New Threads

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

Hi everyone,

Just a small dilemma, I am very good at writing applications but extremely terrible at interviews (I had one in the summer for TC which within first 10 minutes I knew I had failed) so I was suggested by one of my friends to apply to rather (mid-ranked tier firms or national) for a start to get better at interviews? But I think this will not motivate me at all? I know there is a risk that some firms don't allow applicants to reinterview I am just slightly puzzled as to whether to go for lower ranked firms or go for the firms that I actually would want a TC and take the risk that I may not be allowed for another interview.

Any thoughts?

Hi all,

I thought it would be a good idea if we have a thread where we can share information about any international legal internships that are outside the realm of the traditional vacation schemes. Does anyone have any experience in submitting speculative applications to law firms?

Hey family,

I trust you are all prepping for apps and interviews. I thought I should share some posts that really helped build my confidence when I was applying and interviewing. I should say that you should start by reading @Lottie and @SarahYRQ posts on their experience applying and other confidence-boosting posts on TCLA.

Here are the links to the posts I used for interviews and psyching myself up to apply:
https://applyshinewin.com/2017/11/20/but-its-so-competitive/
https://applyshinewin.com/2017/12/15/my-pre-interview-bathroom-pep-talk/
Rosie actually has more posts on her site. Give them a read.

Feel free to share yours! Enjoy the recruitment season. Good luck!

Best wishes,
Leke

Hi all,

I was just wondering in relation to the question in the title, if firms would be expecting you to focus on a specific news story (e.g. Amazon's HQ2 decision) or if it would be alright to discuss a particular topic (e.g. Private equity's rising debt mountain)?

I got invited to the AC which is taking place next week! I'm panicking and did not expect this! I would appreciate it if any of you who have been through this process to share your experiences They were pretty vague and mentioned that I have the following: Competency-based interview · Group exercise · Analysis presentation.

Would you say that the analysis presentation is a case study?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I just needed to ask what departments are involved in a merger? I have read the M&A guide written by Jaysen, but I am just slightly confused, hope someone can clarify.

Hi All,

Sign ups for our next commercial awareness class close on Friday. See a snapshot of the prep material below.

Latham & Watkins Interview 2018

When was your Latham & Watkins interview?

Mid-November 2018

What was it for?

Winter Vacation Scheme

Please describe the interview process at Latham & Watkins.

The assessment centre had three components to it; the first was a written exercise, and the next two were interviews (one was the general interview and the other was a commercial awareness interview). The AC in general was very small but they were running quite a few AC’s so I guess it keeps it more personal when it is small.

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

The written exercise – this was a case study where by we were tasked with writing a proposal (I think to a client) on what acquisition they should go ahead with. There was a choice of two companies, and you could choose the first, second, both or none. The exercise lasted for 45 minutes and you were given a pack of information. Getting through the information was the hardest because a lot of the information seemed relevant and seemed like things you could easily apply to your justification of a particular acquisition or no acquisition. They also had a few documents with currency conversation rates, balance sheets, and some other very very basic financial documents.

The competency interview – this was by far the most unpredictable element. Some people in my AC got the standard Why Latham, Why US, tell me a time etc. The only general question I got was why Latham (which was a bit annoying because I had prepared some really good answers for all the other interview questions you can predict). The rest of the interview was literally focused on my previous experiences, thoughts and what I had listed about my CV. It is a very very conversational interview and it makes the time go really quick. I truly felt like the Partners wanted to get to know me and I really enjoyed this aspect of the AC.

The commercial interview – As you know we were asked to present. The presentation went fine as you can practice this one as much as you want. After the presentation the partners have free reign to ask whatever they want about your presentation and again, what you will get asked varies from partner to partner. I was asked about specifics on my particular presentation e.g. one of my questions was regarding a point (literally one bullet point) on my 16/17 page presentation, so I would make sure that whatever you do you presentation on, make sure you know everything you need to know about it inside out. I also think a lot of this is thinking on the spot and just trying to remain composed.

White & Case Interview 2018

When was your White & Case interview?

(mid) November 2018

What was it for?

Vacation Scheme

Please describe the interview process at White & Case.

The interview was very relaxed. I was picked up from reception by a member of HR and taken into a room to be interviewed with that HR member alongside a Senior Associate.

The interview started with some basic questions about myself (why law, why my choice in university) before drifting into some competency questions. These were fairly straightforward and nothing out of the ordinary. The member of HR conducted this part.

The interview then moved into questions surrounding my application, at which point the senior associate took over. Based on my responses, I was probed further. Was particularly telling was that the parts of my application that were picked up on were very specific e.g. asking about a specific report I had conducted whilst on work experience. None of the questions I was expecting about my application came up.

At the end, I had the opportunity to ask some questions. Following this, a trainee took myself and another interviewee for an office tour.

I felt relaxed throughout the interview, and I enjoyed the lack of rigid and obvious questions - it was much more conversational.

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

It is imperative that you know your application inside out - the smaller details will get picked up on. I would also recommend having a broad set of experiences to draw on when answering competency questions.

Be able to back up everything you say. Expect to qualify your opinions and to be probed on your answers - it's not an interrogation, and doesn't feel like one, but is an opportunity for you to show off what you know.

If you have other law firms on your application, be sure to be able to justify why White & Case compared to those other firms.