TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

suhana

Distinguished Member
Mar 17, 2024
54
24
Did anyone else find the Dentons VI unnecessarily hard this year? Well sigh going to firm that rejection now
literally just finished, one of the hardest vi's i have ever given. it was not at all what their practice test was like or what they said the questions would be like. so unexpected and i took SO much time for each question. im thinking they will just reject me just because of how long i took :/
 

lawyersum

Legendary Member
Jun 28, 2024
149
237
Q1. Imagine that you are a member of the Osborne Clarke internal employee forum. You have been asked to provide feedback on a confidential proposal which would result in significant investment into one of two areas:
Option 1 - A team hire into one of Osborne Clarke's smaller international offices which would allow that location to offer new legal expertise in their jurisdiction; or
Option 2 - A team hire into OC Solutions which would expand the teams' ability to innovate client service delivery.
The investment into both of these options would be equal, and it is not possible to split the investment between the two options. Which one would you choose? Please use the following space to outline your rationale. Within your submission you should outline the key factors that you have considered in making your decision, the reasons why you have chosen this option, and any potential impacts to the firm. If it helps you to make your points clearly, please feel free to use bullet points within this answer only. Max 500 words


Somebody PLEASE help with this OC question, I do not even know where to begin or how to structure!!! @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam
 

A worried graduate

Legendary Member
Mar 25, 2024
192
90
Q1. Imagine that you are a member of the Osborne Clarke internal employee forum. You have been asked to provide feedback on a confidential proposal which would result in significant investment into one of two areas:
Option 1 - A team hire into one of Osborne Clarke's smaller international offices which would allow that location to offer new legal expertise in their jurisdiction; or
Option 2 - A team hire into OC Solutions which would expand the teams' ability to innovate client service delivery.
The investment into both of these options would be equal, and it is not possible to split the investment between the two options. Which one would you choose? Please use the following space to outline your rationale. Within your submission you should outline the key factors that you have considered in making your decision, the reasons why you have chosen this option, and any potential impacts to the firm. If it helps you to make your points clearly, please feel free to use bullet points within this answer only. Max 500 words


Somebody PLEASE help with this OC question, I do not even know where to begin or how to structure!!! @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam
That is a very unusual question.

I’d guess though that it’s a commercial awareness / creative writing question that is looking to see how well you can back either choice
 
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SoonToBeTrainee

Valued Member
  • Dec 29, 2023
    118
    265
    literally just finished, one of the hardest vi's i have ever given. it was not at all what their practice test was like or what they said the questions would be like. so unexpected and i took SO much time for each question. im thinking they will just reject me just because of how long i took :/
    I don’t think firms typically view how much time you took to prepare, do they? Otherwise why would they make the preparation time unlimited
     
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    User5678

    Valued Member
    Aug 16, 2024
    116
    95
    Q1. Imagine that you are a member of the Osborne Clarke internal employee forum. You have been asked to provide feedback on a confidential proposal which would result in significant investment into one of two areas:
    Option 1 - A team hire into one of Osborne Clarke's smaller international offices which would allow that location to offer new legal expertise in their jurisdiction; or
    Option 2 - A team hire into OC Solutions which would expand the teams' ability to innovate client service delivery.
    The investment into both of these options would be equal, and it is not possible to split the investment between the two options. Which one would you choose? Please use the following space to outline your rationale. Within your submission you should outline the key factors that you have considered in making your decision, the reasons why you have chosen this option, and any potential impacts to the firm. If it helps you to make your points clearly, please feel free to use bullet points within this answer only. Max 500 words


    Somebody PLEASE help with this OC question, I do not even know where to begin or how to structure!!! @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam


    Hi, I picked option 2 after considering the core values and the work the firm has done, justified it according to each part of the question they’ve asked again looking at the core values and work. (They are big on innovation so I don’t think option 1 has many advantages)
     
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    lawyersum

    Legendary Member
    Jun 28, 2024
    149
    237
    Hi, I picked option 2 after considering the core values and the work the firm has done, justified it according to each part of the question they’ve asked again looking at the core values and work. (They are big on innovation so I don’t think option 1 has many advantages)
    Thanks for this insight. Did you happen to mention cons of Option 1 in your answer or strictly stick to justifying Option 2?
     

    SoonToBeTrainee

    Valued Member
  • Dec 29, 2023
    118
    265
    To be honest I’m happy with my answers but I did take full advantage of the unlimited (but not untimed) prep time, and worried I took way too long on each question.
    I’m in the boat. If I knew timing was assessed, I would have answered more quickly. The only reason I didn’t was because they gave us unlimited prep time, which I thought meant they didn’t take it into account.

    Their own website even says “use the preparation time wisely” and “don’t rush”.

    I don’t know if they do look at how long we took?
     
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    James Wakefield

    Legendary Member
    Oct 7, 2024
    136
    268
    I’m in the boat. If I knew timing was assessed, I would have answered more quickly. The only reason I didn’t was because they gave us unlimited prep time, which I thought meant they didn’t take it into account
    I knew they would consider it but when you’re nervous about answering, a fixed time limit is helpful as it gives you no choice and you have to just go for it. This one was a choice of balancing quality and time, and I think I didn’t take the time thing as seriously…
     

    SoonToBeTrainee

    Valued Member
  • Dec 29, 2023
    118
    265
    I knew they would consider it but when you’re nervous about answering, a fixed time limit is helpful as it gives you no choice and you have to just go for it. This one was a choice of balancing quality and time, and I think I didn’t take the time thing as seriously…
    I wish they said it would be considered, as I wouldn’t have taken so long. I left the VI open for hours next to me while I was working 🤣
     
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