TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[andrewk]

Dechert spring PFO. Applied Nov 23. Onwards and upwards.

 

[VMS]

Eversheds Birmingham AC!! Any advice/any useful videos to watch/etc would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SamiyaJ]

Just did Reed Smith SJT/VI… excelled in verbal and scored in the middle for numerical. Scored 7,4,4,3 for the pillars lmao. VI could’ve gone a bit better but the questions were hard! So much to pack within 2 minutes and I think I froze at one point (not the screen, me) 😂😭 Gonna try to forget about it now 😭

 

[lawstudent2]

They are looking for a STAR-structured example from your work (preferably), university, or personal life where you demonstrated courage, tenacity, determination, grit, and versatility in a challenging situation and how you managed to turn things around. This will help them assess the qualities needed to be a successful trainee, as things don’t always go as planned, and they want to understand how you’ve handled such challenges in the past—since past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour. If you don't have an immediate example, it’s okay to reflect and dig deeper—you likely have a relevant experience that will demonstrate these qualities. If not, as a last resort, I would excogitate something profound. But nothing too crazy or implausible....please 😂😂😂 Good luck!

I've realised that many of these questions implicitly test, among other things, emotional maturity. I wouldn't have a clue when I think of myself in my early 20's.

Thank you !

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey all!

In this thread, I’ve included a list of 100 terms I believe are essential to building that commercial awareness. I’ve made a 50/50 split, covering financial and legal terms. Feel free to add any more terms and definitions you feel are essential !


50 Financial Terms


1. Asset: Anything of value owned by an individual or organisation, such as cash, stocks, or property.

2. Liability: A financial obligation or debt owed by an individual or organisation to another party.

3. Equity: The value of ownership in a company, typically measured as assets minus liabilities.

4. Bond: A fixed-income investment representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower.

5. Dividend: A portion of a company's profits distributed to its shareholders.

6. Capital: Financial resources or assets used to fund a business's operations or investments.

7. Liquidity: The ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its value.

8. Hedge: A strategy used to minimise risk in investments by offsetting potential losses.

9. Inflation: The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power.

10. Deflation: A decrease in the general price level of goods and services, often indicating reduced demand.

11. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.

12. Monetary Policy: Central bank policies aimed at controlling money supply and interest rates to influence economic activity.

13. Fiscal Policy: Government decisions on taxation and spending to influence economic conditions.

14. Exchange Rate: The value of one currency in relation to another.

15. Interest Rate: The percentage charged on a loan or paid on savings over time.

16. Yield: The earnings generated on an investment over a specific period, expressed as a percentage.

17. Stock: A share in the ownership of a company, representing a claim on its assets and profits.

18. Market Capitalisation: The total value of a company's outstanding shares, calculated as share price multiplied by the number of shares.

19. IPO (Initial Public Offering): The process by which a private company offers shares to the public for the first time.

20. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): The consolidation of companies through combining (merger) or purchasing (acquisition).

21. Derivatives: Financial instruments whose value is derived from an underlying asset, such as stocks or bonds.

22. Option: A contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specified price.

23. Futures Contract: An agreement to buy or sell an asset at a future date and a predetermined price.

24. Leverage: The use of borrowed funds to increase the potential return on an investment.

25. Portfolio: A collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents.

26. Risk Appetite: The level of risk an investor or organisation is willing to accept to achieve financial goals.

27. Arbitrage: The simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset to profit from price differences.

28. Venture Capital: Financing provided to startups and small businesses with growth potential in exchange for equity.

29. Private Equity: Investments made in privately held companies, often involving buyouts or restructuring.

30. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance): Non-financial factors considered in investment decision-making.

31. Balance Sheet: A financial statement showing a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.

32. Income Statement: A financial statement that reports a company's revenue, expenses, and profit over a period.

33. Cash Flow Statement: A financial report detailing cash inflows and outflows during a given period.

34. Working Capital: The difference between a company's current assets and current liabilities, indicating liquidity.

35. Blue-Chip Stock: Shares in a well-established and financially stable company.

36. Bull Market: A financial market characterised by rising prices and optimism.

37. Bear Market: A financial market characterised by declining prices and pessimism.

38. Short Selling: A trading strategy where an investor sells borrowed shares, aiming to buy them back later at a lower price.

