TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[yeezyee]

Greenberg Traurig interview woop!

Does anybody have any insight/experience here? Curious how I would go about answering their commercial-centred questions.

congratulations!! i have no help at all lol but do u mind me asking when did you apply?

 

[mindlesshistory]

congratulations!! i have no help at all lol but do u mind me asking when did you apply?

sorry i honestly don't remember, must've been close to/around the deadline

 

[born&raised]

Might be a bit of a no-brainer, but does anyone know any good podcasts to keep up with commercial awareness? I am trying to enhance my commercial knowledge so I would really appreciate it if you shared anything that has helped you!

I'd recommend FT News Briefing (for an overall macro-level picture) and The Commercial Awareness Podcast by Peter Watson (for understanding how to 'talk' commercially and discuss an issue at depth, which is something very different than just being commercially aware). BBC Radio 4 The Bottom Line is good too

 

[Apple]

When answering 'tell me about yourself', should you literally run through your experience or should you take it as an opportunity to do more of a hard sell?

Just a note, it is good to end with something really interesting about yourself, sticks in the interviewer's mind more and makes you seem interesting haha.

 

[LawBrah]

Hey everyone!

By way of background, I graduated last summer and am currently working full-time as a paralegal. This is my third cycle and I must have done about 40 or so applications across that time, with around 4 ACs. Unfortunately, despite putting in plenty of effort and energy into the process, I'm still yet to land a VS or TC and unless I somehow pass a VI that I bombed, this cycle will be another failure.

I have a housemate who I lived with last year, who didn't apply in second year or final year of uni because she wanted to focus on studies/extracurriculars. This year, she's done one application to a firm she really liked and she phoned me on Friday to say that she'd got the VS with them. Obviously, I'm thrilled for her but that's tinged with jealousy. The fact she's done 1 application and successfully managed to obtain a VS, while I've done 40 applications or so across 3 years and have spent hours and hours writing applications, researching, preparing for ACs and so forth just seems brutally unfair. I know it's corporate law and it isn't supposed to be fair, but it's incredibly demotivating and makes me feel that the process is easy, and I'm just not good enough.

She's very personable and intelligent, so I understand why a firm would want her, but our grades/experiences etc weren't overly dissimilar. I just don't get how someone can manage that when I'm likely to be in my fourth cycle next year, still hoping that just one firm will give me a chance.

Luck plays a larger role in this process than most realise. C'est la vie, malheureusement. If your situations are not dissimilar as you say then you should genuinely be happy - it follows that there is no demonstrable reason you cannot have the same success she is having.

 

[lawstudent2003]

Hi everyone, does anybody have any advice on approaching the following application question? - "If you could have dinner with 2 people from any point in history, who would you choose and why? Please convince us to why they would be the best choices." I feel like this is such a left-field question and I haven't come across anything like this before!

 

[lawstudent2003]

Might be a bit of a no-brainer, but does anyone know any good podcasts to keep up with commercial awareness? I am trying to enhance my commercial knowledge so I would really appreciate it if you shared anything that has helped you!

I would also recommend "The Firm Analyst" by Adnan Shafi

 

[S87]

Hi everyone, does anybody have any advice on approaching the following application question? - "If you could have dinner with 2 people from any point in history, who would you choose and why? Please convince us to why they would be the best choices." I feel like this is such a left-field question and I haven't come across anything like this before!

Hi,

When I have these types of questions I tend to name people that have a connection to my values or interests. For example, I once mentioned Einstein and Nietzsche. I am interested in Science and religion, my A-levels described a certain controversial topic based on science and religion. Plus, Nietzsche believed that there are no facts but just interpretations. Whereas, Einstein believed in people's capability to access facts. I also connected my interest to today's society and that we are all stuck to our own opinions without looking at/analysing empirical facts. Sorry, it is a bit complicated but I hope it makes sense. I substantiated every aspect of my answer.

 

[Kittyb444]

Anyone got a milbank post AC rejection yet?

No I still have not heard anything back yet, have you?

 

[Kittyb444]

Milbank pfo

Was this after AC or before?

 

[CorporateCrocodile]

Might be a bit of a no-brainer, but does anyone know any good podcasts to keep up with commercial awareness? I am trying to enhance my commercial knowledge so I would really appreciate it if you shared anything that has helped you!

Goldman Sachs Exchanges is pretty good for deep dives. I'd also recommend 'The Lawyer' podcast as it breaks down trending legal topics in a very easily digestible way.

 

[Kittyb444]

Sent a chaser email to Milbank asking when we should expect to get AC feedback. Received an extremely generic post-app rejection style email in response. Really disappointing, especially since they came across so well on the day of the AC.

Had you received a rejection email after asking them for the AC feedback or before? Just asking becasue i havent heard back yet too after my AC

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

Greenberg Traurig interview woop!

Does anybody have any insight/experience here? Curious how I would go about answering their commercial-centred questions.

For a second I thought you said Greta Thunberg 🤣

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[CorporateCrocodile]

Had you received a rejection email after asking them for the AC feedback or before? Just asking becasue i havent heard back yet too after my AC

It was after asking for feedback (but I had already assumed PFO as they already gave out offers).

 

[Ellsxoxbells]

Does anyone have any insight into the Marriott Harrison assessment centre? Would be greatly appreciated!

 

[S87]

Does anyone know how to answer Why do you wish to complete a work placement with us? What structure should I follow?

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

Has anyone done the Penningtons Manches Cooper virtual assessment?

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

Is there any guidance available based on TCLA courses or individuals experiences regarding a mock client interview? I have not done the LPC/ SQE and understand that this is covered in those courses.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone, does anybody have any advice on approaching the following application question? - "If you could have dinner with 2 people from any point in history, who would you choose and why? Please convince us to why they would be the best choices." I feel like this is such a left-field question and I haven't come across anything like this before!

Pick a couple of people who really suit your interests or curiosity, or who aligns with your own values.

Try to not pick obvious names whether they be very prominent “celebrities” or people who are very closely linked to law - you are not going to stand out from the crowd if you say Baroness Hale or Barack Obama.

Try to find something a little more unique you can do the “convince us” part of this question.

I would also try to make clear how you are defining why they would be the best dinner guests. Different people will have different views on what makes a good dinner guest, and so by making this clear you are likely to be more persuasive.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know how to answer Why do you wish to complete a work placement with us? What structure should I follow?

Focus on what you hope to gain from the placement in terms of experience, skills or knowledge, and try to make this more tailored to the firm you are applying to.

For instance is there a particular practice area you are keen to experience? Or are you hoping to gain more insight into types of work? Maybe you are hoping to refine your drafting skills in a corporate environment rather than academic.