TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[moo]

A&O Shearman AC ❗

When did you apply?

 

[Zaraa.x]

Does NRF tell you if you’ve passed the arctic shores test or do you just get the report.

 

[Andrei Radu]

is it a bad thing to prioritise vs/tc apps over open days rn? my time off from work is finite and i’d rather prioritise vac schemes/interviews over open days? i’ve done some online events and met a lot of firms during uni last year, but i’m worried im putting myself at a disadvantage by not doing lots this year?!

Not only do I not think it is not a bad thing, but I think your approach is in fact desirable. You can do lots of open days and still not get any closer to an AC. In fact, I was rejected at application stage at some firms I had attended both a competitive open day and a number of other insight events. My view is that while it is good to attend as many as possible general-access or sign up-based careers events, there is a limited number of firms for which you should invest time in applications for competitive open days.

For me, there would be diminishing returns after doing more that 4 competitive open day applications, as it would (i) make my VS application schedule more administratively difficult and (ii) take valuable time off which could be spent on submitting more high quality VS applications. As I see it, though of course different things work for different people, at this moment in the cycle the average ideal split of your time between VS applications work and other careers related efforts should be close to an 80-90% in favour of the VS applications.

 

[emeralddream]

Ashurst WVS offer!! Had my interview week of 21st

 

[Deleted member 37508]

Ashurst WVS offer!! Had my interview week of 21st

Congrats. That is an amazing achievement.

 

[Deleted member 37508]

It’s nice to see Ashurst did string a lot of us along for 7 weeks. Knowing damn well they’ve could’ve rejected us in September. Ridiculous to say the least.

 

[legal18]

For the question: "Tell us why you want to become a solicitor, and with reference to your experience so far, explain how your skills are suited to the role."

1) Should I take this as being a commercial solicitor?
2) Would it be okay to say that one of the reasons relates to seeing the impact of my work in the real business world and then give an example of experiences where I have seen the impact of my work (for example as a tutor and seeing results for my students) even though it doesn't relate to the business world? or is that too far-fetched?

 

[traineedreamer]

Ashurst WVS offer!! Had my interview week of 21st

Congratulations! You should be really proud, best of luck for the Vac Scheme!

 

[Hskajab]

Sorry to ask again - does anyone know how quickly White and Case get back to applications post - AC? Had mine on Friday morning, wondering if I will hear this week

Hey so just had my AC for White and Case this week and Grad Rec said they would get back to us at the end of this week or the next. Hope that helps

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Please put me out of my misery dechert

 

[RSK]

Hey so just had my AC for White and Case this week and Grad Rec said they would get back to us at the end of this week or the next. Hope that helps

Thanks - was your AC for the direct TC or the WVS?

 

[lolasparks]

DLA sent last night - sooo happy but so anxious at the same time. How can I best prepare in case I do get to the AC

We are pleased to tell you that you have successfully achieved the benchmark and will now be considered for a place at one of our in-person assessment centres.

Please be aware that although you have successfully reached this stage of the process you may not secure a space at an assessment centre. With limited spaces, we will now consider all who have reached this stage and shortlist. Please do not worry if you don’t hear from us, we are working hard to update everyone as soon as is possible.

Was this for London?

 

[Andrei Radu]

For the question: "Tell us why you want to become a solicitor, and with reference to your experience so far, explain how your skills are suited to the role."

1) Should I take this as being a commercial solicitor?
2) Would it be okay to say that one of the reasons relates to seeing the impact of my work in the real business world and then give an example of experiences where I have seen the impact of my work (for example as a tutor and seeing results for my students) even though it doesn't relate to the business world? or is that too far-fetched?

1. I think the short answer is yes, though perhaps I would put less emphasis on the 'commercial-interest' side of your answer than in your standard 'why commercial law' answer. It might be a good idea to try to integrate an explanation of your interest in commercial law within your broader 'why do i want to be a solicitor' reasoning.