39. Margin: The difference between the cost of a product or service and its selling price.

40. Credit Default Swap (CDS): A financial derivative used to transfer the risk of default on a loan or debt.

41. Quantitative Easing: A monetary policy tool where a central bank purchases securities to increase money supply.

42. Sovereign Debt: The money borrowed by a country's government, typically in the form of bonds.

43. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Investments made by a company or individual in one country into business interests in another.

44. Trade Surplus: A situation where a country exports more than it imports.

45. Trade Deficit: A situation where a country imports more than it exports.

46. Hard Currency: A stable currency widely accepted in global trade, like the US dollar or euro.

47. Soft Currency: A less stable currency prone to depreciation, often limited to domestic use.

48. Economies of Scale: Cost advantages gained by producing goods in larger quantities.

49. Subprime Mortgage: A type of loan offered to individuals with poor credit history, often at higher interest rates.

50. Collateral: An asset pledged by a borrower to secure a loan, forfeited if the loan is not repaid.


50 Legal Terms


1. Tort: A civil wrong causing harm or loss, leading to legal liability.

2. Contract: A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.

3. Breach of Contract: Failure to fulfil the terms of a contractual agreement.

4. Consideration: Something of value exchanged between parties in a contract.

5. Offer: A proposal to enter into a contract, which becomes binding once accepted.

6. Acceptance: Agreement to the terms of an offer, forming a binding contract.

7. Negligence: Failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm or damage.

8. Damages: Monetary compensation awarded to a party who has suffered harm or loss.

9. Equity (Law): A branch of law providing remedies not available under common law.

10. Injunction: A court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing something.

11. Judicial Review: A process by which courts review the legality of decisions made by public bodies.

12. Precedent: A legal principle established in previous court cases, used as guidance in future cases.

13. Statute: A written law passed by a legislative body.

14. Common Law: Law developed through judicial decisions rather than statutes.

15. Fiduciary Duty: A legal obligation to act in the best interests of another party.

16. Corporate Governance: The system of rules and practices by which a company is directed and controlled.

17. Merger: The combining of two companies into a single entity.

18. Acquisition: The purchase of one company by another.

19. Due Diligence: A comprehensive appraisal of a business before a transaction to evaluate its assets, liabilities, and potential risks.

20. Arbitration: A method of dispute resolution outside the courts, with a binding decision by a neutral third party.

21. Mediation: A non-binding dispute resolution process facilitated by a neutral third party.

22. Litigation: The process of taking legal action through the courts.

23. Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear and decide cases.

24. Intellectual Property (IP): Legal rights protecting creations of the mind, such as inventions, trademarks, and copyrights.

25. Patent: A legal right granted to an inventor to exclude others from making or selling their invention.

26. Trademark: A symbol, word, or phrase legally registered to represent a brand or product.

27. Copyright: Legal protection for original works of authorship, such as books, music, and art.

28. Confidentiality Agreement: A contract protecting sensitive information from being disclosed.

29. Partnership: A legal relationship between two or more people to operate a business.

30. Shareholder: An individual or entity owning shares in a company.

31. Directors' Duties: Legal obligations directors owe to a company and its stakeholders.

32. Limited Liability: A legal structure limiting an individual's financial responsibility for a company's debts.

33. Subsidiary: A company controlled by a parent company through majority ownership.

34. Insider Trading: The illegal practice of trading securities based on non-public information.

35. Force Majeure: A contract clause excusing performance due to extraordinary events beyond control.

36. Indemnity: A contractual obligation to compensate for a loss or damage incurred.

37. Liquidation: The process of dissolving a company by selling its assets to pay debts.

38. Receivership: A legal process where a receiver is appointed to manage a company’s assets to repay creditors.

39. Securities: Financial instruments, such as stocks and bonds, representing ownership or debt.

40. Prospectus: A formal document issued by a company detailing its financial health and operations, used to attract investors.

