i usually try and use it to demonstrate a bit of motivation.
like i'd say who i spoke to, what i learnt, why i found this convo particularly interesting
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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like i'd say who i spoke to, what i learnt, why i found this convo particularly interesting
This might be me overthinking it, but NRF seems to have dropped the 'why commercial law' part of its cover letter. Their website specifies "Tell us ‘why you want to join', 'what excites you about our programme', and 'how your skills match our values'."
How would you all interpret this? Is it better to follow the general structure of 1. why commercial law, 2. why NRF, 3. skills, or make sure we're answering the question like 1. why join NRF, 2. what excites us, 3. skills?
Thank you, and any advice would be appreciated : ))!!
How would you all interpret this? Is it better to follow the general structure of 1. why commercial law, 2. why NRF, 3. skills, or make sure we're answering the question like 1. why join NRF, 2. what excites us, 3. skills?
Thank you, and any advice would be appreciated : ))!!
Hi, I would interpret this to scatter 'why commercial law' throughout the cover letter.
For example, when talking about 'why NRF' you could mention here why commercial law and then specifically why commercial law at NRF.
'What excites you about our programme' also has scope for you to sprinkle in why commercial law. Why specifically does your interest in commercial law excite you about what NRF offer on their programme and how you will use that passion and understanding of a commercial solicitor in the position you are applying to.
Finally, in terms of skills matching values, this could be a great opportunity to highlight your commercial awareness. Not simply stating you have commercial awareness but how using that skill of commercial awareness and your interest in commercial law fits with the firms values.
I know you will have limited words, however, this is the approach I would attempt to take. I have never applied to NRF so someone else might have a better insight, but I think the fact that they have dropped the 'why commercial law' question means they will be looking for you to indicate through the other questions why commercial law and also indicate your commercial awareness of the firm and also their clients etc.
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I applied last tuesday and have got to the interview stage already, so def not too late!
I was concerned as you received an answer within 3 days, and I am on the 3rd day of waiting. Maybe I am being impatient
- Sep 9, 2024
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Hi @AS24 that's a great question I used to also wonder about, and it also gives the opportunity to clear a common misconception. While you may very roughly think of band 1 to band 4 Chambers rankings as going from the "best" to the "worst" in reputation, this best-to-worst ranking is only a ranking of a select handful of firms which are already considered to be the best in the jurisdiction for that type if work.
To take high-end Corporate M&A as an example: there are around 20 firms in total Chambers ranks here from band 1 to band 2. Nonetheless, there are more than 100 firms in the City that will provide corporate M&A advice and that would love to make it to the ratings. While a band 1 corporate M&A firm (say, Freshfields) can normally be assumed to have a stronger reputation in M&A than a band 4 firm (say, White & Case), White & Case can still be assumed to have a much stronger reputation in M&A than the significant majority of firms who do not even make it to the rankings - which in this case includes many big names, such as Gibson Dunn, Travers Smith, BCLP, Milbank, etc. Generally speaking, if a firm's practice gets a Chambers ranking, it is good enough to be mentioned as a reason to want to join the firm (although, to differentiate it from similarly/better ranked rivals, you may not want to have it as the only reason you list).
A second point that should be made is that Chambers rankings are not an indicator of absolute quality, in that they are influenced by two factors:
- The size of the firm's practice: Chambers rankings do not only assess for the quality of a firm's work - ie are their usual mandates consistently high-end and complex ones, does it have blue-chip clients etc - but also the quantity, as this is also a factor for establishing reputation. As such, larger and older firms, such as the Magic Circle, will generally have an advantage over newer firms. Thus, if you are principally interested in quality of work rather than general renown, you can motivate choosing a lower band-ranked firm because of factors such as: (i) a high average deal/case value; (ii) having a high proportion of highly-ranked practitioners; (iii) punching above their weight by getting a Chambers ranking despite lower headcount; etc. All of these are examples of factors that could be indicative of a high-quality practice, despite not being as renowned as the practice of the largest players in the market.
- A high level of generality: Importantly, the Chambers rankings operate at a high level of generality, while you could tie your interests to more specific subareas. Thus, while a firm may be ranked "just" band 4, there are likely particular subareas (say life sciences M&A, or tech M&A) where they have stronger expertise than in other areas, and potentially even market leading expertise. For instance, White & Case, a band-4 ranked firm for corporate M&A, is generally thought to be among the best firms for infrastructure/energy-liked M&A work.
