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I see so many firms saying one of their biggest strength is their sector focus?

I am just confused what is the difference between Sector Focus and Market leading capability?

Can anyone explain in some detail, please? I understand the generic meaning of what sector focus means but I'm finding it difficult to understand this in context of law firms

It would be extremely helpful if anybody can help me out?

Hi All,

I recently asked out moderators for ideas on how to improve the TCLA forum. Thank you to @yanerlim for suggesting the following "bookmarks" feature, which we have now implemented.

The Bookmarks Feature

Bookmarks is a way to conveniently display a link to content of thread and profile posts you find informative or otherwise interesting.

This saves you the hassle of rummaging through multiple threads or multiple pages in order to locate that single post you wanted to have a second look at.

How does it work?

Suppose you come across a post that you want to save. You will now see a "Bookmark" link located at the bottom of each thread post or profile post. Each bookmark may include a note to remind yourself as to why you decided to bookmark it in the first place.




If you click the "Bookmark" link, you will see a popup.

You can then:

• Add a title
• Organise bookmarks using Tags. These tags are used to filter the bookmark list on the Account page.
• Display a bookmark publicly (so you can share your bookmarks with other members)
• Favourite a bookmark

To access your bookmarks, click on your profile or the bookmark symbol next to your inbox.



Bookmarks display a note, a snippet of the post message, as well as an overlay of the post. Each bookmark contains:

• Optional note to self.
• Post message snippet which may include thumbnails of any attachments.
• An overlay with the post message (without attachments), thus removing the need to physically go to the post in question. This overlay is triggered when the note to self or message snippet are clicked.
• Links to the post author, the post, and the thread or profile it belongs to.
• Thread name may include a preview tooltip and thread prefix. This option is set in the ACP.

Enjoy!

Hi! I thought I'd start a forum for applications which require only a CV and cover letter with little guidance. I'm currently thinking about how long my CV should be, how much detail to include about my experiences, and how exactly to date - dd/mm/yyyy? Or is it acceptable just to include mm/yy?

Hi all, I've had a couple of questions about competency questions -

1. Is it okay to use your responsibilities and behaviour during an internship as examples to competency questions e.g. time management, teamwork etc. as opposed to having to draw from extra-curriculars and one's general academic life? I find it to be more recent and relevant to draw from them, but I've also read opinion advising against this.

2. Secondly, can anyone who has experienced feedback on their competency question responses elaborate on the kind of responses that are satisfactory? E.g. what responses are considered superficial/inadequate, even though they do technically answer the question.

Thanks!

Thought it would be worth asking if there was any advice for the US firms?? e.g. Kirkland, Latham, Weil, etc. What do they particularly look for? (Apart from grades)

Hey guys,

This is perhaps a very common question yet it is so difficult. I was wondering if perhaps anybody can share their insights as to how to tackle this question?

Do any current or veteran GDL-ers have any advice on Exam and Coursework advice?

I've read the student handbook and feel so ridiculously nervous!

Please share your experiences!

Hey guys,

One of the firm's app question is tell us about a business story that has captured your interest and why?


Should I talk about a news story that is relevant to the firm and how it interests me? or I can talk about other business stories?

does the former look better?

Hey all,

From experience, I have noticed the questions I have about the GDL in other forums do not seem to attract many replies. I'm not sure why this is but I hope someone could help me?

With the looming SQE and the uncertainty it brings, I'm not so sure about the GDL. There has been information that the SQE will be a cheaper and easier route, and will commence at the earliest in 2020. However, many have said there will be issues with the SQE, like the first few years to take the SQE will almost be the 'guinea pigs' of the course. Additionally, law firms apparently want to put people through the traditional routes rather than the SQE.

My personal dilemma:

• I'm not sure how applying for vacation schemes and studying for the GDL will work together since I'm already spending a 9am to 1am day on law applications (been a week or so now), and I've only just come close to finishing one.
• The September start date is close but BPP have advertised that there are spaces available. I'm not sure if a reading list was previously sent out so I may be at a disadvantage if I choose to enrol this month.
  
• If I finish the GDL and do not secure a TC/VC, I would have to carry on and enrol on the LPC (before 2020), so I can finish the LPC without having to sit the new SQE.
• I know law firms prefer applicants to be put through their LPC course, so how will it fare for me if I complete the LPC at BPP?
• Self-funding the GDL is ultimately an issue (but my parents say they will contribute - however, from the financial background I come from, it is not as simple as that), and I've heard the LLM (with integrated GDL and LPC) is not seen as respectable by law firms? (an opinion on the LLM would be great)
• If I do send off vacation scheme applications and receive a spring offer, will it be difficult to juggle the vac scheme with revision for exams?
• Lastly, do law firms want non-law graduates to take the GDL or would they prefer someone to gather work experience in a commercial field for a year. I have prior legal experience (high-street firm for one week & Pathways to Law programme (with work placement) and I also have "commercial" experience since I have worked in retail for a year.

I appreciate that my questions are tedious but I would be extremely grateful for any input!

Hi everyone,

It is my pleasure to ask you to please join me and the rest of the TCLA team in welcoming @Selma95 and @yanerlim, the new moderators of the TCLA forum.

Both of them have been a great source of knowledge and help within the forum already, and I'm delighted to be working with them over the upcoming academic year.

Please give them a warm welcome

Is anyone applying ?
Appears their TC/grad programme is not available to apply for in the London office. Just the VS/internship. Is this correct?

