TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

For why the firm question at an interview - I want to make three points. 1.) How I am interested in their practice areas 2.) Their international outreach and secondment (particularly Middle East presence).

I'm struggling for a third if anyone can help. Culture/diversity is all I can think of but I personally believe this is a weak point - do people really talk about this at interview?

How long should my 'why firm' answer be also?

Hey,

I would avoid talking about culture or diversity - many firms have a good culture. Also, you wouldn’t really know about it till you’ve experienced it for yourself.

The first point is great. However, ensure to bring out something specific about the work that can’t be necessarily seen among other firms - since again, many firms have similar practices. You may find it helpful considering any niches they operate in, or any standout deals in the industry (maybe the first in a particular type of advisory), to showcase their expertise.

On international outreach, many firms have offices in several continents. Many firms also offer secondment opportunities. I like how you reference their ME presence. The international point could work, provided you give strong enough reasons to say why this matters to you. Do you have any connections to the region? Can you speak some primary languages there?

Overall, some points show more specific interest than others in the law firm application process. Sometimes, a point can work, but it depends on how you link it to your experiences, and how extensively you have researched the firm.

Best of luck, I know you’ll do amazing and best of luck in any upcoming interviews!

 

[Amma Usman]

Hello @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam, was wondering how you can incorporate talking about a firm's growth strategy in an interview! Unsure how to incorporate this in my upcoming AC

Firms usually post annual reviews or reports on these matters. This could cover things such as pro bono, which have growth strategies for the upcoming years embedded in them. This is available on their websites.

 

[Amma Usman]

the silence is driving me insane

I completely get this feeling. It’s hard to completely wash it away, but anytime I feel this way, I sort of trick my mind. I do stuff that keep me busy and prepare me for the process. This could be anything from analysing articles, reading finance books, or even having a nap. Life gets this way, but what matters most is how you respond.

 

[BillSikes]

Hey,

I would avoid talking about culture or diversity - many firms have a good culture. Also, you wouldn’t really know about it till you’ve experienced it for yourself.

The first point is great. However, ensure to bring out something specific about the work that can’t be necessarily seen among other firms - since again, many firms have similar practices. You may find it helpful considering any niches they operate in, or any standout deals in the industry (maybe the first in a particular type of advisory), to showcase their expertise.

On international outreach, many firms have offices in several continents. Many firms also offer secondment opportunities. I like how you reference their ME presence. The international point could work, provided you give strong enough reasons to say why this matters to you. Do you have any connections to the region? Can you speak some primary languages there?

Overall, some points show more specific interest than others in the law firm application process. Sometimes, a point can work, but it depends on how you link it to your experiences, and how extensively you have researched the firm.

Best of luck, I know you’ll do amazing and best of luck in any upcoming interviews!

What do I give as third point then if not culture/diversity?

 

[Amma Usman]

Is it a bad idea to ask GR for an update post-app? It’s been two months since I took the tests for linklaters & one month since the HL Watson Glaser
Don’t want to be seen as annoying but just was hoping for a rough timeline
For @Jessica Booker and anyone else 😊

I’m sure Jess will have more thoughts on this. Just before she gets back to you, I believe holding off for a while is the better approach. Firms are usually swamped with preparing for ACs, reviewing applications, etc, so there are many things that factor into the lack of responsiveness. I‘d still say optimistic.

 

[sp123]

Has anyone heard back from the TLT VS?

 

[Amma Usman]

What do I give as third point then if not culture/diversity?

Hi,

Just before going deep into your question, there are no set number of points one needs to cover to fully convey an interest in a firm. Two well developed points could work, especially in shorter interviews. Each point will take about 2-4 minutes to explain, and the more detail you go into, the better. Other questions will also be asked in the interview, so I recommend starting with the strongest points first. At the top of the list, will be the work.

I have also found expanding on training structures beneficial - largely because this was something important to me. For example, if a firm has a small trainee intake and you feel this will give you higher responsibility early on, then you could reference this. The next thing to mention is perhaps an example of how you thrived in a similar environment, as this shows some personal reflection into how you knew such a structure will be right for you.

Best of luck, I know you’ll do amazing. Let us know if you have any more questions

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey @futuretcholder . First of all, congratulations on securing the AC. You have done very well to get to that step.

With negotiation exercices, I would say the first tip is being mindful of how one comes across. It’s a negotiation -you‘re trying to meet a middle ground, so ensuring that the discussion is fruitful and not argumentative is a key skill. This is quite difficult to master, but with the right tone, approach, and demeanor, you’ll do great on this area.

The next is acknowledging both sides of the argument. A lawyer needs to understand their client, but also the client on the other side. This makes you appear as a well-rounded candidate. Briefly throw in a few pointers which show that you acknowledge and understand the other side too.

Structure, structure, structure! I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. You need a clear structure to appear as a candidate with well-organized thoughts. This does so many things. For example, it shows the interviewer that the set preparation time for delving into the facts was more than enough for you to come back in with a reasoned position.

Above all - confidence. The more confident you are in your position as a negotiator, the more confident your answers will come across. This aspect of an AC tests things beyond your commercial acumen - it tests those soft skills that are often unspoken about.