2. I do not think it is at all a bad idea - the experience can still be very valuable concrete evidence that you do care about concrete impact. This for instance can explain why your general interest in legal work is not pushing you to become an academic rather than a practitioner. However, I think this will not suffice as a standalone reason for why you want to be a solicitor. When you take all your reasons together, make sure that they can explain why you want to be a solicitor instead of (i) another role with an impact in the world of business (say, in consulting or finance) and (ii) other law-related roles, such as a barrister, civil worker or academic.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

It’s nice to see Ashurst did string a lot of us along for 7 weeks. Knowing damn well they’ve could’ve rejected us in September. Ridiculous to say the least.

100% I haven't heard back since my application in September its mad

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Still haven't heard back from W&C since my application at the beginning of September, when people r having ACs. Kinda ridiculous, surely just reject me?!

 

[Andrei Radu]

DLA sent last night - sooo happy but so anxious at the same time. How can I best prepare in case I do get to the AC

We are pleased to tell you that you have successfully achieved the benchmark and will now be considered for a place at one of our in-person assessment centres.

Please be aware that although you have successfully reached this stage of the process you may not secure a space at an assessment centre. With limited spaces, we will now consider all who have reached this stage and shortlist. Please do not worry if you don’t hear from us, we are working hard to update everyone as soon as is possible.

Hey @Audric_T and congratulations on passing the benchmark! I have quoted bellow a post I recently made about preparing for a DLA Piper AC:

Regarding DLA Piper-specific interview preparation resources, I thought to link the TCLA Interview Experiences page we have for the firm. It was written by other people who completed the AC in the past and gives you both a detailed description of the experience and some advice. This resource was particularly useful for me when I was preparing for ACs at other firms, so I do advise you to take a look - you can access it here. You can also find a more recent added post on this for the 2023/24 cycle here.

Besides that, I thought it may be useful to also link some more general preparation resources for you. I have recently wrote a comprehensive guide for the competency interviews specifically. This includes a step-by-step preparation approach which led to me getting a VS offer from atop US/MC firm 4/4 times I implemented it last year. You can access that here.

I also have here three amazing guides written by @Jacob Miller:

• One for case studies
• One for negotiations
• One for general interview preparation.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I emailed W&C asking for an update last week and they said as soon as they have an update they will be in touch... so I'm v confused

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Please put me out of my misery dechert

have u done the written assessment or AC? I did mt written assessment three weeks ago and nothing since

 

[legal18]

1. I think the short answer is yes, though perhaps I would put less emphasis on the 'commercial-interest' side of your answer than in your standard 'why commercial law' answer. It might be a good idea to try to integrate an explanation of your interest in commercial law within your broader 'why do i want to be a solicitor' reasoning.

2. I do not think it is at all a bad idea - the experience can still be very valuable concrete evidence that you do care about concrete impact. This for instance can explain why your general interest in legal work is not pushing you to become an academic rather than a practitioner. However, I think this will not suffice as a standalone reason for why you want to be a solicitor. When you take all your reasons together, make sure that they can explain why you want to be a solicitor instead of (i) another role with an impact in the world of business (say, in consulting or finance) and (ii) other law-related roles, such as a barrister, civil worker or academic.

Thank you so much!!

On your first point, how would you recommend differentiating answers where they ask why you want to be a commercial solicitor vs. a solicitor.

My first reason for answering this question was going to be that I enjoy working in a business context and then go into examples of where I have adopted a commercial/innovative mindest. Should I rethink this? Or should I just have an opening sentence that I want to become a commercial solicitor?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much!!

On your first point, how would you recommend differentiating answers where they ask why you want to be a commercial solicitor vs. a solicitor.

My first reason for answering this question was going to be that I enjoy working in a business context and then go into examples of where I have adopted a commercial/innovative mindest. Should I rethink this? Or should I just have an opening sentence that I want to become a commercial solicitor?

I think ideally I would try to bled the commercial interest into the 'why solicitor in general' reasons rather than have a distinct 'why a commercial solicitor specifically', so as not to make any recruiter doubt I was copy pasting a more standard why commercial law answer. However, I think your approach is fine as long as when taken in conjunct all your reasons still clearly show why you want to be a solicitor instead of any of the aforementioned related roles, whether in the business or legal world.