TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[legalxp2]

Reed Smith AC!

Akin Telephone Interview.

Literally shaking. Please anyone with tips on interviews and what questions to ask partners and GR, I will gladly appreciate @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker

hey congrats! when did you apply to akin?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

HFW AC - although its on the day after my FLK2 exam! Have asked for alternate options!

Congrats! Is this the stage after the initial app or is there a test/ VI?

 

[jacksollaf]

Sadly adding Eversheds ❌ to the list of PFOs!

to this I add Gowling PFO, just came in 🥂

 

[Tclarocks123]

Reed Smith AC!

Akin Telephone Interview.

Literally shaking. Please anyone with tips on interviews and what questions to ask partners and GR, I will gladly appreciate @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker

IDK you but I feel proud. All the best !

 

[JessicaTC27]

Willkie written exercise!!!!!

Congrats! If you don’t mind me asking, when is it set to take place? Also is the written exercise and partner interview done together or is the partner interview the next stage after the written exercise?

 

[pepsicola96]

A bit of a sneaky question, but does anyone think it is worth withdrawing their linklaters application if still on hold/ 66% and applying for the TC instead? That way at least we have a shot.

I think even if you withdraw it would still count as an application unfortunately, and you can only make one application per year.

 

[Cool pigeon]

Congrats! If you don’t mind me asking, when is it set to take place? Also is the written exercise and partner interview done together or is the partner interview the next stage after the written exercise?

We haven't been given much detail yet. Just told there will be slots at end of jan and beginning of feb. and it is done online solely as a written exercise. if successful then you do the partner intreview.

 

[jta227]

In terms of preparing for legal questions, do people reckon the only modules worth revising are Contract, Tort, Land Law and Trusts?

 

[kokoprep]

Any insights into W&C AC? this is for spring

hey when did you do your VI, can you please tell?

 

[legal18]

Congrats! If you don’t mind me asking, when is it set to take place? Also is the written exercise and partner interview done together or is the partner interview the next stage after the written exercise?

Thank you! And it's what @murm said and we will be given more info towards the end of January.

 

[zq522]

Congrats! Is this the stage after the initial app or is there a test/ VI?

I only sent in an application form in October - so i guess after the initial app

 

[EA95]

Reed Smith AC!

Akin Telephone Interview.

Literally shaking. Please anyone with tips on interviews and what questions to ask partners and GR, I will gladly appreciate @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker

Congrats on Akin and Reed Smith 🥳🥳, you got this for sure!!

 

[kokoprep]

Hey anyone received W&C Spring AC invite today?

 

[crt1s]

Reed Smith AC!

Akin Telephone Interview.

Literally shaking. Please anyone with tips on interviews and what questions to ask partners and GR, I will gladly appreciate @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker

Congrats on both!

Would you mind sharing how you scored on the pillars for the RS SJT?

 

[AlegalA]

I did fine in property law as a module but i think i would burst out laughing/crying if i was asked that 🤣

NRF said they'll ask about your modules most likely and that you should revise contract law pre-interview if you're a Law student. That being said the trainee I spoke to on their open day said she didn't actually get asked about it. One of the partners said he also likes to ask "what's your favourite case" and it catches lots of people out because they didn't expect it and they just start waffling. Also for their negotiation exercise, Law students are grouped together and non-Law are grouped together, so the level of knowledge expected is different.
Linklaters have asked "what is an indemnity" "what is a warranty" before
Lots of firms don't ask any legal knowledge Qs at all.

Not really, but they are often included in AC tasks to provide a clearer perspective on the case study problem. For instance, think of it like understanding the mechanics of a car—you don’t need to be a mechanic to drive it, but knowing how the engine works can help you identify warning signs or inefficiencies. Similarly, understanding these terms can help you spot technical red flags. That said, firms are more focused on your ability to identify broader issues and demonstrate a natural grasp of the business landscape in commercial law. Hope this helps!

Can happen but tends to be rare. When it does happen, its usually because you have experience, whether it be work experience or academics related to the topic included in your application though.

At A&O Shearman AC I was asked the difference between a warranty and a representation, and how I would apply each one to the case study problem.

Yes Just had the worst interview ever end of last week. Legal questions asked of a non law student! Legal not commercial. Proper waste of everyone's time. Explained I was non law and therefore hadn't undertaken any form of legal education yet.

Thank you all! Bit f mixed responses, it seems it might be mostly magic/silver circle firms asking? Fingers crossed for me anyway 😅

 

[AlegalA]

Also, if anyone's done the Kennedys VI would you mind sharing how long the questions were?
Thank you!!

 

[abhuzaifa]

Anyone have experience doing Fieldfisher’s online strengths assessment for the diversity access scheme or TC ?

 

[zq522]

Anyone have experience doing Fieldfisher’s online strengths assessment for the diversity access scheme or TC ?

Its pretty straightforward, and is pretty short as well. My advice would be to have their core values jotted down and keep them in mind whilst doing it.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman,

I trust you are well and happy new year.

I am applying to Orrick which, in addition to why commercial law and why specifically are you interested in training at Orrick, the application also requires a cover letter. I am struggling to understand what to include in my answer. Should I mention my skills and why the firm?

I am also applying to Mayer Brown and would like your opinion on how to structure my answer tell us about any academic or non-academic achievements and interests. I do not want to sound silly, but should I mention if I developed specific skills which could help me succeed as a trainee at MB?

Thank you in advance for your help

Hey @AS24, I hope you are well too and all the best for the new year !

For your first question, I think you should still aim to cover the same three basic 'Why commercial law', 'Why firm' and 'Why you' in the cover letter, though perhaps with an increased emphasis on the 'why you' part. To avoid repetition, I would consider doing a combination of the following:

• Use a more concise and to the point style in the application form answers and a more narrative style and structure in the cover letter. You can see the form as you needing to deliver on some very specific tasks, while the cover letter more as you telling your story and presenting your profile.
• Furthermore, it is generally thought you can use examples from personal experiences and hobbies a lot more in the cover letter than in the application form answers, where you should focus more on work/academic examples. The use of personal experiences might be particularly useful in the cover letter if you decide to also give a short description as to how your motivations have historically progressed and led you to this point.
• To the extent that you cannot avoid repeating some of the same examples, try to focus on different parts of the experiences. For instance, if this was some kind of work experience, you may describe one relevant task in the form answer and one in the cover letter.
• To the extent that you cannot avoid repeating some of the same substantive points (I expect you should be able to find a number of different why Orrick reasons, but you might have the same basic points for why commercial law), try to elaborate on them in a different manner. For instance, say one of your reasons for why Orrick is their expertise in the VC/tech space. In the application form answer you could focus on Chambers rankings, deal figures and client base, while in the cover letter you could discuss one of their transactions at length.

For your second question, I do not think this linking experiences with skills is a strict requirement, but I would advise you to do it nonetheless. It shows off your commercial awareness and makes the relevance of your achievements and interests evident. A recruiter should never have an issue with seeing this even if they weren't necessarily expecting it; but if they expected it and you did not include it, that could be a serious issue. However, I would keep it brief (one or maximum two sentences at the end of a paragraph) and have the experiences themselves as the main focus.

 

[aspiringsolicitor23]

When an application asks: is this law-related work experience, does this just mean professional law roles like interning in a legal department or completing a vac scheme? That was my initial interpretation but I am now wondering about roles I have taken within law societies and tutoring law modules - it seems counterintuitive to say these roles are not law related? Please could somebody help, thanks!