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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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I had a look at previous years in this forum and looks like they were all sent out in one batch from what I can see. They did say we’d find out by Thursday latest, so there is still hope…but personally I’ve accepted it’s most likely pfo now 🥲
Hi lou1707, I'm afraid I don't have any helpful tips or advice to offer, having not had any interactions with Birketts myself. However, I met a chap from Birketts today while queuing for lunch after my first AC (with another firm) and he was lovely, chatty and engaging. Perhaps a brief glimpse into the type of people who work there?
In my (admittedly very limited) experience, firms that have a strong regional focus, like Birketts, aren't out there to trick you or trip you up, if the knowledge I gained today is anything to go by. These are people, at the end of the day – people who know what it's like to be nervous and apprehensive, and they want to help put you at ease and enable you to succeed at the interviews and ACs.
I wish you all the very best with your interview!
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @harris100
Well done on getting to the Akin AC! I did the Akin AC during the very first cycle in which they first introduced a full-blown assessment centre and I’m happy to share my experience and give you (and anyone else) some guidance on preparation. When I went through it, there were four key components.
- A commercial exercise
- A written exercise
- A partner interview
- A group exercise
The written exercise didn’t require much preparation but it tested attention to detail. You'll want to hone your ability to spot errors in documents, working efficiently under time pressure. While it’s difficult to prepare for this in the abstract, if you haven’t done many proofreading exercises before, you might find it helpful to practise reviewing legal or commercial documents for inconsistencies, grammar, or formatting issues.
The partner and senior associate interview will likely include a mix of motivation-based and competency questions. It's particularly important to have a strong idea of why Akin specifically appeals to you and to have well-structured examples from your past experiences that demonstrate key skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. If you've never prepared for one of these before, I'd highly recommend TCLA's interview question bank to help you get a flavour of the sort of questions that could be asked.
Finally, there was a group exercise that involved a presentation. While you won’t know the scenario in advance, common scenarios include commercial acquisitions, investment opportunities, or infrastructure projects. I'd encourage you to practise your approach by considering factors like risk, financial implications, strategic fit, and key stakeholders as they typically arise in any of the above mentioned scenarios. Remember that an equally big part of performing well here is demonstrating that you can collaborate effectively (i.e. listening to others, building on their points, and keeping the discussion structured without dominating).
If you have any further questions, let us know and I'm sure one of us will be able to offer support. @Amma Usman and @Andrei Radu might also have some insight here. Good luck with your assessment centre!
I hate it when law firms do this! Same thing happened to me twice, I received no reply for adjustments and had to just complete the test without it.
Second this I have also been aired by a couple of firms after asking for reasonable adjustments and it is really unfair. I just abandoned the whole application altogether because it was quite indicative of what working for that firm would have looked like. 🥲🥲
They did this shit on purpose!!! As I also emailed 5 mins after I got the email asking for adjustments and they never responded I had to do the test 1 hour before it was due. Just a way to cut down the numbers. It’s ridiculous.
Jessica Booker
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I would include all experiences anyone feels relevant unless there are restrictions with the amount of entries they can include. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s seven weeks ago or seven years ago, it’s important to demonstrate your journey, experience and skills.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @member7830
I just wanted to add to what @Jessica Booker rightly said. I don't think it’s a stupid question at all, but how you frame it can make a big difference. I think the key is to give it some context so that it feels more like a thoughtful discussion rather than just a curiosity-driven question.
One way to approach it is by tying it to the firm’s broader strategy. Think, for instance, about why a partner might be interested in answering this question. You might get them to speak to the type of work done in certain offices or the type of pressures particular offices face, and get a sense of what they think it would be valuable for someone who is a trainee to experience. You could say something like: "I know that secondments can offer really valuable exposure, and given the firm’s strategy and the way client work varies across different offices, I’d be really interested in your perspective on where a trainee might go to do work that is very different from what's done in the London office?" This makes it clear that you’re thinking about the bigger picture rather than just where might be a fun place to go (lol). As long as you show that you’re trying to engage with the firm’s approach (and the partners' insight) in a meaningful way, it can absolutely be a well- received question!
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- Sep 7, 2024
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just got the NRF interview!! really nervous about it and don’t know how to prep any advice would be great!! pls pm me i would appreciate it so much!! i’m definitely willing to share insights on other firms i have had success with!!!
Hiya @tcla02
Congrats on getting the NRF interview! I think with the right prep, you’ll be in a strong position. The video interview (which used to be a telephone interview) usually involves graduate recruitment asking a set list of questions. I think the key is to answer in a clear, structured, and succinct way.
You can expect a mix of motivational and competency-based questions, along with some that test your commercial awareness. To prepare, I’d recommend thinking carefully about why you want to pursue a legal career, why NRF specifically appeals to you, and how your skills align with what they’re looking for. As always for competency questions, the STAR method will help keep your answers structured and impactful.
It’s also worth taking a close look at NRF as a firm, including its key sectors, international reach, and key competitors. I'd also encourage you to have a think about how NRF positions itself in the market and what else it could do here.
If you focus on these areas, you should be well-prepared! Best of luck with the interview!
Jessica Booker
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Just catching up on the conversation regarding Freshfields - I have contacted the firm as I have been contacted by a number of people with similar concerns regarding not being able to complete the assessment. If I get an update, I will let everyone know.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Jessica Booker
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You don't have to link the answer back to professional skills - it is important to focus on what the question is asking of you first, although often naturally skills can come out of the "how has it influenced your personal or professional life".
There won't be a set structure for this - there are different ways in which you can approach it, but I would suggest that you at least cover the following:
- A short explanation of the topic
- Details/context as to how you became passionate about it
- How your involvement/exploration of the topic has benefitted you or shaped your journey experiences
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