TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Amma Usman

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For this Goodwin question.... Discuss a commercial issue that has particularly interested you. Why did it capture your attention, and what impact could it have on the legal sector?

Are they looking for a general issue (i.e. interest rate rises, i probably wont use that...) Or are they looking for a particular story (like a recent merger for example). @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam (sorry for the tags lol) Thank you!

Hi @NJS ,

Very good question. In my opinion, you can go with either one - general topics and more specific stories. The ability to come out with a good answer largely depends on the manner in which you go into the crux of each topic, as well as whether you actually answer the question.

It’s important to note that the Goodwin question has two parts - why the story interested you and its resultant impacts on the legal sector. If I was to answer this, I would purposely choose a story that influences as a result of its outcome a core practice area of the firm or is about the practice area itself. Now, this isn‘t a mandatory requirement, but would enable me to expand in a sentence or two its impacts on not just the legal sector more generally, but also the work of Goodwin. Furthermore, as the question leaves the option to talk about the legal sector more broadly, you could touch on about two key practices in your discussion. I’d also note that the impacts on the legal sector do not have to be solely practice-related, and could be more operational too. For example, inflation leads to higher prices which means it’s more expensive for companies to expand - thus, the PE and M&A practices of law firms may see fewer deals coming in. This is a practice-related impact on the legal sector. Similarly, inflation would mean that law firms may find it more difficult to borrow to fund innovation through investing in the latest AI technology, for example. This is an operational consequence of the topic. Thus, consider the broad scope of what one issue could potentially lead to.

Also, never apologise for the tags haha - we love to engage in all these insightful discussions! ;)
 

Amma Usman

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Can you apply to both the linklaters direct TC and vacation scheme? I would really prefer not to do a vac scheme as I work full-time but my success rate with direct TCs is awful compared to for vac schemes…

Hiya @desperateTCseeker1998 , very good one. I’ve just consulted @Ram Sabaratnam‘s wonderful thread and found out that Links falls under this scope:

These firms recruit predominantly from their vacation schemes, but they have frequently made more than one direct TC offer every year in recent years – a direct TC app to these firms will almost certainly be read and considered seriously for a TC.

Thus, this could be a possibility still. I suggest tailoring your application strategy with a nice balance of VS and TC applications across the broad spectrum of firms you are applying to. Similarly, I know of candidates that have worked full-time and taken leave for the duration of their vac scheme or come up with some sort of alternative arrangement. I also understand if you may not want to use up your holiday leave!

Hope this helps ;)
 

Amma Usman

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AnAnonymousDuck

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Sep 21, 2024
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@Jessica Booker

When asked in an application question "Provide an example of a time you provided exceptional client service," is it bad to talk about a job you worked in general over time. I had only one experience that could have answered that question but the form had another that the experience matched to better, so instead I talked about a job I worked in a bakery during university for 3 years. Is this bad because I really do not have any other specific example to talk about whereas I can go into to quite deep detail about my university job over the years I worked there?
 

user5287645235644

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Dec 13, 2024
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Sending off the Ashurst VS app and waiting for Mishcon to get back to us 'later this week'.... Anyone else feeling sick today?

Searching Banana Split GIF by American High
 

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