New Threads

Hello all,

I have recently received a vacation scheme place at a firm, scheduled for two weeks in April. I'm naturally overjoyed, but also very aware that I have to balance time to revise as well.

Does anyone have any experience participating on a spring vacation scheme, and have any tips in balancing the two responsibilities?

Hi, I am graduating from my Law undergraduate degree this year and I am hoping to secure a full-time paralegal position for a year at a City firm.

Could anyone please share their experience of what that is like? I am particularly interested in what the workload and working hours are like, and the type of typical work you would get on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you!

Stephenson Harwood HR interview Feb 2019

I went to the London office for an hour long interview with HR. This interview also applies if you are applying for a training contract, though you also have another AC after this interview for a TC (you do this on the vac scheme).

The interview was quite structured, and seemed to be split into three sections.
I was first asked about my studying experience - why did I choose to study law, why did I choose my university, what was my favourite module, what was my dissertation on, etc.

Then I think it was why law as a career, why commercial law over other areas of law, had I considered any other careers and if so why do I prefer law etc. I was asked why Stephenson Harwood, and asked if I could name a few deals they had been involved in and what practice areas I was interested in. I wasn't asked how they were different from competitors or where else I had applied.

There was also a few competency based questions e.g. team work, challenged yourself.

Whilst there was clearly a set of questions which were being asked, the interviewer would sometimes ask further questions based on what I had said. She also wrote down a lot of what I was saying. It was a pleasant interview and quite relaxed.

We have several graduate recruiters who will be judging our giveaway! To win one of five £15 Amazon vouchers, simply comment on this LinkedIn post with your answer to the following question: What is the biggest challenge facing law firms over the next five years?

Useful video from Shearman & Sterling:

https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/20...ppications-are-rejected-whiteboard-wednesday/

Hi All,

We're a little behind when it comes to providing resources/signposts for members, and I can imagine it can be quite overwhelming if you're new to TCLA, and especially if you're new to forums in general.

I'll create a series of introductory posts later in the year, but in the meantime, I just want to encourage new members to post if you have any questions, no matter how "silly" you think it might be. And if you have lots of questions to ask, please don't feel like you're posting too much - posting too much isn't a thing at TCLA.

There's so many decisions you have to make and so much to learn if you're new to the training contract process, and we don't want you sitting on it/making the wrong decision/feeling alone and that you can't share.

I've received a few messages recently from people worried about posting. But honestly, the entire point of this forum is for you to ask these questions, and we're a supportive bunch: people will be happy to share their experiences/opinions/ideas on what you should do next.

The other point to make is if you have a question, it's very likely that at least one other person also wanted the answer to that question. So by asking, you're doing everyone else a favour! We've had many great threads generated from a quick question e.g., https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/cover-letter-conundrum.283/

Finally, if you're very unsure, please feel free to just create an anonymous account to ask your questions, you don't have to use your name/FB profile if you don't want to.

TL;DR: Don't be afraid to post!

Thanks!

Jaysen

Hello!

Please how do I approach the question, "Tell us about a news story that interested you and why?"

Am I supposed to talk about a news story that is tailored to the firm's practices, or just one I'm interested in?

A very relevant topic from @EstelleK! Good for those technical/legal interviews. This article covers:

• How Brexit will impact financial contracts
• Whether Brexit will trigger particular terms in a contract (such as a material adverse change or MAC clause)
• To what extent Brexit will impact debt financing transactions

Brexit impact on debt financing transactions

Hi Guys,

I am really new on here and there is so much to take in.

I graduated from Leeds University with a 2:1. I worked for two years post graduation (although not in any law firm). I am about to make yet another TC application with Eversheds Sutherland and I will be honest, I am freaking out. I know they have changed their process and now do Strength based video interviews. I have never done this before. I have gotten too many rejections to count and I just need help.

Can anybody help with more information about applying to Eversheds Sutherland? I don't mind been linked up with someone who has gone through their recent process or even a future trainee.

Will appreciate any help!
Thanks

Hey,

I've been invited to complete a telephone assessment with A&O for their First Year Scheme.

They've said it involves a case study. Has anyone in general had an on the phone case study, and if so, what did it entail?

Any advice appreciated

When was your Watson Farley & Williams interview?

February 2019

What was it for?

Vacation scheme

Please describe the interview process at Watson Farley & Williams.

Prior to the assessment centre, there is a video interview which consisted of two questions. If successful at this stage, you are then invited to select an AC date.

There was a total of eight applicants on the day. You spend the duration of the day in one room and complete all AC tasks at the same time as other candidates.

