TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Lastseasonwonder]

Just bombed a VI. Worked so hard on the app, so really hoping a miracle happens here ...

 

[LegalSara04]

Just bombed a VI. Worked so hard on the app, so really hoping a miracle happens here ...

So sorry to hear this. Honestly VI’s are the worst part of any application.

Do you mind saying what firm it was for?

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Jessica Booker @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu

When a firm says that during an interview they will be looking for "knowledge of current affairs and ability to apply this knowledge to the benefit of a discussion" in a case study exercise, what exactly do they mean by this? Does this mean that, for example if the case study is related to an M&A and has a specific element to it, I should be able to discuss a similar M&A with that element that has been in the news lately? Apologies for a clumsy question.

If you were able to add value to your analysis by discussing how a certain element has been dealt with in another deal that would definitely be impressive, but you are certainly not expected to do that. As Jessica said, firms are looking to test (i) the level of your commercial awareness - just how much you know about what is going on in the business world; and (ii) the extent to which you can analyze the relevance of that in the context of the particular case study you are completing. For (i) I think general commercial awareness includes both trends (like the growth of private capital, antitrust enforcement, declining inflation) and relevant events (like the US elections, new regulations and laws, wars). For (ii) firms are looking to see if you can use your knowledge for the purposes of commercial analysis.

For instance, say at one point in an M&A case study you are looking at competition law compliance concerns. Besides using the information given in the exercise, you can bring in the fact that in the US, UK and EU in recent years antitrust authorities have been a lot more active and assertive when doing merger control assessments, which is potentially a cause for concern. To make for a more nuanced take, you can then say that with the new US administration having a significantly more relaxed attitude towards antitrust enforcement and with recessions in the EU bringing back a more business-friendly attitude in Brussels, it is not that problematic. Finally, though not necessary, you could integrate some prior transaction knowledge and conclude that in a worst case scenario the issue could be dealt with by negotiating with the regulators and either carving out parts of the acquired business or proposing behavioral remedies (as was done in the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal).

 

[yasmars]

Just bombed a VI. Worked so hard on the app, so really hoping a miracle happens here ...

I thought I bombed a VI I did recently and made it through to the next stage. I stumbled sooo badly and paused for like 7 secs. Honestly we judge ourselves much harder than GR. you probably did so much better than you think!

 

[legal18]

No - it is the next stage

View attachment 6579

Has anyone done the Willkie written exercise yet? My first time getting through their VI and would appreciate any insights

Congrats on the Willkie written exercise!! When did you submit your VI and when did you hear back??

 

[Andrei Radu]

hello im going to apply for White & Case and HFW but their deadlines are the end of this week, and they're rolling deadlines - should i just apply straight for their TCs instead or still worth a shot? @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

If you can write a high quality application during this time, I think it is definitely still worth a shot for the VS. Last year I also only submitted my White & Case application in the last week before the deadline and I was still progressed.

 

[legallyfurball]

Agreed - it's not even on the application process part of their website 😅 guess we'll all just have to give it a go!

Has anyone who's done the Goodwin VI give insight on the types of questions they ask?! Mine's due tomorrow and I'm scared to attempt it

 

[Andrei Radu]

Is it always advisable to find out who the head of graduate recruitment is then address the cover letter to them personally? Or, if the firm hasn't advised on this just refer to the graduate recruitment team?

I think it it is perfectly fine to address it to the graduate recruitment team unless instructed otherwise - I was progressed in multiple applications in which I did that. Even if for some reason a particular recruiter might have a preference regarding to whom the cover letter is addressed to, it is quite unlikely this consideration will have any real weigh for the decision on your progression.

 

[Chris Brown]

I’m working on an application at the moment which asks for a cover letter (1000 words)

There are two other separate questions which ask for (1) extra curricular activities and leisure interests and (2) positions of responsibility and key achievements. Both questions have a word count of 500 words.

I’m struggling to think of things that I can add for the first question since almost everything I could mention will have already been covered in the work experience section, cover letter or the second question.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated

 

[Hana ♥]

Anyone heard back from Akin post Christmas/New Year slowdown?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Does anyone have insight on how to answer this question. - Do you require permission to work in the region you are applying to? - I'm an international student on a Graduate Visa at the moment - I don't need permission/ a visa for the vacation scheme for which I am applying but I will require it for my training contract later. I'm a bit confused whether to give yes/no. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Shandy101]

I’m working on an application at the moment which asks for a cover letter (1000 words)

There are two other separate questions which ask for (1) extra curricular activities and leisure interests and (2) positions of responsibility and key achievements. Both questions have a word count of 500 words.

I’m struggling to think of things that I can add for the first question since almost everything I could mention will have already been covered in the work experience section, cover letter or the second question.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated

CL: Why commercial law (if you've done a vac scheme good place to include and how that may have influenced), why the firm- the work, the culture and pro bono or DEI (in that order). If u like a specific practice area(s) talk about deals and why that type of work is appealing to you based on your interests, experience or some other personal connection. I think inevitability, there will be some overlap between CL and what's in the other 2 questions but I don't think it will be detrimental if well written.

