Hi, I've been invited for a second stage interview with Gibson Dunn in January. This is the time i've progressed to something other than a video interview and am quite nervous on what to expect. Does anyone have any advice on how to prepare/expect?
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Huge congrats! Is this for the vac scheme?
I would say prepare to be pushed in directions you maybe didn’t expect- so be prepared but also make sure you are comfortable with questions you haven’t even thought of!
Yeah, GD only recruits through vac schemes. I'm just really nervous tbh, i know they test more commercial awareness and general abilities but then also some of the questions on glassdoor are stressing me out. Someone said they got asked "what makes GD different to Cleary and Linklaters?" Is this likely to be cos that applicant said they also applied to those firms, or just randomly? Because I could answer that compared to other firms i applied to but definitely not with random ones. Does anyone have advice?
Is the Paul Hastings work experience assessed? It doesn't sound like your standard VS. Is it worth applying for that or the direct TC? Any know where they mostly hire from?
Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman!
I was hoping to understand what might be the most optimal discussion point for why you choose this firm's levfin practice area. This is for the Latham app, which I am unsure of what I should talk about.
Trawling through the forums, I know to talk about (a) client focus, (b) industry focus, or (c) market focus, but Latham's levfin team is quite similar to other firms in all three of these markets. For example, they are similar to K&E, P,W, and Weil for their large-cap deals, but similar to DLA, HL, Macs for their mid-market work as well. They are similar in their market focus to Weil and CC as they target IBs, private credit, and PE sponsors, so that also makes them similar, and finally, all of these firms' London office works on multi-jurisdictional deals specifically in the EMEA region.
So it seems to be difficult to answer "why train at Latham over its competitors?" if the firm is similar to others. I understand it is asking specifically why I would train at the firm, but it seems very difficult to clearly explain why Latham does different work to its competitors when the levfin market seems to be highly commoditised.
Appreciate the help!
I was hoping to understand what might be the most optimal discussion point for why you choose this firm's levfin practice area. This is for the Latham app, which I am unsure of what I should talk about.
Trawling through the forums, I know to talk about (a) client focus, (b) industry focus, or (c) market focus, but Latham's levfin team is quite similar to other firms in all three of these markets. For example, they are similar to K&E, P,W, and Weil for their large-cap deals, but similar to DLA, HL, Macs for their mid-market work as well. They are similar in their market focus to Weil and CC as they target IBs, private credit, and PE sponsors, so that also makes them similar, and finally, all of these firms' London office works on multi-jurisdictional deals specifically in the EMEA region.
So it seems to be difficult to answer "why train at Latham over its competitors?" if the firm is similar to others. I understand it is asking specifically why I would train at the firm, but it seems very difficult to clearly explain why Latham does different work to its competitors when the levfin market seems to be highly commoditised.
Appreciate the help!
I would assume they were asked to compare to those firms cos that’s where they applied to. When did you apply to GD?
I applied on 08/09, got an invite for a first stage interview 22/11, had it on Tuesday, then got a response today.
Could attending a competitive open day go under this: Please tell us about your achievements and positions of responsibility. (500 words)
It could but consider the types of things people will be writing about here and think about whether that will be a competitive achievement to write about. In addition there's probably other places to write about your open days too
Thanks for your reply
I'm just struggling because I have mentioned a lot of my other achievements and positions of responsibility in the other two application questions and so do not want to repeat myself. Anyone have any advice?What were the two other application questions. I’m sure you can take those examples out or refine them so that you can use them in the question you’re struggling with.Thanks for your reply
Can I ask if you managed to reach the word count? I also don't really have much to say for this section so I'm thinking I'll have to just put the few points I have and hope for the best
Jessica Booker
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I wouldn’t put it in there - it can be included elsewhere in applications, but jobs generally can be competitive and so it’s not really what they are looking for in this section.
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