41. Articles of Association: A document outlining a company's internal rules and regulations.

42. Memorandum of Association: A legal document stating a company’s purpose and the scope of its operations.

43. Employment Contract: A legally binding agreement outlining the terms of employment.

44. Data Protection: Legal rules governing the use and storage of personal information.

45. Competition Law: Regulations promoting fair competition and preventing anti-competitive practices.

46. Bribery: Offering, giving, or receiving something of value to influence the actions of another party.

47. Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Laws and regulations designed to prevent the illegal generation of income through criminal activities.

48. Whistleblowing: Reporting unethical or illegal activities within an organisation.

49. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A company's commitment to ethical practices and social responsibility.

50. Breach of Trust: Failure to fulfil the duties or obligations of a trustee.


Hope this was of help! Goodluck with the applications and interviews!

Hey all! I hope you’re all having a fantastic mid-week! I’ve included below 10 sources to help solidify that commercial awareness! Let’s keep going and building up on that skill everyday…!!!

Pro-tip: Take building commercial awareness as a lego exercise - building little blocks everyday before cementing it into a full blown toy machine! It shouldn’t feel like a chore, rather it should feel like an exciting opportunity to learn more about the financial/legal worlds. It’s a habit that certainly takes time to build, so please be patient with your commercial awareness journey!

10 Sources:

1. Financial Times (FT)

2. The Economist

3. Bloomberg

4.The Lawyer

5. Investopedia

6. The Wall Street Journal

7. The Daily Upside

8. LittleLaw

9. Finimize

10. Forbes

Hey TCLA Community!

In this thread, I’ve complied a list of 50 Capital Markets terms and their respective definitions. This will be particularly useful for those of you drawn to transactional law and are keen to know more about how these bustling financial markets work!

The first step? You guessed it - getting to know the basics and what these terms actually mean in practice. It’s all part of that commercial awareness!

Hope you find this series useful and feel free to drop any questions (or any terms you feel are worth sharing!).


Broad Capital Markets Concepts:


1. Capital Markets: Markets where buyers and sellers engage in the trade of financial securities like stocks and bonds.

2. Primary Market: Where new securities are issued and sold for the first time, typically through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

3. Secondary Market: Where existing securities are traded among investors.

4. Equity: Ownership interest in a company, typically represented by shares.

5. Debt: Borrowed money that must be repaid, often in the form of bonds or loans.

6. Securities: Tradable financial instruments, such as stocks, bonds, or derivatives.

7. IPO (Initial Public Offering): The process by which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time (remember we had briefly touched on this in the last definitions thread?).

8. Underwriting: The process by which investment banks raise capital for companies by issuing securities.

9. Prospectus: A legal document issued to potential investors with information about an investment offering.

10. Market Capitalisation: The total market worth (value) of a company’s outstanding shares.


The Types of Securities To Know About:


11. Bonds: Fixed-income securities representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower.

12. Shares: Units of ownership in a company, which can be ordinary or preference shares.

13. Convertible Bonds: Bonds that can be converted into a specified number of shares.

14. Treasury Bills (T-Bills): Short-term debt securities issued by governments.

15. Corporate Bonds: Bonds issued by companies to raise funds for business operations or expansion.

16. Preference Shares: A type of equity that has preferential rights to dividends or asset distribution over ordinary shares.

17. Fixed-Rate Bonds: Bonds that pay a fixed interest rate over their life.

18. Floating-Rate Notes (FRNs): Bonds with variable interest rates tied to a benchmark.

19. Zero-Coupon Bonds: Bonds issued at a discount that do not pay periodic interest but are redeemed at face value.

20. Green Bonds: Bonds issued to finance environmentally friendly projects.


Trading and Market Operations:


21. Stock Exchange: A marketplace where securities are bought and sold (e.g., LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ).

22. Order Book: A list of buy and sell orders for a particular security.

23. Bid-Ask Spread: The difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept.

24. Liquidity: The ease with which a security can be bought or sold without significantly affecting its price.

25. Market Maker: An entity or individual that provides liquidity by quoting buy and sell prices (e.g, a brokerage firm).

