TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Deleted member 37508]

Any news from Weil or Linklaters for their Open-days?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Ropes & Gray: Describe three characteristics that you believe make an outstanding Ropes & Gray lawyer and how that lawyer would drive our business. (500 words max) Does this question require answering why I am suited as a Ropes & Gray lawyer? Some general advise will also be appreciated. Thanks! @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

Hi @Soprano the way I see it, this question aims to test you in three key areas: (i) a classic 'why you' justification; (ii) your knowledge of Ropes & Gray and the particular skills and traits they may be looking for; and (iii) an ability to connect those that with what makes the firm's business success. As such, I think what you should do is:

1. Identify Ropes & Gray's most important practice areas in London.
2. Identify the three or four most important common skills/traits necessary for succeeding while working in those practice areas. If you can further connect the skills/traits to one of the firm's unique selling points (thus showing what would make you an exceptional Ropes & Gray lawyer specifically, not just what would make you a great big law lawyer in general), your answer will be even better.
3. Explain how lawyers possessing those skills/traits are valuable for attracting and retaining clients and thus driving Ropes & Gray's business. If you can connect the skills/traits with the firm's unique selling points from a client perspective, once again your answer will be even better.
4. Demonstrate how you possess those skills/traits by describing a relevant experience or achievement using the traditional STAR structure.

To clarify, these steps are just meant to show you how I think you can plan out the substantive content of your answer. I am not advising you to follow this approach when determining how to structure your ideas. For structure, I think something like the following will likely be better:

• Paragraph 1: (i) You identify one skill/trait which you claim is relevant and that you possess; (ii) you evidence your claim by referencing the relevant experience/achievement which you describe using STAR; (iii) you explain how the skill/trait is very valuable for at least one of Ropes & Gray's key departments; (iv) you explain how this will help retain/win clients and mandates, and if possible connect the point to one of the firm's unique selling points.
• Paragraph 2: Repeat with a different skill/trait.
• Paragraph 3: Repeat with a different skill/trait.

 

[marisachr]

Does anyone have any insights for the Fieldfisher second stage assessment for direct TC? Apparently, it only lasts 5 minutes and is held by a company called ''Neurosight'' 😅 Can't find any practise tests for it online!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi Amma,

I just wanted to bounce off this and ask another q related to this. So the firm I'm applying to is quite strong in EM and so I wanted to potentially talk about how the US tariffs would impact the trade deals in EMs going forward as a topical issue if I were to be asked. Would you still advice against it?

Hi @mfuturetrainee just to jump in before @Amma Usman comes back to you, I think there should be no issue with discussing this topic as long as you ensure your analysis remains very descriptive and as long as you are careful the language you use is very 'neutral'. While I agree with Amma that discussing politics unprompted in an interview is not a good idea, I believe it is fine to talk about the impact of different policies on businesses (and how that consequently impacts law firms).

However, do refrain from making value-judgements about the merits of the policies, and try to detach your descriptive analysis of the impact of a policy from partisan lens. Essentially, I would only make the comments related to impact that a reasonable economist on either side of the political spectrum would likely agree with.

 

[bella98]

Does anyone have any insights for the Fieldfisher second stage assessment for direct TC? Apparently, it only lasts 5 minutes and is held by a company called ''Neurosight'' 😅 Can't find any practise tests for it online!

It's situational 😊—something like 'Do you prefer working in a team or individually?' - very straightforward. No preparation is needed really...

 

[VMS]

Is anyone else unable to submit their application for the Cooley Open Day? It keeps on saying my application data cannot be found. I have emailed GR, but I'm pretty nervous as the deadline is tomorrow!

If anyone else has this same issue, I solved it by creating a new application with a different email address. A bit strange it doesn't like my email address and now I need to remember to check my other account, but at least my app is in!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Hi @mfuturetrainee just to jump in before @Amma Usman comes back to you, I think there should be no issue with discussing this topic as long as you ensure your analysis remains very descriptive and as long as you are careful the language you use is very 'neutral'. While I agree with Amma that discussing politics unprompted in an interview is not a good idea, I believe it is fine to talk about the impact of different policies on businesses (and how that consequently impacts law firms).

However, do refrain from making value-judgements about the merits of the policies, and try to detach your descriptive analysis of the impact of a policy from partisan lens. Essentially, I would only make the comments related to impact that a reasonable economist on either side of the political spectrum would likely agree with.

ok! that makes sense, so pretty much don't give a strong opinion of either or, just focus on the facts and the impact! sorry, just want to double check since i brought it up in a video interview ahaha but i just focused on how the tariffs could impact investor confidence in EMs and how it looks less favourable to invest there when the dollar is strengthening etc and how the firm's practice areas would get involved

 

[marisachr]

Simmons PFO bc they are ''at capacity'' and ''can't transfer my application to another scheme'' 😢

 

[g.cl.2020344]

any1 still waiting to hear back from Dechert post written assessment.

