TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

@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?

I would try to find a specific example within an experience rather than talking about a role broadly. The only way I can see this working for a general experience rather than a specific example is if you have got clear evidence that your exceptional client service led to better outcomes for the business or received any kind of recognition for your consistent exceptional client service.

Clients don’t just have to be customers, it maybe that your “clients” are members of society or club, or a charity if you did any fundraising, or peers if you had to advocate for them.

 

[helloj]

Mayer Brown Job Simulation!

 

[Gday33]

Mayer Brown job sim invite 😁

 

[mrebeccafr]

Has anyone heard from Bird & Bird regarding the Spring VS?

Im not sure how much this helps as I applied for summer VS, but I completed the VI 15th November and got an offer for AC on 6th December, so I waited 3 weeks exactly before I heard anything back. Good luck though! The wait is painful 😭

 

[futureTS03]

Any information or tips on Mayer Brown Job Simulation would be really appreciated!

 

[0livia.pope]

Im not sure how much this helps as I applied for summer VS, but I completed the VI 15th November and got an offer for AC on 6th December, so I waited 3 weeks exactly before I heard anything back. Good luck though! The wait is painful 😭

Thanks! I did mine at around a similar time but for the spring and have heard nothing 😭 not looking good

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Mayer Brown job sim invite 😁

Congratulations!!! May i ask when you completed the first test?

 

[Uch21]

Is BCLP's test automatic?

 

[Anon76]

Mayer Brown job sim invite! I would be really grateful for any advice or insights on the job sim!

 

[Gday33]

Congratulations!!! May i ask when you completed the first test?

I applied VS 17/09, test received 29/10, taken 01/11, first time hearing from them since 👍🏻

 

[elizabethkate]

HL lift off PFO!

 

[Tclarocks123]

HL Lift off PFO - 1st app of the cycle so I am charging it to the game.

 

[lolololol]

is it worth applying for hg vs if i got rejected for the lift off?

 

[brntlm]

HL Lift off PFO... what do they want?

 

[Amma Usman]

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam Hi! This is one of the application questions from the Weil VS Application. Just wanted to know how would you recommend structuring this answer and also researching about their clients? Thank you so much!

Think of a current commercial issue that has recently attracted your attention. Why does it interest you, why do you consider it to be significant and how do you think this will impact Weil's clients? (200)

Hi there @a1024 ,

If I was to answer this question, I would take the following approach:

1. Short introductory paragraph stating what the topic is. Could literally be a sentence. You don’t need to repeat the rest of the elements that you’ll cover as they are already in the question. Further, you can simply signpost your reader by including each key element in its own paragraph.

2. A paragraph on why it interests you. Now, it’s not enough to use generic reasons because you have to be specific on your past experiences or any life encounters which are so substantial enough to demonstrate why that specifically interests. For example, if you mention a topic relating to private equity - why does that industry appeal? Any courses you’ve done? Any open days you’ve attended where this was highlighted… this could be anything that shows your journey and adequately communicates that genuine passion. Recruiters would be able to catch out a lack of interest - so take your time with this.

3. A paragraph stating why it’s signifiant and the impacts on Weil’s clients. This will mean that you can’t choose just any topic - it has to be one which is big enough to cause substantial ripple positive/negative effects in the industry. This could be immediate or down the line. Significance should also be looked at from a microeconomic and macroeconomic standpoint. It should be looked at from the perspective of all the economic agents.

Let‘s look at it this way…

Inflation is a basic example I will use.

For individuals, higher prices will mean that they are encouraged to spend less.

For businesses, and because individuals are spending less, they will face lower cash flows. This is because they will see less sales and may need to lower prices to stay afloat.

For law firms which serve these businesses, two things may happen;

1. The scope of advisory changes. For example, tax departments may be involved more to help these businesses restructure their assets and spending to maximise waste.

2. As businesses are even struggling to convert their assets into cash, they will be less eager to expand - this influences the corporate practices of law firms that deal with such matters.

So you see show I have considered the impacts of a law firm’s clients from connecting impacts from the ground up - consumers like you and I being the first arm affected.

Lastly, there is no need for a conclusion due to the word count. You should also choose a topic which influences clients the firm is well-versed at advising in - PE funds, for example.

 

[NCTC2025]

Also did the Mayer Brown test on 29/10 and no news so assuming its a PFO. Do they historically send invites in batches?

 

[elizabethkate]

i got average for all the mayer brown test sections - do i stand any chance?