The day consists of numerous group tasks and two written tasks. Perhaps unusually, there is no interview component (trainees informed us there is an interview whilst on the vacation scheme for the training contract). A client scenario laid out in the first activity forms the basis of the other tasks completed, both group and individual.

The first group task is a discussion between all group members to decide which investment opportunity a fictional client should go with, on the basis of information provided on each potential target.

The second group task is a preparation to a potential client on what the firm could offer them (effectively a pitch for business by WFW). This involves working through a large amount of material to put together a 10 minute presentation.

The first written task is producing an email to a client. This is based on the first group task discussion, as you are answering the same question.

The second written task is a proof-reading exercise in which you are given a contract to review for grammar, spelling, formatting and any other errors.

No decisions are made by the firm regarding your application until all the ACs have been completed – this can make for a rather long wait to hear back from the firm.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Watson Farley & Williams assessment centre?

Be sure to jot down the exact instructions provided by graduate recruitment at the beginning of each exercise, including the skills they are assessing in each activity and to ensure you can refer back to and check they have done exactly as stated, as instructions are not written down and given to you at any point. Time each of the activities – both group and individual.

Ensure your group discussion during the first task is structured – this seemed important when graduate recruitment gave group feedback at the end of the AC. Also, although this is not a formal negotiation, however many of the same skills are relevant, perhaps bear this in mind throughout. Keep notes throughout this task, as they are relevant to the individual written task which immediately follows (I thoroughly regretted this and I know others on the AC felt the same). Keep a close eye on the time during this written activity (writing an email to a client) as this is fairly time pressured. The proof reading exercise is less time pressured, but be sure to read back a few times checking for different errors.

Hello everyone,

I hope you're all well. Please, has anyone done a Vinson & Elkins vacation scheme interview or does anyone know someone who has done a Vinson & Elkins interview recently? I'd be really grateful if someone could kindly shed some light on the interview. Thank you!

Hey everyone! I've just been invited to a Video Interview with IM, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice/insight into it? The grad recruitment website does not give any information about it, and so I'm wondering what kind of questions I should be preparing myself for.

Thanks for any help!

I have an interview at CMS's Bristol office coming up. For the previous application stages I just wrote about why CMS as a firm generally appeals to me, but in the interview should I be making my answers specific to the work that the Bristol office does? For example, I get the impression that the work the Bristol office does is lower value and less international than the London office, so should I avoid saying that CMS's international work or its high-value complex deals with big clients appeals to me?

I’ve written a bit on this topic before but I think it’s one of the hardest, yet most important, questions to get right (although, if you’re brilliant at writing commercial stories but can’t articulate why you’re interested in a specific law firm, then there’s no point). It's difficult because we often go through our lives not questioning why we’re attracted to the things that draw us in. Therefore, a question like HSF’s Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you or MoFo’s Please detail a recent news article that has interested you and highlight how this might have an impact on Morrison & Foerster’s business can throw many of us off track. It’s crucial that you understand how to write about your topic in an interesting way and that you’re answering the question as closely as possible. This week’s tip will hopefully cover most concerns around writing about the stories that interest us.

1) Picking a topic

Of course, before you can even start writing you have to have an invested interest in a story. For a question like HSF’s, where the question can be guided by you, I wouldn’t worry about choosing a story that relates to the firm. In this instance, it’s more important to pick something you’re truly interested in so you have the passion needed to drive good/easy writing. If you’re stuck at this point, the best places to go are:

i) TED/TEDx talks or YouTube: Covers a huge array of topics and issues so it might inspire you to follow a story they’ve already touched upon. Also easy videos to sit back and follow

ii) Podcasts: Any commercial podcasts will do. Same as above, they will cover a wide range of stories and there may be one that particularly sparks your interest. I would recommend The Economist: Money Talks podcast.

iii) Have a browse through news websites: You might have a particular favourite site or paper, but whatever it may be, sift through and see if there’s anything that grabs your interest (so long as it has a commercial streak). Have a look at pages other than the front page as well for further inspiration. Once inspiration hits and you’ve found something, really question yourself: what exactly was it that drew me in and hooked me?

2) Researching the topic

Even more important than picking your topic is knowing your topic and feeling excited about it. When I chose to write about Netflix for my HSF answer, I found a great TED video with the co-founder and noted down what was said every time I thought “that’s cool” or “that’s interesting – I've never heard/seen that before”. This motivated me because I enjoyed the process. Your question can’t be that long though so whatever you’re researching, there’s no need to go overboard. As long as you have all the stats or facts to back you up, you’ll be fine. In addition, quotes are a nice addition sometimes. Collecting this is particularly important if your question is asking you to relate it back to the firm as the above MoFo example does.

