TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[omnium]

I just got the call that I made it to the the A&O Shearman Summer Vac!!!!!🤯

Congrats!!!

 

[annad]

I just got the call that I made it to the the A&O Shearman Summer Vac!!!!!🤯

Congratulations!! Me too, got the call at 15:23 and it still feels surreal 🥹 Looking forward to meeting you!

 

[Amma Usman]

I just got the call that I made it to the the A&O Shearman Summer Vac!!!!!🤯

Congrats! @RJvAngel

 

[Amma Usman]

Congratulations!! Me too, got the call at 15:23 and it still feels surreal 🥹 Looking forward to meeting you!

Congrats @annad

 

[Tintin06]

You need to add UK firms. Most if not all the firms you have left all take under 20 applicants on for a TC with most of them taking under 10. You need to apply to different firms then move laterally or you’ll be here for another cycle.

Ok. Luckily some are still open.

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

I'm applying to an open day and vac scheme where there is a question for each on the application.
Open day: Describe why a legal career at Shoosmiths appeals to you.
Vac scheme: Describe why you want to be a solicitor at Shoosmiths.

Obviously, one mentions the solicitor role, and the other is a legal role in general, but how do I differentiate between my two answers to these questions? Do I need to differentiate a lot or will these be viewed as separate applications? @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Hey @Unknowncabbage ,

This question is a really good one. Just as @Ram Sabaratnam had said, the length of the seat is not as important as the specific experiences you had during that seat. What I believe is additionally valuable in your case, is that in addition to the indirect shadowing experience you got, you carried out specific research tasks. The way in which I would personally leverage this in an application is to (i) highlight what the research was on, (ii) how it contributed to wider departmental efforts, (iii) what you learnt, (iv) what you enjoyed and why, (v) why you feel you are more likely to work in this firm’s finance practice, than at other firm’s. I will touch on each of these in turn by highlighting their importance. Just as a granular point, you don’t need to cover all 5 points explicitly, you just need to find a way to weave them in given the word count of most applications. Some will also require more detail than others; for example, (i) and (v) are more important than point (ii).

(i) Highlight what the research was on: Simply, this helps provide more context and sets a foundational tone for the subsequent link of demonstrated interest you are about to show.

(ii) How it contributed to wider departmental efforts: This may be a bit difficult to establish as I appreciate that confidentiality rings and all, may mean that interns are not involved in the heavy tasks. However, the research your supervisor gave you will have definitely been used by them in a wider deal/ problem they were working on. What was this? What part did the research play in bringing it all together? Any feedback you got?

(iii) What you learnt: A rather funny point and a given of course, but it stands to confirm that you understood the work of the practice area and that you understand its general intricacies/ what is expected of lawyers in this realm. It also shows you are open to learning new things - key trainee qualities.

(iv) What you enjoyed and why: Another given, but you will need to touch heavily on this and why it appealed. At the end of the day, you should be applying to firms with practice areas you are genuinely drawn to. It’s difficult to show demonstrated interest if you don’t show the excitement part.

(v) Why you feel you are more likely to work in this firm’s finance practice, than at other firm’s: As @Ram Sabaratnam mentioned, what aspect of their finance practice appeals; clients, work scope, etc. Many firm‘s have finance practices.. what is it about X’s own specifically that appeals. This is what ties all the above points together and creates a solid answer.

You also briefed a supervisor. Highlight this too. It shows you can translate written work into an actionable presentation. Overall, this helps show good communication skills. Being affluent in a written format is great, but being affluent in both written and oral scopes is an asset. This is one thing a mentor of mine once said and has stuck with me ever since.

Thank you so much Amma!

 

[SonghaivAngel]

Congratulations!! Me too, got the call at 15:23 and it still feels surreal 🥹 Looking forward to meeting you!

I'm so happy for us, looking forward to meeting you too!!!

 

[gimmeavacschemepls]

I was wondering if anyone here has experience with the NBC Universal final round interviews for their legal internships. What should I expect, and do you have any tips?

Also, has anyone gone through the HireVue process for the BBC Solicitor Apprenticeship or Training Contract? Any insights on the questions or format would be super helpful!