 

[ashwright]

HL Lift Off PFO
Officially near the end of my tether!

 

[Amma Usman]

hey everyone, for this question for mischon: Please detail any activities and achievements

do the following count? (im trying to rack my brain to think of anything)
- mentoring schemes, workshops
- forage
- if i charity fundraised as an extra responsibility within my part time job


any help would be great as i haven't really 'won' any fancy awards

Hiya @ohnoselim ,

There’s a common misconception that candidates need to have done a load of tasks like winning fancy awards to nail this section of the application. Law firms and recruiters will know and appreciate that most people are at the start of their careers. Furthermore, accomplishments can encompass so many things. The key is to actually ensure you answer the question. For example, if I was to answer this, I would discuss any activities or positions of responsibilities and talk about the achievements. In your case, I believe you could make a compelling case with the last example. Charity fundraising is indeed an activity for the purposes of this question, and you could take your answer to the next level by considering if you could quantify your efforts. How much did you raise? How did you do this? Any transferable skills you got as a result?

I would advise shying away from using the first two examples as activities suggests a continuous effort - something you have done regularly. Mentoring schemes and forage experiences are better discussed at the work experience section, or the motivational questions. These are more knowledge development programmes.

I’ve also seen people talk about a host of activities and gotten past this stage. From debate competitions to playing tennis. Sometimes, law firms want candidates to be creative with this question - although the exact degree, differs between firms. The word, detail, also means you should expand on whatever you mention in a sufficient context to not leave the reader asking any questions in their head. Depending on the word count, you could link the activities and the skills you got from them to Mishcon‘s key trainee competencies.

 

[Amma Usman]

Would love thoughts on this - A commercial issue for Weil app am thinking of talking about the rise of private credit. This is a commercial issue that affects asset management and PE firms for alternative forms of financing through private credit. My issue is will this still be relevant as interest rates and inflation have be lowered will private credit still be relevant. Any thoughts on this @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu

Hi there @Tcvspfo ,

Yep - private credit is definitely still relevant. Law firms have made whole new practices focusing on private credit. Sidley Austin, Dechert, and Morgan Lewis are three I can think of right now.

I also found out not long ago, that Kramer Levin also launched its new private credit practice. See the full article here:

Kramer Levin creates private credit legal practice

Law firm Kramer Levin has launched a new multidisciplinary private credit practice

alternativecreditinvestor.com

The recent nature of this launch emphasises its increasing relevance in the modern financial world.

@Jaysen had also written a really insightful article in June, which I‘ve linked HERE.

Lastly, I had made a post earlier on how to approach the Weil question specifically.

Best of luck on your Weil app!!!🚀

Hi there @a1024 ,

If I was to answer this question, I would take the following approach:

1. Short introductory paragraph stating what the topic is. Could literally be a sentence. You don’t need to repeat the rest of the elements that you’ll cover as they are already in the question. Further, you can simply signpost your reader by including each key element in its own paragraph.

2. A paragraph on why it interests you. Now, it’s not enough to use generic reasons because you have to be specific on your past experiences or any life encounters which are so substantial enough to demonstrate why that specifically interests. For example, if you mention a topic relating to private equity - why does that industry appeal? Any courses you’ve done? Any open days you’ve attended where this was highlighted… this could be anything that shows your journey and adequately communicates that genuine passion. Recruiters would be able to catch out a lack of interest - so take your time with this.

3. A paragraph stating why it’s signifiant. This will mean that you can’t choose just any topic - it has to be one which is big enough to cause substantial ripple positive/negative effects in the industry. This could be immediate or down the line. Significance should also be looked at from a microeconomic and macroeconomic standpoint. It should be looked at from the perspective of all the economic agents.

Let‘s look at it this way…

Inflation is a basic example I will use.

For individuals, higher prices will mean that they are encouraged to spend less.

For businesses, and because individuals are spending less, they will face lower cash flows. This is because they will see less sales and may need to lower prices to stay afloat.

For law firms which serve these businesses, two things may happen;

1. The scope of advisory changes. For example, tax departments may be involved more to help these businesses restructure their assets and spending to maximise waste.

2. As businesses are even struggling to convert their assets into cash, they will be less eager to expand - this influences the corporate practices of law firms that deal with such matters.

So you see show I have considered the impacts of a law firm’s clients from connecting impacts from the ground up - consumers like you and I being the first arm affected.

Lastly, there is no need for a conclusion due to the word count. You should also choose a topic which influences clients the firm is well-versed at advising in - PE, for example.