 

[Shandy101]

Does anyone have insight on how to answer this question. - Do you require permission to work in the region you are applying to? - I'm an international student on a Graduate Visa at the moment - I don't need permission/ a visa for the vacation scheme for which I am applying but I will require it for my training contract later. I'm a bit confused whether to give yes/no. Any help would be much appreciated!

If the application you are completing is for a VS then answer the question in terms of that.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I’m working on an application at the moment which asks for a cover letter (1000 words)

There are two other separate questions which ask for (1) extra curricular activities and leisure interests and (2) positions of responsibility and key achievements. Both questions have a word count of 500 words.

I’m struggling to think of things that I can add for the first question since almost everything I could mention will have already been covered in the work experience section, cover letter or the second question.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated

Don't put your extracurriculars in your work experience entries. These should be saved for the sections mentioned above.

Any cross over between these questions and the "why me" part of the cover letter - let the questions focus on your responsibilities and achievements and let your cover letter talk more about why you did those activities (e.g. motivations/what you enjoy being involved in) or the skills you gained from them. This should avoid most of the potential repetition.

 

[Chris Brown]

CL: Why commercial law (if you've done a vac scheme good place to include and how that may have influenced), why the firm- the work, the culture and pro bono or DEI (in that order). If u like a specific practice area(s) talk about deals and why that type of work is appealing to you based on your interests, experience or some other personal connection. I think inevitability, there will be some overlap between CL and what's in the other 2 questions but I don't think it will be detrimental if well written.

Thank you I appreciate this a lot! I’m not used to writing cover letters as normally there are specific questions for each thing e.g., why do you want to pursue a career in commercial law or why x firm.

Guess this makes things easier in that it is essentially the same thing.

 

[Bread]

idk if it's true that applicants who've previously applied to law firms unsuccessfully can be automatically screened out...

Does anyone know whether this is true/which firms do this?

 

[sibs23]

Hello, this is so so last minute but I am weighing up whether to apply for the Fieldfisher Diversity Access Scheme or the Direct TC and wondering if anyone could offer some advice? I am unsure whether the DAS is aimed at people with less legal experience. I fulfil the criteria required for the DAS but I do have significant legal work experience. Leaning towards going for the DAS and i suppose they could move me if they think i should move to direct?

 

[Chris Brown]

Don't put your extracurriculars in your work experience entries. These should be saved for the sections mentioned above.

Any cross over between these questions and the "why me" part of the cover letter - let the questions focus on your responsibilities and achievements and let your cover letter talk more about why you did those activities (e.g. motivations/what you enjoy being involved in) or the skills you gained from them. This should avoid most of the potential repetition.

Thank you Jessica! I appreciate the help!

In my cover letter I am most likely going to use the structure why commercial law, why the firm and then why me.

In terms of the work experience section, I have focused on discussing my part time or full time jobs, internships and things like open days and insight events.

For the question on positions of responsibility and achievements, I have written about the societies I was part of at university and my academic and non academic achievements.

The question I am struggling with is the one for extra curricular activities and leisure activities.

The reason is because I don’t really have any examples of extra curricular activities or I am unsure of what counts as an extra curricular or leisure activity. I feel like any example I could use will have already been mentioned on one of the other application sections and I want to avoid that possible repetition.

What kind of things can be considered to be extra curricular or leisure activities?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica! I appreciate the help!

In my cover letter I am most likely going to use the structure why commercial law, why the firm and then why me.

In terms of the work experience section, I have focused on discussing my part time or full time jobs, internships and things like open days and insight events.

For the question on positions of responsibility and achievements, I have written about the societies I was part of at university and my academic and non academic achievements.

The question I am struggling with is the one for extra curricular activities and leisure activities.

The reason is because I don’t really have any examples of extra curricular activities or I am unsure of what counts as an extra curricular or leisure activity. I feel like any example I could use will have already been mentioned on one of the other application sections and I want to avoid that possible repetition.

What kind of things can be considered to be extra curricular or leisure activities?

Any interests that don't require you to make a commitment to others. For instance, it could be hobbies that are very much from a self-interest point or activities that are solo pursuits or where the output is really only for your benefit rather than other people's.

 

[jta227]

Hello, this is so so last minute but I am weighing up whether to apply for the Fieldfisher Diversity Access Scheme or the Direct TC and wondering if anyone could offer some advice? I am unsure whether the DAS is aimed at people with less legal experience. I fulfil the criteria required for the DAS but I do have significant legal work experience. Leaning towards going for the DAS and i suppose they could move me if they think i should move to direct?

Consider also that the DAS is rolling to the extent that they give some offers before the deadline but the TC is only that they progress to AC before the deadline, I believe. Direct TC might fare better (that being said I sent an application today and it was for the DAS, and I'm also second-guessing myself since you can only apply once a year and I like the firm)