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How would you approach this question?

Hey guys,

Was just wondering what sources you use to research, apart from the web, news reports and chambers student etc. I'm trying to research on Travers Smith and I can't find something that makes them particularly unique - they appear to have a standard training programme, business strategy (apart from their international business strategy) etc like most other firms.

How do you guys find something on a particular firm, that makes them stand out? I'm struggling with writing a cover letter because I cannot find something that makes Travers stand out.

Thanks!

Hi all,

Does anyone have any tips on the application process for US firms that favour a CV and cover letter application over the standard online form/application questions way? e.g Greenberg Traurig.

What should be included in the cover letter? What sources can you use to research such firms that do not feature as heavily in publications such as Chambers Student and Lex100?

Thanks!

Hey just wondering if anyone has any advice for an interview at Dentons, would really appreciate it!

Hi all,

Does anyone know if we have to attach an actual letter of reference written by an academic referee? Or academic letter of reference is only required when we are applying for LLM programmes?

Many thanks in advance!

If at a commercial firm you're simply asked 'why law?' opposed to 'why commercial law'? Is this asking for you general interest in the area/ why you went to study it at university? or should you just assume its meant as why commercial law even if it does not specify as such? ( I also assume many peoples reasoning for why law/why commercial law would overlap which is why I was wondering if there is a difference)

Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you.

For this question, I'm speaking about my interest in the future of European security. I've split it into three paragraphs, one explaining the issue, then going into depth as to two reasons it interests me and then speaking about an event I organised to do with it.

After speaking to grad recruitment, I know that I can speak about anything but I'm worried they be wondering why I shouldn't be looking at a masters in EU politics, security etc.

Hi, I was wondering if I could have any advice or guidance on how to approach this Hogan Lovells application question.
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.

I've pasted below how I was thinking of approaching it but I am not sure whether it fully demonstrates what they are looking for. Any advice would be appreciated!

I demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit in setting up my own business with three friends providing face painting and glitter tattoo services at children’s parties. As a new business, it was crucial we developed a strategy to establish a client base in an already crowded market. I was responsible for managing the range of glitter tattoos and face paints we offered, ensuring we had sufficient stock and designs which would appeal to every child. I did this by maintaining a spreadsheet which kept a record of our stock which was updated following each event. I also worked closely with our customers, requesting feedback on events which I would act upon at our future events. This formed an important component of our business strategy by adapting our products to meet customer requests. For example, I was able to differentiate ourselves from competitors by updating our glitter tattoo and face paint range to include Frozen designs to capitalise on a recent trend, meaning I was able to anticipate future demand. As a result of this development of our business strategy, six successful events were held over the year which reported high levels of parent and child satisfaction and generating an average profit of £70 per event.

what do you write in this section? is it purely a quick summary of your responsibilities or should you also use the space to talk about the skills you developed and knowledge you acquired. Some firms even provide a 250w limit for writing about details of the job (which is quite a lot!).


Would something like this work or am i writing too much:

(Details of responsibilities/ role) I had so and so responsibility at X. i had to produce Y and liase with Z. Additionally, i had to do C..

(What i learned) Working at x has provided me a,b,c,d. Moreover, I witnessed first-hand e, as well as f, etc

(what i contributed/something that shows i wasn't just passive) Having never worked in this sector, i was thrown into the deep end from the first day ....stimulated i did so and so to be on top of things...doing so and so i was given more responsibility and became valued member of the team...etc.


Lastly, does volunteer work done within an organisation with rigid hours (i.e. the RNLI) count as work experience or does it have to go under extra-curriculars?

Any thoughts/discussion would be great! Thanks!

Hi all,

so I've just come to the gut wrenching realisation that I submitted an application with an error. Basically, it was an 'additional info' text box in the employment section of the form. I was within the word limit, but because I left space between the experience title and my descriptions, this ended up cutting off 5 words of the last sentence which totally ruins its meaning and certainly looks unfinished. I unfortunately didn't notice this when reviewing the preview page. Do you think I should get in touch with HR and let them know?

Please give details of any prizes, awards or stipends etc. you have won or been granted, numbering them 1 to 5 (you need not include your degree here)

This question is part of the Reed Smith app. I was just wondering giving the 'numbered' structure is this simply asking for a list of achievements? Without going into any particular detail on what you did to achieve it etc.

As mine is about 40/250 words in a simple list format and I'm abit concerned this may be too brief

Just got invited to a TC interview with Ashurst!

However, the invite mentioned that because Ashurst has received so many applications this year, the HR interview will take place as a telephone interview - essentially adding another layer to the application process I guess. Does anyone have any tips for the HR interview at Ashurst?

Does anyone have any insight into their video assessment?

Hi guys not sure if this is the right section but here goes. This will be my first time doing law/a vac scheme and I don't really know what to expect (with a US firm). Obviously I hope to convert it into a TC, but I'm really confused how it is possible to assess candidates in the span of 5 days. I presume there will be an exit interview too. Are there things in particular that I should be on the lookout for/do or not do?

Thanks

I feel like this isnt really discussed much post graduation , but I feel like the covering letters for these types of jobs differs from your typical Vac Scheme/TC aplication structure and would appreciate any insight?

Hi Guys,

I am answering my last question and I would like some advice.

Reed Smith's core values are Integrity, Quality, Teamwork and Respect, Performance, Innovation and Improvement. How do you think they impact what we do and the way we work with our clients? 300 words max

I am basically combining two or 3 values together i.e. quality and teamwork. I was thinking to work about my work experience and link it to one of the firm's deal..still need to structure it.

Performance, Innovation and improvement..their client's focus and innovation hub

Respect, integrity..diversity and their probono secondment.

What do you think?

