TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[suhana]

Hi @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu

had a quick query about situational interviews. just an example question below

You are working on a piece of work assigned to you by your supervisor. A partner on another matter assigns you with another piece of work. The work is complex and the partner is unavailable, while your supervisor is in a client meeting. It becomes clear that you won't be able to complete both within the deadlines, what do you do?

in this scenario, how do you suggest we approach answers in interviews? usually the first point approach would be to ask your supervisor for advice, but since that is not possible here, what is your advice to assess the deadlines and priority of the work ourselves when someone senior is unavailable? is it better to ask someone on the same deal, maybe a senior associate about the nature of the deadline and if its pressing?

 

[Andrei Radu]

This may have been asked already but... I have an in-person AC interview coming up and I believe that there will be (at a minimum) two fee-earners interviewing me. When one of them asks me a question, and I have to respond, should I look at both interviewers back-and-forth when responding? Or should I only focus on the person that’s asked me?

Alternatively, does it depend on the question/who is writing notes on my answers lol💀

@Jessica Booker @Amma Usman

To add to Amma's great response, I think you should try to engage with both, but focus more on the person who is not taking the notes, as that is the person who you will likely be able to hold more eye contact with. Also, at least in my experience, it tends to be a partner/counsel leading the interview with questions and an associate taking the notes. Since the impression you make on the partner will likely influence your progression chances more, you want to concentrate on creating the best rapport with them.

 

[mfuturetrainee]

how long does it take for people to hear post ac?

 

[jojo23]

have you heard back from CRS then? I've heard nothing yet...what stage are you at?

Same here, I've heard nothing from them (paul weiss too)

 

[saminoriya]

is Shoosmiths SJT for the discover scheme automatic?

 

[zq522]

is anyone yet to hear back from Covington, either AC or PFO? Seen that a few have got AC’s last week and today others have heard back too, but I’m still waiting. Should I assume PFO?

 

[elsx]

is Shoosmiths SJT for the discover scheme automatic?

I don't know because it says that it is the final stage..

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Morgan Lewis PFO

 

[jojo23]

Shoosmiths test invite! Only need to smash it to get a VS. I wish more firms made it that simple…

You're telling me there's no vid interview- music to my ears🤣

 

[BillSikes]

is Shoosmiths SJT for the discover scheme automatic?

It is yes

 

[elsx]

You're telling me there's no vid interview- music to my ears🤣

yessss

 

[Ash4202]

Anyone hear back from the aspiring solicitors x paul hastings scheme?

 

[Ajkajk101]

not yet, but I'm impatiently waiting because it's my among my top 3 of what I have left (Gibson, K&S and Debevoise)

Past couple years, they have sent out invites in the first week of February, so hopefully you'll hear back soon!

 

[Niall]

Does anyone have an insight into KPMG online assessment? If there are VI's maybe? Thank you

is this for the Tax & Law stream? I did the winter intake and have since had an offer, theres an initial online assessment, a second online assessment with VI questions and then an in person AC with interviews.

 

[tcfighterrr]

I received an email last week from Mishcon that they have not ghosted me and will get back by mid-feb, but keep seeing people talking abt the VI and AC here. Should I assume PFO?

Edit: for the SVS

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu

had a quick query about situational interviews. just an example question below

You are working on a piece of work assigned to you by your supervisor. A partner on another matter assigns you with another piece of work. The work is complex and the partner is unavailable, while your supervisor is in a client meeting. It becomes clear that you won't be able to complete both within the deadlines, what do you do?

in this scenario, how do you suggest we approach answers in interviews? usually the first point approach would be to ask your supervisor for advice, but since that is not possible here, what is your advice to assess the deadlines and priority of the work ourselves when someone senior is unavailable? is it better to ask someone on the same deal, maybe a senior associate about the nature of the deadline and if its pressing?

In managing this situation, I think you should show your capacity for a multi-faceted consideration of multiple relevant considerations. Conceptually (though not necessarily in terms of actually expressing the points this way) I would split the factors into two categories: substantive and procedural considerations.

Regarding substantive considerations, I will list bellow a non-exhaustive list of aspects you should consider in deciding which piece of work to do:

• How strict are the two deadlines? Is it easier to push back one more than the other?
• How important is delivering the work product for servicing the entire matter - ie is any of the tasks essential to the progression of the workstreams?
• How important is the timely completion of the entire matter? If one is for an transformational deal for a core client while one is for an isolated corporate governance review matter, this should play a role in your decision-making.
• How likely is it that someone else will be able to complete each of the tasks, supposing you choose the other one?

As for procedural considerations:

• Involve an associate in the decision making process, ideally someone who is working on the matter that the partner is on. Firstly, this will likely be necessary to learn the information you need to make a judgement on the substantive merits on doing one task or the other (as the prompt stipulates you do not know much about the new matter). Secondly, since you are a trainee and are thus unsure how you should go about weighing the different factors and making your decision, their input will be very useful.
• However, prima facie, you prioritize the work you have already committed to doing: if the merits of doing one task or the other are roughly similar, you should probably choose to do the first one. You have already committed to it and created an expectations in this regard, but you have not yet responded to the partner request.
• Whichever option you end up choosing, do your best to find someone else to do the other tasks instead of you - the associate you contact might help you with the work or help you find someone else who is available to help (as associates tend to know people's availability a lot more than trainees do); alternatively, you can contact other trainees yourself to ask for assistance.
• Finally, although both are unavailable at the moment, make sure to inform both the supervisor and partner of the situation and how you have managed it as soon as possible.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

No news from Morgan Lewis and now worrying I forgot to take a test or something 🤣

 

[lawstudenttt2003]

Did everyone get the Shoosmiths invite?

 

[Alessio1642]

I received an email last week from Mishcon that they have not ghosted me and will get back by mid-feb, but keep seeing people talking abt the VI and AC here. Should I assume PFO?

Edit: for the SVS

These have only gone out for Spring VS I believe. Think they are dealing with them first and then moving on to Summer?!

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey everyone I've been reading FT, economist and similar sources to improve my commercial awareness and I've found that it has helped keep me up to date with current trends in the market etc. What should I read to help me understand specific things such as the difference between debt financing and leverage buyout? Is there a resource for key terminology for corporate law that I can utilise? Thanks!

Hey there! I’ve made a short post on these to help:

WHAT IS DEBT FINANCING AND A LEVERAGED BUYOUT?

Imagine you want to buy a really expensive bike, but you don’t have enough money. You could save up for years, or you could borrow money from the bank to buy it now.

Debt financing is when you borrow money to pay for something big, like your bike, and then you promise to pay it back later, little by little, with extra money called "interest" (which is like a fee for borrowing).

Now, let’s say you don’t just want a bike…. you want to buy a whole bike shop! But you don’t have enough money. A leveraged buyout (LBO) is when you borrow a lot of money (debt financing) to buy the shop. You use the shop’s own money (its profits) to help pay back the loan over time. It’s like buying a shop mostly with borrowed money and then using the shop’s earnings to repay what you borrowed.

But be careful! If the shop doesn’t make enough money, you might struggle to pay back the loan. That’s why LBOs can be risky.