TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Amma Usman

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
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Hi @Ram Sabaratnam and @Andrei Radu

I trust you are well.

I am trying to approach this 350-word question 'What steps have you taken to research a career as a solicitor at an international law firm? What appeals to you about this career?

Should I dedicate half of the word count to 'the steps' I took and mention open days/vs. etc., and the rest of the word count to what appeals to me about a career at an international law firm?

Thank you in advance.

Hey @AS24 , great question.


The question is indeed a hybrid, so dividing your word count between "the steps you took" and "what appeals to you about this career" is a solid approach. However, don’t feel bound to an exact 50/50 split. Instead, use your discretion to ensure each point is fully developed. For instance, you may find that your interest in a career as a solicitor in an international law firm requires more explanation than the specific steps you took, especially if those steps can be covered succinctly with a few examples and some detail.

Consider the question as asking both, “What steps have you taken to confirm that this is the career you want?” and “How have these experiences solidified or deepened your interest in commercial law specifically?” For the first part, focus on experiences that directly exposed you to commercial law or the day-to-day work of a solicitor, such as open days, vacation schemes, networking events, or specific workshops. Highlight any moments that were particularly formative—such as learning about the role of solicitors in complex transactions or understanding the way international firms approach cross-border work.

When explaining what appeals to you about this career, go beyond the surface level to show why you chose commercial law over other fields like immigration, criminal law, or even professions in adjacent industries like banking or marketing. Reflect on what aspects of commercial law excite you most: is it the strategic problem-solving involved in high-stakes deals? The dynamic nature of working with international clients and navigating varied regulatory environments? This is also a great opportunity to discuss any insights you gained about the commercial or business side of legal work and why that focus appeals to you. For instance, perhaps your research or work experiences revealed the value lawyers bring by understanding clients' industries, or you realized you thrive in environments where legal expertise intersects with business strategy. Remember to solidify the points here with remnants from your past experiences, to avoid your answer being labeled as generic.

Additionally, because the question specifically references international law firms, consider contrasting the appeal of international work versus domestic-only practices. You might mention the diversity of clients, the chance to address complex cross-border issues, or the appeal of working with multiple legal frameworks and regulations. This could be through direct examples, such as a case study or insight you encountered, or through your own aspirations to engage in a more globally connected practice.

Overall, think of this answer as an opportunity to demonstrate both why this career path is meaningful to you and how you’ve actively engaged in exploring and validating that interest.
 
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IneedaTCASAP

Legendary Member
Oct 14, 2024
198
368
my linklaters top attributes being respect and resilience and my worst being resource and work management doesn’t exactly instil me with confidence icl… no critical thinking or analytical skills to speak of 💀
We have the same weakness.My strengths were excellence and working with others. Out of all of them I don’t think our weakness is as bad. We could’ve got intellect! IMG_6468.png
 

Optimistic1111

Active Member
Oct 25, 2024
17
6
tbf I wouldn’t really worry, you could make a case for every single attribute being the most and least important, they all sound bad when put as the lowest and seem like the most important.
Yea, you're exactly right! I've read a few on here which have had excellence as their lowest and thought if I had that result I would have been concerned about that too lol.
 

Lopez2017

Distinguished Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Feb 11, 2023
50
47
Hey @Lopez2017

This is actually such a cute question!!!

I've never answered anything like this before in an application, but the question seems to be clearly geared towards gauging your creativity/personality - I think it's fine to have a playful, yet introspective response, giving them an indication of your values. It might also be worth looking at the firm's values to see if you can say something that might potentially align with it. Given the word count restriction (60!?), you also want ensure the advice is something that you can express in a concise way. I've taken a stab at this question below, though I'd be curious what @Jessica Booker and the other community assistants @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would say too.

"Unstructured time can actually be a good thing! Growing up as a child in the countryside, I learned to clean stables, cook, take spontaneous bike rides, and balance freedom with control. These are some of my happiest memories—a reminder of how essential it is to have time set aside for exploration, trying new things, and simple enjoyment."
No doubt it’s an odd one, as @Jessica Booker pointed out, and one that has taken me by surprise.

All jokes aside, I wonder if it is getting at two fundamental aspects of life as a lawyer at Withers:

- the strong personal connections private client lawyers build with their clients and guiding them through often emotional issues (hence the childhood toy?)
- Withers is full-service: although the firm leans to private client, they are prepped to navigate their clients through the full spectrum of life’s challenges.

Still, not sure how that feeds into any answer. Maybe it is just a slightly silly question and they just want to see some personality!
 

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