TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

@Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman
Any advice on how to answer these questions for? :
1. If you could invent a new product or technology that does not currently exist, what would it be and why? (250 max)
2. Please declare if you have used Artificial Intelligence in your application, and if so, how this has been employed? (100 max）(this is for Covington and I have used grammarly but I don't know if that counts)

Thank you!

Hey @KBanana and @chrisbrown ,

For the first question, I would say there’s no right or wrong answer. The firm seemingly wants to simply gauge your creativity and your thought process behind this and why. Now there is also no need to do the following, but I would personally focus on an invention in the legal field - not because this is what you need to focus on to get the question right, but because this is an area I am drawn to. Find an area that interests you as then you’d be able to talk about it in depth. It’s also not enough to just answer the question directly because despite it not specifying this, you will need to focus on why the invention is a good one. For example, how does it benefit the industry or a process that is not as easy given existing tech capabilities? This will take your answer to the next level in terms of specificity.

For the second question, I would say grammarly is a good one provided you go into detail on how it was employed specifically.

Also, I can’t keep calm Chris Brown is literally on our forum 😱🥰🔥🥹🚀

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

Any thread you can direct to for AC prep? Particularly case study ones!

Thank you!

Hey @suhana ,

I have linked a couple of helpful resources by the team 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

A Guide to Building a Winning Application Strategy

Introduction This post is meant to serve you as a definitive guide to crafting your optimal application strategy. As it is quite lengthy, I have divided it into five subsections for you to navigate according to your interests: Why do you need an application strategy? How many law firms should...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Mock M&A Case Study: Analysis

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having a fantastic day. We’re entering the season of assessment centres (ACs) at law firms, and a hot topic for many of these ACs is Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)! So, in this thread, I’ll be guiding you through a short fictitious M&A case study and highlighting...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Private Equity Case Study - OPEN ENGAGEMENT ENCOURAGED ;)

Hey TCLA Community! We’re back again with the mock case studies ;) This time around, I decided to take a different approach. I’ve included the case study below, and will leave the floor open for a couple of days so you can all provide your thoughts and ideas on the commercial and legal issues...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Best of luck! You’ll do amazing!

 

[legaldruid]

Hey guys, does anyone know if RPC's vac scheme applications are rolling or not?

I mean the deadline is on Monday and I want to submit my app tonight but I'm considering whether it'll be worth it or not. I could focus on another app that has a non-rolling deadline on Monday.

 

[AlegalA]

Hey guys, does anyone know if RPC's vac scheme applications are rolling or not?

I mean the deadline is on Monday and I want to submit my app tonight but I'm considering whether it'll be worth it or not. I could focus on another app that has a non-rolling deadline on Monday.

Hi! I'm unsure whether they are fully rolling, that being said, myself and a few others have been invited to the AC (in 10 days) already. I will say, their turnaround was particularly quick- from app to AC invite was exactly 2 weeks, so it is possible they will hold another AC for people applying on/near the deadline.

If you have time, apply- if not, maybe focus on the other app. The other thing to note is they have a WG test, so have a think about whether you are good at those or not (and compare with the other stages of the other app obviously).

 

[g.cl.2020344]

My gut is that this is good enough?

I hope so because the 1/4 is in the least important section- tho this only my opinion hahaa

 

[AZ97]

Is it worth applying to W&Cs vac scheme today? As deadline is on the 12th. I'm in full-time work in a legal role so would saving it for direct TC be better?

 

[addy2004]

they say they're running multiple assessment days through January and February, and I'm aware there is a precedent where they reconsider people who apply for Winter and spring for summer. Since they haven't sent out Summer invites yet, you could very well be getting considered for Summer.

I even know people who received PFOs for Winter and then were subsequently reconsidered [without being asked] for Spring.

So people who were rejected for the Linklaters winter vac scheme have previously been offered ACs for other schemes do you mean?

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Is it worth applying to W&Cs vac scheme today? As deadline is on the 12th. I'm in full-time work in a legal role so would saving it for direct TC be better?

I think you can reapply in the same recruitment cycle...or at least their application page says you can apply to the opportunities individually.