Hi Jaysen,

Can I please ask a question, what commercial issue do you think I could relate to the firm Dechert and how it might affect the firm/sectors?

Thank you,
Chido

Hi all! TCLA finally created a new Twitter profile, the username is @OfficialTCLA . If you enjoy our little community, please show your support and give us a follow and retweet our content! This can help to promote the platform, increase our reach and have more crowd-sourced guidance and knowledge! It will also be updated and curated daily, so if you're an active user on twitter, you can get your news from there instead of the forum!

The link is here below:

www.twitter.com/OfficialTCLA

Thank you!

Is the critical reasoning test the same as Watson Glaser? Or rather what does it entail?


Thank you

Hi Guys,

I am applying for the summer vac scheme at Reed Smith, the question is asking me "What current issues do you think have an impact on the legal profession? How will they impact and why?" Max 300 words

I decided to write about legal tech, iran sanctions and need to find a third topic. Since it is 300 words I am going to write 100 words for each topic. I wrote something for both topics but I am stuck on the why's part.

Could you advise me?

I have been thinking about this issue a lot recently and just wanted to share and see what your views are on this. I think that on a general level recruitment has gone far too outside the ordinary. The pressure of self-commoditization is something I have to deal with on a daily basis. It almost feels as if you are a product that needs to be marketed. Such materialisation of the self to me is unacceptable. Any box-ticking exercises that are implemented by HR teams (not only in the legal industry) can have a deteriorating effect on your self-esteem and personal beliefs.

What do you think?

Hi all,

I cannot find any application questions on PWC's application form (apart from those asking about your background). Does anyone know if I have missed anything or there really is not a single application question?

Any help is much appreciated. Many thanks!

Hey guys!

So I am currently at the stage where I am asking my teachers/ex-supervisors if they could be my referees for applications, and I was wondering how everyone went about choosing referees and approaching them?

This might sound silly, but I am not exactly sure about what these referees will be asked about me, or whether they are expected to prepare a reference to give when approached by law firms. I'd just like to have some idea so I can tell my prospective referees what to expect if /when firms do contact them. If anyone is aware of what exactly firms ask for from referees, or has any advice on this generally, please do let me know!

Gibson Dunn Vacation Scheme 2018

Please describe your vacation scheme experience at Gibson Dunn

I really enjoyed it! The work was interesting, the people were friendly, and I learned a lot.

Talks/Presentations:

There were a number of presentations and ‘coffee sessions’, where lawyers from each practice came to chat with us and provide insight into their respective practices. One of the highlights for me was a talk delivered by Charles Falconer QC, a former Lord Chancellor and former Secretary of State, who is a partner at the firm.

Workload:

Very much depends on your supervisor. Some people had a constant stream of work to do. In my case, my supervisors often did not have work for me, so I would often go around the office looking for work.

The vac scheme is also quite assessment heavy. There was a litigation exercise, which required us to draft a settlement agreement. There was a corporate exercise, which required us to write a client memo regarding warranties and indemnities and then advise on a specific case study. There was a business writing exercise, which required us to draft an employment contract. There was a group exercise/presentation, which required us to write a client memo and give a presentation to the board of directors of a client regarding the opportunities and challenges facing their sector and how they should proceed in the future. The BoD is made up of various partners/grad recruitment/training principals. My group’s client was a department store, and some of the groups had a gym franchise.

There was also an unassessed negotiation exercise.

Socials:

In the first week, we went to a bowling place that also had karaoke. I have a distinct memory of singing ‘I Want It That Way’ with one of the managing partners.

There was a trip to Flight Club (darts) during the second week, and the scheme ended with the firm’s summer party.

What advice would you give to future students attending the Gibson Dunn vacation scheme?

Throw yourself into everything the firm has to offer (the work, the socials, getting to know the people, the free-market system etc.). In my opinion, it’s very much the case that you will get out what you put into the scheme.

Do not be afraid to go around knocking on the doors of associates to find work. The firm operates something called a free market system, which gives people a degree of autonomy to seek out people with whom they want to work with and the types of matters they want to work on. (Not quite as broad a scope as a non-rotational system but is rewarding for proactive individuals). My first seat supervisor did not have much work she could give to a vac schemer because everything she had required prior training, and in my second seat, my intended supervisor was in hospital until the second-to-last day of the scheme. Knocking on doors around the office gave me a good chance to speak to new people and I ultimately completed work for 10 different people. It was quite a scary thing to do at first, but once you’ve done it once, it becomes so much easier.

Try to have a results-oriented mindset. Make sure all the work you do is as good as you can make it and do not be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something. People are friendly and happy to answer questions. Your supervisors provide extensive feedback on the work you do and if you do work for other people at the firm, they will give your supervisor feedback about your work too. Any negative feedback you receive will impact your chances of securing the TC. The assessments are always incredibly important. Your assessments are scored, and a bad assessment can affect your chances of securing the TC.

There are some people at the firm with incredibly interesting stories to tell who can give you great advice – don’t be afraid to just knock on doors/go for coffee with them and pick their brains.

As you might guess, the vac scheme is an incredibly intense experience. There were 19 people on the scheme (someone had dropped out having secured a TC elsewhere) and everyone had their eye on securing one of the few training contracts available (there’s an intake of 8, but 1 had supposedly been allocated for straight TC applications and 1 had been given to someone from the previous year). Try not to be overly tense about this and just enjoy what the scheme has to offer. You don’t want to be that shy person who never speaks, but you also don’t want to be so worried that you mumbles and bumble everything you say.

The firm also places a huge emphasis on culture, so be nice!

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

The official hours were 9.30 - 17.30 but I would normally get in for 9 and leave at around 18.30 – 19.00. This was purely out of choice rather than necessity.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience at Gibson Dunn?

4/5