TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, are the Accelerator sessions recorded if we are unable to attend the live sessions?

Yes - any of the sessions will be recorded and available to Gold subscribers.

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard from Teacher Stern today?

This is the strangest firm name I have come across so far what the hell. 😂

Foot Anstey, Bird & Bird and Burges Salmon are also pretty interesting name choices. 🥲​

 

[gazdgazd11]

Hello,
I have an interview with CRS coming up and I understand that the firm has a strong presence in private wealth but also in corporate and commercial clients.
@Amma Usman, @Andrei Radu, @Ram Sabaratnam, I would really appreciate any tips on how to show commercial awareness, as that is where I feel I have been let down in previous ACs

Hey is this for direct TC? Or VS?

 

[A worried graduate]

This is the strangest firm name I have come across so far what the hell. 😂

Foot Anstey, Bird & Bird and Burges Salmon are also pretty interesting name choices. 🥲​

Bonus points for Poole Alcock (childish humour) and a tiny firm called Macfarlane and Co

 

[A worried graduate]

Has anyone who applied to the london office for wbd or browne Jacobson tc/vs heard back yet?

One person got a telephone interview for BJ but most haven’t heard

 

[User5678]

One person got a telephone interview for BJ but most haven’t heard

I’m tired of waiting (not blaming the firms but I’m literally waking up in the middle of my sleep and refreshing emails in the morning😂😂😂😂) need some good news (or just any news/update atp to stay motivated to do dtc apps😭😭)

On that note, does anybody know if rwk Goodman vi was automatic because I don’t think I put my best app in due to time constraints but received a vi and am now worried that they might go through the app and the vi together all at once and didn’t review the app before sending the vi😔

 

[TCseeker101]

Anyone else still waiting for CRS (London) and massively overthinking. Maybe they’re reviewing in batches? I have a feeling there’s been some offers but also just seen a PFO ☹️

 

[trainee4u]

This is the strangest firm name I have come across so far what the hell. 😂

Foot Anstey, Bird & Bird and Burges Salmon are also pretty interesting name choices. 🥲​

Teacher Stern was established in 1967 with partners: DS Teacher, SSW Stern, RA Selby, hence Teacher, Stern, Selby. Later dropped the commas, and then Selby got dropped as well.

Foot Anstey claim they grew organically but it's not the case. Isaac Foot founded the firm Foot & Bowden (Plymouth) in 1903 and is ancestor to some of the best-known figures in British politics of the 1970s-1980s, including the journalist Paul Foot, the leader of the Labour party Michael Foot, The Lord Foot, the Lord Caradon, and Sir Dingle Foot.

This firm continued until 2000, when it merged with Anstey Sargent & Probert (Exeter), becoming Foot Anstey, then absorbing Alms & Young of Taunton in 2005, Serpell Eaton of Plymouth in 2007, and Hancock Caffin of Truro also in 2007.

Burges Salmon was the merger of Burges & Sloan with Salmon, Cumberland and Evans, although at the time of the merger there was only an Evans, no Salmon nor Cumberland. So they must have decided Salmon was a better name than Evans....

When Bird & Bird were set up it was more common to just change the firm name to reflect the actual partners BUT you also had generations of grandfathers, fathers, and grandsons, doing the same job, and they went from (William) Bird & Fisher to Bird & Moore to Bird Moore & Radcliffe (even though Moore no longer worked there). William Bird Jr was made partner, his father retired, a Mr. Strode joined and it became Bird, Moore & Strode, whereupon Bird's second cousin, Ernest Bird joined the firm and upon Strode's departure, they decided to do away with the "Moore" part and become "Bird & Bird" thenceforth.

 

[trainee4u]

Bonus points for Poole Alcock (childish humour) and a tiny firm called Macfarlane and Co

Just seen that and then scrolled down to the " telephone interview for BJ ".

Speaking of childish humour, the postcode NE1 4BJ is that of St James’ House, which is student accommodation in Newcastle, and the fantastic postcode has got to be worth an extra £25/month I'd say.

