TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[Sfernan21]

I had my Stephenson Harwood written task on Monday [final stage] and not heard anything yet. What are the timelines usually like for hearing if you have successfully been accepted onto a VS. I appreciate it will differ from firm to firm, but it doesn't take away from how incredibly nerve wracking it is!!

I do have a few other ACs to prepare for which is helping to re-focus my mind, but I am finding it very hard to focus given that it is literally going to be a YES or a NO.

Any advice would go a long way, cheers.

 

[aspiringlawyer123_]

Really? My portal still says ‘completed’ so I’m assuming they haven’t reviewed my VI yet.

Same for me

 

[LawfulRust00]

NRF PFO post-TI.

 

[hf77777]

If anyone has any info on the format of the Akin Gump panel interview, the sorts of Commercial awareness they look for and how best to prepare pls let me know Tysm

@George Maxwell- have seen you reply to a couple of posts about Akin so wondered if you had any advice? Thanks

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker would be v grateful if you could offer any insight on this

Unfortunately, there is a lot of variables in here to say exactly. For instance, how far you are into the course/which modules you had completed, whether you have worked in the legal industry before, even down to how you have described your skills/knowledge in your application. It will also vary between firms (and possibly even interviewers).

 

[hf77777]

Really? My portal still says ‘completed’ so I’m assuming they haven’t reviewed my VI yet.

Mine says “reviewed”

 

[rollss]

anyone heard from links post-ac?

 

[mariistm]

Anyone still not heard from Freshfields post application for summer vac? I see people are getting WGs and even ACs and I’m still here waiting

 

[ar2r]

anyone heard from Kirkland post-VI?

 

[Rob93]

Hi guys, does anyone have insight into how much legal knowledge is assumed by the interviewers if you've already started the pgdl when you interview?

Not loads. They might assume that you know, like, offer and acceptance and consideration etc. but I don't think they're likely to grill you on contract fundamentals

 

[Fakram]

Is anyone else still waiting to hear from Hogan Lovells after app and WG?

 

[NMA]

anyone heard from Kirkland post-VI?

Nope

 

[Commerciallaw]

...question - do you guys use 'practical law' (or any other legal resources) to learn about M&A. Or is that too much detail? Because I am soo scared that I do not have enough info/knowledge for the case study

 

[refy]

If anyone has any info on the format of the Akin Gump panel interview, the sorts of Commercial awareness they look for and how best to prepare pls let me know Tysm

@George Maxwell- have seen you reply to a couple of posts about Akin so wondered if you had any advice? Thanks

Hey! Congrats on the interview - when did you do the WG?

 

[Rob93]

@Jessica Booker I've just been invited to interview for a paralegal role at a firm for which I'm currently finalising a VS app - is pursuing both of these concurrently going to raise any eyebrows on either side or jeopardise my chances in any way?

 

[CorporateLaw101]

...question - do you guys use 'practical law' (or any other legal resources) to learn about M&A. Or is that too much detail? Because I am soo scared that I do not have enough info/knowledge for the case study

Correct me if I’m wrong as I’m not speaking from experience; but, remember that graduates of any discipline can gain vacation schemes at most firms. IMO technical legal knowledge will not be something that will be challenged much in a case study but I’m sure others who have actually attended ACs will be able to provider better guidance!

 

[PM2021]

Hey is there anyone who has still not heard from Sullivan & Cromwell, Davis Polk and Winston?

 

[hf77777]

Hey! Congrats on the interview - when did you do the WG?

Quite a while ago! Couple of months maybe

 

[Rob93]

...question - do you guys use 'practical law' (or any other legal resources) to learn about M&A. Or is that too much detail? Because I am soo scared that I do not have enough info/knowledge for the case study

I *love* practicallaw - it might provide more detail than they're necessarily looking for, and I think it's probably sensible to go into assessments being prepared to not deploy everything you've picked up in your preparations if it might divert you from the main point of the exercise. That said it's better to be armed with more knowledge than less, just be wary of getting caught in the weeds on time-pressured exercises

 

[Commerciallaw]

Correct me if I’m wrong as I’m not speaking from experience; but, remember that graduates of any discipline can gain vacation schemes at most firms. IMO technical legal knowledge will not be something that will be challenged much in a case study but I’m sure others who have actually attended ACs will be able to provider better guidance!

Thank you for responding. But practical law isn't just legal knowledge - but they go into depth about lets say debt vs equity in financing an acquisition. But within that let us say you chose debt - would you choose an overdraft (adv/disadv), term loan (adv/disadv), Mezzanin (adv/disadv) - and within that bridge financing, revolving credit facilities etc.. etc...

I just have no idea how much depth is needed