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Hello everyone,

I'm really interested in doing an LLM at LSE, but I'm unsure whether I meet the academic requirements and was wondering whether anyone with direct experience in this arena would be kind enough to provide any input.

So, I come from a non-law background, with a strong 2.1 in that degree. I then completed a post-grad LLB at BPP and achieved only a 2.1 with 61. I also completed an LLM Legal Practice (also) at BPP and achieved a Merit (62). On their website, LSE's requirements state that I should have 'a very good degree in another discipline together with very good grades in an appropriate graduate diploma in law (such as the UK's Graduate Diploma in Law) may also qualify for a place.'

If I understand correctly, I am quite sure that my grades won't be sufficient, assuming they strictly abide by this policy. Is there any wiggle-room in reality?

The card up my sleeve is that I also have quite excellent experience (a year's worth) in the specialism I wish to pursue, so might this work considerably in my favour and pull me over, where my grades fail me?

I'd also appreciate any input as to my likelihood of receiving an offer for LLMs at Kings and UCL, which are my second choices!

Any input, thoughts etc would be greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone!

Today, we release the findings of our Mental Health In The Legal Profession Survey 2021 (best viewed on a desktop/laptop), our first annual survey to better understand a) the mental health concerns facing aspiring lawyers and b) how law firms can support the mental health of incoming trainee solicitors.

Our survey found:

• 86% of respondents 'sometimes', 'frequently', or 'always' experienced issues with their mental health over the past month
• 93% of respondents 'sometimes', 'frequently', or 'always' experienced issues with their mental health over the past year
• 84% 'sometimes', 'frequently', or 'always', have/had concerns over their ability to manage the stress of a training contract

The most popular concerns regarding a training contract included:

1. Imposter syndrome in respect of the work
2. Lack of time for self-care, including exercise and sleep
3. Making a mistake in the workplace
4. Imposter syndrome in respect of the social environment

Respondents frequently cited the pressure to prove a firm's investment in themselves was 'worth it', as well as the overwhelming fear of not being good enough for the demands of a prestigious law firm.

Many respondents feared that mental health issues would be seen as a 'weakness' by law firms and 'inhibit their progression', forcing them to avoid disclosure, which would lead them to 'burn out'. Our survey found that:

• 68% 'strongly disagreed' or 'somewhat disagreed' that they would be comfortable discussing their mental health concerns with graduate recruitment at a law firm
• 67% 'strongly disagreed' or 'somewhat disagreed' that they would be comfortable discussing their mental health concerns with the lawyers at a law firm

Other respondents felt that supervisors didn't appreciate the importance of sleep and exercise. They also struggled with comparing themselves to others, particularly when they came from a different ethnic or socioeconomic background.

The most popular solutions identified included:

1. Changes to the workplace
2. Check-ins with supervisors
3. 1 on 1 support such as counselling
4. Peer support, such as mental health groups within law firms
5. Live training, such as mental health and resilience training workshops

Ultimately, respondents wanted 'more than mental health awareness weeks'. They wanted a normalisation of mental health discussions, particularly from lawyers within the firm. They wanted senior lawyers to change the perception of 'I had it tough, so you must too', and to have supervisors receive more mental health training, such that they actively check-in to see if trainee solicitors are okay.

Speaking honestly, I could have improved some of the questions/better limited the responses, but it's a work in progress!

Best,

Jaysen

Hello does anyone know any resources that can help me to understand project financing ; specifically bridge to bond structures ?

Hey everyone,

We're now working on TCLA Premium Version 3.0, which will be the biggest revision to our premium service since we started.

I'm looking for up to 10 people who would be willing to join a focus group, spending the time to work through our premium content over the next few weeks. You will be asked to complete two surveys as well as join two focus group sessions to chat through your experiences.

Ultimately, this will be hugely beneficial for me to find out exactly what you like and dislike about TCLA Premium and how we can provide better resources to help you. Everything you say will be taken on board and will be used to shape TCLA Premium. You will also get a first-hand look at our future plans and influence its direction.

For the people selected, you will receive 6 months of TCLA Premium (bronze), and a £25 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the second focus group. We'll also give you some silver/gold resources in the first month to see what you think.

As you'll be diving deep into all of our premium resources, this will be perfect for someone who needs an excuse/wants to be held accountable for going through some of our best resources/training. I also hope it'll be a cool project for people who find the inner workings of a business interesting.

If you are a future trainee, you are also very welcome to apply (I'll likely give you a gift card in lieu of the six months subscription).

To participate, simply fill out this short Google form. If we have more than 10 people fill out the form, we'll decide based on the question 'why do you want to join this focus group?', as well as the stage you are at currently.

Thank you!

Jaysen

Edit: This is now closed - thank you everyone!

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Hi so I have been invited to a W&C assessment centre and I'm having trouble booking a date for interview? they sent me a link to the all hires page but I'm not seeing how to navigate onto the interview scheduler if anyone could help that would be great ! Additionally if anyone has any tips on the W&C assessment centre that would also be great thank you !

