concludes my cycle!

3 but i’m hoping to apply for direct TCs in April and May.

 

[mx.jsn]

does anyone have a list of possible questions for interviews/VIs? It's (technically) my first one and I want to give it my all 🥹

Training Contract Interview Questions | 175 Practice Questions (2018)

We've produced these training contract interview questions to help you practice for interviews and assessment centres at law firms. Why? Well, we've arranged many mock interviews over the years and we see a substantial difference in performance after students have practiced real interview questions.

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

This thread is also very useful:

Definitive Guide to Law Firm Interviews! *Monday Article Series*

In this week's (slightly delayed - sorry!) Article, we take a look at law firm interviews. Introduction Almost every law firm’s application process involves some form of interview. This style of interview is designed to find out about your motivations, experiences, skills and characteristics...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[EzeLaylor]

I have no more firms 😅 I tried to make a small number of tailored apps this cycle. Although I did get a vac scheme at an MC firm which I am really grateful for, I didn’t convert it 🥹

I am now going to apply for some direct TCs.

But what are people planning on doing if they have not secured a TC or VC?

Do you have any tips for converting a vac scheme at an MC firm - Have one coming up in the summer (was fast-tracked from the open day) and could really use some help as it's my first scheme.

 

[EllaClayton]

how many firms is everyone waiting on? im waiting on 3 and then that concludes my cycle!

Currently waiting on 7 🤞

 

[u26jm18]

how many firms is everyone waiting on? im waiting on 3 and then that concludes my cycle!

I think ten? Of that ten, two are AC's (yet to do), five are post VI, and three post application (TLT where the hell are you?)

 

[sxw517]

Some of the members on this forum will argue the toss over absolutely anything, they'd probably even debate the colour of the sky on a clear day.

I think many people raise points, unaware that one of the resident pedants will swoop in with a fine-tooth comb ready to dissect every word of their post.

It's really quite tiresome, even not being a part of it.........

 

[RonRod13]

I don’t think anyone wants to see this debate to continue anymore, especially because you’re ignoring pretty sound advice, but I think you’re getting confused.

No one is disputing that W&C aren’t competitors with all other US firms. To a degree, all City law firms compete against each other. However, if you were asked in an interview who W&C’s competitors were and your answer was “all US firms”, I can almost guarantee that interviewers would not be impressed. It shows a serious lack of critical thinking and depth, just like if you were asked who Freshfields’ competitors were and you said “all of the MC”. It just isn’t the case when in many regards, HSF or Hogan Lovells will be considered bigger competitors.

I’d say Latham is probably W&C’s biggest competitor but that’s not purely because it’s a US firm, it’s because it’s clearly the firm W&C aspires to be by making its London office its biggest, rather than a satellite office like most US firms in London. It also is increasing its work in the corporate/capital markets sphere like Latham. Skadden is worth a mention too.

However, you wouldn’t say somewhere like Orrick is a bigger competitor than W&C than Clifford Chance, say, who excel in capital markets, insolvency, and other areas that W&C specialises in. If you’re focusing on energy and projects, which W&C is known for, Norton Rose would be a far bigger competitor than Paul Hastings for W&C.

It’s a nuanced answer. It’s fine to say a US firm, like Latham, if you can back it up. Saying Morgan Lewis, Orrick, and Weil are competitors solely because they’re US firms, while ignoring a firm like NRF, who is arguably a bigger competitor, won’t get you far.

Now let’s end this debate here. If you don’t want to take the advice, that’s your choice!

So this is just absolutely irrelevant to the argument at hand and youve gone off an tangent. The argument is not about who is a bigger competitor or who is a more direct competitor, its about who is W&C's competitors full stop.

Here you say:

No one is disputing that W&C aren’t competitors with all other US firms.

This is literally what the whole argument is about and how this whole discussion orirginated, I urge you to please assimilate all the information accurately before writing a response.

"Just because they try to target different audiences, brand themselves differently, price their cars differently etc."

That's like saying a fine dining restaurant competes with McDonald's because they both have burgers on the menu.

I don't want to restart this debate so, please just read other comments and reflect. Good luck with the applications!

Thats not a contradiction, I was simply explaining those are some of the ways the two companies try to compete.

Furthermore, your second statement shows your lack of ability to make comparisons and make logical deductions. Mcdonalds is in the fast food industry, not the sit-down, restauraunt dining industry, it caters to people who want affordable, quick, on-the-go food. Their competitors are other fast-food restauraunts like burger king and KFC. Of course they would not be competing with fine dining chains because they're in a DIFFERENT INDUSTRY. It is not like I said "every company that produces vehicles are competing with each other." So, your statement only proves my point further.

Im honestly shocked by so many people's lack of business acumen and ability to understand their business models. You're applying to jobs where you're going to be doing this on a daily basis so its a bit alarming to be honest...