TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Can anyone kindly provide insights into assessment days that only consist of interviews? Davis Polk and Sullivan & Cromwell are examples of firms that do this. Does this make the process ‘easier’ or is it just as difficult as a typical assessment centre?

Hiya @studentdelaw786, I think @Andrei Radu would likely have more insight here, but I wanted to chime in and say that I think it really depends on the individual! Some people feel more pressure in partner interviews, while others prefer them over assessment days with specific tasks like drafting or negotiation exercises. Personally, I enjoy interviews and the chance to connect with people, so I've often found partner interviews to be engaging. However, I completely appreciate that this format isn’t always ideal for everyone, and isn't always the best way of gauging the full range of skills a candidate could bring to a training contract.

For interview-focused assessment days, I think it’s important to be well-prepared to discuss your background and skills confidently, as well as your knowledge of the firm’s work, especially in its London office. I've also often found that with assessment centres that consist solely of partner interview, it's common to get asked off-the-cuff questions, which can be challenging to prepare for. Again, this doesn’t necessarily make it easier or harder than other formats. It’s all about which style best suits your strengths.

Best of luck if you’re preparing!

 

[LLB0711]

Dechert WVS offer!!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Can anyone kindly provide insights into assessment days that only consist of interviews? Davis Polk and Sullivan & Cromwell are examples of firms that do this. Does this make the process ‘easier’ or is it just as difficult as a typical assessment centre?

I think whether these assessments can be said to be 'easier' depends on your particular strengths and preferences. In my case, I did enjoy my Davis Polk AC more than those with firms who also had written exercises, group discussion or presentation-based assessments. However, I think that was mostly down on me being better prepared for and just generally liking competency interviews more.

One other point that I should add is that even if a more competency questions-heavy interview might feel easier or more enjoyable than other types of AC exercises, that does not necessarily translate to higher conversion chances. Many other people might also have the same experience, but the firm will still only be able to make the same number of offers regardless. For instance, many candidates tend to dislike written exercises - but as far as I know ACs which include a written task elements will by and large have similar conversion rates to ACs which do not.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Dechert WVS offer!!

✝️🐿️✝️🐿️🔥🔥🔥😩😩🔥🔥🔥🔥🥰😱😍♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥🔥😩😩 😩😩😩😩 ✝️🐿️😩😩😩😩😩😩🥰😭 amazing how do you do it 😱😳♥️♥️😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩😩🥵🔥🥰😳💦😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩🥵🥰🥰😳♥️♥️😳😍😍🥰✝️🐿️😳😍🥰🔥🥵😍🥰🔥🥵🥵😩🥵


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[BM99]

Linklaters open day rejection‼️

Out of curiosity, is your open day application still showing on hold on the portal?

 

[Willgetthere]

Ok thanks! Was it good news? Idk if not hearing means bad news

It was good news yes! I think it could be good news for you too regardless of how long they take to get back.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

It was good news yes! I think it could be good news for you too regardless of how long they take to get back.

Amazing thank you! So Dyu have an AC for the WVS?

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Out of curiosity, is your open day application still showing on hold on the portal?

Nope, it is now saying application unsuccessful

 

[Bbhu19]

Anyone receive a HFS post AC response

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

Dechert AC invite.

 

[Walon290]

Anyone heard back from the White and Case winter vacation scheme after the Video Interview? I still haven't but it says the WVS starts in about 3 weeks does that mean I've been rejected if I haven't been invited to the AC yet?

 

[Sad_Old_Grad]

Out of curiosity, is your open day application still showing on hold on the portal?

My application status is still listed as 'On Hold' and it is, quite frankly, killing me

 

[lolasparks]

Linklaters open day rejection‼️

Did you get it today ?

 

[studentdelaw786]

I think whether these assessments can be said to be 'easier' depends on your particular strengths and preferences. In my case, I did enjoy my Davis Polk AC more than those with firms who also had written exercises, group discussion or presentation-based assessments. However, I think that was mostly down on me being better prepared for and just generally liking competency interviews more.

