TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Cool pigeon]

They probably changed their mind about the approach to the recruitment process once all applications came in. 🥲

Can I ask if the test was timed and whether there were any pre-recorded VI questions? 🙂

No VI, no camera required

 

[delarse]

Has anyone heard back from Withers Spring Vac Scheme post-interview?

 

[KBanana]

Did the PW test - was pretty hard in some parts. Feedback report gives you full outline of how you did on every area (on a bar chart). Email also outlines next stage is a virtual assessment centre.

I attended the October Open Day it was such a lie - we were promised no SJT and next stage would be in person interview ahah

Damn, also disappointed to hear about the SJT... do u mind me asking if the assessment is timed? Thank you

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

@Andrei Radu Hi Andrei, in your first cycle of applications, did you apply to DPW? Or was it only in your second cycle?

 

[RANDOTRON]

250 words

Honestly, I think this is a very weird question. It says AI will be a factor in boosting efficiency and that client relationships are important, and then suggests that these two things are somehow opposites by saying that a balance needs to be struck (without giving you the reason or context as to how they reached that conclusion). Efficiency and relationships are different things but not really opposites. Simplifying it a little here but if you're more efficient, then your clients get better value for money. I might be reading it wrong, who knows 🤷‍♂️

I guess you could talk about the potential danger of over dependence on AI: It can boost efficiency but it is not without its faults, and the last thing you want is to give clients bad advice because you didn't bother to fact-check the AI's answer (also terribly from a repetitional and financial standpoint, especially for your PII policy). One thing it can do is shorten the time it takes for admin work (summarising your emails for you, making to-do lists, image generation, etc) which can boost your workflow, and as above more efficient = happier client. Guess you could also speak on confidentiality.

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu Hi Andrei, in your first cycle of applications, did you apply to DPW? Or was it only in your second cycle?

Hi @badmintonflyinginsect, I only applied in my second cycle. I had no real applications strategy or schedule in my first cycle so I ended up missing many firms.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Honestly, I think this is a very weird question. It says AI will be a factor in boosting efficiency and that client relationships are important, and then suggests that these two things are somehow opposites by saying that a balance needs to be struck (without giving you the reason or context as to how they reached that conclusion). Efficiency and relationships are different things but not really opposites. Simplifying it a little here but if you're more efficient, then your clients get better value for money. I might be reading it wrong, who knows 🤷‍♂️

I guess you could talk about the potential danger of over dependence on AI: It can boost efficiency but it is not without its faults, and the last thing you want is to give clients bad advice because you didn't bother to fact-check the AI's answer (also terribly from a repetitional and financial standpoint, especially for your PII policy). One thing it can do is shorten the time it takes for admin work (summarising your emails for you, making to-do lists, image generation, etc) which can boost your workflow, and as above more efficient = happier client. Guess you could also speak on confidentiality.

To that I will just add that apparently clients (and particularly large corporates/financial institutions) are very conservative when it comes to legal services. A number of lawyers told me some are quite reluctant to allow the use of new legal tech on their matters. Although it would come with a potential discount, as automatization and increased efficiency will mean a lower number of billables, it seems in many cases they are reticent to accept any level of AI-related legal risk. As such, firms can find themselves in the difficult position of wanting to innovate and use AI but also needing to keep clients happy and untroubled by it.

 

[Mayowa333335655780]

I just emailed Paul and this is one of the few questions I have asked! 🙂

Can you please let us know what he says in regards to the contents

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi @badmintonflyinginsect, I only applied in my second cycle. I had no real applications strategy or schedule in my first cycle so I ended up missing many firms.

Hi @Andrei Radu,

What do you think were the biggest differences in your application strategy between your 1st and 2nd cycles?

How did the changes in application strategy positively impact your success the 2nd time around? 🙂🙂

Also massive congrats on securing a TC with DPW! You will make an excellent trainee! 🐐

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys - what would be the best podcasts to listen to when preparing for interviews?

Besides the many great ones recommended by the other forum members, I will add:

• Goldman Sachs Exchanges - for in depth analysis of selected current issues, particularly as they concern Wall Street and the world of dealmaking;
• Law firm podcasts: I particularly liked Latham's and HSF', they were great for explaining the impact of the important current issues/trends on the legal industry;
• Legal press podcasts: The Lawyer Podcast; Law, disrupted; and Bloomberg Law were amazing for me to better understand the dynamics of the legal market and the position and strategy of different firms;

 

[TC129129]

Has anyone heard back from Withers Spring Vac Scheme post-interview?