3) Structuring your answer

It’s important to write in an engaging way but to not lose sight of why exactly a story has interested you and simply cite facts. Therefore, you need to have a clear structure first. I would recommend:

i) Brief but engaging introduction to your topic/story

ii) The 2 stand-out reasons why it engaged you, stated concisely and clearly

iii) The backing evidence for those reasons

iv) A concluding point for the reader to remember your interest

Remember that 2 and 4 can be completely different. So, for example, if my reason for liking the Netflix story is 1) it’s use of data 2) it’s use of debt, I need to conclude what that means for me in point 4. In this case, my answer would be Netflix drives competition in the entertainment industry through 1 and 2 and competition interests me because I enjoy seeing the economy working and consumers being given competitive prices and an abundance of choices. If your chosen story has an emotional link to you somehow, that’s also a good thing to exploit. In conclusion, make sure you dedicate as much time to describing the topic as explaining your interest (maybe more so to your interest, but never devote more to the facts themselves).

4) Engaging your reader

Once you’ve established your structure and your interest, you’ll need to try and get your reader as interested in your topic as you are. The first one or two lines are crucial to this as they’ll set the tone for the rest of your answer. A tip that Jaysen once gave was: Try to form an opinion on the topic. To make your answer strong, lead with your opinion rather than simply describing the topic. (Alternatively, give a brief description and then go into an evaluation). Taking that advice, I used a quote by an industry expert that summed-up what I was trying to say which allowed me to flow through into my argument. In addition, I think it’s very useful to read good journalistic writing that you personally find engaging, evaluate why you were engaged and attempt to incorporate the same tricks into your writing. Although you don’t have much word count to manoeuvre in, I would recommend reading an Economist article. They always have engaging beginnings.

But remember, don’t lose sight of what’s really going to win you points – clear, concise language (see here) that presents the story, establishes your interest and concludes your interest.

Walker Morris Vacation Scheme Interview 2019

When was your Walker Morris interview?

February 2019

What was it for?

Vacation Scheme

Please describe the interview process at Walker Morris.

Assessment Centre only lasted an hour and a half. It consisted of a group business exercise.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Walker Morris interview?

Initially, you're split up into teams and then go off into separate rooms. We were given opposing cases for an appeal to a planned housing development. You are told on which grounds to structure the appeal on.

As a team, you develop a presentation strategy. There is an extra bit of information added into the mix about half way through the task. Then, you prepare the presentation and return to the main room to deliver it. You are then questioned by grad rec on your pitch, and also are given the chance to raise concerns about the oppositions pitch.

This is a relatively straight-forward exercise. No previous legal experience is required, and there isn't too much information to take in. I guess the main thing is to keep an eye on the time and rehearse the presentation a few times before delivering it.

The short length of this Assessment Centre threw me. It felt odd not having a personal interview.

Bird & Bird Vacation Scheme Interview 2019

When was your Bird & Bird interview?

January 2019

What was it for?

Vacation Scheme

Please describe the interview process at Bird & Bird.

The day was split up into three tasks: retake of the watson glaser, interview and group exercise.

The watson glaser retake is self-explanatory.

The interview was with one partner and one member of HR. It was very relaxed. They went through a list of set-questions and didn't depart from this. The questions focused on your motivations for applying to the firm, a couple of competencies, one question touched on your application form and there was a debate-style question. They also gave you the opportunity to add anything else that you didn't have the chance to talk about in the other questions. This lasted about 30 minutes.

The group exercise was a 45-minute exercise. We were split into groups of four and were sat at a table with two assessors. We had 10 minutes to read the brief, 30 minutes to come up with an idea as a team and then 5 minutes to present. This task combined two main things- creativity and the ability to think about the wider implications of the law. I found this the most challenging aspect of the day.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Bird & Bird interview?

The group task was by far the most challenging aspect of the day. It requires you to be creative and engaged the firm's emphasis on technology. I would recommend being up to date with any new/interesting technology advancements/companies and how the law is engaged with these.

Guys, can I ask you how would you approach these two questions?

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people’s expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really “raise your game” in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments?

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit. Max 250 words

Thank you very much

Hi all, does anyone have any experience at one of Freshfields' Assessment Days? If so, any advice would be appreciated! If anyone else has any relevant Assessment Day experience, please do share.

By way of summary:

• Both interviews will allocate significant time to posing questions for the interviewers
• Written Exercise (45min) - How you organise what you write, and how well you can spot key concepts and convey them
• General Interview (1hr) - Demonstrating your best qualities
• Analytical Interview (1hr) - Assessing your 'business mind' after reading an article from FT/The Economist (20min)
• Tour of the building with a trainee

Thanks in advance!

