General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[OB]

Has anyone heard back from BCLP?

Not yet!

 

[Wajahat Jilani]

If anyone has already taken the Simmons online tests (VRT and LRT), VI and written exercise could you please give me some insight?

I’ve usually had just one test to do so would appreciate any advice on how to plan and sit these tests/VI over the 5 days.

 

[Sekani Wraith]

Hi guys, does anyone know of any law firms that specialise in private equity but have a particular type of transaction that they focus on? If so, what firm and what is the type of transaction?

I am researching a firm and they say they are one of few firms that have expertise in every type of private equity transaction, and so I am curious as to what the flip side of that is.

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

Hi guys, does anyone know of any law firms that specialise in private equity but have a particular type of transaction that they focus on? If so, what firm and what is the type of transaction?

I am researching a firm and they say they are one of few firms that have expertise in every type of private equity transaction, and so I am curious as to what the flip side of that is.

Hmm - the main types of Private Equity work relate to Buyouts, or investment fund work (venture capital etc) - could they be referring to the sectors of private equity investment they work with (ie tech companies)?

 

[Sekani Wraith]

Hmm - the main types of Private Equity work relate to Buyouts, or investment fund work (venture capital etc) - could they be referring to the sectors of private equity investment they work with (ie tech companies)?

That would make sense but no, they said they unlike many other law firms, they have expertise in almost every type of private equity transaction from early-stage venture capital financings to multi-billion dollar LBOs!

 

[DrowninginSQE]

Hi guys, does anyone know of any law firms that specialise in private equity but have a particular type of transaction that they focus on? If so, what firm and what is the type of transaction?

I am researching a firm and they say they are one of few firms that have expertise in every type of private equity transaction, and so I am curious as to what the flip side of that is.

There are some firms that are more specialised in the buy-and-build PE deals and some that do other things like advise big pension funds on their PE investments. Traditionally, institutional investors would ask a PE company to generate returns via an investment fund but as we are in a low interest rate environment and markets don’t generate high enough returns, some institutional investors have taken it onto themselves to do the investing. Off the top of my head, I can think of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund. They tend to go for safer investments and steadier returns as opposed to the big bucks that a buy-and-build would go for. There are also rich families and wealth funds that do this too.

 

[Jaysen]

How does one go about getting an application (or past applications) reviewed through TCLA?

I’ve submitted 30 applications in the past two years with little to no success (only gotten to online test stage twice for VS & telephone interview stage once for direct TC with Mayer Brown, and been invited to WGT twice by Hogan Lovells, which is automatic).

Admittedly my first ~10 apps were weak/generic as I was just then learning what firms were looking for. But I have since had my applications reviewed by Rare Recruitment, BPP’s Careers Service, and multiple future & current trainee/associate friends and also attended countless firm events.

I just have no idea what I am doing wrong; whether the quality of my answers is poor or my undergrad/GDL grades are too low or my Canadian nationality requiring sponsorship is an issue or if everyone is just way better qualified or if this amount of rejection is normal?? (27/30 rejections and all 3 positive responses from the same firm?) Just need some kind of litmus to know what I am doing wrong and how to do it right... is there anyone I can message privately?

Apologies for the frustrated rant...

Hey - if you’re a premium member, you can submit an application to us here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/application-review/. Happy to see if it’s to do with the application answers.

 

[cgs97]

NRF Spring deadline is 22nd November - the applications are rolling, so is it too late to start my application now? Wondering if maybe I'd be better off putting my energy into ones that have a bit later deadlines?

 

[NadineBusty]

NRF Spring deadline is 22nd November - the applications are rolling, so is it too late to start my application now? Wondering if maybe I'd be better off putting my energy into ones that have a bit later deadlines?

No, it is not too late.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

NRF Spring deadline is 22nd November - the applications are rolling, so is it too late to start my application now? Wondering if maybe I'd be better off putting my energy into ones that have a bit later deadlines?

It will only be too late on the 23 November

 

[AH97]

NRF Spring deadline is 22nd November - the applications are rolling, so is it too late to start my application now? Wondering if maybe I'd be better off putting my energy into ones that have a bit later deadlines?

I was on a webinar with NRF yesterday and they said whilst they're screening applications and conducting telephone interviews before the deadline, they're considering themselves "non rolling" this year and not making any decisions until everyone who they give telephone interviews to has been interviewed!

 

[SRW]

Does anyone have any good tips/advice in regards to answering curveball questions? Would be interested to hear any super out there ones you've been asked!

I've been asked about a time I broke a rule, and also to explain one of my 2nd yr modules to the interviewers as if they were 16...

 

[cgs97]

I was on a webinar with NRF yesterday and they said whilst they're screening applications and conducting telephone interviews before the deadline, they're considering themselves "non rolling" this year and not making any decisions until everyone who they give telephone interviews to has been interviewed!

Oh that's really helpful, thank you!

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

Anyone heard back from Linklaters or Latham for Winter VS?

Still waiting on Links Winter VS. I haven't heard of any interviews/offers/responses.

 

[KamTM]

If anyone has already taken the Simmons online tests (VRT and LRT), VI and written exercise could you please give me some insight?

I’ve usually had just one test to do so would appreciate any advice on how to plan and sit these tests/VI over the 5 days.

I did the VI last year however was unsuccessful. Happy to discuss potential q's that you could prepare for.

 

[arbitracion]

What exactly is Aspiring Solicitors? I've seen them as an option on a lot of applications, and I know of the CAC, but I'm not sure what they exactly do!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

What exactly is Aspiring Solicitors? I've seen them as an option on a lot of applications, and I know of the CAC, but I'm not sure what they exactly do!

Their purpose is to improve access to the profession and they support all strands of diversity through that.

All their activity is driven by this cause, whether it is their events, their mentoring programmes their work experience programmes etc. So it works like Rare or SEO really, but just covers all’s sections of diversity.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone have any good tips/advice in regards to answering curveball questions? Would be interested to hear any super out there ones you've been asked!

I've been asked about a time I broke a rule, and also to explain one of my 2nd yr modules to the interviewers as if they were 16...

The second one to me isn’t really a curve ball in my opinion. It’s quite common for an interview to ask you to explain something on your CV to someone who has no knowledge about it.

Some of the curve ball questions I have heard:

What unconventional view of the world do you have?

How many postboxes are there in the U.K.?

Which business do you admire the most and why?

If you were senior partner of this firm, what would prioritise as the first thing you want to change?

If you could be anyone else in the world right now, who would you be?

 

[Miki3999]

The second one to me isn’t really a curve ball in my opinion. It’s quite common for an interview to ask you to explain something on your CV to someone who has no knowledge about it.

Some of the curve ball questions I have heard:

What unconventional view of the world do you have?

How many postboxes are there in the U.K.?

Which business do you admire the most and why?

If you were senior partner of this firm, what would prioritise as the first thing you want to change?

If you could be anyone else in the world right now, who would you be?

For the last question: I would want to be the partner who is interviewing me and I'd offer a TC to myself

 

[Frenchielawyer]

Hey guys! I was wondering if anyone was able to help out on issue I have. I have had to resubmit a piece of coursework: does this count as an exam resit? I don’t want to drag my application down unnecessarily if it isn’t but I do want to be honest as I know that is very important. My transcript says attempted: 2, so maybe I should...