• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • From AI to Energy Deals: Inside a Full-Service Law Firm with Osborne Clarke
    8 Dec 2025 · 6pm (UK) Zoom · Registration Required
    You want to write a strong Osborne Clarke application — but what really makes the firm different, and how do trainees experience the work day-to-day? In this session, you’ll hear directly from current trainees and Recruitment Advisor Patrick Fermin Ryan, so you can speak with clarity and specificity in your applications and interviews.
    Register →

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

Status
Not open for further replies.

Cecylia03

Active Member
Nov 6, 2023
10
15
Might be overthinking this but on the cover letter for Slaughter and May, can I later on abbreviate the firm's name to S&M? I will have indicated the abbreviation the first time I use the full name but I was just thinking about the fact that they do not use the ampersand on purpose, so they might not want you to use it in an abbreviation either?
 
  • Like
Reactions: axelbeugre
D

Deleted member 17013

Guest
Might be overthinking this but on the cover letter for Slaughter and May, can I later on abbreviate the firm's name to S&M? I will have indicated the abbreviation the first time I use the full name but I was just thinking about the fact that they do not use the ampersand on purpose, so they might not want you to use it in an abbreviation either?
Yep don't use the ampersand at all
 

TCLA Community Assistant

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,526
21,763
Might be overthinking this but on the cover letter for Slaughter and May, can I later on abbreviate the firm's name to S&M? I will have indicated the abbreviation the first time I use the full name but I was just thinking about the fact that they do not use the ampersand on purpose, so they might not want you to use it in an abbreviation either?
No - it’s one of the few firms where it is strongly advise to never shorten it.
 

NW Law

Distinguished Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
  • Dec 20, 2021
    55
    202
    Currently completing the Covington Vac Scheme App. How would people go about answering this question:

    Name a historical figure that you admire and outline why.

    Do you reckon the person has to be famous or can I mention a late family member? Really unsure what they are looking for from this question! Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
    I can't speak for anyone else, but from my own experience (which was successful) - my gut instinct was they wanted someone quite well-known. My approach was I ended up picking someone quite well-known and broke down my answer to highlighting three things I admired about them. So my order was 1) perseverance, 2) importance of making and learning from mistakes, and 3) work ethic and persuasion. I do think there needs to be that personal element - so it is great to say a historical figure you admire and detail some reasons why they're admirable. But ultimately, the firm, imo, is looking for a clear reasoning for the person you select, and then why that person is important to you. Only thing I would probably recommend is to avoid anyone who might be considered too controversial (I tended to avoid politicians). I suppose another way of thinking about the question is asking who your role model in history is and why is it them specifically. Good luck with the app!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: axelbeugre
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

    Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.