TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[nodustollens]

Hi everyone,
For those invited to DLA Piper's AC, how long after receiving the 'benchmark met' email did you get the invite?

about 5 weeks

 

[aether]

about 5 weeks

Thank you so much!

 

[tomsmitg]

Cleary PFO post WG🥲

Hi sorry to hear this , was it for winter or summer ?

 

[Amma Usman]

Overall I have 11 or 12 jobs/voluntary roles I can put in the work experience section. Is it a case of the more the better so put all of them, or should I select only a few to not bore grarec? 😅

Hey @Parsorandini . Yes, I recommend choosing about 4-6 key experiences to include. These will be the ones which demonstrate the most transferrable skills to the role of a trainee solicitor. If you are keen on including the rest, then I advise weaving them into the application questions instead. Additionally, some experiences such as open days and forage experiences can be included under one work experience heading.

 

[Amma Usman]

hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

how would you go about answering this in an interview/app question?

"Imagine you have a lot of conflicting deadlines coming up, how would you prioritse and manage your time?"

Hey @Apyw ,

When answering a question like this, the key is to focus on the steps you’d take to organise yourself - I believe that’s what demonstrates your organisational skills. You could start by explaining that you’d assess the situation, listing out all the tasks and deadlines to get a clear picture.

Then, you could talk about how you’d prioritise, mentioning criteria like urgency, importance, or impact. After that, one could describe how they’d create a plan or schedule, making sure to emphasise time management strategies like breaking tasks into smaller steps and setting realistic deadlines.

Finally, I think it’s also important to mention how you’d stay adaptable and communicate proactively if things change or a deadline might be missed.

Another important point to include is knowing when to reach out for help. Employers appreciate candidates who show initiative but also recognise when collaboration or guidance is needed to ensure everything gets done to a high standard. You could mention that you’d seek support from a manager or team if necessary, showing that you’re resourceful and focused on delivering results.

 

[Amma Usman]

this has probably already been asked so please forgive me... i have secured a winter VS (yay!!) and am also applying to a handful of spring/summer schemes before it begins so that i have some security if i am unable to convert this one to a TC. how should i approach including the winter VS in my other applications - list it under work experience and then note in the description that it has not yet been completed? or is it better to leave it off entirely? thanks!

Hey @rvvacscheme , I remember @Jessica Booker advising once to include this in the motivational section, saying that you have been offered a scheme and looking forward to it.

 

[Amma Usman]

@Andrei Radu
Describe how you think the innovative developments taking place in the legal industry will change the role of a commercial lawyer at Dentons. Please outline your research and reference the sources you used to inform your opinion.

This is one of the application questions from the Dentons Application. How would you recommend structuring this answer? How many developments should we talk about and how should we reference the sources?

Hey @a1024 ,

I’ve quoted below a post I once made on this question, but @Andrei Radu will have additional thoughts on this.

Hey @-legal- ,

Thanks for the question!

Initially, I assumed “innovative developments” would mean focusing solely on technology, particularly AI. But as with any law firm application question, it’s essential to unpack the wording carefully. Here, “innovative developments” could encompass everything from the impacts of AI to the evolution of legal services and shifting client needs. Off the top of my head, here are a few innovative developments shaping commercial law at firms like Dentons:


1. AI and Automation: This is a major development that’s reshaping the way lawyers work. While many candidates might mention AI, it’s important not to over-focus on it but to recognize its broader impact. AI tools streamline routine tasks, particularly in contract review, allowing lawyers to focus on higher-value work. Dentons’ recent release of an AI-powered contract review bot is a perfect example of this innovation in action. Tools like ThoughtRiver and Kira are also widely used across firms to quickly sift through volumes of contracts and flag risks, which is an area Dentons has invested in heavily. Such advancements let commercial lawyers dedicate more time to client-facing, strategic work, ultimately contributing to long-term revenue growth. See the [full article on Dentons’ AI bot](https://www.dentons.com/en/about-de...s-launches-ai-powered-contract-automation-bot) for more on this.


2. Sector-Specific Client Expansion: An interesting development is the shift in client focus, especially with private equity houses investing in sectors like retail and healthcare. This has significant implications for commercial lawyers, as it requires them to gain in-depth knowledge of these specific industries, adapting to a range of new challenges and regulatory frameworks. For instance, advising on compliance or intellectual property in the healthcare sector demands specialized expertise that wasn’t as central for commercial lawyers before. As firms like Dentons expand their client base across these sectors, commercial lawyers are expected to develop an increasingly broad set of skills and become well-versed in emerging industries.