26. Short Selling: Borrowing a security with the intention of repurchasing it later at a lower price. High risk is involved here as there is a presumption that a lower price will be on offer.

27. Margin Trading: Borrowing funds to purchase securities, using them as collateral.

28. Block Trade: A large-volume transaction of securities, typically executed off the open market.

29. Settlement: The process of transferring securities and payment between buyer and seller after a trade.

30. Clearing House: An intermediary that ensures the proper settlement of trades and reduces counterparty risk.


Ensuring Regulation and Compliance:


31. FCA (Financial Conduct Authority): The UK regulator for financial markets.

32. SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): The US regulator for financial markets.

33. MiFID II (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II): EU legislation aimed at improving transparency in financial markets.

34. Insider Trading: Buying or selling securities with the aid of non-public information.

35. AML (Anti-Money Laundering): Procedures aimed at preventing non-permissible money laundering through financial systems.

36. KYC (Know Your Customer): A process to verify the identity of clients and assess risks of non-permissible activities.

37. Basel III: International regulatory framework designed to strengthen banks' capital requirements and risk management. Formed following the financial crisis of 2008.

38. Dodd-Frank Act: A US law aimed at reforming financial regulation following the 2008 crisis.

39. Compliance: Adhering to laws, regulations, and internal policies in a given market.

40. Prospectus Regulation: Rules governing the disclosure requirements for offering securities to the public in the EU.


Key Indices and Benchmarks To Know:


41. FTSE 100: An index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

42. S&P 500: An index of 500 leading companies on US stock exchanges.

43. LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate): A benchmark interest rate previously used for short-term loans, now largely replaced by alternatives like SONIA in the UK.

44. MSCI Index: A collection of indices that measure stock performance across global markets.

45. Dow Jones Industrial Average: An index of 30 significant publicly traded US companies.


Key Instruments/Elements To Know:


46. Derivatives: Financial contracts whose value is based on an underlying asset (e.g., futures, options).

47. Hedging: A risk management strategy to offset potential losses in investments.

48. Equity Swaps: A derivative contract in which two parties exchange future cash flows based on equity returns.

49. Credit Default Swaps (CDS): A financial derivative providing protection against credit risk.

50. Structured Products: Pre-packaged investments that typically combine derivatives with traditional assets.

does anyone have any resources that are similar to the commercial law handbook,, any that i can find online and the digital version. im trying to brush up on my commercial awareness and just have an idea on the different practice areas.

Hey there @unknownnn7372 ,

I have made a list of sources in a thread in the past. I’ve quoted this, together with other commercial awareness sources above to help.

This thread also contains regular commercial awareness uplates - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ekly-brief-commercial-awareness-updates.9144/

 

[HJ10]

Kirkland VI! Any tips will be appreciated🙏

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey there @lulilucha11 ,

Well done on the AC! I’ve provided some tips below.

• Prepare for the components as you have been told. This will enable you to laser focus on a few key areas of revision, rather than everything that could possibly come out. The firm will likely have told you this, or will in due course. It is worth reaching out to future trainees to learn from their experiences and provide more firm-specific insights.

• Continue your commercial awareness journey. This is where it will be tested, challenged, and embraced more than at any other stage in the process. For case study and article discussions, you will find it beneficial to link even the tiniest matters to current affairs globally, and more industry-specific arenas if you have insights on that too. Now, it is also worth mentioning that commercial awareness in an interview setting also encompasses how well you can link the case discussion to the firm. In this, I mean how the firm’s practices or expertise could be utilised or affected. Doing so shows you not only understand businesses, but legal advisory as it applies to businesses. This approach has always served me well. I will note, however, doing so will enable your interviewers to challenge and question your thoughts - after all, you are mentioning the firm’s role in an advisory scope. In no way should this be viewed as a scary thing though - in fact, you are on the road to a colourful trophy if you expatiate on it well. Further, it will also be a nice opportunity to learn from your interviewers about their work too. At the end of the day, you are not only being assessed for a TC - you are surrounded by a plethora of legal talent. Utilise it and make the most of the learning opportunity. It will also turn the vibe from initially hot, to more cool.

