a quick question about CV blind interviews - do I have to censor the name of my university, for example, can I say I am a final year law student at ______ or say that I worked for ____ Law Society
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @cjwx (and anybody else waiting to hear back from CRS)
From my experience applying a few cycles ago, it can take around 3-4 weeks to hear back from the firm. I received my response during the second week of February the year I applied. At that time, the vacation scheme application process included only a written application and a video interview. While this process might have changed since then, I’d recommend giving them at least a month from the deadline before following up to ask about your application’s status. Best of luck! I hope you hear back soon with good news!
Can anyone offer any help with Osborne Clarke Virtual AC. Happy to offer help on ACs at Simmons and Simmons, White & Case, Withers
Just heard back with an invite to interview!
Anyone heard back from Aspiring Solicitors for the Amazon (post second form) or DHL mentoring scheme?
I did it last year and passed and I would say just research OC's key sectors and themes facing those sectors / areas very broadly, as well as thinking about what practice areas at OC might get involved in matters relating to those themes / specific issues facing those sectors. Otherwise, there really isn't a whole lot you can do to prep if it's the same format as last year as they just spring a topic on you, you have some time to prep a presentation / answer the specific questions they ask but given that you only find out the topic last minute, not much you can do I think.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @suhana
@Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would definitely have more to say here, but I just wanted to chime in beforehand.
I think this is a really good question. It's easy for discussions of “commercial" and "legal" factors to overlap significantly when drafting a written exercise. That said, I think the most straightforward way to conceptualise the difference is by thinking of "commercial factors" as including, more broadly, the financial, strategic, or operational implications of a business decision (whether an acquisition, a restructuring, or investment). When law firms ask applicants to discuss commercial factors, they want to see that you’re able to think about such factors when drafting your answers.
I've generally found that econ and business students are more likely to have come across the factors below, but it's worth bearing in them in mind when completing an exercise that's testing your commercial awareness. The factors below are just some of the things you'll want to think about:
1. Financial Factors
- Revenue Growth: Will the decision lead to sustainable increases in the company's income?
- Profit Margins: Does the decision help maintain or improve profitability?
- Cost Efficiency: How effectively are resources being used? Does it reduce costs or at least do the costs lead to measurable improvements in a client's operational efficiency?
- Return on Investment: Are the financial returns worth the cost and risk of the decision?
- Goal Compatibility: Does the acquisition/investment decision align with the company’s long-term goals and vision?
- Competitive Advantage: Will the business decision strengthen the company’s position in the market (e.g. allowing the client to differentiate itself)? Is the client likely to be competitive in the particular industry or will it struggle to keep up as a result of the business decision?
- Market Expansion: Does the decision create opportunities to enter new markets or grow market share in existing ones?
- Market Needs: Does the decision address current or emerging customer demands effectively?
- Opportunity Cost: If you advise the client to pursue one option over another, what other opportunities are being foregone, and is this preferred decision the best use of resources by comparison?
- Timing: Is the decision being made at the right time to maximise impact or capitalise on opportunities?
- Scalability: Can the decision be scaled up effectively if needed?
- Efficiency Gains: Does the business decision streamline processes or improve productivity?
- Integration Feasibility: If it involves merging or acquiring, how easily can the new entity be integrated?
- Risk Mitigation: How well does the decision anticipate and address potential challenges?
- Employee and Cultural Impact: Does the decision improve employee satisfaction, retention, or productivity? Are there cultural tensions that emerge as a result of the merger/acquisition that might need to be addressed?
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for what office is it if you don't mind?Has anyone got any experience with Birketts partner interview? I have it next week would be grateful if anyone has experience they can share
Sure, I did mine last Tuesday. They said at the time that we might hear back sooner than others since we were an early slot
I did and the automated email said they can't answer questions about application updates cos they r too busy
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