Thank you!☺️

 

[studenttolawyer]

Post app or vi.

Post application

 

[andrecsaa]

I just got the call that I made it to the the A&O Shearman Summer Vac!!!!!🤯

Congratulations!! Me too, got the call at 15:23 and it still feels surreal 🥹 Looking forward to meeting you!

Wonderful news, congrats!

 

[MR218]

Does anyone know of any of Willkie's London office's precedent-setting litigation cases? Or where to find information on these? I have found one but it is from 2016.

I think fairly recently they did a big competition dispute where they acted for like 45 million consumers in a collective action against Mastercard

 

[KBanana]

Hey @KBanana I think your approach is good but potentially not always optimal. As I see it, it works well as long as the firm you are currently applying to excels in the three practice areas you have identified to a greater or at least equal extent as all the other firms you end up mentioning. If there is any other firm that seems to do better in those areas, this will raise the question like 'why should you not prefer them over us?'.

As such, I used a slightly more tailored approach. I would essentially repeat the underlying two or three motivations for why I was applying to this firm, and would then treat the two three points as firm selection criteria. Then, I would list 2-3 firm that also scored well in every criterion. Since from the beginning these 2-3 criteria would have been selected to best apply to the firm in question, there would be no doubt in the recruiter's mind as to which is the ideal firm for me when they read my 'What other firms have you applied to' answer.

I have analysed this topic in a lot more depth in a recent post about this same question (although in the context of an interview). I have quoted it bellow, as exploring the deeper rationales may be useful to you:

Thank you, this is some really useful advice - greatly appreciated! @Andrei Radu 😊

As a follow-up question, would it be a big 'no no' to state that one of my key criteria is having PE at the core of the firm's focus and then listing firms that operate in different segments of the PE market (e.g. listing firms in middle-market PE alongside those handling deals valued at $500 million and above)?

@Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

 

[cjwx]

I'm doing the Eversheds Sutherland application and there is a work experience section and a separate position of responsibility/extra curricular section. I do not have that many extra curricular activities, because I worked 32 hours a week throughout all of university. Would it be worth mentioning running a business for a short period (selling an e-guide with tutorials on making traditional dresses), even thought it was 3 years ago? I am also using this example for the "quality" question just in a lot more detail about the process. I am going to mention organising charity events but other than that I do not have much. Do you think this would put me at a disadvantage.

 

[James Wakefield]

I applied on 28/11 and have not heard back. Has anyone who applied post 28th heard back with WG Invite?

Looking back it took my 10 days last year before I got the WG.

I think they do screen beforehand, but maybe the different speeds are to do with the offices people are applying for?

 

[deeja]

I was wondering if anyone here has experience with the NBC Universal final round interviews for their legal internships. What should I expect, and do you have any tips?

Also, has anyone gone through the HireVue process for the BBC Solicitor Apprenticeship or Training Contract? Any insights on the questions or format would be super helpful!

Thank you!☺️

Hey which nbc universal internship did you apply to and when did you hear back from the VI?

 

[Rus]

Hey, do we have to submit VI & SJT for Latham & Watkins before the deadline?

Fr though does anyone know?

 

[BobThebIlly]

Has anyone heard back for HL Lift Off??

 

[BobThebIlly]

Has anyone heard back for the HL Lift Off Programme

 

[Jaysen]

You need to add UK firms. Most if not all the firms you have left all take under 20 applicants on for a TC with most of them taking under 10. You need to apply to different firms then move laterally or you’ll be here for another cycle.

I don't agree with this. I'm not sure why you're telling someone they need to apply somewhere else and move laterally nor why your tone is so hostile.

@Tintin06, this is a really good number of applications and very helpful to see your progress. Plenty of people get training contracts without adding in UK firms, so don't feel like you need to do this unless you are actually interested in those UK firms.

It's fair to say that you can 'diversify' by applying to a few 'less competitive' firms, but it doesn't mean you have to do this, and I would find some of the more mid-sized firms that you are interested in (whether US/UK/global) if that's what you wanted to do.