TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[lawbear123]

Hey, sorry to ask this again, but did u hear back for your AC on the 6th or your WE was on the 6th? I did my WE on the 6th too, so I’m wondering if it’s a PFO

written exercise on the 6th

 

[jojo23]

Whoever decided that VI’s were a good thing to add to the graduate recruit process needs to seriously go outside and touch some f****ng grass imo. Worst idea to have ever been thought of smh. 🤦🏽‍♂️😂​

Aiming this shot at Reed Smith (I'm still very salty)

 

[Adithi]

written exercise on the 6th

Oh okk thanks, that means I am coooked cool cool cool cool cool.

 

[ChloeC]

Hi, has anyone done the Forsters AC yet? I just got pulled from their waiting list and am slightly stressed out about it! Would really appreciate any advice at all!

 

[bsh]

how have people found their PW interviews?

 

[elisenatasha]

for anyone waiting for mischon- i just received a mischon spring vacation scheme offer following the AC last week

 

[Happy Law Student]

At what point should you assume rejection after an AC? The firm said that they respond within 2 weeks but its now over 3 and I'm starting to think I'm cooked.

 

[NickH]

Hey, does anyone have any idea if Paul, Weiss is still sending invites for interviews?

 

[Gin]

Hi, has anyone applied for Paul Hastings' vac scheme? Any ideas on their grade requirements or tips for the application?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker really appreciate this, thanks for the insight.

On point 2 - That makes sense from the firm's perspective, they wouldn't want their TC undermined in that sense. What if for instance, you don't submit previous experiences as QWE to avoid the firm's being put off by you and to therefore become more attractive to them? Most firms I have spoken to said they would just disregard the previous experiences I had as the 2-year TC programme is what they would use to sign off the QWE on their end. I guess most of what I'm saying, though, is in relation to how I would be viewed as a candidate regarding this, rather than the mechanics of how QWE actually works/what the firm's sign off as QWE.

On point 3 - So in that sense would that be a negative of the SQE, generally speaking, if you don't secure a TC and decide to qualify via previous experiences for QWE? Would it not be a struggle to get your foot in the NQ market as a fresh SQE graduate with little experience of the same level, complexity, standard and variety as other people I'll be competing with (people with NQ-level type experience and people like myself) no?

Point 2: The issue is QWE is that you can get it signed off and submitted to the SQE at any time, so what you say you would do and what you actually might do could be two different things. But generally, there will be some benefits of not getting QWE signed off before starting a TC - the main one is you will be seen as less of a flight risk. It is feasible that someone could do 12 months of a TC, use another 12 months experience elsewhere and then leave half way through the TC if they have secured an NQ role elsewhere. That is less likely to happen when someone is not qualified, although not impossible now people can move from firm to firm as a trainee too.

Point 3: In my opinion it is one of the downsides of the SQE qualification route. It will lead to more people qualifying who are not set up for the NQ job market. However, it is a double edged sword - we are seeing some people outside of TCs qualify with great QWE get into NQ roles because they have equivalent work experience or even higher quality work experience than trainees. It really does depend on the quality of the QWE people submit rather than it being TC vs a non-TC qualification route preference.

 

[Bbhu19]

Hey Adrian and @Chris Brown and first of all congratulations on reaching the final stage! As for your query, you will appreciate that for reasons of fairness and confidentiality I will not be able to list the specific questions I was asked. I can however give you some general thought on what I think is meant by the phrase mentioned in the email and on how you could go about preparing.

By "commercial motivational questions" I think the firm simply means questions that test your (i) ability analyze commercial factors and (ii) to link them to your motivations. For instance, you may be asked about the firm's competitors - and say you then list some firms. However, you could then be further asked what were the specific criteria you chose to identify competitors by, and why did you consider those aspects of the firm to be more relevant than others. Then, you may be asked why would you prefer Willkie over its competitors or over other firms you have been applying for. You could once again list a number of aspects in which Willkie does better than the others. However, you could once more be asked why do those factors specifically matter more to you than other factors that would have favored those other firms.

To give an example, say you are comparing Willkie with Milbank. If asked why you applied for Milbank, you could mention its finance expertise, whereas for Willkie you could mention its PE practice. Now, Willkie has a premium high-end PE offering, whereas Milbank, having recently acquired Dickson Minto, has one of the best mid-market ones. However, Milbank also has one of the best high-end finance practices, whereas Willkie's is more mid-market. In explaining why you prefer Willkie to Milbank, a great answer would not just elaborate on why you prefer to work in a team with a focus on high-end rather than mid-market PE deals; but it would also explain why working at the top of the market in PE is more attractive to you than working at the top of the market in finance. This is an example of a situation where your response will involve a lot of commercial analysis, but where you would eventually return to a question of your interests and experiences.

As for the question about guidance, I am afraid I cannot say a lot more than I did in a previous post. I would try to research in depth the type of work the firm specializes in, to have a real understanding of what its different practice areas do and how they come together in a transaction/case. I would also try to make my answers to the main motivational questions as persuasive as possible, ensuring the analysis is nuanced and can withstand further questioning. Finally, I think you could benefit from practicing formulating your thought process out loud and making best guesses. You might be asked questions where there is no expectation for you to have known the answer prior to the interview but where you could get close to it by working from what you know and with the help and guidance of the interviewers.

Could you give me an example like this for Katten as it is difficult to find much about them online.

 

[👩🎓]

Evening, does anyone have any tips regarding Foot Anstey's VI? I would really appreciate any advice.

 

[E__yiha]

So for everyone, like me, still waiting for R&G, it seems they send out a lot of rejections and then wait a week before sending out more rejections/AC invites, looking at last year. Thinking maybe our apps are potentially reviewed a second time? So could be a while until hearing back.

Ac starting in 10 days - how long of a gap you think they might give to future candidates?

 

[jfb]

has anyone heard from womble bond dickinson following their high potential assessment

 

[applebunny]

Anyone heard from Winston & Strawn?

 

[jojo23]

it's easy to overanalyse to make ourselves feel better because it gives meaning and keep us sane and makes us feel like we're heading in the right direction, but I do think grad recruiters enie mine mine mo this sh*t sometimes ffs.

Law firm applications are the definition of f*ck around and find out🤣

 

[jojo23]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

 

[Rus]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

Those emails are genuinely evil tbh

 

[Interested_In_Law]

Ac starting in 10 days - how long of a gap you think they might give to future candidates?

Looking back, last year they came out on 26th Feb I think.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

I applied to the London office and enquired about when we can expect to hear back. Grad rec said they're still reviewing apps and aim to get back to candidates within 10 weeks of the app deadline. I'm expecting a pfo. I think they have so many candidates further down the pipeline who've completed VIs, I think realistically, London spaces will fill up fast.