New Threads

Hi All,

Please post all your queries here.

Thank you

Hi All,

Please post all your queries here.

Thank you

Hi All,

Please post all your queries here.

Thank you

Hi All,

I hope you're all doing well.

In order to make this website easily accessible for all old and new users, we have decided to create a thread solely for the vacation scheme* and training contract cycle this year (2018-19.)

If any users have questions relating to applications, interviews, post vac scheme tips, guidance and advice, please post all your queries in this thread only. This will help avoid confusion, for new or old members alike whom find all the (very helpful and relevant) information a bit overwhelming to locate and comment on.

The vacation scheme cycle threads will be divided into three:

1. Winter Vacation Scheme 2018

2. Spring Vacation Scheme 2019

3. Summer Vacation Scheme 2019


All three threads will inevitably overlap in some way but please try and post in the most relevant thread to your current circumstances.

For those who do not know just yet, the 2018-19 cycle officially begins next week Monday. We all wish you the best and as always post any questions you may have.

Thank you all!

Hey everyone,

I'm back with yet another question!

My first round of vac schemes didn't result in me getting a TC offer that I wanted, so I'm reapplying for 2019.

However, I'd like to flag up my previous work experience at certain firms in order to show a motivation for wanting to work at a certain type of firm, or at a firm that excels in certain practice areas.

My question is whether, in an application form, is it okay to mention the names of the firm(s) you previously vac schemed at.

For example, should you have an interest in a financing practice, is it okay to say "During my work experience at <firm X>, I developed an interest in financing, for reasons Y and Z"? Or "While at <firm X>, I really appreciated the working environment/culture/etc. that is commonly found in firms of that type."

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Hi, has anyone done a HSF online assessment? Where should I go to practise this?

Hi All,

Just a quick note to say if you are an SEO London candidate, you should join their group: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/groups/seo-london.6/groupinfo.

SEO London staff will be posting regularly within the group with law firm events and opportunities over the upcoming academic year. I encourage you to attend as many as you can.

As an alumnus, I wholeheartedly recommend the organisation -- they were instrumental in guiding me through the application process.

Thanks to @Julie SEO for driving this forward!

Best,

Jaysen

Morning All,

Really enjoyed reading this

https://www.legalcheek.com/2018/09/...-cv-blind-in-revamped-trainee-hiring-process/

FYI for this considering to apply to Ropes and Gray

Hi All,

Thank you to those of you who attended my commercial awareness classes this weekend. I enjoyed meeting many of you.

On Sunday, 30 September and Monday, 1 October. I will be running commercial awareness classes for our second topic.

The topic will be the US and China trade war. I've chosen this because it's one of the most common commercial interview questions I've seen this year.

The purpose of the class will be to teach you everything you need to know about the ongoing trade war for an interview discussion.

The class will be split in half. The first half will cover the technical information:

• What are the most important events in the trade war so far?
• Why does the US have a problem with China's trade policies?
• What is the impact on businesses and law firms?
• Who is winning?

The second half will cover how to answer this question in an interview. This will take the form of an interview simulation where you will be asked questions about the trade war. This will include:

• How do you argue and defend your point of view in an interview?
• How do you respond to challenging questions?
• At what point should you concede?

The case study will be released on Tuesday, 25 September. As with the private equity case study, you will be required to prepare and submit answers before the class.

To purchase a class voucher, please book here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/pember/membership-new. You can either purchase an individual class or a pack of four, payable in installments.

You will be allocated a time slot over the course of the week. Any questions, let me know.

Thanks,

Jaysen

anyone following the above story?

What are your thoughts?

I'm applying to attend the HSF open day but I've found that I'm unable to use generic answers that I've used before.

The question is: please explain how you would benefit from attending this workshop.

I'm not quite sure as to what to write about so any input that sparks my imagination would be extremely helpful.

Hello! I hope everyone is well!

I was just seeking some advice about whether it is better to apply for direct training contracts or vacation schemes. I have graduated and have done two vacation schemes and am unsure of which to apply too?

Also, does anyone have a list of firms that do not accept graduates for their vacation schemes (e.g. Slaughter & may, Clifford Chance, Freshfields)?

Finally, I've heard a few firms don't actually recruit heavily from their vacation scheme and thus it is better to apply for their training contract. Does anyone know which firms do this?

Thank you in advance!

I took the time out to collate some resources to ace in the WG Test, feel free to share any more free and accessible resources below!

