TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

Hey guys,
I have a question. I have applied to a couple of winter vac schemes, but I am an international student and a lot of these run during term time (therefore, the 20-hour cap per week comes into play). Therefore, assuming I get an offer, do you think the firm would change the schemes to spring or summer if I asked?

Hello @unknownnn7372. I remember facing the issue of being unable to apply for winter vacation schemes as well - being an international student myself. I believe if you get an offer, firms ‘may’ be flexible in offering you a place on a spring or summer scheme. However, you will need to let them know on time. Again, this is me talking objectively as the flexibility to do this may differ between firms so I wouldn’t bet on that approach. I would recommend contacting your university to know your exact term dates. You should then aim for applying to schemes that fall outside term-time in spring or summer.

In summary, there is still the possibility for flexibility in switching from winter to spring/summer. The safest approach is just applying for spring/summer!

Hope this helps.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If you were a Trainee Solicitor at Baker McKenzie, where would you want to go on secondment and why? (this may be client specific, country specific, or both) (300 words)

I am currently answering this question for BM's open day. I have chosen to write about a client secondment. I aim to briefly explain a commercial challenge/issue the client is likely to face and how my personal/professional experiences have motivated me to help the client navigate that challenge/issue. Is this approach good or am I not answering the question? Would appreciate anyone's insights

It is a good idea to connect it back to your interest or experiences, but I don’t think you have to leverage one particular potential matter you could face. For many secondments, you tend to pick up quite a variety of work while working in house, and so seeming like you are very focused on one particular project or matter might come across as too niche.

 

[Filia]

Has anyone received any update from Sidley re WVC?

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi everyone - BCLP are asking: 'What is your understanding of how a business generates and maintains a profit? (Please provide examples)'.

I am afraid I am approaching this too academically. It feels like an exam question lol, but I am trying to infuse it with examples which demonstrate commercial awareness; things like BCLP's merger in 2018 etc. But it still feels quite impersonal and I feel like I am doing it wrong. Please help!

Hey @Akimbo001. I had made a post on this earlier - hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions: Post in thread 'BCLP Vacation Scheme Application 2024'
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....tion-scheme-application-2024.9055/post-182441

 

[saminoriya]

in the application to A&O Shearman should I connect each of my work experiences to A&O? Like saying how it would benefit me as a trainee in A&O or just how it would help me as a lawyer generally?

 

[Szofi66]

Does anyone have any insights on how reliable Ziplaw as an application boosting/commercial awareness site is? Especially their previously successful application answers per firm.

 

[saminoriya]

Does anyone have any insights on how reliable Ziplaw as an application boosting/commercial awareness site is? Especially their previously successful application answers per firm.

I think they are quite good, however not sure if all of their guides for applications are from previous years, because, for example, Ashurst changed their application questions this year, but Ziplaw has a guide on their application questions kinda submitted previously, but it couldn't be as those questions weren't there.

 

[User5678]

Does anyone know what jones day exactly asks the academic referee? Thanks

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Is NRF rolling or not? Wasn’t really clear on thier FAQ’s

 

[bollingdale]

Hello, I am trying to polish up my answer for the first video question (I can give an example of how I approached the experience section if anyone asks)
The question is basically "Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer at x, and what qualities and skills do you require to be successful at this?"

ITS ONLY 2 MINUTES!
My approach to the question is to break down the question into three sections

why commercial law?
why x firm?
what skills and how do i demonstrate them?
The problem is that I only have time to go through this twice based on my script

eg GLOBAL SCOPE -> x's GLOBAL SCOPE -> SKILLS REQUIRED AND HOW I DEMONSTRATE RE. INNOVATION
INNOVATION -> x's INNOVATION -> SKILLS REQUIRED AND HOW I DEMONSTRATE THEM RE. INNOVATION

I would just appreciate some pointers on the video section. I'm going to finish drafting the script tonight and then record it tomorrow; then repeat the process for the second question

 

[NJS]

Those who have heard back from Jones Day, what scheme did you put as first preference?

Did you hear back?

 

[User5678]

Does anyone know what jones day exactly asks the academic referee? Thanks

@Jessica Booker please could you help with this query? If they ask for grades I will put my tutor but if it’s a generic reference I would like to put my module leader as reference

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker please could you help with this query? If they ask for grades I will put my tutor but if it’s a generic reference I would like to put my module leader as reference

I don’t know the specifics of what they ask, but what they ask for and what they receive from the university may be very different anyway.

 

[bollingdale]

hi everyone,

does anyone have any tips for 'telling a story' ? I'm applying for A&O Shearman's winter vac scheme, and I'm lost writing the work experience sections. I went to one of the application masterclass things, and the grad recruitment people kept emphasising they wanted us to tell a story in our work exp section.

i'm not even sure what i'm doing, it's my first vac scheme application. I've got a few retail and hospitality jobs, some volunteering in a hospital, a few insight days, and I'm a campus ambassador, I'm not sure how to craft that into a story, or how to tell that story in a work exp section.

any help is much appreciated!!!!

it helps telling the story if you communicate the skills they are looking for in a problem->solution->result framework. This lets them see all the skills that are relevant while talking about your experiences

 

[NMA]

Can't believe I can actually say this, but got the offer for Hogan Lovells' TC! Thank you to everyone on here for all the support and advice. I've been on this platform since 2020 and faced sooooo many rejections post-interview and post-VS. Never give up trying guys.

If anyone is applying to the firm, I'm more than happy to answer Qs and help where I can

 

[lawyersum]

Can't believe I can actually say this, but got the offer for Hogan Lovells' TC! Thank you to everyone on here for all the support and advice. I've been on this platform since 2020 and faced sooooo many rejections post-interview and post-VS. Never give up trying guys.

If anyone is applying to the firm, I'm more than happy to answer Qs and help where I can

Congrats!!!! This just gave me that extra bit of inspiration I've been needing lately

 

[Jessica Booker]

Can't believe I can actually say this, but got the offer for Hogan Lovells' TC! Thank you to everyone on here for all the support and advice. I've been on this platform since 2020 and faced sooooo many rejections post-interview and post-VS. Never give up trying guys.

If anyone is applying to the firm, I'm more than happy to answer Qs and help where I can

This is amazing news!! Congratulations!

 

[Kay Aston]

Can't believe I can actually say this, but got the offer for Hogan Lovells' TC! Thank you to everyone on here for all the support and advice. I've been on this platform since 2020 and faced sooooo many rejections post-interview and post-VS. Never give up trying guys.

If anyone is applying to the firm, I'm more than happy to answer Qs and help where I can

Congratulations @NMA - fantastic news 🚀

 

[Kay Aston]

in the application to A&O Shearman should I connect each of my work experiences to A&O? Like saying how it would benefit me as a trainee in A&O or just how it would help me as a lawyer generally?

Hi @saminoriya ! It is not necessary to directly spell out in each of your experiences how they would relate to A&O, but I would definitely be mindful of the qualities and values that A&O advertise that they are looking for in future trainees, and have these in mind while writing out your roles and responsibilities for each employment. Similarly, it is not necessary to say 'I do x and therefore this would make me a great lawyer because x', in the application form, the qualities that will make you a great lawyer will shine through from a well-drafted and thoughtfully written work experience section ✨

 

[MCL]

Hey, has anyone applied for the Freshfields winter scheme? I started researching and preparing my apps for this cycle today and saw that apparently Freshfields' winter deadline was yesterday? I thought the first deadline was Sidley Austin (tomorrow, 13th September).