Hope this helps, and let us know if you have any more questions

NRF AC! This is my first and only AC in this cycle, any tips highly highly welcomed, from literally anyone. Especially on the negotiation task.

Hi @Hana ♥ , well done on the AC. I have quoted a post to help. Best wishes as you prepare.

 

[Amma Usman]

Fieldfisher VS offer! They also said on the phone that the assessors were impressed and said I should’ve just applied for Direct TC so they’ve given me that option 😮

This is really amazing news! Very well done, and huge congratulations!

 

[missTCLA]

Any advice/tips for virtual interview with an associate/member of HR team from white&case? anything would be amazing - I've graduated in 2021 and have been applying ever since, so i would truly appreciate anything.

 

[Chris Brown]

I know you can do it. Just watch all the past recordings of Paul weiss, also if you go on jaysens page on LinkedIn he recently released a podcast where an associate at Travers Smith went into detail about private equity

Also, if you didn't really understand the life cycle of private equity deal. They went into indepth here

and here

Then if they ask you what practice area ae u interested in and you have an idea but feel its foundational go here. https://youtube.com/@lawcareersnet?si=wiFgKYacFykdyVya

You are an actual superstar for this fr! Thank you so much. 🙂🙂

I definitely need to get my head around private equity as it’s not something I’m super well versed on when compared to other practice areas. 🥲🥲​

 

[Amma Usman]

K&E PFO 😛😛

I’m sorry to hear about the PFO. Please do not be disheartened and keep going…you got this. Also please remember that every stage of the process has refined your application technique. In one way or another, you would’ve improved on interview skills, application writing, and so on. You got this!

 

[Chris Brown]

Anyone heard from Katten, MoFo, Arnold & Porter, Greenberg, Wedlake Bell, Ropes, & Curits? After initial stage

I think Ropes & Gray will get back to us by the end of Feb as that’s what they did last year. On their website they say we can expect to hear back a month after the deadline. 🙂

For MoFo I have seen some people get interview invitations. Best of luck in all of your applications!​

 

[Amma Usman]

Any advice/tips for virtual interview with an associate/member of HR team from white&case? anything would be amazing - I've graduated in 2021 and have been applying ever since, so i would truly appreciate anything.

Congrats on getting to this stage -I have linked some stuff to help.

Interview Experiences 2021 - 2022

The latest interview experiences for a range of commercial law firms! Want to share your experience? Please drop Jaysen a private message.

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Interview Experiences 2019 - 2020 Cycle

See here for vacation scheme and training contract interview experiences from 2020+

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

I also suspect you will be asked the basic questions such as why commercial law and the firm. So, knowing your main motivations and competencies from the outset will help. Start with the strongest points, such as their core practices, before moving onto other areas. On why commercial law, showcase your journey. Did you explore other careers before knowing this was for you?

Best wishes!

 

[_averagestudent]

Hi. I have an interview with Sidley towards the end of their interview period, in one of the last slots. I just wanted to ask whether this would be disadvantageous if I wanted to select the spring scheme, as that might fill up by the time I interview. Do you think it is worth asking to reschedule to an earlier date so I have a greater chance at getting the spring scheme? Also, if I do secure a place on their vac schemes, how willing are firms to allow an extra applicant to join an earlier scheme?

 

[londonlawyer]

Would really appreciate any advice on commercial article based interview? This is for Debevoise Open Day/AC where the entire interview is supposed to be based on an article @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi. I have an interview with Sidley towards the end of their interview period, in one of the last slots. I just wanted to ask whether this would be disadvantageous if I wanted to select the spring scheme, as that might fill up by the time I interview. Do you think it is worth asking to reschedule to an earlier date so I have a greater chance at getting the spring scheme?

Did you apply for the spring or summer scheme?

If a firm still has that slot open, they would most likely still keep spots open to accommodate for some spaces on the scheme, so I would not worry too much. In any case, if spring is filled up, they will likely transfer one to summer.

Transferring to an earlier date is an interesting one as you may be decreasing your time to fully prepare for the AC.

 

[Amma Usman]

You are an actual superstar for this fr! Thank you so much. 🙂🙂

I definitely need to get my head around private equity as it’s not something I’m super well versed on when compared to other practice areas. 🥲🥲​

Hi there,

I have made a guide on Private Equity which I have linked here -

PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE

Hello everyone! I wrote this article to demystify the private equity industry and provide more clarity on the basics. It’s a deep dive on the industry, so get ready for an exciting few minutes! WHAT IS PRIVATE EQUITY (PE)? • The investment of...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi there,

I have made a guide on Private Equity which I have linked here -

PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE

Hello everyone! I wrote this article to demystify the private equity industry and provide more clarity on the basics. It’s a deep dive on the industry, so get ready for an exciting few minutes! WHAT IS PRIVATE EQUITY (PE)? • The investment of...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Thank you so much @Amma Usman! I really appreciate this a lot. 🐐​

 

[zq522]

anyone heard back from wfw post-vi🥹it's been a solid month since my vi

I haven’t heard back at all since sending in my application back in October! I did apply for the summer VS though