TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Andrei Radu

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Future Trainee
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Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
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How to approach HSF's question What skills, qualities and attributes would you bring to the role? without regurgitating your answer to their other question about what attracts you to HSF/the work experience section
I think the way you should interpret this is a 'Why you?' question. Essentially, what you want to do is to discuss your experiences and achievements, the skills/attributes that these experiences demonstrate, and how these skills/attributes are relevant for the work of a trainee. You do not have to discuss any firm-specific motivations or motivations for commercial law in this section.

As such, the only danger of repetition comes from discussing the same experiences/achievements here as you did for the other two questions. To avoid that, I'd try to be tactical with the experiences/achievements I mention in each section. Firstly, I'd avoid discussing more than two or three experiences/achievements in any of them. Secondly, I'd chose for each section the experiences that bring most value to it. For instance, if you have an experience/achievement that could be mentioned both in the 'Why the firm' and in the 'Why you' answers, and you have many other experiences you could use in the 'Why you' section but few other experiences you can use in 'Why the firm' section, you should include it in the latter.

Finally, my specific advice in approaching this section is to write two or three paragraphs using the following structure:
  1. Start by describing your experience/achievement in detail, using a STAR structure. If possible, quantify any results or impacts.
  2. Explain why your experience/achievement and its result demonstrates Y skill you have.
  3. Explain how Y skill is relevant for a trainee's success.
 

lookingforaTC

Valued Member
Premium Member
Feb 16, 2024
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Read a firm profile. Click on details. It will say vacancies and also vacation scheme spots.

E.g. implied VS to TC conversion rates for a few firms ...

Firm / VS / TCs / conversion

Covington & Burling / 30 / 9 / 30%

Milbank / 20 / 12 / 60%

Willkie Farr & Gallagher / 20 / 6 / 30%

Arnold & Porter / 10 / 4 / 40%

Sidley Austin 60 / 17 / 29.82%

Sullivan & Cromwell / 12 / 8 / 66%

White & Case 75 / 50 / 66%

A&O Shearman 80 / 90 / c90%

Hogan Lovells 70 / 50 c70%

Linklaters 100 / 100 / 100%

Ashurst 50 / 40 / 80%

N.B. US firms don't generally give out many direct TCs, whereas firms like the magic circle are more likely to do so.
Linklaters had 100% conversion rate for VS? So no hires from direct TC?
 

saminoriya

Star Member
Premium Member
  • Aug 11, 2024
    30
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    Has anyone done the Simmons & Simmons blended assessment yet?

    If so, is it timed? And are you able to tab out to prepare for the interview questions
    They record u throughout the whole assessment. You have unlimited time to prepare for interview questions but your camera is constantly on. Basically the same as for A&O if you've done it.
     
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