 

[yasmars]

Simmons PFO bc they are ''at capacity'' and ''can't transfer my application to another scheme'' 😢

sorry to hear this! When did you apply.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Simmons PFO bc they are ''at capacity'' and ''can't transfer my application to another scheme'' 😢

wow, that's kinda awful. suddenly I feel good about my "you did not pass this part of our assessment". a clean "you failed."

 

[marisachr]

sorry to hear this! When did you apply.

11 October for the WVS!

 

[Andrei Radu]

I somehow scored 36/40 in wg for Linklaters but I heard you have to retake it at the AC. It was my first attempt and I am worried I won't be able to do as well when I redo it especially due to nerves as it will be my first AC. How badly do I have to do for them to reject me post-AC because of it or think that I cheated the first time?

Hey @applebunny I would not worry too much about this. First of all, it is actually quite hard to cheat in a WG as for many questions even consistently high-scoring candidates will have to 'go with their gut'. Secondly, graduate recruiters are well aware that because of that, the WG scores of the same candidates can significantly vary between different tests. They will also be especially aware of this in the context of an AC, where people in the past will have also struggled with nerves.

Thirdly, the firm will not only be assessing you on your WG performance. As such, if you can show your qualities in the other assessments and you do well, they will be inclined to assume you have the analytic skills to do well in the WG and that if there was a drop in performance in the AC it was likely due to nerves. Fourthly, in my opinion what tends to matter most for AC conversion is what the interviewing partners think of you. If they are impressed, it is not likely you will be rejected simply because of a discrepancy in WG performance.

Finally, even in the very unlikely case where your WG score discrepancy is so significant that they cannot overlook it, if the firm otherwise would have wanted to make you an offer, I do not think they would straight out reject you. I believe it is more likely that they would try to speak with you and possibly schedule further WG assessments to see if the discrepancy can have another explanation besides cheating in the initial test.

Thus, my advice is not to let this cause you anxiety on the day of the AC. Try to go with a positive attitude and know that you are going to absolutely nail it!

 

[Brandon93]

Hi everyone, sorry if this was asked before. I'm currently applying to Freshfields and they have an OPTIONAL CV upload in their application form. Has anyone been successful without uploading the CV or is it absolutely necessary for a successful application?

 

[Looper88]

@Jessica Booker Sorry, please could I trouble you for your opinion on rescheduling an WVS AC due to health issues? Given the sensitive issue at hand, I would like to DM you, would that be ok? 😀

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

Has anyone heard back from Gibson Dunn, or does anyone know around when they tend to get back to applicants. I applied in the beginning of September and am starting to feel kinda worried lol.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all! I did a vacation scheme last summer but unfortunately did not get the training contract. I have an interview tomorrow with a firm for a WVS and am anticipating a question around the vac scheme I completed and why I did not get the training contract. I was wondering what the ideal approach is to answer this question as I didn't receive a ton of (useful) feedback on my previous vacation scheme. Essentially, I made some attention to detail mistakes on a markup exercise and in my interview scored 4/5 out of every category instead of 5/5 (with no qualitative feedback on the latter!).

I would try to do more self-analysis as to what you think you could have improved on if you did not get enough feedback from the firm, and focus your answer in the interview as to what you have done subsequently to try to improve/develop in the areas you thought were your weaker areas.

 

[Law Student]

Hey guys, I need advice. I’ve been offered a paralegal/legal assistant role but it’s unpaid. Do you think I should take it? I’m struggling to find anything else and I will still be doing VS/TC applications whilst working. Or should I find a retail job instead that pays? Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Sorry, please could I trouble you for your opinion on rescheduling an WVS AC due to health issues? Given the sensitive issue at hand, I would like to DM you, would that be ok? 😀

You should definitely reschedule if you are unwell - it is not appropriate to attend an assessment if you are unwell and like universities, recruiters very much take a "fit to sit" approach.

However, you can PM me about this but my PMs are exceptionally busy at the moment and I cannot guarantee a response today (hence why I have replied here).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know the correct structure to answering this question in AllHires:

Have you ever had to resit an exam? If yes, which exam(s) and what was the outcome?

I wouldn't worry about structure here - I would just present the facts of any exams/modules you had to resit, when they happened, and if you passed the second after the resit, with any final grade and capped score.