No, they said to expect to hear back mid feb

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu,

What do you think were the biggest differences in your application strategy between your 1st and 2nd cycles?

How did the changes in application strategy positively affect your success the second time around? 🙂🙂

Also massive congrats on securing a TC with DPW! You will make an excellent trainee! 🐐

Hi @Chris Brown and thanks a lot !

If I were to name the most important difference at a high level of generality, it was being significantly more organized and consistent with my efforts. Firstly, I started the cycle a lot earlier and took the time at the beginning to make a list of all the firms I was interested in, to note down their deadlines, and then to allocate timeslots for completing them in every week from September to February. Simultaneously, I began to attend lots of firm events (most of them online or organized by my university) and started investing at least 30 mins to one hour per day in improving my commercial awareness (mostly by listening to podcasts while commuting or running errands). This quickly improved my understanding of the world of business and the role of law firms, which led to me discovering a interests in M&A, restructuring, and capital markets. This enabled me to write significantly more persuasive 'Why law?' and 'Why the firm?' answers and was extremely helpful later on when I started doing ACs and interviews.

Secondly, in my second cycle I stopped trying to do everything on my own. I applied for and joined the careers mentorship scheme at my university and had the incredible luck to be allocated an amazing mentor. Getting thorough reviews on my drafts and redrafts of my first few applications was beyond helpful, as I understood for the first time what great application writing looked like and was then able to model all my subsequent work on that. At the same time, I constantly worked together with friends, and we would take a look and give our thoughts on the each others' applications. This was both great both for improving the quality of our writing and spotting mistakes and for making the entire process a lot more enjoyable.

Finally, in my second cycle I invested a lot more of my time in applications: taking everything into account (research, writing, commercial awareness, events, interviews etc) I think I used to spend between 30 and 40 hours per week on it. Together with the other factors I mentioned, this meant I could write a significantly higher number of high quality applications. This is the number one factor that drastically improved my AC progression rate, which is ultimately what enabled me to get VS and TC offers.

 

[BillSikes]

If a firm has a question that roughly reads 'do you have any additional information to add', is this something we should really be answering?

 

[Andrei Radu]

When answering an application question, should you refer to a law firm in a singular or plural sense (i.e. R&G are vs R&G is)?

You should use the singular - though you may be enumerating several name partners, you are still only referring to one entity.

 

[Andrei Radu]

If a firm has a question that roughly reads 'do you have any additional information to add', is this something we should really be answering?

I think it depends on the context. If you feel the form questions covered everything that is relevant to the application and that you have presented all of your relevant interests, achievements, and experiences in the best light already, it is not necessary to add anything. However, in many cases this section will give you a valuable opportunity to expand on points which you either did not get to mention or which you had to shorten because of word count limits.

 

[Cool pigeon]

Were the numerical reasoning questions super difficult or were they relatively simple?

That’s the part I’m dreading the most lmao. 🤣

Numerical part was hard at times. I mean I scored full on it but just really read what you need to do well

 

[Cool pigeon]

Damn, also disappointed to hear about the SJT... do u mind me asking if the assessment is timed? Thank you

They say no but I never trust that always do SJTs in their recommended time

 

[Chill_solicitor]

Anyone know what time Ropes & Gray is due?

 

[ysr567]

random but for cover letters is there a general font and size that's expected when submitting it.

 

[👩🎓]

Honestly, I think this is a very weird question. It says AI will be a factor in boosting efficiency and that client relationships are important, and then suggests that these two things are somehow opposites by saying that a balance needs to be struck (without giving you the reason or context as to how they reached that conclusion). Efficiency and relationships are different things but not really opposites. Simplifying it a little here but if you're more efficient, then your clients get better value for money. I might be reading it wrong, who knows 🤷‍♂️

I guess you could talk about the potential danger of over dependence on AI: It can boost efficiency but it is not without its faults, and the last thing you want is to give clients bad advice because you didn't bother to fact-check the AI's answer (also terribly from a repetitional and financial standpoint, especially for your PII policy). One thing it can do is shorten the time it takes for admin work (summarising your emails for you, making to-do lists, image generation, etc) which can boost your workflow, and as above more efficient = happier client. Guess you could also speak on confidentiality.

Thank you so much for your input. I found it quite a difficult question to get started with, so this really helps.