Allen & Overy Training Contract Interview 2018/19 (by Anonymous)

I just thought I would share my experience of my successful A&O TC interview, for anyone who may have assessments with them in the future.

The interview consisted of a case study, partner interview and HR scenario-based interview.

Case study

The case study was immensely time pressured – you are only given 30 minutes. I tried to make notes on a separate piece of paper for everything that I read, but in hindsight I should have just marked the booklet I was given and created a quick structure on a piece of paper, and noted the page numbers instead.

Stick to the brief given – there is an overwhelming amount of information and it will be difficult to even answer all the questions you are asked to examine in the instructions, so really just stick to the questions given or you will not finish the exercise in time.

You have to be familiar with balance sheets and with basic financial calculations like EBITDA. I was asked to advise on a fictitious M&A scenario. I would recommend being familiar with basic contractual mechanisms like warranties, representations and indemnities, but also with corporate boardroom mechanics, like how a minority shareholder might be protected from a majority shareholder etc.

Current commercial awareness is a bonus but not vital – at the end, I was asked to provide my opinion on the deal given my broader commercial knowledge. I was lucky enough that I had read an FT piece on the subject area a day prior, so I had something intelligent to say about the deal.

Partner interview

In my experience, the A&O interview was really unique because I wasn’t asked any standard questions like ‘why law’ or ‘why A&O’. That was just in my experience though.

The partner interview is based purely on your case study. You are given 15 minutes to make a presentation on the case study. I structured my presentation with a brief introduction, and then ran through the key points of the brief and ended with my recommendation on whether it was a good/bad deal.

It is unlikely you will have covered everything in the booklet in your presentation, and I think this is deliberate. My partner directed me to issues that I had missed – we discussed boardroom tactics in quite some detail, and although I wasn’t as quick on the ball as I would have liked, I took my time to think and ask for more clarification before eventually arriving at an answer. The key is to stay composed and confident even if you’re treading really deep water!

My interviewing partner was also a part-time Obligations lecturer, so my interview was particularly technical on the law. Questions I got included:

• Do contractual assignments cover rights and obligations?
• What is the difference between tag-along and drag-along rights?
• Advantages/disadvantages of a New York jurisdiction clause vs an English jurisdiction clause?
• What is the difference between a warranty and representation?

HR interview

This was described to me as purely forward-looking, but in reality it was a mixture of forward-looking and competency-based questions. The questions asked are similar to the SJT – ‘what would you do if X’ – and then you are asked ‘have you ever had a similar situation where you had to do X’. Again, you can take your time to ask clarification – I asked my interviewer to repeat questions when they were particularly lengthy, and made notes on a notepad before answering questions.

Questions I got included:

• If your colleague was slacking at work because of personal issues that they didn’t want to share with their boss, what would you do?
• What would you do if your boss removed you from a project you’d been working on for a long time?

Trainee tour

Standard chance to speak to a trainee about life at the firm and have a coffee on A&O's stunning roof terrace. This part is completely unassessed.

Hey, so I'm applying to CRS for their training contract, I was wondering if anyone has applied or is currently applying, what you wrote for the character section. They ask, 'What film character would you be and why?'

Hi All,

Some of you may have already seen this on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6503600885489369088. I thought you guys might find it interesting.



So many applications on the last day!

Hey guys,

Hope you're well!

I just have a few questions about applying for a direct training contract in the summer. I'm in my third and final year of university at LSE studying Law, and I've been applying for vac schemes since my second year. It looks like I won't be getting one this summer, despite having a few interviews.

My first question is, what are the chances of me getting to a direct TC interview this summer, if I make an application, even though I haven't done any previous vac schemes? My following experience is this: (1) attended numerous (7 to be precise) open days at US and MC firms (2) Did one week of legal experience in Dubai (3) have undertaken lots of extra-curricular positions at my university, such as Peer Support and Widening Participation (4) and have been in a part-time research job for 2 years. I'll get a strong 2.1 from the LSE, in the region of 65-69 as an overall mark,

My second question is, after the summer deadlines close for direct TC, is this the last chance to apply for a 2021 TC? I'm quite concerned, because if I do apply after the summer cycle, does this mean I will have to wait until 2022 to commence my TC? This seems a long time away to wait to begin a job, despite the LPC.

Thirdly, if it happens to be 2022, what are the chances a firm will move your TC forward if you ask? (E.g. if someone drops out etc)

Thanks guys!
TCP

Hey guys,

Just a reminder to say don't give up - keep driving towards your goals.