• Be confident in how you communicate your answers, but avoid coming off as the negative opposite of that.

• Ask questions. There is no harm in asking for clarification when you are unsure on something. This is even more noble than making things up along the way, and your assessors will respect this.

Eversheds AC for Cambridge!!!
Sorry if this has been asked or shared before, could anyone share any strengths based AC advice or tips? Thanks!!

Hey there @mariistm

I have quoted a similar post above to help.

For strength based AC tips specifically, my main tip is to know your competencies in and out. This way, you can answer any question that comes up, no matter how challenging it seems. For example, you should naturally have examples that showcase the main competencies law firms look for, such as proactivity, organisational management, and the likes. You will find that you do not need to overwhelm yourself with this, because multiple competencies are shown per experience you have. You just have to explicitly point this out in an interview, because otherwise an interviewer may not necessarily be able to deduce this.

 

[Amma Usman]

Kirkland VI! Any tips will be appreciated🙏

Hey there,

Well done on securing the VI. I‘ve linked Andrei’s helpful guide below;

A complete guide for competency interview preparation

This is a guide for the purposes of preparing for competency interviews, be they in a VI, another intermediary step or an AC/final stage interview. The advice here is based on my personal approach, as I received VS offers from top US/MC firms 4/4 times I implemented it. This will include: A...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[carys09]

does anybody know if Hogan Lovells stop viewing apps 2 weeks before the deadline since they're rolling?

grad rec told me that they always keep a few spots open in case they get any good apps come through last minute, they deffo look at all apps

 

[Amma Usman]

PFO after PFO despite having 2 vac and working in a firm for the past year, and decent extra curricular, I had good success last year so I'm not sure what's happening at this point now, this whole process has killed me tbh so I think I'm done with it now... In a bit TCLA ✌️

Hey @NJS ,

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re feeling this way, it’s completely understandable. First, I want to acknowledge how much you’ve already achieved: securing two vac schemes, working at a firm for the past year, and building impressive extracurriculars are no small feats. These accomplishments highlight your resilience and capability.

It’s okay to take a step back and focus on yourself. Prioritising your well-being is vital, and stepping away temporarily doesn’t diminish your potential. The legal profession is tough, but you’ve already proven that you have what it takes to succeed in different ways.

Please don’t hesitate to lean on your network for support, we’re all rooting for you. Take care of yourself, and remember you’re not alone in this.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

grad rec told me that they always keep a few spots open in case they get any good apps come through last minute, they deffo look at all apps

Thank you!

 

[Amma Usman]

Thanks Amma, super helpful! Would you recommend adding a summary of points at the start and if so, how much detail would you put into this generally?

Hey @tomsmitg ,

I believe the summary isn’t nescessary as it eats up the word count and space on the page. Preferably, a sentence or two stating what you will cover in the memo/written exercise is sufficient. Sometimes, headings could even make this clearer.

Hope this helps

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey all! I hope you’re all having a fantastic mid-week! I’ve included below 10 sources to help solidify that commercial awareness! Let’s keep going and building up on that skill everyday…!!!

Pro-tip: Take building commercial awareness as a lego exercise - building little blocks everyday before cementing it into a full blown toy machine! It shouldn’t feel like a chore, rather it should feel like an exciting opportunity to learn more about the financial/legal worlds. It’s a habit that certainly takes time to build, so please be patient with your commercial awareness journey!

10 Sources:

1. Financial Times (FT)

2. The Economist

3. Bloomberg

4.The Lawyer

5. Investopedia

6. The Wall Street Journal

7. The Daily Upside

8. LittleLaw

9. Finimize

10. Forbes

Thank you very much, your advice was very insightful! Another point is how much in-depth industry knowledge should I know regarding their work since it is for a training contract I assume they want to be training the person they have?