 

[Chris Brown]

Is it worth applying to W&Cs vac scheme today? As deadline is on the 12th. I'm in full-time work in a legal role so would saving it for direct TC be better?

If you can write a strong application in the time frame you have left I would go for it! 🙂🙂

Firms like DLA Piper take rolling recruitment on a much more serious level and will close applications once they receive enough applications - W&C review applications on a rolling basis but don’t make decisions until after the final deadline (which is tomorrow).

Most people send applications in within the final week of the deadline - law firms will want the best talent so won’t reject an application purely because it was sent in close to the final deadline. If it’s a good application and shows potential they will consider it! 🙂🙂

I sent my W&C application on Sunday last week so 7 days before the final deadline!

 

[Chris Brown]

Hey @KBanana and @chrisbrown ,

For the first question, I would say there’s no right or wrong answer. The firm seemingly wants to simply gauge your creativity and your thought process behind this and why. Now there is also no need to do the following, but I would personally focus on an invention in the legal field - not because this is what you need to focus on to get the question right, but because this is an area I am drawn to. Find an area that interests you as then you’d be able to talk about it in depth. It’s also not enough to just answer the question directly because despite it not specifying this, you will need to focus on why the invention is a good one. For example, how does it benefit the industry or a process that is not as easy given existing tech capabilities? This will take your answer to the next level in terms of specificity.

For the second question, I would say grammarly is a good one provided you go into detail on how it was employed specifically.

Also, I can’t keep calm Chris Brown is literally on our forum 😱🥰🔥🥹🚀

Thank you so much @Amma Usman!!

This is really useful and makes the question seem a lot less complicated. 🙂🙂

Yes, Chris Brown has made it on to the TCLA Forum!!

🚀😱😎🔥

 

[CG_101]

So people who were rejected for the Linklaters winter vac scheme have previously been offered ACs for other schemes do you mean?

exactly

 

[Amiyrerose]

Update- taken the video interview and I think I’ve bottled it 😭😭yk when you just feel like it’s not good enough ugh. If I get through then it’s a miracle.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

For Squire Patton Boggs, it gives you 6 entries for work experience which are 150 words each and then a 750 word box for any other work experience you've done. 150 words is so little (especially if you don't want to write in bullet points) and I have 10 work experiences which I usually include so I was thinking of maybe using the 750 words for my most important work experiences (eg my legal experience + grad jobs) and then the 150 word boxes for my less relevant work experience (eg barista) which I mainly include to demonstrate that I've worked in a variety of different roles since I was a young teenager. However, I'm worried that this might not be the best approach as the main boxes might be the more obvious place to put my important/recent/relevant work experiences and I don't know how it all shows up on grad rec's side of the system? Any advice anyone? In particular would love your advice @Jessica Booker

 

[legaldruid]

Is anyone else still in limbo for Addleshaws? Not received a PFO or a voice interview yet?

Yeah I applied close to the deadline and haven't received any update yet. Hoping for the best!

 

[legaldruid]

Reed Smith VI - are the questions motivation, competency or commercial awareness? Working out what to practice and whether I need to do research prep first (I know the prep time is unlimited but assume I can’t be on other windows researching)

I'll DM you

 

[Toomanypfo]

Update- taken the video interview and I think I’ve bottled it 😭😭yk when you just feel like it’s not good enough ugh. If I get through then it’s a miracle.

Could you share whether or not it includes commercial awareness questions like recent cases or news

 

[user9809]

Does anyone have any advice for the Goodwin VI? Thanks!

 

[tcla02]

Does anyone have any advice for the clyde & co digital assessment? what kind of questions are in it? are they scenario-based or competency questions? Thank you!!

 

[AlarmedBookkeeper448]

Does anyone have any advice for the Goodwin VI? Thanks!

Five questions: 30 seconds prep time, 90 sec recording time. Three competency questions: Tell me a time 1 Commercial Awareness and 1 Motivational.

Someone mentioned the above ^ 😊

 

[tarty23]

Regarding the Forster’s feedback, what is meant when they say they like a legal element to be discussed? Is this like a specific case?