Practise questions:
https://www.wikijob.co.uk/aptitude-test/watson-glaser
https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/watson-glaser-critical-thinking.htm
https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/watson-glaser-test?idev_username=ACHQ-JTP

Guides and Tips:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/media/1344440/watsonglaser_form_ab_example_questions.pdf

Hello everyone, I am recently starting to prepare for my WG Test after submitting a few applications. I have come to discover a few things about the test. Here's a bit of background for the test:
- It consists of (i)Arguments Section (ii)Assumptions Section (iii)Deductions Section (iv) Inferences Section (v)Interpretations Section

- Arguments -- Identify what is a strong argument and a weak argument. My tip for this is to read the question that is presented in front of you, and understand what is the objective of this sentence. Then read the argument a few times. Is it trivial, irrelevant and state mere facts instead of an advantage/ disadvantage? Then it is weak. Does it answer the question directly and present a good perspective on the advantage/disadvantage of the question> Then it is a stong one.

- Assumptions -- Identify whether an assumption is made or not. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of reading both the question and assumption. Sure certain "assumptions" that were presented LOOKS like it could make sense in the argument presented to you, but was it actually mentioned or could be assumed from the question? It is so important to not jump to conclusions and treat the question/ assumption as a blank slate.

- Deductions -- This is similar to Assumptions but applied to conclusions.

- Inference -- Identify which statement if True, Probably true, more information required, probably false and false. In my opinion, this is the trickiest of them all because it requires very close readings and understanding the nuances of what is true or probably true. Here is a way to identify and categorise those five elements: true = its is a fact on the passage, and true beyond reasonable doubt; probably true = you can infer it from the facts you have but it is not true beyond reasonable doubt; more information needed = this applies when the question poses an assumption and you need more information to verify these facts (ie: things are probably not written in the passage); probably false= based on the facts you have at hand, this is probably not possible; false= straight up LIES and contradicts the facts you have at hand. The way I approach this test is treating it like I am speaking to someone very sensitive or suspicious towards me whos waiting for me to slip up. You want to get all your facts right and not jump to conclusions and if it's false, you need to identify that it is not a fact.

- Interpretations-- I find this similar to Assumptions and Deductions because the essence of this test is to ensure you read everything accordingly and not jump to conclusions / make assumptions.

This may not reflect the actual WG Test as I have been doing practice tests on : https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/watson- glaser-critical-thinking.htm
However, having done a few WG tests before, this is the approach I would have taken.
Everyone have differen thought processes and ways to approach this test, if anyone has any tips/tricks, please share below!

I am interested in listening to 1. What is a strong/weak argument to you? and 2.How do you read and dissect a question to ensure a more effective and efficient way of responding to the questions?

Any views/advice on this? I know some are more traditional than others. But would help a lot with word count on application questions.

E.g just an example Herbert Smith Freehills=HSF or WFW for Watson Farley William

Bit confusing as even firms refer to themselves differently is various materials.

Hi All,

I hope you're all doing well!

I will be posting two polls:

The first relates to what aspects of the TCLA you find helpful.

The second relates to whether live sessions or interactive discussions run by @Jaysen where he compares a bad application to a good application would be something anyone would benefit from.

Please vote! It is very important for us to spend more time/resources etc on aspects of the TCLA that you all feel like you would benefit from the most.

If you want to message me, @yanerlim, @Nicole and @Jaysen privately with a full explanation then please do so. That would also be very helpful.

Thank you

I'm applying for the CMS first year programme and looking for some insight into what others would discuss in the following question In 200 words, what do you see as the key drivers of the business of law?

Any suggestions would be extremely helpful

The time is nearing for the start of the GDL course (next weekend) and I'm a mixed bag of nerves and excitement.

I'm terrified of the Legal Exam because there are no past papers and I'm anxious to meet the other students and be placed in groups because I don't know of group members will be the committed or can't-be-asked type.

Do you have advice for a GDL-er?

P.s: ULaw

Hi Guys,

Think I've double checked that there isn't another thread about this BCLP's applications...

So the firm has an interesting application form and has some questions that I haven't seen before as well as the standard questions:

1. How does BCLP align with your ambitions for your Training Contract and beyond? (A fairly straightforward 'why BCLP' question but if someone could confirm a good structure to use that would be much appreciated)

2. The legal sector is subject to continuous change and competition. What can BCLP do to stay profitable and what should BCLP be highlighting to clients when pitching for work? (I imagine referencing the merger and the firm's great strength in real estate would be a given here but again any pointers are welcomed!)

3. Imagine you are a first seat trainee at BCLP. Your supervisor has asked you to present to a client in a weeks time on a matter that you have been working on. You feel that you have gaps in your knowledge on the subject area and you are already busy with other matters; how would you react? (I have never seen a question like this before so any advice on how to approach it would be much appreciated)

All of the above are given a 250-word limit to answer them if that helps formulate a strategy in any way.

Thanks guys - look forward to reading your responses

Apologies if this thread has already been created but me and @AJ are currently preparing our K&E apps and we are slightly confused with the application questions, especially the cover letter requirement. Can anyone please share some tips?