TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[AlegalA]

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.

Great thank you for answering! Would you therefore suggest I focus on 2/3 things for that first question, rather than giving more in depth information about my CV?

 

[member3804]

Hi @member3804 I think to have a great AC group exercise performance, you need (1) to ensure you show the desired interpersonal traits like collaboration and leadership; and (2) you want to ensure you showcase the desired substantial commercial/legal analysis and negotiation skills, which necessitates taking up a sufficient portion of the airtime. Since everyone will want to speak enough to impress, there is a natural tension between the friendly and group-outcome oriented attitude required to excel at (1) and the individual performance focus in a competitive environment required to excel at (2). You will therefore need to walk a fine line to have an overall great performance.

While the way you should go about it will heavily depend on the format of the assessment, details of the exercise, and the strategies of the other participants, I have a few tips based on my own experience:

• Offer to keep the time: this shows a proactive attitude while not being very demanding as to your mental focus. It also enables you to (i) avoid taking the responsibility of any required writing, which is more demanding; and (ii) naturally intervene at certain points in the discussion to mention time considerations, which is also an opportunity for you to add substantive points.
• Try to introduce structure and organization: instead of simply throwing yourself in discussing substantive points, try to introduce a framework: what points will you discuss, in what order, how much time will you spend on each, and what relevant assessment criteria should you keep in mind when analyzing the points?
• Focus on finding more niche/less-obvious analysis points: as you are given a brief for the group exercise task, you will normally have a bit of preparation time during which you can think what points to bring up. You will find some points that are really intuitive which you will know the others likely also thought of. Instead of focusing on those and fighting with everyone to get to express those obvious points, I would use that time (and the extra thinking time in the initial discussion phase when everyone is fighting to say the obvious points) to find relevant ideas that others may have missed. The, as the discussion is winding down on that subpart of the task, I would mention these more niche points. This will avoid making you seem competitive and also showcase ability for more nuanced analysis.
• Focus on synthesis and weighing: another similar strategy for impressive contribution which may not require too much fighting over airtime is to once again seek to contribute as the discussion on the substantive points is winding down. What you can do here is intervene to summarize what everyone has contributed, weigh their points, and then make an informed argument as to what the decision should be.

thanks very much!

 

[NCTC2025]

Well done! Did you receive the separate email with the link for the VI? I received the email confirming that I have progressed an hour ago but am still expecting the email with the link for VI

Nope, still waiting for the link

 

[0livia.pope]

Hi guys,

How long after completing the Bakers test did you receive the assessment report?

I’m still waiting for my report after completing it on Friday. Not sure if I should email

 

[legally.brown]

any tips for Weil VI

 

[ssszzg]

Nope, still waiting for the link

The link is at the bottom of the email to take you to the CVMail website that we submitted our app forms! They said the due date is there but it isn't :'( I've emailed about the prep link not working though.

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

Please f*** off - forum speak for being rejected by a law firm, a polite-but-final rejection.

lool, i had no idea that's what it meant

 

[NCTC2025]

The link is at the bottom of the email to take you to the CVMail website that we submitted our app forms! They said the due date is there but it isn't :'( I've emailed about the prep link not working though.

My email doesnt have any link at all though

 

[helloj]

Any news from Skadden? The wait is killing me

 

[ThelawgraduateX]

My email doesnt have any link at all though

same, I think its supposed to be sent in a separate email according to the email from Candid/grad recruitement

 

[futuretrainee2503]

Any news from Skadden? The wait is killing me

Maybe they are planning to get back around 4:30/5pm.
Gives them the time to review apps today? or maybe they sorting out last minute issues.

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Fieldfisher phone interview invite - any advice and tips will be highly appreciated! Thank you

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

fieldfisher test! is this automatic?

I don't think it is automatic. From what I know, it is the second stage

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Fieldfisher AC!

Hi there, could you please share any insight into the phone interview - like what kind of questions they ask or anything else? Thanks!

 

[lilymawe1]

Anyone who has heard from Weil today re VI, may I ask when you submitted your app? I submitted quite close to the deadline so was just wondering if I should be expecting to hear back so soon!

 

[lilymawe1]

any tips for Weil VI

An applications webinar I went to that was attended by Weil Early Careers said that competency and motivational questions come up at both the VI and the face-to-face stage. From what I remember the general tips they gave was to have clear examples for competency questions, structure well (i.e., STARR) and don't talk about "we" in team examples - talk about what you did within the team.

Pretty general/standard advice basically but hope that helps nonetheless!

 

[marisachr]

Watson Farley VI invite! Any tips?

 

[marisachr]

Kennedys test invite! 🤝

 

[Shandy101]

Omg, it must be my lucky day, Weil VI.

 

[Adithi]

Omg, it must be my lucky day, Weil VI.

Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, when did you apply?