TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Lawyering13]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu
Would it be a bad idea to mention a Kirkland open day in an application to Travers? IK Travers are strong in private equity, and what sparked my interest in PE was a debt finance workshop at the Kirkland open day. But I also go on to talk about how I like the Travers room-sharing system because of the high level of supervision + training (which Kirkland doesn't really have)

Ofc I could deflect this in an interview by saying I didn't like Kirkland's culture after attending the open day, but I'm wondering whether grad rec might discard it because I'm applying to wildly different firms and so won't be a good fit (which is partially true, it's one of my least favourites). Then again it would be difficult to substantiate my interest in PE work without mentioning the open day.

Would appreciate any advice to be honest

Not Jessica or Andrei, but I did the Travers VS last year and mentioned two MC firms I attended open days with in my application, so in general, I think name dropping other firms is ok for Travers.

If you're worried, you could say 'After attending a debt finance workshop, I found... interesting because...'), essentially omitting the firm's name but keeping the most important content in your answer.

 

[kokoprep]

any sidley AC invite

 

[Jessica Booker]

When firms ask about a recent deal that interests you, what time frame does 'recent' refer to? Within the last 12 months or so?

Ideally 12 months - can sometimes push it to two years if there is something more unique about the matter that you are identifying that wouldn’t happen very frequently.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu
Would it be a bad idea to mention a Kirkland open day in an application to Travers? IK Travers are strong in private equity, and what sparked my interest in PE was a debt finance workshop at the Kirkland open day. But I also go on to talk about how I like the Travers room-sharing system because of the high level of supervision + training (which Kirkland doesn't really have)

Ofc I could deflect this in an interview by saying I didn't like Kirkland's culture after attending the open day, but I'm wondering whether grad rec might discard it because I'm applying to wildly different firms and so won't be a good fit (which is partially true, it's one of my least favourites). Then again it would be difficult to substantiate my interest in PE work without mentioning the open day.

Would appreciate any advice to be honest

We see lots of successful applications that leverage competitor firm’s open days and events in their motivational answers - so I really don’t see this being an issue if it then is balanced out with enough “why Kirkland” content

 

[g.cl.2020344]

any1 heard from Bates Wells post-app, they recruit on a rolling basis and I haven't heard anything since

 

[jta227]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu
Would it be a bad idea to mention a Kirkland open day in an application to Travers? IK Travers are strong in private equity, and what sparked my interest in PE was a debt finance workshop at the Kirkland open day. But I also go on to talk about how I like the Travers room-sharing system because of the high level of supervision + training (which Kirkland doesn't really have)

Ofc I could deflect this in an interview by saying I didn't like Kirkland's culture after attending the open day, but I'm wondering whether grad rec might discard it because I'm applying to wildly different firms and so won't be a good fit (which is partially true, it's one of my least favourites). Then again it would be difficult to substantiate my interest in PE work without mentioning the open day.

Would appreciate any advice to be honest

Going to an open day doesn't mean you actually applied to the firm for a TC/VS. I'm guessing you did, but merely talking about an open day simply shows you were doing in-person research to find out/inform your preferences in a firm. I think it'll be fine - at Dechert's open day they said you could mention unrelated firms' open days and then say "I then realised that I didn't like X aspect of Y firms which Dechert actually offers, which is one of the reasons I am interested in Dechert"

 

[Lalis]

HFW AC summer vs!!!

congrats ! in your app form, did you choose summer specifically or just VS in general? (i cant see my preference in the app form so unsure if it is just me)

 

[kokoprep]

Did W&C sent out any AC invites today?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker Hi

When mentioning vacation scheme/work experience at other firms in an application form, is it all right to name them? Because then I worry I will have to justify why not the other firm and why the firm I am applying to, whereas a brief 'vacation scheme at X firm helped me explore interest in...." seems like needs less of a justification.

These experiences should be in your work experience section anyway, and you typically include the employers name there anyway, so there is no issue with referencing other work experience/internships and being specific with the firm’s name. If anything being vague about it can cause more questions than not.

 

[ThelawgraduateX]

Hi @Jessica Booker I hope you are well - i was wondering if I could kindly ask for your advise on the following -

Regarding the cover letter for Travers smith, on the website it says that there is no word limit to it but “ideally not longer than one A4 page”. However, the application website states that the maximum word count is 1000 words (which is well over an A4 page) moreover, every Travers Smith application I have read in the premium database (that has been successful) has been well over one A4 page as well. I am just slightly concerned since my cover letter is almost 800 words and not sure if you would recommend shorten it down to fit an A4 page?

Sorry for the long question… thank you!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker I hope you are well - i was wondering if I could kindly ask for your advise on the following -

Regarding the cover letter for Travers smith, on the website it says that there is no word limit to it but “ideally not longer than one A4 page”. However, the application website states that the maximum word count is 1000 words (which is well over an A4 page) moreover, every Travers Smith application I have read in the premium database (that has been successful) has been well over one A4 page as well. I am just slightly concerned since my cover letter is almost 800 words and not sure if you would recommend shorten it down to fit an A4 page?

Sorry for the long question… thank you!

This is fine - we typically see cover letters of around that length.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

@Jessica Booker

This might be a silly question, but do firms judge appearances during ACs, specifically piercings? I'm not covered or anything, but I have a decent amount on my ears, and have always covered them with my hair during online interviews. For an in-person AC, should I consider taking them out just to be safe?

 

[EA95]

no no, their second stage is the AC, then there is another Partner Interview after the AC

Ok, so the WG is during the AC? So face to face WG then I take it.

 

[Reem2024]

How long does one application usually take people?

2-3 days of work at the start, but now I have a bank of responses that work/ don’t work and I tend to reuse them when they ask “tell me about ur extra curriculars” etc and just edit for the word count/ firm so (5-6 hours- 2 research, 2 writing responses, 1 proofing / submitting).

 

[EA95]

congrats ! in your app form, did you choose summer specifically or just VS in general? (i cant see my preference in the app form so unsure if it is just me)

I can’t remember if they even had that option when I was applying tbh. On their website it said to pick both VS and TC.

 

[kokoprep]

@Jessica Booker

This might be a silly question, but do firms judge appearances during ACs, specifically piercings? I'm not covered or anything, but I have a decent amount on my ears, and have always covered them with my hair during online interviews. For an in-person AC, should I consider taking them out just to be safe?

Interesting question @Jessica Booker- I had the same question when I was attending a in person AC. Especially nose piercings, are they not appropriate?

 

[S7321]

Anyone had anything back from Reed Smith post-VI? Did mine a week ago but am yet to hear back!

 

[NJS]

Damn not heard back from anything in like over a month lol

 

[Audric_T]

How long after the DLA call with an offer did people get the email from early careers?

So Early careers called a few days later for me - 2-3 days and then sent the offer and contract a few days after this - there is a discussion first around how it all works. BTW did you pass for london?

 

[Audric_T]

How long did you wait before you got the call post AC?

a day