Based on them sending the follow up email at the start of this week saying that they are reviewing applications now that the test window has passed, I would assume that they probably do have a benchmark score for their critical reasoning section under which they don't review the application further. Just an assumption though so I might be wrong
Davis Polk just launched their Open Day for only second year & postgraduate students. Anyone knows why not for final years lol
I'm so sorry to read this!! But know that this rejection does not define you or your potential, take it as a re-direction towards something better!! If you don't mind me asking, how much time passed between you completing the Simulate assessment and this update?Macfarlanes rejection
I have, but I think it's based on working days, so maybe that's why?
Hi @Abbie Whitlock I was wondering if you could help answer my question! For Covington's VS they've asked 'Describe an experience, or activity which you have been involved in outside of your academic studies and how this experience allowed you to develop? (You can use examples from any area of your life including extra-curricular activities, paid or voluntary work)' - I'm unsure how many examples to give as the question starts with a singular 'experience or activity' but later uses the plural 'examples'. Thanks!
Hello! Of course, more than happy to help
Whilst I agree that the wording is slightly confusing, I'd say the safest approach is to focus on one main experience or activity, as the question starts with the singular - that way you're directly answering what they're asking. Within that example, you can then mention a few smaller aspects or moments to show breadth if it feels natural, but don't feel pressured to give multiple completely separate examples.
The key is to show what you did, what you learned, and the skills you developed - depth matters more than quantity. A strong, detailed example is likely to make a bigger impression than a few brief examples.
I hope that answers your question!
Congratulations on the AC invite - what an amazing achievement!!
Whilst I have never attended a Jones Day AC, I can offer some general advice when it comes to approaching those sorts of tasks.
Group Exercise
- Focus on teamwork and communication rather than dominating the discussion - it's always best to avoid being the quietest or the loudest.
- Listen actively, contribute ideas clearly, and help keep the group on track with the task. If you can, build on other people's ideas and encourage everyone to express an opinion on any decision being made.
- Show problem-solving, collaboration, and professionalism - often you're mainly being assessed on how you interact with others, rather than the things you are saying.
One-to-One Discussion
- Be ready to talk about your motivations for a career in law (and 'Why solicitor and not barrister'), and why Jones Day specifically.
- Highlight any relevant experiences or skills, and how they would help you at the firm. Have a look at the website and see what traits they list as the most important for their trainees, and go from there.
- Ask thoughtful questions about the lawyer's practice area, recent work, or the firm's culture. Make sure you are not asking questions in which the answer can easily be found on the website.
- Try and keep it conversational (if this is appropriate based on the atmosphere) - listen actively, respond thoughtfully, and engage naturally.
Generally, I would try and stay calm (easier said than done, I know!) and be yourself - they won't be expecting perfection, and all the matters is that you try your. Show curiosity in the firm and a positive attitude to learning more
Good luck - you've got this, and we'll all be cheering you on!
Hey! Even though open days or insight events aren't task-heavy, you can still use them in your work experience section by focusing on what you learned and the skills or insights that you gained. A few things you could mention include:
- Understanding of the firm / sector: you could highlight what you learned about the firm's work, their culture, or their practice areas.
- Transferable skills: talk about the skills you developed, like networking or analysing information from talks or workshops.
- Reflection: explain how the experience confirmed or shaped your interest in that area of law or in a particular type of work.
Essentially, it will be more focused on what you learned and engaged with rather than tasks you completed - graduate recruitment will want to see what you gained from the day, and that you made the most of it!
Hello!
I completely agree with what @TCpleasex has outlined - I would try and incorporate your enthusiasm for commercial law within the framework of the other questions.
I would definitely make sure to answer specifically what NRF asks for - focus on why you want to join NRF, what excites you about their programme, and how your skills align with their values. If you are able to show your enthusiasm for commercial law through this, I would absolutely include it. However, I wouldn't try and force it into your answer if it means that you aren't fully answering the specific question
I'm sorry to hear thatMacfarlanes rejection
Rejections are tough, but they definitely do not reflect your potential. Keep putting yourself out there, keep building your experience, and the right opportunity will come your way. You've got this - I'll be rooting for you!Similar threads
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