Hi all,

This post was recently circulated via our newsletter. I thought I'd share it here and add share some more information about what it involves.

Since we launched TCLA, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I could add a lot of value to aspiring lawyers. I wanted it to be something more than just advice on the application process. I wanted some way of truly helping students to secure a training contract.

After a lot of brainstorming, gathering feedback and fine-tuning, I think I have the answer. Well, answers. It comes in the form of two initiatives: TCLA Premium and a Commercial Awareness Discussion Group.

TCLA Premium gives you access to high-level resources, support and advice. It's a service for me to share everything I've learned from my own applications, working at a law firm, and from personally training hundreds of students over the last four years.

Expect:

• Access to our private TCLA Premium forum
• Access to our weekly business & legal news summary
• Access to our weekly "commercial awareness" analysis
• Access to our weekly application guidance
• Access to our exclusive AMA thread
• Access to new law firm insights
• Access to two new case studies based on real written exercises
• A premium member badge in the TCLA forum
• One application review available every month (rolling)
• Access to our private vacation scheme forum

And more
The Commercial Awareness Discussion Group is a weekly interactive class. Each session will run for 1 hour and take place on Skype with a group of three other students.

The aim of these sessions is to develop your understanding of key "commercial awareness" topics. I have identified topics that I expect will come up during assessment centres and interviews over the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.

These sessions won't be easy. They will require active participation and a lot of preparation. But they will, in my opinion, help you to ace commercial-awareness-focused interviews.

Each week will focus on a different topic. Here are the topics for the next six weeks:

w/c 17 September 2018 - Private Equity
w/c 24 September 2018 - Tariffs and the trade war
w/c 1 October 2018 - GDPR and data regulation
w/c 8 October 2018 - The financial crisis
w/c 15 October 2018 - Mergers and Acquisitions
w/c 22 October 2018 - Brexit

For the time being, please note there are only 12 slots available each week.

I will consider opening more in the future if I can manage the time, but for now, I encourage you to book quickly if you are interested. I anticipate they will be over-subscribed.

Finally, a quick note from me about subscriptions. For the last eight or so months, I have been against charging students for a service at TCLA. I have, however, had a change of mind. I wanted to explain the thinking behind TCLA Premium.

A subscription service will give me the means to continue working on TCLA full time, doing something that I love, while allowing me to help as many students as I can. I am confident that these initiatives are of a very high value and a subscription will allow me to continue adding more.

I have deliberately kept the price low so as to not disadvantage any students, however, if you are of a low income means, please drop me an email at [email protected] and we can work something out.

There are many different kinds of firm mergers/relationships we see lately.
Just to name a few, there's the "best friends network" strategy, the fully financial integration, Swiss Vereins etc...

I was wondering what are the differences and nuances of these mergers (eg: challenges or benefits) and what makes one better than the other? If anyone can share their opinion, that'll be great!

Hey all,

So I've done heaps of research for a law firm and I'm currently writing the cover letter. However, I'm not sure what parts of my research I should use? I have information on their practice areas, work culture, compensation scheme, values, deals, career progression, seat information. Essentially, I think what I'm asking for is a method you have used to whittle down research to two or three main things. I understand it is subjective and that areas that are distinguishable should be mentioned but I've been racking my brain for the past few days deciding what I should include.

Thanks

Hi - hoping people can advise. how can you tell how strict firms will be on a-level grades?? especially with degree and gdl under your belt.

Don’t want to spend time and effort on on app if it will be an automatic rejection without being read.

Hey Jaysen, I have always struggled with situational judgement questions. Not too long ago I was faced with heaps of these questions in the interview and due to my inability, I lost out on a prestigious vac scheme despite all my hard work.

I was wondering how does one apparoach these questions, perhaps you can take me step by step of this particular question

You just started your training contract. Your supervisor has given you a task that needs to be presented to the client in 7 days time, you have been working on this particular task. You know you have gaps in your knowledge on that subject area and now you are extremely busy with other matters.

What would you do?

Hi,

I’ve done some good research on the firms I’m interested in and drafted the answers to some of the application questions I know.

I still have a good weeks before applications open and then interview season; what could I be doing now in preparation for the time ahead.

I know I should keep up with the news, but I just don’t know where to start, which news I should pay a lot of attention too etc. I just wanna be on the right track - how do you reckon we do this please?

Many thanks!

Good afternoon,

I have been interested in what the key differences are between UK and US firms operating in London. Whilst I don't necessarily want to be spoon-fed the answer, could someone possibly point me in the direction of where I may be conduct some meaningful research, aside from merely comparing their clients and practise areas?

If this has been posted elsewhere, I do apologise! The search function didn't identify any results. Likewise, if this is a topic you intend on covering in the future, I look forward to reading the content.

Thanks!

Can any suggest where these can be found for the GDL?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for the ideal suitcase to carry law books.
Any suggestions?

Hello, being an international student myself, I often find problems with law firms which sponsor visas, especially after completing the application. For the sake of convenience, a list of firms that DONT sponsor Tier 2 visas should be listed. Here are a few:

1. Kennedy's
2. Bristows (However, after I approached them, they said they will consider getting a sponsorship if the candidate is exceptional)

Please expand this list and let's help each other out!

Hello, I have gone to a few assessment centres but never got offered a training contract. Every time I receive feedback, it's because "my answers are not in-depth enough". Was wondering if anyone can share your assessment centre experiences and concrete tips on writing tests and presentation exercises. Or even share any group exercise scenarios you have had. Let's help each other out!