3. Alternative Legal Services and Flexible Delivery Models: Another innovative trend in the legal industry is the shift toward alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) and flexible delivery models. Dentons’ own Nextlaw Labs, an innovation hub, exemplifies this shift, as it allows Dentons to explore new service models and leverage technology to provide more efficient, cost-effective solutions. This means that rather than handling high-volume, low-complexity work directly, commercial lawyers at Dentons might collaborate with ALSPs or tech-driven platforms to provide faster, more scalable solutions. This model is gaining traction as clients seek more agile and affordable options, transforming the lawyer’s role from direct service provider to strategic overseer of tech-enabled solutions.


4. Data Analytics and Predictive Insights: The use of data analytics is becoming another critical tool in the commercial lawyer’s toolkit. AI-driven platforms such as Luminance and Kira use machine learning to perform tasks like due diligence, risk assessment, and document review with incredible speed and accuracy. By using these tools, commercial lawyers can draw predictive insights from past data to assess contract risks or likely litigation outcomes, for instance. Dentons could see this technology enhancing decision-making, allowing lawyers to provide clients with data-backed strategies and solutions more quickly and with greater precision than ever before.


So its clear that each of these developments are redefining the role of commercial lawyers at Dentons. It’s no longer just about delivering legal advice; it’s about adapting to a rapidly evolving landscape of client demands, leveraging new technologies, and providing industry-specific insights across diverse sectors.


In terms of structure, adopting a paragraph for each point and hitting the nail on the head, addressing each of the points the question asks, will be a great starting points. Also ensure to reference any sources as the question also wants to dig out your research skills.


Hope you found this useful!

 

[Amma Usman]

For the Farrer & Co application question where its asking about our legal work exposure, should we list all of the experiences that apply or pick a few to discuss in detail?

Hey @nlntc , for questions like this, I believe less is more. Focus on a few key experiences and expand on them in depth. This will enable you to take your answer to level two or three, by linking past legal exposure to..say.. the firm’s practices or key sectors of business that you’re drawn to exploring from a legal standpoint.

 

[Amma Usman]

I accidentally said the same thing twice when describing one of my work experiences in an application.. am I screwed?

Hey @far, it has actually happened to me twice and I was able to get to the next stage! Mistakes like this happen but nothing too much to worry about I guess. Although, it’s also worth noting that this differs between firms.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey @rvvacscheme , I remember @Jessica Booker advising once to include this in the motivational section, saying that you have been offered a scheme and looking forward to it.

The alternative is also to include it in an "additional information" section if there is one.

 

[marisachr]

How did you find it? Did mine yesterday and nervous now.

Honestly harder and longer than I expected

 

[Audric_T]

having now done the A/C we play a waiting came - anxiously counting down the days until we get the results and feedback

 

[sammm10101]

WFW open day pfo 😫

 

[DoyDoy24]

I am having this issue as well! I have emailed the early talent team so will keep on trying and wait for their response

If you delete your cookies and cache for the website, that worked for me🤞🏾

 

[nodustollens]

having now done the A/C we play a waiting came - anxiously counting down the days until we get the results and feedback

how did it go?

 

[axele]

Do we say HSF or HSF Kramer for the application?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Do we say HSF or HSF Kramer for the application?

Pretty sure they haven’t agreed to merge yet. Voting is in Feb I think

 

[axele]

Pretty sure they haven’t agreed to merge yet. Voting is in Feb I think

Oh I see, thanks for that. Should we refrain from mentioning the possible merger in our application?

 

[Deleted member 37508]

Oh I see, thanks for that. Should we refrain from mentioning the possible merger in our application?

Does this merger has any affect on the reasoning for you wanting to apply?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Oh I see, thanks for that. Should we refrain from mentioning the possible merger in our application?

I’d probably advise not focusing on it explicitly, just because it’s not 100% set in stone.

I’m sure a brief reference to a future ‘potential merger’ will be fine though, if you’d really like to mention it. Just be mindful that it might not go through, so you don’t want it to seem like it’s your main motivation for joining the firm.