I am so confused, but grateful? I attended TLT's Direct TC AC a month ago and have been offered a 2-3 day "mini scheme" in the office in July as my final assessment, and I'm wondering if anyone else is in this boat...I know one other person on this forum is, but other than that I'm in the dark here. It's been such a crazy cycle. I applied for the vacation scheme in 2019, then was told I didn't get the VS, but was invited instead to attend direct TC AC in August 2020, then that got moved back to February 2021, and now I'm being asked to attend a mini scheme, which I have gathered is not the same as their regular VS that they are holding this year as well...? I guess they just want to see people in person now the pandemic restrictions are near their finish? But I have no idea what to expect because to my knowledge this has never happened before, there are no previous experiences to look at for guidance, and I don't know if there will be exercises or not. I'm just rolling with it and counting my blessings, because I know some others were not passed beyond this stage, and I know also that some people will struggle to take time off their jobs to attend. It's just odd is all!

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had done a video interview at Dechert's? If so, do you have any advice?

Hi All,

We're going to be building our list of interview experiences for 2021 and I would love if this is something we could crowdsource to generous forum members, especially if you have benefited from an interview experience in the past.

If you have had a recent interview (whether successful or not) and would like to contribute to our database of experiences, please drop me a private message. The only requirement is that the interview was in 2021. I will then send you to the form with a list of questions.

Thank you!

Jaysen

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.

February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.

Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.

One 30-minute panel interview with the two graduate recruitment partners and the graduate recruitment manager.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

We were required to prepare a 5 minute presentation to open the interview. We were given 3 potential presentation titles to choose from:

1. Present a recent legal update, why is it interesting & how does it relate to the firm.
2. Review a news article (from the week after interview invites were sent out), explain why it is relevant to the firm and/or its clients
3. Pitch a prospective client for the London office of V&E, explain why they would be a good target client for the firm.

The interview started with the presentation, which is timed. I was only asked one question about the presentation before moving on to my application form. The rest of the interview was focused on my application form and video interview answers.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

The presentation appears to be a very important part of the assessment. I found it to be very helpful in understanding what makes the firm different from other US offerings in London. Each of the presentation titles require you to spend a lot of time working out what makes V&E unique, and, therefore, why the topic you are presenting about will affect the firm. There is a useful Chambers student article about the firm.

From my research, for normal in-office interviews they give you a case study and ask you to prepare 5 minute presentation on it.

The interviews are short, 30 minutes goes very quickly. This also means that they are not able to ask many questions, so your responses really have to be on point early on, there is no time to 'warm up' in the early parts of the interview. Don't be put off by them only asking 1 question on the presentation, I think it is really down to time constraints.

I did not feel like they had a set structure or sequence of interview questions, which gives you the opportunity to somewhat control the interview, by offering up a topic for them to ask you about.

As they mention in the grad recruitment brochure, and in most of their articles about partner laterals, the firm as a whole is extremely focused on people being a good fit for the firm. From my experience, this translates into the interview, where they seem to be mainly focused on you as a person and your experiences, rather than commercial awareness or technical legal problems.

The style was conversational in my interview, but once they have run out of things to ask you about, or things to talk about, they ask you if you have any questions. I would definitely have plenty of questions ready, whether it be about the firm, the interviewers or a relevant commercial issue.

The firm does not give out offers until they have interviewed all candidates, so if you are early on, expect a wait.

Were you successful?

Yes

Hi!

Does anyone have any tips for written exercises at ACs? I can find plenty of advice on case studies, but none on writing reports/memos etc.

I had an AC yesterday and I really do think I messed up on the written task.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Hi guys,

I have a video interview with British American Tobacco (BAT) for the position of a legal intern in their London office. Has anyone completed a BAT VI? I would be grateful if you have any advice. The only information I have is that the interview consists of a series of questions based on BAT’s guiding principles. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of my background, experiences and motivations.

Thank you!

I've had two Virtual Assessment Centres this past month, with decent mid-higher echelon firms and the biggest takeaway I had was where are all the guys were at lol. In my group exercise of 12, I was the only guy and in my case study of 6, I was again the only guy. More so, there was only one other POC in both my Assessment Centres. I was wondering whether these are experiences shared by others, or if I am a lone wolf in that regard. Thanks!!

Hi guys can anyone direct me to the list of firms who do direct training contract applications. Thank you

Do they provide a somewhat accurate picture of employee satisfaction with firm culture?

I am doing a vac scheme with Freshfields and I must say I have found their poor performance on ROF and reviews on Glassdoor about toxic culture to be rather off-putting...

Obviously this is not the only thing I am considering, but I am looking at a few firms which are otherwise hard to distinguish

Submitted my application a little while ago, and ...radio silence, I did get the email explaining that the process was taking a little longer this year which renewed my hope a little. Anyone else waiting with bated breath?

Hey everyone,

@LM and I have spent the last week making sure we end our M&A bootcamp with a bang. I'm quite confident that this is going among the the most valuable workshops we've run for your case study interviews, as we spent many hours dissecting how litigation issues have come up in recent law firm case studies, and thinking about we can teach you what you need to know.

If you're a gold member, you can book your place here right now. You don't need to have attended a previous session to join this one, and you can join a session on either the 19th, 23rd or 26th March.

As it's our final one, we wanted to give away 10 free places for this workshop. All you need to do is answer the following question:

How would you explain M&A to a 10 year old?​

Enter your answer here and we'll contact the winners by Thursday at 12pm. We'll be making a judgement based on the clarity and accuracy of your answer.

Best,

Jaysen