TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

One of the applications I'm working on asks to discuss a commercial issue. Would the car finance mis-selling count as such (even if it stems from a court ruling)?

Law firms look for different things when assessing commercial awareness, and partially they just want to see whether you can identify a story in the commercial world, summarize it, and explain the reasons for your interest. Thus, you have a lot of discretion in choosing which topics to write on, and the car finance story definitely counts as a commercial issue. It is moreover a lesser-known story, and there are arguments in favor of going for a more niche topic.

However, generally speaking, I would want to go for a commercial issue with clear and direct links to the main business activities of the law firm I am applying to. Even if not a strict requirement, I do think this shows off more impressive commercial awareness skills beyond summarizing a couple of articles. This topic might be difficult to link to the work of transactional firms, so if the firm you are applying to is not big in the disputes/regulatory compliance space I would consider other options which have easier-to-draw implications for its practices.

 

[Tintin06]

Holding myself accountable again (PH app).

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅
Latham ✅
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅
Morgan Lewis ✅
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell.

 

[lawyersum]

Holding myself accountable again (PH app).

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅
Latham ✅
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅
Goodwin ✅
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅
Morgan Lewis ✅
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

I'm actually ineligible for S&C VS. I'll be applying for their TC. 13 firm's rejections overall now.

I did the BM test this week. It didn't go especially well, honestly.

TC apps left to do: Fried Frank; Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell.

Hey, out of interest how did you find the Macfarlanes test, was it SJT?

 

[Tintin06]

Hey, out of interest how did you find the Macfarlanes test, was it SJT?

CAPPfinity I think it was? I found it quite hard work. I don't think I passed. I didn't pass it last year. I can now do the WG. But the tests have gotten harder. It's like chasing a moving target. Oh well, onwards and upwards.

 

[lawyersum]

CAPPfinity I think it was? I found it quite hard work. I don't think I passed. I didn't pass it last year. I can now do the WG. But the tests have gotten harder. It's like chasing a moving target. Oh well, onwards and upwards.

Ah, Cappfinity tests are another nightmare!! But keep the faith, everyone is rooting for you this cycle

 

[Tintin06]

Ah, Cappfinity tests are another nightmare!! But keep the faith, everyone is rooting for you this cycle

Idk how much they weight them. Cheers - thanks for that my friend.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Law firms look for different things when assessing commercial awareness, and partially they just want to see whether you can identify a story in the commercial world, summarize it, and explain the reasons for your interest. Thus, you have a lot of discretion in choosing which topics to write on, and the car finance story definitely counts as a commercial issue. It is moreover a lesser-known story, and there are arguments in favor of going for a more niche topic.

However, generally speaking, I would want to go for a commercial issue with clear and direct links to the main business activities of the law firm I am applying to. Even if not a strict requirement, I do think this shows off more impressive commercial awareness skills beyond summarizing a couple of articles. This topic might be difficult to link to the work of transactional firms, so if the firm you are applying to is not big in the disputes/regulatory compliance space I would consider other options which have easier-to-draw implications for its practices.

Thank you Andrei, this is really helpful

 

[_microwaved]

Hey, I have just tried to take the Linklaters Watson Glaser but have had an error message come up. I have emailed trainee recruitment about this, but I am panicking a little as my deadline is tomorrow. Anyone facing the same issue?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys! I need advice for DAC Beachcroft application. I'm really confused about the layout.

On the first page, they have three boxes fill in.
The first on is called "personal summary" and is described as "your personal summary is your opportunity to summarise your key skills and achievements and include positive words that describe you as a person. Highlight the roles you have held and your key achievements to date. Avoid anything that narrows down your options too much unless you are only applying to very specific roles".
The second is "interest and hobbies", described as "We understand people have a range of hobbies outside their working lives - let us know what you do in your spare time".
And the third is to do with personal and professional referees.

None of these have a word count.

On the second page, we are requested to upload our CV.

The "instructions" on their website only say:

• The application window closes on 31st January 2025 – to apply you will need to upload a current CV

I'm confused mostly about the first question to be honest. I can obviously take out my interest and hobbies from my CV and expand on them in the text box, given they're not a huge part of it, but isn't the first question asking about what I've written in my CV?
Also, given there's no word count what would you recommend I aim for?

Any advice would be amazing @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam , or if anyone's gone through their app process and has any insight, that would be super helpful!

Thanks guys

Just to jump in before @Jessica Booker or @Ram Sabaratnam get the chance to respond, I think you should write about your experiences and interests without worrying too much about overlaps with the information in the CV. The CV is meant to contain a short and factual summary of your experiences, while both the first and second sections are meant to give you the opportunity to expand on them a lot more. As such, it should not be very repetitive, especially if you write the answers section using a STAR structure and try to be reflective as to what these experiences and interests say about you as a candidate/person.

As for the word count issue, I would not necessarily have any 'target' word count, but I would normally look for something in the range of 300-600 words. I think your key focus here should be to extract the greatest possible value from your experiences while ensuring you observe the same norms of conciseness, formal writing style, and clear structure as if there was a strict word count.

 

[floral.tcla]

what is there any point in applying for mishcon if I haven't already???

 

[James Wakefield]

what is there any point in applying for mishcon if I haven't already???

Yeah most people will be talking about Spring on here, for which the deadline has already passed. Summer is fine.

 

[sooae]

Hey, out of interest how did you find the Macfarlanes test, was it SJT?

Hi Tin, I just wanted to ask when you applied to Weil and when you heard back? Also, please don’t feel like you’re alone in this journey! We’re all experiencing the same things—onwards and upwards!

 

[AI212121]

@Jessica Booker
A firm I'm applying to is asking "Have you used AI in preparing your application? If so, how? If not, why not?" I have used AI to spell check and to ask if my answer is structured and easy to read, but not for anything else. This is mainly just because I did research myself and attended webinars, and I genuinely think AI-generated text would have made my application worse. The firm in question does a lot of work in technology and AI startups, etc. Would my answer be something that the firm would view as negative or see it as me being distrusting/not open-minded to AI?

 

[A worried graduate]

Anyone here know much about restructuring (not law) at EY?

 

[lookingforaTC]

Blocked that toenails guy. what an odd bloke.

 

[Toenails]

Blocked that toenails guy. what an odd bloke.

what have i done?

It’s 2024 stop assuming genders

 

[Mug Fan]

For those who received a telephone interview with Fieldfisher, how soon after completing the test did you hear?

I heard the following week. Did the test on a Saturday and heard back the following Friday.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

 

[Tintin06]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

They have a small word count. Maybe mention two practice areas instead. 100 words is enough for that.

 

[NCTC2025]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

I dont think thats an inconsistency. In fact its even better that you have multiple interests in the firm. The Early Careers team will definitely understand that you cant fit everything into the first question given the 100-word limit so I think expanding on your interests in the other firms section is ideal. Might be a good idea to include strength in IP in the other firms question too just to tie it back as your primary reason.