TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

They did say to address the letters to the training principal

anyone who appllied to V&E - is their training principal this year Scott Steigler or Andrew Nealon?

I see - I have went on to do a little more digging but it's just hard to say. Since the firm's graduate recruitment page (which you can access here) names Scott as the Training Principal, I think I would then go with that; it should be a more reliable source of information. I also think Andrew may have been the Training Principal before him, as I have seen Andrew mentioned in careers brochures dating as far back as 2019.

 

[User5678]

Was doing a verbal reasoning practice test.

What would you say is the answer here?

All interns require supervision on the shop floor, and the shop floor consists of interns, team members and supervisors. Identification badges come in different colours, which represent different statuses within the team. Everyone who requires supervision wears a green badge, and all supervisors wear a blue badge.

Everyone who wears a green badge is an intern.

Please select your response from the options below:

True
False
Can't say

Should be can’t say. I remember doing a similar question where the answer was can’t say because it is not written that interns require supervision in the passage and it could be other members of the team wearing the green badge as well

Let me know ur thoughts!

 

[Tintin06]

Was doing a verbal reasoning practice test.

What would you say is the answer here?

All interns require supervision on the shop floor, and the shop floor consists of interns, team members and supervisors. Identification badges come in different colours, which represent different statuses within the team. Everyone who requires supervision wears a green badge, and all supervisors wear a blue badge.

Everyone who wears a green badge is an intern.

Please select your response from the options below:

True
False
Can't say

I would’ve put ‘Can’t say’ here. Could be team members or interns. Bit late for one of these.

 

[Amakaa]

Kirkland VI - any advice?

congratulations! is this for direct TC ot VS, when did you apply please. I thought it was non rolling?

 

[Amakaa]

I see - I have went on to do a little more digging but it's just hard to say. Since the firm's graduate recruitment page (which you can access here) names Scott as the Training Principal, I think I would then go with that; it should be a more reliable source of information. I also think Andrew may have been the Training Principal before him, as I have seen Andrew mentioned in careers brochures dating as far back as 2019.

Last year, at their open day, Scott was the training principal. So you are right!

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Should be can’t say. I remember doing a similar question where the answer was can’t say because it is not written that interns require supervision in the passage and it could be other members of the team wearing the green badge as well

Let me know ur thoughts!

I also put down "cant say" because we cant be sure from the passage whether team members require supervision.

But the passage contradicts itself with this: "which represent different statuses within the team". If the badges represent different statuses, then it should be true, as interns and team members cant have the same colour badge given they are of different statuses.

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu

Hi Andrei, hope you're having a great day!

For my DPW cover letter: Please include your cover letter in the space provided below. Within your cover letter please include why you are specifically interested in Davis Polk, why you are attracted to the work that we carry out, and the skills that you have developed that would contribute towards your success in the role. [800 words]

Would you recommend the following structure?
- Why DPW (reasons BESIDES the work, specifically, or would you reckon mentioning the work here is okay as well?)—approx. 250-300 words
- Why DPW's work—approx. 250-300 words
- Why me—approx. 250 words

Thank you!

I think this structure sounds great. The work/non-work split is a good way to organizing your reasoning, though it is not necessary to mention it explicitly or to religiously stick to it. If the parts that appeal to you the most about the firm all involve its practice area strength, client base or past mandates, it is completely fine to base your writing solely on that. If you also have non-strictly work related reasons (training style, intake and team size, culture, secondment opportunities, growth in London etc) this can make for a nice split. However, don't be afraid to connect your main non-work based point to any related tangential work-based points if an opportunity arises. For instance, discussing how the firms growth appeals to you generally, and then in particular because it involves starting a new restructuring practice, a practice area you may have an interest in.

Besides that, I would consider changing the order between the why Davis Polk non-work paragraph and why Davis Polk work-based paragraph. I generally think work-based 'why firm' reasons are the strongest, and for this cover letter in particular it also serves as a replacement of the usual introductory 'why commercial law' paragraph. Indeed, it provides you with an opportunity to make some more general connections with your wider interest in the transactional side of commercial law, so that you can then naturally progress to zoom in more on the firm. However, I emphasize that this is merely a personal preference and that you can write a great cover letter while keeping the structure as is.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

I would’ve put ‘Can’t say’ here. Could be team members or interns. Bit late for one of these.

Wdym bit late?

 

[LB24]

Have you heard back yet by any chance? I just did mine and it felt like a complete disaster... I also don't want to hold out hope.

