General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Celestie]

On that note, before I send off, Debevoise ask
"Have you achieved 360 UCAS points (or equivalent) not including AS-levels and General Studies." This is really odd as UCAS points are usually calculated as your top 3 qualifications. In this instance are they asking for everything? So GCSE and A-Level? Cause 360 at A-Level is unattainable.

@SLKEJRWOI97 What were your thoughts?

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

On that note, before I send off, Debevoise ask
"Have you achieved 360 UCAS points (or equivalent) not including AS-levels and General Studies." This is really odd as UCAS points are usually calculated as your top 3 qualifications. In this instance are they asking for everything? So GCSE and A-Level? Cause 360 at A-Level is unattainable.

@SLKEJRWOI97 What were your thoughts?

No no, they're asking in the context of the old UCAS points. 360 is AAB at A-level.

Good luck!

 

[Celestie]

Uhoh, I just realised in my notes that I wrote the wrong law fair name next to a firm. In my application to a firm I said xyz about meeting their GR at 'Legal Cheek Law Fair' (they didn't attend it) but it was actually the university of law. Should I email GR saying I made the mistake? Literally kicking myself.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi all,

Debevoise and Milbank have a deadline of 3 Jan 2020 on apply4law. Does this mean I have only the rest of today (3ish hours) or the rest of tomorrow also?

Milbank says "Applications will open on Thursday 1st October 2020 and the deadline is Sunday 3rd January 2021 at midnight."

Thanks!

Means 23.59 tomorrow.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Uhoh, I just realised in my notes that I wrote the wrong law fair name next to a firm. In my application to a firm I said xyz about meeting their GR at 'Legal Cheek Law Fair' (they didn't attend it) but it was actually the university of law. Should I email GR saying I made the mistake? Literally kicking myself.

No - emailing them isn't going to help. I don't think it will be an issue and that in itself that would mean your application was unsuccessful.

 

[arbitracion]

Hi guys, just a quick question. I'm applying to one firm, and I wish to mention another firm's open day in an answer. Is it ok to mention the firm's name or should I say something like "at another silver circle firm..."?

 

[arbitracion]

No no, they're asking in the context of the old UCAS points. 360 is AAB at A-level.

Good luck!

Where it asks for UCAS tariff points on the form, do I give them as old or new tariff?

 

[Celestie]

Where it asks for UCAS tariff points on the form, do I give them as old or new tariff?

I have put the new one as the link provided takes you to the new calculator on UCAS' website

 

[Mxkry]

One firm is asking for 2 academic references, but naturally I only my personal tutor as a referee. Not sure what do, since the deadline is tomorrow

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

One firm is asking for 2 academic references, but naturally I only my personal tutor as a referee. Not sure what do, since the deadline is tomorrow

School/sixth form academic reference if you are in you are still in your undergrad degree?

Postgrad academic reference if you are not?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi guys, just a quick question. I'm applying to one firm, and I wish to mention another firm's open day in an answer. Is it ok to mention the firm's name or should I say something like "at another silver circle firm..."?

Just mention the firm’s name. The vagueness of not mentioning it will be more suspicious than saying the firm’s name.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

On that note, before I send off, Debevoise ask
"Have you achieved 360 UCAS points (or equivalent) not including AS-levels and General Studies." This is really odd as UCAS points are usually calculated as your top 3 qualifications. In this instance are they asking for everything? So GCSE and A-Level? Cause 360 at A-Level is unattainable.

@SLKEJRWOI97 What were your thoughts?

They mean your top three A-levels (so basically 3 As using the old tariff system)

 

[M1999]

When talking about a commercial deal (this one is M&A) do I have to focus purely on the transactional aspect of it? Or can I bring up the disputes that came out of it and implications.
It’s the word ‘deal’ that’s throwing me off.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When talking about a commercial deal (this one is M&A) do I have to focus purely on the transactional aspect of it? Or can I bring up the disputes that came out of it and implications.
It’s the word ‘deal’ that’s throwing me off.

what context - application question or interview? Do you have the specifics of the question?

 

[Celestie]

"What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours?"

Kinda sat staring at the screen at this one. I have stated I want to develop my skills and become a well-rounded international lawyer. I am not sure what else this question is looking for.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

"What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours?"

Kinda sat staring at the screen at this one. I have stated I want to develop my skills and become a well-rounded international lawyer. I am not sure what else this question is looking for.

Try to be more specific. What skills exactly? What will those skills do to keep you happy/healthy? What else do you want to achieve/hope for?

 

[Jaysen]

"What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours?"

Kinda sat staring at the screen at this one. I have stated I want to develop my skills and become a well-rounded international lawyer. I am not sure what else this question is looking for.

Agreed with Jess. I'd try to think broadly here - what else matters to you in a career at the firm? You could also develop skills and become a well-rounded lawyer at many City firms, what do you hope to achieve at that particular firm?

 

[M1999]

what context - application question or interview? Do you have the specifics of the question?

An application question!
It’s the Debevoise ‘tell us about a commercial deal that interests you- if you could represent a side which would it be and why?’

 

[Jacob Miller]

An application question!
It’s the Debevoise ‘tell us about a commercial deal that interests you- if you could represent a side which would it be and why?’

This is actually a really interesting question!

Personally, I would say that it needs a bit of planning. Firstly, I would start by going through a few different recent deals (probably start with ones that Debevoise have been involved in) and do some wider research on them. The key in this instance is to choose a deal where a good amount of analysis can be done rather than 'any old deal' with no added dimensions of complexity. I would consider whether the deal was particularly challenging (e.g., was it challenged by competition authorities?) or whether it was particularly nuanced in some manner or another (was it using a particularly unusual type of financing, for example?). If you can find a deal with which you have some sort of personal link or interest, this is all the better. Notwithstanding the fact that Debevoise haven't been involved in the process (I think Skadden and Sullivan were the lead counsel respectively), I think the Tiffany-LVMH deal is a prime example of the sort of deal you might look to discuss in a question such as this- it's one which I personally have used.

Read in a decent amount of depth about both sides of the deal- decide which you think is the most interesting from a legal standpoint, and then build your answer from there.

Hope this helps!

 

[Celestie]

AG don't have anywhere to add in your extracurriculars apart from a box stating "Is there any additional information you would like to disclose for us to consider alongside your application?"
I have had elected 5 society positions so the 2,000 character limit does not let me cover it properly. In this occasion, could I add the most demanding (one is a presidency) to the work experience section?