TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker ,

If you mention a deal in your application, would you be expected to mention it again during an assessment center interview e.g. in a 'why this firm' question and expand on why it caught your attention?

I was also wondering if, in such an interview, you could mention a deal that you didn't mention in your application.

Thank you

No - you don’t necessarily need to repeat these type of details in interviews unless you feel it is appropriate to do so. I would encourage anyone interviewing to maybe consider other examples of client work that interests them so it doesn’t sound like you only have done research into one matter though.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If you have an overall ranging around 64ish (2:1, undergrad LLB), is it worth applying to firms like HSF, HL etc. ? Thank you in advance.

Yes

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Andrei Radu and @Ram Sabaratnam,

I trust you are well.

I am currently applying to Reed Smith and I am struggling with one specific question 'Focusing on one of Reed Smith`s sectors, what current issues do you think will impact this sector? What opportunities or challenges could this present Reed Smith or our clients?'

I have identified the industry and two issues, however, I feel that they present many opportunities to Reed Smith and their clients. Do I need to identify a challenge too?

Thank you in advance for your help.

It is fine to just focus on opportunities as they have used “or” rather than “and”.

 

[Shah74k]

So while M&A and PE are big teams within the firm, White & Case is not particularly known for this, especially when compared to rivals like Latham and Kirkland. I think the biggest team teams of the firm which are also considered to be among the market leaders in their field in the City are for capital markets - W&C is one of the very few firms that gets band 1 Chambers rankings for both equity and debt capital markets work.

Also, W&C has a very strong banking practice - not quite as well known as their capital markets one, but it is sufficiently well regarded to motivate you to discuss it in an application.

Besides that, the firm is also leading in projects and international arbitration, but those practices aren't as large as the aforementioned ones.

Appreciate this - thank you.

 

[VMS]

Do HSF, Sidley, Ashurst send rejections or just no email back?

Ashurst does. Not sure about HSF or Sidley, but I think most firms tend to.

 

[AS24]

It is fine to just focus on opportunities as they have used “or” rather than “and”.

You are an angel, thank you!

 

[manifestingthetc]

Has anyone heard back from W&C for their open day?

 

[GV]

Do you know if they are rolling?

if your successful with the critical thinking test, you'll get sent a voice interview to complete and if your successful with that then you get invited to AC

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

Congrats, did they e-mail you today? I presume it is for the Winter VS.

Yes they emailed today, and yes for the winter VS.

 

[yasmars]

I was told it’s very similar to WG but I’m afraid I’ve been misled…what type of questions were asked if you can remember? Also do you have record of the feedback from the test?

I don’t remember the type of questions unfortunately. They didn’t send any sort of feedback after the test either

 

[l789]

HSF AC!

CONGRATS! I absolutely love the firm.

Wishing you all the success for the AC and future stages

 

[m12]

Hello, has anyone had experience with the Sidley Austin interview? Have gotten an invite and absolutely terrified O_0

hi congrats!! When did you apply?

 

[Shohina]

Hi! Just asking whether anyone has any tipsm for the written exercise of the Ashurst AC! thanks!

Have u done it do u have any tips?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Do you know if they are rolling?

I spoke to grad rec today at the legal check law fair and they basically said they’re rolling in the way that they will progress successful candidates before the deadline but they will look at all apps. She also said that they probably won’t start looking at apps before mid-late Nov.

 

[GV]

I spoke to grad rec today at the legal check law fair and they basically said they’re rolling in the way that they will progress successful candidates before the deadline but they will look at all apps. She also said that they probably won’t start looking at apps before mid-late Nov.

Okay thank you

 

[Apple]

Does anybody have any good resources for answering commercial awareness related questions? I always struggle with linking an article back to a firm.

 

[1234]

Heya

i am so sorry about the rejection!
shall we PM, i am happy for to share my answers via dm and we can compare?

but alsooo - i have seen some comments on here saying that sometimes they reject you because they think you will not benefit aka you already know so much (so maybe it could be that) but i am happy to share my answers

Yes please!

 

[lawadvice_23]

Hi, could use with some advice in terms of grades for a non-law graduate. To sum up - I'm a STEM oxbridge grad applying for Open Days/ VS etc. Graduated with 2.1 overall (integrated masters) but quite a few of my module grades in my second year and finals are in the 2.2s and one is quite bad - 31 percent (thought still technically a pass). The rest of my timed exams are low 2.1s but my non-timed modules e.g. my masters project are much better - high firsts (hence why I managed to get the 2.1 overall). Just wondering how much this may disadvantage me for city law firms? thanks for your help

 

[big hot man]

hi congrats!! When did you apply?

Sent my app late Aug, radio silence until now

 

[AS24]

Does anybody have any good resources for answering commercial awareness related questions? I always struggle with linking an article back to a firm.

ZipLaw