TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker ,
Would this section also include positions of responsibility and if it doesn't is it fine if I only add my non academic interests as I can't think of anything else.

Please use this section to tell us anything else that you feel would support your application. Examples can include, but are not limited to, key achievements, successes, non academic interests, your skills etc.
Max 300 words

Hiya @-legal- , yes I agree with this approach you have mentioned.

 

[Amma Usman]

This might sound like a really silly question, but if I was asked about a firm that i had never heard of in my life and didn't know anything about, what would be the best response? Would asking for more info from the interview be an absolute no-no or is it just best to admit defeat and say "I don't know that firm"?

Hi @AI212121 . In such cases, you are right in suggesting that honesty is the best policy. Law firms don’t expect you to know everything. At the end of the day, TCs are development programmes. This rule applies to anything you genuinely do not know in an interview. A professional response would be to say you are not sure about this and would like more information from the interviewer, in order to be able to get more context and then subsequently formulate an answer based off this new-found knowledge.

 

[BobThebIlly]

Just sat the HSF SJT and ik i flunked it lol. i got 'limited capabilities' in every category. im mad at myself for applying because I spent sm time on their written app just for it to have been useless...

 

[Amma Usman]

Does anyone have insight into whether Pinset Masons prefer bullet points or prose for their work experience section? Also any insights on their online assessment? Thank you

Hi @lolasparks , I am unsure about PM, but I know most legal recruiters often recommend prose over bullet points. You could also adopt a hybrid approach: bullet points + prose, in my opinion. I frequently adopted the latter and got past many application stages.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi everyone, just completed the VI for Latham it gave you 3 minutes to answer the question, however I only used about 2 minutes to answer is that a bad sign? I think 3 minuets is quite long haha or did I have bad answer maybe

Hey @ThelawgraduateX , I would not worry about this. The quality of your response matters more than how long you took to say it. An individual, X, could have spent the complete 3 minutes talking, but spoken too fast, or said inadequate things.

 

[ThelawgraduateX]

Hey @ThelawgraduateX , I would not worry about this. The quality of your response matters more than how long you took to say it. An individual, X, could have spent the complete 3 minutes talking, but spoken too fast, or said inadequate things.

thanks so much! I agree with you

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi there!

In an answer to the question about describing an experience with an unexpected obstacle, I suggest focusing on professional examples that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and resilience.

I’ve included a few key points to consider:

1. Select a Relevant Experience: Choose a professional scenario, such as managing a society, reviewing contracts, or working on a project where you encountered an unforeseen challenge. This could include things like dealing with a sudden change in project scope, unexpected regulatory requirements, or conflicts within a team.

2. Use a Structured Approach: When crafting your response, consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to organize your thoughts. This will help you clearly articulate the situation, your role, the actions you took to overcome the obstacle, and the outcomes.

3. Focus on Impact: Highlight the positive outcomes of your actions, such as how you were able to maintain team morale, meet deadlines despite challenges, or improve processes based on what you learned from the experience.

4. Tailor Your Examples: It's also important to adapt your examples to the specific context of each application. While the general structure can remain the same, you might want to emphasize different aspects of the experience based on what each firm values, such as teamwork, adaptability, or leadership (etc).

For instance, if you faced an unexpected legal issue while reviewing contracts that could have delayed a project, you could discuss how you quickly identified the problem, consulted with stakeholders, and proposed a solution that allowed the project to proceed on time.

As for the second part of your question, I view an unexpected obstacle and challenge as synonymous with one another. An unexpected obstacle would be a challenge in itself, so you could consider approaching both questions in a similar way.

Hey @KBanana

These are really great questions. I’ve included some tips below and some examples. Feel free to adapt your responses in the actual application form with your genuine interests and experiences!

1. What would be challenging for you as a trainee, and how would you overcome that?

One challenge trainees typically face is adapting to the firm’s internal technologies and databases, including document management platforms, internal project management software, and communication tools. To navigate this, it’s crucial to show initiative and proactivity. Law firms want to see that you’re taking responsibility for your learning, so it's not enough to say, “I would ask my supervisor.” Instead, emphasise how you’d go the extra mile by spending additional time to familiarise yourself with these tools. You could mention setting aside time outside of your daily tasks to practise using the software until you’re proficient. For example, you could review available online tutorials or training materials to master these tools more efficiently. The goal is to show that you’re dedicated to becoming well-versed with these platforms and are actively working towards being able to use them independently over time, which would demonstrate your ability to handle workloads efficiently and your commitment to adding value to the team.


2. What are some of the main challenges you faced?

For this question, you could discuss a professional challenge you encountered, either in a prior role or as part of your transition from university to a professional environment. While the question doesn’t directly ask how you overcame the challenge, it’s wise to address this as it shows resilience and growth. Think of a time when you encountered a steep learning curve—perhaps when adapting to a fast-paced role or meeting high expectations for accuracy under tight deadlines. Describe how you proactively addressed the situation by, for example, seeking feedback from supervisors, refining your time management techniques, or setting structured goals to track your progress. Demonstrating this shows that you don’t shy away from challenges and are adaptable in overcoming them.