One other point that I should add is that even if a more competency questions-heavy interview might feel easier or more enjoyable than other types of AC exercises, that does not necessarily translate to higher conversion chances. Many other people might also have the same experience, but the firm will still only be able to make the same number of offers regardless. For instance, many candidates tend to dislike written exercises - but as far as I know ACs which include a written task elements will by and large have similar conversion rates to ACs which do not.

thank you for your insights, Andrei!

 

[studentdelaw786]

Hiya @studentdelaw786, I think @Andrei Radu would likely have more insight here, but I wanted to chime in and say that I think it really depends on the individual! Some people feel more pressure in partner interviews, while others prefer them over assessment days with specific tasks like drafting or negotiation exercises. Personally, I enjoy interviews and the chance to connect with people, so I've often found partner interviews to be engaging. However, I completely appreciate that this format isn’t always ideal for everyone, and isn't always the best way of gauging the full range of skills a candidate could bring to a training contract.

For interview-focused assessment days, I think it’s important to be well-prepared to discuss your background and skills confidently, as well as your knowledge of the firm’s work, especially in its London office. I've also often found that with assessment centres that consist solely of partner interview, it's common to get asked off-the-cuff questions, which can be challenging to prepare for. Again, this doesn’t necessarily make it easier or harder than other formats. It’s all about which style best suits your strengths.

Best of luck if you’re preparing!

thanks for your insights, Ram!

 

[Andrei Radu]

I really hate scenario based VI questions. A practice one was:
"Your client sells garden furniture and is keen to expand outside of the UK. They ask you for some preliminary advice regarding their plans. How would you approach this task?"

I just said in essence, that I would:
- Ask them about their goals and objectives
- Find out which jurisdictions they plan to enter
- Do a PESTLE analysis to inform opportunities and threats as part of a SWOT analysis
- Weigh up the opportunities and risks to present to them along with any solutions

Bit in a more step by step and detailed way.

Am I missing something? I feel so flakey on situational interview questions.

This sounds like a good answer to me. The only thing I would chance is maybe trying to emphasize more the points regarding legal research and what you think may be particularly worth looking into, such as: different regulatory frameworks for employment and consumer contracts, the different 'market terms' for supply and distribution, different approval processes and waiting periods for setting up a new company there etc. Ideally, I think your answer should combine a mixture of 'framework of analysis' points (which you have done a great job in covering) and also a number points around your informed guesses as to what might actually be of relevance. The later bit is just to show general commercial awareness, in this case about what legal issues come into play when a business is expanding in a new jurisdiction.

The other point I wanted to make is that I can completely understand feeling a bit 'flakey' when responding to situational questions. I used to feel the same and I think that is to an extent unavoidable simply because of how vague their formulation is. However, recruiters will also be aware that they are giving you very limited information to work with. Thus they will not expect much in terms of substantive points - rather, they will look to assess your commercial awareness and ability to show you can work through a problem in a structured manner.

 

[tkl24]

hello, do dentons send an online assessment automatically or not?

 

[evianmineral]

asking again - anyone heard from baker mckenzie wrt open days in november?

applied to one on 18th and not heard anything - should have at least received a PFO today - assuming its a PFO anyway due to radio silence

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I

Anyone heard back from the White and Case winter vacation scheme after the Video Interview? I still haven't but it says the WVS starts in about 3 weeks does that mean I've been rejected if I haven't been invited to the AC yet?

Honestly who knows, I think it’s so disappointing that firms for WVS are leading everyone on so much.

 

[sibs23]

Hi! I'd like a bit of advice as to whether I should still be including older vac schemes on my applications this time around? I got a scheme each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Some people I have spoken to have suggested that I take off the firms from 2023 and 2022 because when firms see three "failed" schemes on my CV, they will start to worry that I am not a good candidate. On the flip side, I thought it was a good sign to have previously secured schemes and having those on my applications would show that I am a competitive candidate and would help me to open doors. The older firms are more "prestigious" if that makes any difference.