Nope, heard nothing from them. I don’t know if they now wait until the deadline has passed for them to invite people to an interview.

I’m in the same boat, I definitely didn’t do well either so I’d rather they just have already told me I haven’t passed it.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Did anyone here get progressed with Skadden who has also applied in the past?

I’m getting the impression that they don’t progress people who have applied in previous cycles

You mean ... they dont progress people who have either got to finals or won the CAC, or went to Oxford lol

 

[Gday33]

I also put down "cant say" because we cant be sure from the passage whether team members require supervision.

But the passage contradicts itself with this: "which represent different statuses within the team". If the badges represent different statuses, then it should be true, as interns and team members cant have the same colour badge given they are of different statuses.

Perhaps, but we don’t know what ‘statuses’ means - it could relate to need for supervision / lack of need rather than just job title.

 

[Tintin06]

Wdym bit late?

I meant the time of night.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

I meant the time of night.

oh haha yh

 

[ilovegardening1111]

If you have 5 working days from receiving an invite to a SJT and you received your test on Monday at 3pm- does this mean you have until the following Monday to complete the test or Friday?

 

[neonorange]

HSF Spring AC, just in case anyone is still waiting for outcomes.

(also guys for the love of god please stop messaging me about the Mayer Brown tests. I've received eight messages in the past week alone. You don't need any special insight, you'll be fine)

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu
Hi Andrei, I had two quick questions about Davis Polk application form.

First, in terms of why we are attracted to the work DP carries out, how would you go about it to make sure your answer is persuasive enough?

I was told that DP requires a CV for partners to use during interview, but I cannot see anywhere in the application form a section for uploading our CV. Is this something you prepared later?

Thank you

To make sure your answer about Davis Polk's work is persuasive enough, after you finish writing you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my description of Davis Polk's work very specific to the firm, or is it general enough to apply to many other firms? Am I being specific in mentioning the firm's main practices, their structure, client base, market recognition, and past mandates?
2. Does the substantive reasoning I am providing to explain my interest seem like a genuine statement of my motivations? Am I clear in explaining what specific features of the work attract me and how that connects with my more general professional and intellectual interests?
3. Am I connecting and reinforcing this reasoning by mentioning actual examples of my experiences which illustrate my points?

If the answer is 'yes' to all of those questions then I think your answer will be persuasive.

As for your second question, I know last year partners looked over my CV in the interview, but I was asked to provide the CV at application stage. Back then you would apply by simply sending your CV and cover letter to the firm via email, the application form system was introduced this cycle. As such, I would not worry too much. I suspect the partners will use the information in the application form or you will be asked for a CV later on if this is necessary for the interview.

 

[User5678]

It is not timed. The first part is rank order situational/behavioural questions, the second part is where they give you a statement like: "Knowing that I am trusted by those I work with is..." and then you have to slide the bar towards one end: "important in everything I do" or the opposite end: "not important to me". The final part is very Watson Glasseresque- assumptions, conclusion made/ not made etc. Edit: you will get a feedback report in 24 hrs but it will not include the WG part.

I just gave the AG test. It was just 8 timed Watson Glaser questions and no SJTs. Can someone confirm this because I’m freaking out now😭

Edit: I was talking about addleshaw Godard not akin gump!

 

[User5678]

It is timed and I found it rather hard as it is similar to the WG tests. The practice tests are VERY helpful but still challenging. Best of luck!

Hi, thank you for letting me know . It was just 8 Watson Glaser ques right and no sjts? I also got no confirmation email!

Edit: I was talking about addleshaw Godard not akin gump!

 

[yasmars]

I just gave the AG test. It was just 8 timed Watson Glaser questions and no SJTs. Can someone confirm this because I’m freaking out now😭

I think they’re talking about Akin not Addleshaw Goddard

 

[xMontmorency]

It still feels a long shot. But at least they’re being honest. They’re one of my favourite firms. Applied last year and got nowhere. Hopefully with another VS, that changes. Direct TC apps trigger imposter syndrome. Sure I’m not the only one.

I don't think the direct TC route for Sully Crom is a long shot. With 12 vac schemers and 8 TCs to offer, I doubt they will fill many spaces from the vac scheme. Not everyone will be offered a TC and not everyone will accept one. Just browsing Linkedin you can see a number of people who did the S&C scheme and went somewhere else. In fact, doing a direct TC might be easier because you're not competing with the people who were not accepted onto the vac scheme.