Hi @zeydi ,

Yes, you are right in suggesting that candidates don’t need to have all the answers, considering it’s a development programme. However, sufficient knowldge on practice areas, current affairs, the financial world and the consequent impact these global changes have on law firms/their clients is quite advantageous and important. The way in which you will be able to streamline how to approach this and not overwhelm yourself with so much data is by choosing areas that interest you, and learning more about them. For example, if it‘s energy and private equity, you should keep up with news on these. If it’s policy or disputes, what are the hot topics on right now? The way I see it, a single news headline can have impacts on so many businesses and law firm practice areas alike. These are things you can touch on in interviews from so many angles.

I’ve quoted a post above with some sources to help build this.

 

[Amma Usman]

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam Hi guys, I just wanted some advice on the 'why this firm' element of a question. Do you think it is acceptable to talk just about for example training or do you think it could be quite generic. Would you suggest for the 'why this firm' aspect to link it back to a practice area or deal

Hey @Unknowncabbage ,

If you’re mentioning a training point, you need to be unequivocally clear why it appeals, largely because any candidate can mention this. The way you create a solid answer on this is by providing examples from your life/professional experiences. For example, if a firm has a small intake and you want to touch on that, ask yourself why it does? With little words per application question, every sentence needs to be one of high value. Thus, you can provide an example of how you thrived in a similar environment. Any feedback you received? Did it give you higher responsibility early on? What did you take away from the experience and why is that the type of training culture you want. Therefore, training is generic only depending on how you explain it and link it back to yourself.

Secondly, I always personally mention practice areas first since at the end of the day, the work should be the primary drawing factor. Again, many firms have similar practices, so you will need to touch on why that appeals. If you’re to mention a deal, also ensure to not just drop it, but answer why it specifically draws you the the firm - since again, many deals will be similar across firms. Focusing on a niche or a breakout deal within a sector could be a good starting point if you can softly differentiate it from the work seen at other firms, and why that’ll be the ideal place to train.

A training point should complement a pre-existing strong response to your practice area interests.

 

[mariistm]

Hey there @mariistm

I have quoted a similar post above to help.

For strength based AC tips specifically, my main tip is to know your competencies in and out. This way, you can answer any question that comes up, no matter how challenging it seems. For example, you should naturally have examples that showcase the main competencies law firms look for, such as proactivity, organisational management, and the likes. You will find that you do not need to overwhelm yourself with this, because multiple competencies are shown per experience you have. You just have to explicitly point this out in an interview, because otherwise an interviewer may not necessarily be able to deduce this.

Thank you so much, that’s super helpful!

 

[Monopolyman]

DLA PFO

 

[The-PFO-Collector]

DLA PFO

Same
After WGT
London Office

Applied end of Oct
Passed online assessment end of Oct
Was not given a VI

 

[RSK]

Same
After WGT
London Office

hey, sorry to hear that - when did you apply?

 

[Monopolyman]

Same
After WGT
London Office

Applied end of Oct
Passed online assessment end of Oct
Was not given a VI

I was the exact same

 

[Legalstalker]

I don’t normally post on the forum as much but I am absolutely fuming. I thought that friday would be the last day before Christmas that we’d be hearing back from firms it was nice to not constantly be on my emails checking. I’ve received 3 rejections in 1 hour. What the hell. Rejections are nothing to me but when I sit there for days researching and writing your application, getting on trains and tubes to attend open days missing classes/income as well as sitting and watching online webinars for 1 firm it really boils my blood.

DLA Piper rejection after passing the WG why give it on the 23rd December?? They already knew we were not good enough so why wait 2 days before Christmas I passed the beginging of October. They already gave VS offers very very cruel.​

Dechert rejection, I went to the open day, met them at a law fair and kept in contact after said open day. I was invited to an event from one of their trainees via LinkedIn as I built such good relationships with them all. I put this all in my application. I made a very good application not to sound cocky. I SPOKE to grad rec last week!! And they reject me today like wtf. Fair enough reject me but why on the 23rd? Why 2 days prior to Christmas next thing you know I’ll be getting rejections on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Why said your last day is the 20th then continue to send communications after? Day is ruined.​