 

[rapunzel]

Hi @mulan0 from what I have encountered so far they tend to be either based on a negotiation, a group discussion, or a presentation task.

1. Negotiations: The exercises can have different structures and team sizes depending on the firm, but I think the default one is for you to get around 30mins-1h of preparation time with your team during which you read a brief with background information and client demands, and then devise a strategy based on that (in many cases the preparation part is also assessed by the firm). Then, you normally have around 30-45 minutes to negotiate and hopefully reach an agreement with the other side.
2. Group exercises: Normally you would also have around 20 minutes to read a brief the discussion is based on, but this is done individually. Then, together with the rest of the group, you are tasked with discussing a number of options and choosing the best one. I have seen a number of exercises here around M&A and investments, with people discussing which companies would it be best to partner with/invest in.
3. Presentation tasks: This is very similar to the group discussion, with the only difference being that instead of simply reaching an agreement, you have to also make a presentation with your findings and recommendation. You would normally have a bit of extra time to prepare, as you need to allocate speaking roles and potentially practice as well.

A common issue candidates have with group exercises, irrespective of the format, is getting enough airtime to express their ideas and show off commercial awareness while also showing themselves to be team players. Since everyone knows that at the end of the day you are assessed individually and that progression is very competitive, many people will simply be looking to speak as much as possible. As such, I think it is good to think in advance of a few ways to ensure your contribution is seen without having to constantly fight over airtime. I'll link bellow a post in which I detailed some of the things that worked for me:

I have a question regarding the last point you made about airtime. In my last group exercise I kept note of the time however the person who was making the point before me didn’t pay attention it and when it came to my turn we ran out of time. What advice would you give in a situation like this?

 

[TonyStark]

Withers SVS! The firm that literally drew me to a career in law coming from an engineering background. SO excited. I must say that @Andrei Radu and his guide for interviews was key here and would encourage anyone with an interview to heed that advice.

Congrats. Can you link the guide please?

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

hi,

Hello,
I have an interview with CRS coming up and I understand that the firm has a strong presence in private wealth but also in corporate and commercial clients.
@Amma Usman, @Andrei Radu, @Ram Sabaratnam, I would really appreciate any tips on how to show commercial awareness, as that is where I feel I have been let down in previous ACs

is this for the DTC?

 

[camrxc]

Anyone done a mofo second round interview heard back yet?

 

[TonyStark]

I second this completely! Thank you @Andrei Radu for being the TCLA forum GOAT!!! 🐐🐐

Both his interview guide and forum posts were key in my success (gaining VS offers from both Paul, Weiss and Willkie)! I genuinely would not have found myself to be in this position without them!! I bookmarked and studied them rigorously lmao. 🥲🥲

The posts on the forum that @Andrei Radu made in relation to the competitors of both Paul, Weiss and Willkie, their position in the City of London, and the distinction between debt and equity financing (private equity), were all significantly useful for me. I have quoted them below: 👇
​

Hey can you link the guide please?

 

[weupin2025]

Hey can you link the guide please?

Sure.

A complete guide for competency interview preparation

This is a guide for the purposes of preparing for competency interviews, be they in a VI, another intermediary step or an AC/final stage interview. The advice here is based on my personal approach, as I received VS offers from top US/MC firms 4/4 times I implemented it. This will include: A...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[A worried graduate]

I’m tired of waiting (not blaming the firms but I’m literally waking up in the middle of my sleep and refreshing emails in the morning😂😂😂😂) need some good news (or just any news/update atp to stay motivated to do dtc apps😭😭)

On that note, does anybody know if rwk Goodman vi was automatic because I don’t think I put my best app in due to time constraints but received a vi and am now worried that they might go through the app and the vi together all at once and didn’t review the app before sending the vi😔

I got rejected before a VI by RWK last year so your app must be decent.

 

[mariistm]

Any news from WBD this week?

 

[fxy]

hi,

is this for the DTC?

no its for their SVS

 

[James Wakefield]

So who else was up till midnight writing their application for the Macfarlanes senior partner dinner? 😅

 

[Toomanypfo]

no its for their SVS

Hi, does it mean you have already received an offer for the SVS