3. Who would be your dream client?

For this question, your “dream client” doesn’t need to be an existing client of the firm, though some firms do appreciate the “reverse approach” of mentioning one of their clients as a dream client. Generally, you can choose a client in an industry or sector you’re genuinely interested in. Start by explaining why that sector appeals to you before discussing specifics about the client’s operations. For example, if you’re interested in renewable energy, you could mention a company focused on developing sustainable technologies. Discuss how the growth and innovation in renewable energy align with your interests in environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. Giving an example of the challenges a client in that sector might face, such as navigating regulations or expanding into international markets, can further demonstrate your understanding of the industry.


4. If you had a million dollars, what would you invest in right now?

For this question, you might start by saying, “First of all, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn’t invest all of it!” Highlighting the importance of diversification can make your answer more strategic. Mention that you would avoid putting all your eggs in one basket and would likely invest only a portion in a high-growth area like energy. Energy is an ever-relevant sector because of the global demand for natural resources, which is likely to remain consistently high. For example, energy scarcity and high demand have led many industries—including law firms—to see value in sectors like energy, with some firms even relocating to regions like the Middle East due to its energy production capabilities. You could allocate another portion to healthcare and retail, both of which have been highly attractive to private equity investors recently. Here, you can reference how you could enter as an institutional investor or high-net-worth individual to take advantage of the long-term growth these sectors offer. And after an 8-10 year period, you could plan to exit your investment for an optimal return, showcasing both your interest in growth and your understanding of strategic long-term investments.

Hope this helps!

Hi there @theone132213 ,

Good question.

The setback doesn’t have to had led to failure. It is enough to talk about a challenge you faced, and how you resolved it - essentially, follow the STAR structure. I have quoted two posts on this above.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Just sat the HSF SJT and ik i flunked it lol. i got 'limited capabilities' in every category. im mad at myself for applying because I spent sm time on their written app just for it to have been useless...

Dw I think everyone feels like this. I mostly got 'moderate' with some limited in categories which made 0 sense with my answers. I think it's common opinion that the HSF test is pretty flawed

 

[BobThebIlly]

Dw I think everyone feels like this. I mostly got 'moderate' with some limited in categories which made 0 sense with my answers. I think it's common opinion that the HSF test is pretty flawed

It really is nonsense but you seem to be in a better position than me so I sure hope you get through!

 

[mulan0]

For the Womble Bond Dickinson application, the work experience section gives 250 words per experience for details. Do I need to link back to the firm and say how the skills will help me as a trainee or just say what skills I learnt?

 

[mulan0]

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

Hey, I did! I gave a little extra detail and put in some smaller experiences from sixth form too. I don't think you need to reach it tbh because you don't want to waffle either so I wouldn't worry

 

[Amma Usman]

For the Womble Bond Dickinson application, the work experience section gives 250 words per experience for details. Do I need to link back to the firm and say how the skills will help me as a trainee or just say what skills I learnt?

Hi @mulan0. In my experience, you don’t need to link it back to the firm in the work experience section. This would be more adequately covered and appropriate for the cover letter and/or motivational questions.

 

[mulan0]

Hi @mulan0. In my experience, you don’t need to link it back to the firm in the work experience section. This would be more adequately covered and appropriate for the cover letter and/or motivational questions.

That’s what I would usually do but there’s no questions on the application form so I wasn’t sure!

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

For anyone still drafting their latham app: https://www.ft.com/content/32010275-e063-449e-a52b-0783b826dc23
This might be genuinely all you need lol

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

It really is nonsense but you seem to be in a better position than me so I sure hope you get through!

One of mine seemed like a positive response but didn’t say “good” or anything so I also think the report is written with a very negative tone that might be misleading.

Also I saw someone on Reddit say they got limited for every single one and still passed so don’t give up

 

[BobThebIlly]

One of mine seemed like a positive response but didn’t say “good” or anything so I also think the report is written with a very negative tone that might be misleading.

Also I saw someone on Reddit say they got limited for every single one and still passed so don’t give up

omg thank you! could you please tell me where you saw that reddit post?

 

[Anonymousxyz]

For DLA Piper, what does it mean to have passed the benchmark for the VI? I submitted mine today and I already got a response saying I passed- but it seems unlikely that grad rec watched it in the span of a few hours on a Sunday.

 

[jta227]

One of mine seemed like a positive response but didn’t say “good” or anything so I also think the report is written with a very negative tone that might be misleading.

Also I saw someone on Reddit say they got limited for every single one and still passed so don’t give up

Wait what? I got an even split of moderate and limited and failed, yet their auto-email implies that their report is useful feedback... how useful can it be if it has little correlation with whether you passed or not

 

[Amma Usman]

That’s what I would usually do but there’s no questions on the application form so I wasn’t sure!

@mulan0 . That’s very interesting. In this case where there is no cover letter or applications questions, I suggest tailoring it to the firm in the work experience section then. Perhaps it’s worth looking at WBD’s values on their website, or speaking to future/current lawyers on what they look for by dropping private messages on LinkedIn. You could also link it to general trainee competencies like proactivity, attention to detail, resilience, and so on. Since there is no variation of a cover letter, I’ll also stress the importance of adequately covering your work experiences to showcase the key skills and qualities you possessed from each placement. Further, prose will be best in this instance.

I have tagged the rest of the team in case they have more views on how best to approach this: @Jessica Booker , @Andrei Radu , @Ram Sabaratnam.

 

[tcla02]

hi @Amma Usman I just finished a video interview and I ended my answer on "so yeah". does this mean a rejection ?