TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[tcplease2345]

Any word from SH summer vacation scheme?

 

[Hopefultrainee22]

Does anyone know if VIs are assessed holistically? I feel I did well on 2 of the 3 questions but less well on another and can’t get it out of my head.

Is your application considered at this stage too or is that discounted and it’s solely the content of your VI? I feel like I continually stumbled throughout one of the questions, repeated myself and feel that doing that on one of the questions has killed my chances.

Do you know how they’re reviewed @Jessica Booker?

 

[laby201]

Does anyone know if VIs are assessed holistically? I feel I did well on 2 of the 3 questions but less well on another and can’t get it out of my head.

Is your application considered at this stage too or is that discounted and it’s solely the content of your VI? I feel like I continually stumbled throughout one of the questions, repeated myself and feel that doing that on one of the questions has killed my chances.

Do you know how they’re reviewed @Jessica Booker?

I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine they're considered holistically? If you've performed well on two of the questions, unless the competition was really fierce, it would seem harsh to penalise you if one answer was weaker. Stuttering and repetition is normal (if expected) in a VI because they're unnatural. As long as there was substance to your answer and it was structured well, you probably did better than you think

However, I don't think your application comes into it at this stage. You've got through the VI based on the strength of your application so believe the VI is determined on its own merit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this though!

 

[tcplease2345]

I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine they're considered holistically? If you've performed well on two of the questions, unless the competition was really fierce, it would seem harsh to penalise you if one answer was weaker. Stuttering and repetition is normal (if expected) in a VI because they're unnatural. As long as there was substance to your answer and it was structured well, you probably did better than you think

However, I don't think your application comes into it at this stage. You've got through the VI based on the strength of your application so believe the VI is determined on its own merit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this though!

From what I know the application is not considered.

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

I’m 99% sure it’s to do with when you submitted the VI, just to keep clear communication with the candidates, I think it could even be an automated one as mine was sent about 2 weeks after I submitted! I don’t think it has anything to do with if you’ve progressed or not!

I'm not sure this is correct. I submitted my VI in February yet there are people who did theirs in December and haven't received the holding email. That said, I think it could simply mean they've now reviewed the VI and made their decision either way.

 

[Kenomy]

Yes I just did, is this the next stage? The website says there is an SJT so I am a bit confused

I suspect it is but not 100%. I think @Jessica Booker would be a better authority as to that.

 

[ia1234]

Does anyone please have tips on preparing for W&C vi and what kind of questions to expect. feel free to Dm me with tailored advice please

 

[axelbeugre]

When should I expect to hear back post-AC if the vac scheme is rolling?

It depends on the law firm to be honest, with some law firms I heard back two hours after, some people 2 weeks after the final interview with other firms so it is very firm dependent I would say.

But realistically, 1/2 weeks on average I think.

 

[sharnie1]

Has anyone heard from Shoosmiths?

 

[Jessica Booker]

I suspect it is but not 100%. I think @Jessica Booker would be a better authority as to that.

No SJT just the video interview this year.

 

[Lawyer2003]

If I want to apply to a firm that has a set week for interviews that I already know I won't be available for, is it better to just not apply? or to contact them now to ask if they can normally accommodate interviews at a later date? or just to apply and then get in touch if I get invited to an interview?

What firm is this?

 

[Heartofglass]

Latham pfo at last.

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Latham pfo jus now 🥲 what a way to start my Friday

 

[Metepow]

Still nothing from Slaughters?

 

[RonRod13]

Ha! Bet you didn't know that @ElonMusk!

I love how you claimed they are competitors yet provided the arguments that perfectly contradict your statement.

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

 

[laby201]

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

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!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

I don’t think anyone wants to see this debate 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!

word im waiting for updates on firms and all the notifs i get is about this debate going on from yday 😭 please start a new forum guys, the rest of us jus wanna know if we’re getting rejected or not, leave us be xo

 

[NJS]

NRF will get back by the 8th of March? I remember seeing someone post that

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

"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!

 

[Kenomy]

No SJT just the video interview this year.

Thanks Jessica. I was more referring to saj2002s question of whether we had been shortlisted to the next stage