TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[yeezyee]

anyone still waiting for latham?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Mishcon VI I deffo effed up. I don't know why I even checked the message from my viewing organiser to find out they have signed the contract for someone else and i wanted the place 😭😭 Only have myself to blame. I probably came across as a depressed potato. Oh well. Reject me based on 3 minutes of rambling and ignore the hours I spent on the application form xx

 

[Chris Brown]

Finally after almost 6 weeks of waiting Travers Smith PFO. For reference, I applied very close to the deadline I think maybe 1-2 days before. 🥲

I almost missed it entirely because it was hidden amongst a bunch of TCLA notifications lmao. It got sent at around 5pm today. 🥲​

 

[aphelion]

Would it be weird to bring a bag to my AC? Like do people usually just turn up with themselves? Overthinking this I know but I don't want to stick out if I bring my backpack - I would just prefer to have my laptop on me for the journey to/from.

 

[aphelion]

It’s sounds counter intuitive, but take some time off and away from prepping and go and do something to completely take your mind away from it.

Giving yourself a mental break and refresh can do so much positive things to help you be mentally ready, especially if you have multiple ACs next week

Thank you! I've been dialing it down the past couple of days and it has defo helped.

 

[James Wakefield]

Would it be weird to bring a bag to my AC? Like do people usually just turn up with themselves? Overthinking this I know but I don't want to stick out if I bring my backpack - I would just prefer to have my laptop on me for the journey to/from.

Not at all weird!

 

[SeniorJunior]

Would it be weird to bring a bag to my AC? Like do people usually just turn up with themselves? Overthinking this I know but I don't want to stick out if I bring my backpack - I would just prefer to have my laptop on me for the journey to/from.

I’ve only done one but we were asked to leave all bags and coats in the cloakroom. Myself and another candidate put our coats in but kept our bags on us and then were told again to leave the bags. We did get ferried around a bit and didn’t always return to the same place so makes sense.

So I would just be prepared for that, ie I was happy to leave my bag as they said it was secure but if it had been my work laptop I would have been reluctant to leave it, as I could lose my job over it!

 

[gazdgazd11]

Hi, I need help answering the question 'where should we open a new office'. The only answer I have is Saudi Arabia (economic growth etc.) but no clue otherwise, really :/ would anyone be willing to offer their insight please? @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman - thanks!

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Would it be weird to bring a bag to my AC? Like do people usually just turn up with themselves? Overthinking this I know but I don't want to stick out if I bring my backpack - I would just prefer to have my laptop on me for the journey to/from.

at the ACs I went to, (almost) everyone had a bag

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Is no news good news from Taylor Swift?? 🙏

 

[ohnoselim]

mischon vi done

you guys werent lying when you said its so short, half of my answers were incomplete 🤣

 

[Vinh An Tran]

Hi everyone,

I’m having a hard time finding information about Katten’s assessment centre. Is there any chance someone has any insight into what the day involves and what I should prepare?

Also, does anyone know how many slots are available in the scheme, considering only three training contracts are given out each year?

Thank you, it is my first ever AC!!

 

[James Wakefield]

at the ACs I went to, (almost) everyone had a bag

I went to an AC where someone had flown from Israel to attend that morning, so they had lots of luggage with them.

I don’t know whether they were given an offer but they did seem tired in the group exercise.

 

[doglover123]

SPB / Squires AC for London office!!! 😁
If anyone has any tips re. the panel interview, group exercise or written exercise, please pm me!

 

[ohnoselim]

Hi, I need help answering the question 'where should we open a new office'. The only answer I have is Saudi Arabia (economic growth etc.) but no clue otherwise, really :/ would anyone be willing to offer their insight please? @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman - thanks!

hi, you need to think of firm strategy/ goals specific to the firm, heres some questions i like to think of when trying to answer questions like this

1. do they have a strong presence in a certain region already like asia-pacific or europe? if so how could they make this stronger?

2. does it link to some international work they already do through another office? (for example theres firms with offices in singapore that do a-lot of cross border work with neighbouring countries but the firms just dont have offices in those countries)

3. if its a new office in a different region you need to understand how it links back to their work eg: key sectors

a lot of firms are opening offices in saudi because saudi has allowed for license applications recently you just need to find specify a link to the firm directly

eg:
- firm strategy/goals
- existing international work
-key sectors

 

[simplyfaith]

Is no news good news from Taylor Swift?? 🙏

 

[Legallylaw]

Hiii, to all successful applicants, how would you answer a question where it's asking you to differentiate between a law firm and its competitors? Also what skills do you think is necessary to become a successful solicitor?

 

[xxx]

Hiii, to all successful applicants, how would you answer a question where it's asking you to differentiate between a law firm and its competitors? Also what skills do you think is necessary to become a successful solicitor?

I normally integrate this to why this firm:

1. Business strategy - internationally and locally (focusing on practice areas is not the best since a lot of competitors are neck and neck).

What I mean is do they open their own office or do they collaborate with local firms? Why? How does that affect their presence in the region?

Where are they opening the offices? Why? What business opportunities are there in those locations? Does it show the firm as ‘forward thinking’ - link back to their values


2. Client retention- do they work with the same clients often (I.e. links is known for their biggest clients being repeat clients and they liked when I mentioned it in the AC)

3. Here talk about practice areas and the links to one another (but the niche ones): i.e. strong banking and finance department but also band 1 shariah = more Middle Eastern clients/ presence (working with the market trends/ opportunities).


For skills:

Honestly, here you can pick any skill but the key thing is to:

1. Identify the skill

2. Link it back to how and why a trainee/ solicitor might use it.

3. Then link it back to something you’ve done and how it showed you the importance of it in practice.

 

[Legal Wizard]

anyone still waiting for latham?

Just withdrew. Can’t do the scheme with my schemes anyway.

 

[e1996]

Has anyone heard from Mishcon Post AC (Spring)?

Nope, they said we'd hear back early this week but haven't heard back yet