TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

AlegalA

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Dec 4, 2023
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I did fine in property law as a module but i think i would burst out laughing/crying if i was asked that 🤣
NRF said they'll ask about your modules most likely and that you should revise contract law pre-interview if you're a Law student. That being said the trainee I spoke to on their open day said she didn't actually get asked about it. One of the partners said he also likes to ask "what's your favourite case" and it catches lots of people out because they didn't expect it and they just start waffling. Also for their negotiation exercise, Law students are grouped together and non-Law are grouped together, so the level of knowledge expected is different.
Linklaters have asked "what is an indemnity" "what is a warranty" before
Lots of firms don't ask any legal knowledge Qs at all.
Not really, but they are often included in AC tasks to provide a clearer perspective on the case study problem. For instance, think of it like understanding the mechanics of a car—you don’t need to be a mechanic to drive it, but knowing how the engine works can help you identify warning signs or inefficiencies. Similarly, understanding these terms can help you spot technical red flags. That said, firms are more focused on your ability to identify broader issues and demonstrate a natural grasp of the business landscape in commercial law. Hope this helps!
Can happen but tends to be rare. When it does happen, its usually because you have experience, whether it be work experience or academics related to the topic included in your application though.
At A&O Shearman AC I was asked the difference between a warranty and a representation, and how I would apply each one to the case study problem.

Yes Just had the worst interview ever end of last week. Legal questions asked of a non law student! Legal not commercial. Proper waste of everyone's time. Explained I was non law and therefore hadn't undertaken any form of legal education yet.
Thank you all! Bit f mixed responses, it seems it might be mostly magic/silver circle firms asking? Fingers crossed for me anyway 😅
 

Andrei Radu

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Hi @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman,

I trust you are well and happy new year.

I am applying to Orrick which, in addition to why commercial law and why specifically are you interested in training at Orrick, the application also requires a cover letter. I am struggling to understand what to include in my answer. Should I mention my skills and why the firm?

I am also applying to Mayer Brown and would like your opinion on how to structure my answer tell us about any academic or non-academic achievements and interests. I do not want to sound silly, but should I mention if I developed specific skills which could help me succeed as a trainee at MB?

Thank you in advance for your help
Hey @AS24, I hope you are well too and all the best for the new year :)!

For your first question, I think you should still aim to cover the same three basic 'Why commercial law', 'Why firm' and 'Why you' in the cover letter, though perhaps with an increased emphasis on the 'why you' part. To avoid repetition, I would consider doing a combination of the following:
  • Use a more concise and to the point style in the application form answers and a more narrative style and structure in the cover letter. You can see the form as you needing to deliver on some very specific tasks, while the cover letter more as you telling your story and presenting your profile.
  • Furthermore, it is generally thought you can use examples from personal experiences and hobbies a lot more in the cover letter than in the application form answers, where you should focus more on work/academic examples. The use of personal experiences might be particularly useful in the cover letter if you decide to also give a short description as to how your motivations have historically progressed and led you to this point.
  • To the extent that you cannot avoid repeating some of the same examples, try to focus on different parts of the experiences. For instance, if this was some kind of work experience, you may describe one relevant task in the form answer and one in the cover letter.
  • To the extent that you cannot avoid repeating some of the same substantive points (I expect you should be able to find a number of different why Orrick reasons, but you might have the same basic points for why commercial law), try to elaborate on them in a different manner. For instance, say one of your reasons for why Orrick is their expertise in the VC/tech space. In the application form answer you could focus on Chambers rankings, deal figures and client base, while in the cover letter you could discuss one of their transactions at length.
For your second question, I do not think this linking experiences with skills is a strict requirement, but I would advise you to do it nonetheless. It shows off your commercial awareness and makes the relevance of your achievements and interests evident. A recruiter should never have an issue with seeing this even if they weren't necessarily expecting it; but if they expected it and you did not include it, that could be a serious issue. However, I would keep it brief (one or maximum two sentences at the end of a paragraph) and have the experiences themselves as the main focus.
 
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aspiringsolicitor23

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Dec 15, 2023
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When an application asks: is this law-related work experience, does this just mean professional law roles like interning in a legal department or completing a vac scheme? That was my initial interpretation but I am now wondering about roles I have taken within law societies and tutoring law modules - it seems counterintuitive to say these roles are not law related? Please could somebody help, thanks!
 

Andrei Radu

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Does anyone have subscribed access to Bloomberg? I am unable to access the link "https://news.bloomberglaw.com/busin...gthens-grip-on-shifting-m-a-deals-leaderboard" because I don't have a subscription. Could @Andrei Radu or @Amma Usman please confirm if they can access the information about Kirkland and Ellis maintaining its position as one of the top 10 Global Legal Advisors for M&A in 2024, based on deal value and deal count?
I can confirm Kirkland has not only kept its position as one of the top 10 by deal value, but was actually ranked number 1. While I cannot access the Bloomberg article directly, I have found a number of other sources referencing it and providing the M&A table, such as Lawyer Monthly and The Global Legal Post.
 

dm_corporate

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Dec 22, 2024
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Hi @Andrei Radu and all,

I have a pre recorded VI with a US firm. I'm not too worried about the questions themselves but I have a tendency to speak in a monotone voice when I am nervous during video interviews. For some this may be perceived as a lack of enthusiasm and confidence.

Will this be marked against me if my answers are still clear, concise and well structured? Basically I'm trying to find out what the criteria is for a video interview? If anyone has any insights I would appreciate it.

Thanks
 

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