TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Tintin06]

This cycle is wild for me. More legal experience than last time. Still, worse results across the board. No reply from White & Case. I applied for their winter scheme. Is this normal? I’m worried about emailing them honestly. Maybe it’s all too premature ultimately. I’m sulking about Baker McKenzie’s SJT. There are so few free ones. It’s very hard to practice for.

 

[Jessica Booker]

This cycle is wild for me. More legal experience than last time. Still, worse results across the board. No reply from White & Case. I applied for their winter scheme. Is this normal? I’m worried about emailing them honestly. Maybe it’s all too premature ultimately. I’m sulking about Baker McKenzie’s SJT. There are so few free ones. It’s very hard to practice for.

I would expect it’s too late for a winter scheme now, unfortunately.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Baker McKenzie test deadline is Monday. I guess we'll hear after that. White & Case wasn't a rejection. I applied for the winter scheme. Should I email them? Am I being considered for spring?

I haven’t ever regarding the winter vac, think we are being considered for spring as that was our second choice

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Has any1 heard from Mishcon since they emailed saying we would hear later this week?

 

[Apple]

This cycle is wild for me. More legal experience than last time. Still, worse results across the board. No reply from White & Case. I applied for their winter scheme. Is this normal? I’m worried about emailing them honestly. Maybe it’s all too premature ultimately. I’m sulking about Baker McKenzie’s SJT. There are so few free ones. It’s very hard to practice for.

Their winter scheme started a week ago, seems W&C aren't the best with letting people know results..

 

[Tintin06]

I would expect it’s too late for a winter scheme now, unfortunately.

They ask you to rank schemes. May be considered for other schemes?

 

[Amehta1]

do we have to complete both Linklaters tests before the deadline?

 

[wqueens8]

for linklaters, does anyone know if watson glaser must be completed before deadline?

i know capp must be, but the website would seem to indicate you can complete WG after the deadline, within 5 days of applying. i'd like to practice a little more is all

 

[Amma Usman]

any advice on answering this question as part of Fieldfisher's TC app, would studying a non-law degree and linking this to law be sufficient or would you say it should be more personal? Thank you!! @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam Describe the personal life experiences that have given you the unique perspective you would bring as a Trainee at Fieldfisher, and how this perspective will support your success. (800 characters)

Hiya @legallyells ,

Yes, definitely. Law firms really appreciate a diversity of thought from students from other degree backgrounds. Interestingly, I was recently having a wonderful chat with an Of Counsel at a law firm who mentioned they’d be really keen to hear from someone who studied something like Media in an interview - sometimes even more than those from a legal background! I would also note that the question states experiences, so the plural hints that you should talk about more than one personal life experience. I would be mindful given the 800 character limit, but you should be sufficiently able to cover at least two solid points.

Also, always ensure to link them back to the firm, as well as the skills/competencies you derived from that experience and how it’ll help you excel as a trainee. For this, it’ll be helpful going through general trainee qualities (proactivity, organisational management, etc), as well as any skills Freshfields specifically looks for. The latter should be available on their website, or you could uncover this by speaking to future trainees.

I’m sure @Jessica Booker and @Ram Sabaratnam would have more thoughts.

 

[Apple]

Is it acceptable to refer back to work experience already mentioned in a previous response but with a different situation in a competency interview?

 

[Amma Usman]

Is it acceptable to refer back to work experience already mentioned in a previous response but with a different situation in a competency interview?

Hi @Apple. Yes, absolutely! In my view, this shows one’s ability to absorb multiple forms of information through engaging in a plethora of different tasks, make the most of an opportunity that was presented to them, as well as an ability to show how you’ve applied multiple skills - and in fact, build upon them.

 

[cjwx]

Is it acceptable to refer back to work experience already mentioned in a previous response but with a different situation in a competency interview?

I’m not an expert but I think that is perfectly fine. There are a lot of questions in a competency interview and I don’t think you’re expected to have a different job for each example you give. There are so many lessons and valuable skills learned from being in one role.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it acceptable to refer back to work experience already mentioned in a previous response but with a different situation in a competency interview?

Yes - that is fine. I would just try to have a mix of experiences across competency questions, but using the same experience twice would be fine

 

[Apple]

Hi @Apple. Yes, absolutely! In my view, this shows one’s ability to absorb multiple forms of information, make the most of an opportunity that was presented to them, as well as an ability to show how you’ve applied multiple skills - and in fact, build upon them.

I’m not an expert but I think that is perfectly fine. There are a lot of questions in a competency interview and I don’t think you’re expected to have a different job for each example you give. There are so many lessons and valuable skills learned from being in one role.

Ty for responses, huge relief for me. I always try so hard to never reuse an experience, but it can get quite difficult in longer interviews. This made me way more relaxed for my upcoming interview

 

[legal18]

Willkie VI!! Any tips would be much appreciated... this is my first VI

 

[Amma Usman]

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam Hi! The Davis Polk application requires a cover letter and this is the question.
Please include your cover letter in the space provided below. Within your cover letter please include why you are specifically interested in Davis Polk, why you are attracted to the work that we carry out, and the skills that you have developed that would contribute towards your success in the role. (800 words)
I am confused about how to go about structuring it. Should we include a paragraph about why commercial law like we do generally in cover letters? Additionally, would you have any tips for the cover letter to stand out?

Hi @a1024 ,

I’m sure that @Andrei Radu will have more thoughts on Davis Polk specifically, so I’ve included some general tips to approach the separate components of the question;

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[Amma Usman]

Ty for responses, huge relief for me. I always try so hard to never reuse an experience, but it can get quite difficult in longer interviews. This made me way more relaxed for my upcoming interview

Best of luck on the interview - you got this! 🚀

 

[Amma Usman]

Hello, I recently received an invite for the Dentons SJT and Baker McKenzie SJT. Both came back quite negative/mixed. Am I most likely to be disqualified by a benchmark or how should I manage my expectations? I'm really not sure..

Hi @LawAspirer , this is a question which leads to many mixed perceptions. For example, I’ve completed SJTs at firms where the feedback report felt as though I did badly, but I ended up passing. Similarly, I’ve gotten reports back that were so positive I thought it was straight to the next stage - but subsequently I got a PFO. The point I’m trying to make is to not worry too much about how you perceive your results. You may have scored well on a key competency the firm looks for!

 

[Amma Usman]

Might be a bit of a silly question, but will other firms be aware of the fact that Paul, Weiss purposefully includes a comma in their name? I want to discuss my Paul, Weiss open day in my work experience section, but I am not sure whether it would be safer to write the firm name without the comma in case they think it's a mistake...

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman

Thank you!

Hey @KBanana , not a silly question at all - I randomly remembered the comma in the firm‘s name whilst I was on the bus the other day! The comma should be included in your mentioning of the firm’s name.

 

[Toenails]

i have Willkie and Weil Vi!!!

any tips? Much appreciated