New Threads

Hi guys, I'm currently applying for a vacation scheme at Baker McKenzie, but I don't understand the below question:

[...] Please outline which diversity & inclusion Baker groups you would support, and detail any initiatives you may have previously been involved in.

I understand the first part, but what does it mean exactly by 'initiatives I may have previously been involved in'? Not exactly sure what more to include to get to 300 words

Does anyone know what test provider Withers uses for its verbal and numerical reasoning assessments - can't find anything online and wanna have a look at the type of test.

Thanks in advance

Hey everyone!

As the title suggests, I’m interested to hear what motivates you to become a commercial lawyer?

In my view, finding your reasons why you want to become a commercial lawyer is one of the hardest parts of the application as you have to combine your experiences with your understanding of what a commercial lawyer does.

I hope by starting this thread, and people sharing their own motivations, others may be able to paint a better picture of what motivates them!

I have been really interested in the salary wars that have occurred in London. While there has been a ceasefire, with the US firms clearly coming out on top, is it wise to discuss such a situation in application questions regarding a change to the legal environment or is it considered a bit too 'sensitive'?

I submitted my Ashurst application yesterday, and wrote about the increased competition within the legal sector and citied salary wars for NQs as one of my examples to reinforce this point. Was this a wise thing to do? I'm getting a bit anxious as to whether it would be seen as inappropriate to mention given that many UK firms clearly haven't been able to compete.

hello,

i have to pass the pre employment check stage for a vacation scheme i recently got offered. it is apparently the same process i would have to go through at other firms if i accepted a TC. it's conducted by Vero Screening. part of it involves filling out an online form and questionnaire.

i have a number of informal work experiences (i.e. unpaid; no contract; no tax) ranging from a few days to a month each. most of these were secured via my contacts or family members. these have taken place in different countries in europe over the past 4 years.

my questions:

• do you know if i have to put them down as part of my "employment history" on the questionnaire?
• if not, will emails will be sent asking for a reference and for a confirmation of how long I was there?

thank you

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Hi everyone,
Has anyone heard back from slaughter & may re the winter workshop?

For this question, do you descriptively discuss what successful traits a lawyer will need in the future and why? Or do you go into why you demonstrate them and would thus make a good lawyer in the future?

Hey!

I am applying for the summer vacation scheme at Clyde and Co and wonder if anyone has any advice with answering the following question;

If you were looking to grow a law firm's business where would you look to open your next office and why?

Thank you, everyone, in advance!

Hi,

Does anyone know the questions that are coming up for CMS' video interview and what I should be preparing for? Anything would be helpful!

Hi all,

Thought I'd make a thread for A&O's opportunities.

Has anyone sat their SJT? Any tips would be really appreciated !!

Hey all - I've just been accepted onto Ashurst's virtual AC. Haven't had date confirmation yet, but she said it would be between now and the 23rd of November. She mentioned that there would be a written exercise. Does anyone have any insights? Would majorly appreciate it!

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I understand these are the 4 main types of work corporate lawyers may do.

But I am not sure if I'm correct about the tasks involved in each type.

Advisory/regulatory: essentially the same and a lawyer may update clients with legal developments, do legal research and draft advice?

Contentious: litigation and involves witness statements, preparing for court, doing legal research to come up with arguments?

Transactional: negotiating and drafting contracts? -- also do lawyers negotiate the price in M&A or is that done by IB?

Hello,

I have an interview coming up for a winter scheme at a firm that recruits on a rolling basis. I selected the last interview slot available and I was wondering if I have hindered my chances by doing this? I originally did this so I had maximum time to prepare, but now I am worried that I will be competing for a few spots left on the scheme. Do you guys recommend emailing to amend the slot or sticking with the time?

Thanks!

Hey guys! I've gotten through to Burges Salmon's AC and partner interview (happening this week). I've also gotten to interview stage with Stephenson Harwood.

Just wondering if anyone has any experiences or tips to do with the firms?

It's my first legal interview so I'm very nervous!

I have 2 questions:

Firstly, whenever I read commercial news stories I am note sure they add to my commercial awareness. I just feel like I am just learning facts. For example, lets say Apple bought Microsoft - what then do I do with that information? It is the SO WHAT part that I am struggling on.

Secondly, how do I begin to understand certain practice areas. For example, I am interested in learning about private equity but where do I start?

Thanks in advance

I have received an offer to do Master of arts in law at University of law and Postgraduate diploma in law at BPP University for the January intake 2021 at leeds. I have recently completed my masters LLM in criminal law and justice at Uni of leeds and carrier aspirations are to become a paralegal or Barrister in the UK. Kindly help me with any valuable suggestions from which it would be useful for seeking employment with the above qualification.

Does anyone have any tips on how to tackle the 'tell us about a current affair and why it interests you' question? Is it ok not to link this back to a firm? Thanks!

Hi guys, I have an assessment centre with HFW soon and wondered if people have any tips on how to structure a letter of advice for the written exercise and just generally how to manage your nerves at an interview...

Also tips on getting your head around the numeracy element in a negotiation exercise.

Thank you so much

Imagine you are a trainee at BCLP and you have been working on a task for an associate in the Finance department. The associate is away and a partner in the department urgently wants a summary note of the research to send to a client, and has asked you to send it to them by tomorrow morning. How would you react? (300)

I have never seen such a question in an application form or interview and I have had experience in both, so with that in mind - I am struggling. However, I have some initial thoughts:

. I would want to speak to the partner about the task but not sure if that should be the first thing I do as he is likely to be busy. Also, If I did - what would we even talk about?
. Instead I would try to find another associate/senior associate in the finance team that has completed a similar task previously and maybe they could help me with the task
. Also, I could ask other trainees in the finance team to help - multiple heads is always better than one

What do you guys think? Any advice on what I should mention/how I should structure the question?

Hi all,
I was wondering what do people usually put on the section titled:
"Please use this space for additional information about your undergraduate degree.”
In my most recent app I have described what I did for my 3rd year project and my current 4th year MSci, highlighting the relevant skills acquired throughout.
Does this match other people? If not, what do you/would you put?
Many thanks!!

Hi guys,

I hope everyone is focusing on their TC/VS apps and stocked up on Ben & Jerry's ice cream during Lockdown 2.0!

As it's an important part of a lawyer's job to be able to look at a situation and clearly understand it from multiple perspectives, whilst separating facts from assumptions, I have been trying to get better at critical thinking.

However, I am struggling at the moment and some guidance from TCLA's community as to the type of resources I could use would be much appreciated.

Donzi

Hey guys,

1,000 FREE places are once again available for this session. Note, our places booked up very quickly last week, so please be sure to book early to avoid disappointment!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q3kUOF_zTFysPrlRbIid0Q

In this second webinar, we break down where hundreds of candidates fall down in their applications every year, and you’ll learn about how the seemingly small changes can make a substantial difference to your application.

Once again, we'll be leading this session using real application answers and comparisons of ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ applications to a variety of law firms.

The discussion will cut across justifying your motivations for commercial law, justifying your motivations for applying to a particular firm, answering commercial questions, and selling your experiences on an application form.

This session is brought to you by the full application review team at TCLA, including TCLA founder Jaysen Sutton, resident graduate recruitment expert Jessica Booker and Community Manager Alice Gossop. This way, we hope you’ll benefit from the range of perspectives we have on what makes a stand-out application.

Hi, i have a video interview and am preparing the question on threats to law firms

can anyone help me on the threat of covid-19? i was going to say the uncertainty in the market means less deals in the ECM, DCM, banking teams. but not sure if this is true anymore? thank you so much!