TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[mfuturetrainee]

I recently had an assessment day with them, and I graduated from a non-Russell Group university. While I don't know the outcome yet, I noticed that EVERYONE there was from Oxbridge - trainees, vacation scheme participants, and even the receptionist (just kidding, of course haha) However, if you're genuinely interested in the firm, I would recommend applying. Me getting to the assessment center stage suggests they'll review your application as a whole rather than rejecting you straight away based on your university background. But well, I won’t lie when I say that during the interview the partner was questioning my uni choices and found hard to believe that I chose it because I really liked the environment ahaha

yeah when i had an AC w them, it was v much focused on why my uni too ahaha, my interviewees were also oxbridge

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker when I accidentally confused information on a deal in my application and get asked about it. Should I just pretend as if the information is correct or tell them that I mixed something up?

Better to be honest about it and explain what you meant to say.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker the information relates to the number of jurisdictions involved in a deal. I’m actually sure that the information was correct but upon looking up the deal again less information seems to be available and another deal was completely removed. Is there a possibility that information was modified?

Yes, information can change. I don’t think someone is going to pick you up on how many jurisdictions the deal was or wasn’t though. They don’t want you to recite these type of facts, they want to get to your opinion or analysis of the matter.

 

[AK001]

Hi @Jessica Booker - could you help me in approaching my response for this application question?

'Focusing on a particular practice group at the firm, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee over the next 12 months?'

Is there a particular structure/analytical approach (e.g. SWOT) which is suited to this question?

Furthermore, would it better to focus on a single issue (e.g. AI regulation as this firm has a specialised tech regulatory practice) or multiple different issues (e.g. US-China relations and implications for trade regulations, AI regulation etc.)?

Thank you

 

[bella98]

Was this for direct TC?

Yess, I applied during the summer and had the AC 2 weeks ago

 

[bella98]

yeah when i had an AC w them, it was v much focused on why my uni too ahaha, my interviewees were also oxbridge

Exactly! And when a trainee was showing me around the office she mentioned that many in her cohort were actually her university friends. When I asked about the university she attended, she said Oxford ahaha.

 

[yasmars]

Exactly! And when a trainee was showing me around the office she mentioned that many in her cohort were actually her university friends. When I asked about the university she attended, she said Oxford ahaha.

Oh, this has just confirmed my reasons to not apply.

 

[Boating]

My mate did a vac scheme at Slaughters, non Oxbridge, said everyone who got the TC was from Oxbridge, even those who didn’t perform well and “messed up the interview” still got the TC.

Is a shame how some firms are so Oxbridge centric, never really understood why some view them as better candidates.

 

[futuretrainee2025]

Hi everyone, how would you approach this question and what sub-questions should I consider?

'What would be a good area for this firm to expand into?'

@Jessica Booker Any insight would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

 

[TheTCcommune]

Hi @Jessica Booker - could you help me in approaching my response for this application question?

'Focusing on a particular practice group at the firm, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee over the next 12 months?'

Is there a particular structure/analytical approach (e.g. SWOT) which is suited to this question?

Furthermore, would it better to focus on a single issue (e.g. AI regulation as this firm has a specialised tech regulatory practice) or multiple different issues (e.g. US-China relations and implications for trade regulations, AI regulation etc.)?

Thank you

Would also appreciate some guidance on this!

 

[lmurph]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone found the Ashurst winter VS application questions (below) to be a bit repetitive? I feel like "why you want to... work at Ashurst" is very similar to question 2.

Does anyone have any advice on how to approach the questions differently ? I'm thinking of focusing my answer to question 1 on myself (skills/achievements) and then going into greater detail in question 2 but not too sure...

Thanks!

1. Use this section to tell us about yourself, your skills, achievements and why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst. (750 words max)

2. Tell us in 250 words why you are applying to Ashurst and what you know about the firm. (250 words max)

3. In 250 words tell us what a commercial lawyer does. (250 words max)

 

[yasmars]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone found the Ashurst winter VS application questions (below) to be a bit repetitive? I feel like "why you want to... work at Ashurst" is very similar to question 2.

Does anyone have any advice on how to approach the questions differently ? I'm thinking of focusing my answer to question 1 on myself (skills/achievements) and then going into greater detail in question 2 but not too sure...

Thanks!

1. Use this section to tell us about yourself, your skills, achievements and why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst. (750 words max)

2. Tell us in 250 words why you are applying to Ashurst and what you know about the firm. (250 words max)

3. In 250 words tell us what a commercial lawyer does. (250 words max)

I attended an event with them and they emphasised that the first question should primarily revolve around 'why you'.

Someone asked if it would be acceptable not to write about 'why Ashurst' in the first question, and they agreed that this approach would be fine and to just focus on it in the second question.

 

[nma123]

I attended an event with them and they emphasised that the first question should primarily revolve around 'why you'.

Someone asked if it would be acceptable not to write about 'why Ashurst' in the first question, and they agreed that this approach would be fine and to just focus on it in the second question.

I was at this event and can second this. It's very poorly worded tbh which is why everyone was confused but, despite them asking why you want to "work at Ashurst" in the first question, you don't even have to mention the firm at all

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker - could you help me in approaching my response for this application question?

'Focusing on a particular practice group at the firm, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee over the next 12 months?'

Is there a particular structure/analytical approach (e.g. SWOT) which is suited to this question?

Furthermore, would it better to focus on a single issue (e.g. AI regulation as this firm has a specialised tech regulatory practice) or multiple different issues (e.g. US-China relations and implications for trade regulations, AI regulation etc.)?

Thank you

As the question is worded in plurals I would aim for multiple points, but this could be one challenge and two opportunities or vice versa. The number isn’t really important though, but you will need analysis as to why these will be particularly of relevance to the practice group you have identified. However, something like AI regulation could easily be broken down into sub stories and so could still account for multiple “points”.

I don’t think you need a full SWOT though as they aren’t asking for the SW, only the O and T.

 

[Tintin06]

It's fine. Magic Circle will be just a bad euphemism once the Americans complete London.

They are mostly transparent about Oxbridge intake.

Shearman & Sterling - c31%
Weil Gotshal & Manges - c32%
Goodwin Procter - c40%
Sidley Austin - c44%
Milbank - c48%
Kirkland & Ellis - c50%
Ropes & Gray - c53%

Etc. Source: Legal Cheek.

 

[AK001]

As the question is worded in plurals I would aim for multiple points, but this could be one challenge and two opportunities or vice versa. The number isn’t really important though, but you will need analysis as to why these will be particularly of relevance to the practice group you have identified. However, something like AI regulation could easily be broken down into sub stories and so could still account for multiple “points”.

I don’t think you need a full SWOT though as they aren’t asking for the SW, only the O and T.

Thank you - that clears things up!

 

[mkt]

Any DLA WG invites.

 

[Deleted member 21782]

Hi, does anyone know if White & Case's interviews for the vacation scheme are CV/application blind?

Yes, every interview with the firm is CV blind!

 

[Deleted member 27336]

Has anyone done Ashursts test? how hard is it, do most people pass? spent so long on my app, just want to mentally prepare myself.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Another probably pedantic question - do firms generally care or notice which form of 'verb agreement' you use? From what I've found online, its American v British English, but not everyone agrees. E.g., is it 'Slaughter and May have their offices on Bunhill Row' or 'Slaughter and May has their offices on Bunhill Row' ? 'Slaughter and May has prioritised X' 'Slaughter and May have prioritised X' - seems much of a muchness but wondering is there an accepted norm?

I’d write it differently to avoid this completely

Could just be “Slaughter and May’s office on Bunhill Row”