TCLA General Discussion Thread #2 (2021)

[Jacob Miller]

Seeing announcements on LinkedIn for TC offers from the schemes I've completed - I've managed to keep a lid on it until now but this is so nerve wrecking!

Fingers crossed! The wait is the most agonising part, without a doubt - do bear in mind, though, that not all firms will make their offers all at once. Many firms will make a batch of offers, then wait a while before issuing another batch as they need to wait and see broad acceptance rates etc etc.

 

[Matt_96]

Currently having the most surreal week ever. Haven't heard back from my one VS yet (but snooping on my fellow vac schemers on linkedin suggests they haven't got offers or rejections either) but have received two separate interview invites from different firms. I already had two direct TC interviews and a first round telephone interview lined up afterwards anyway, so somehow I've now ended up with 5 possible backups if things go south. It's nice to know I have options for once....

 

[S87]

I do not know if this is an accomplishment but I managed to write in one day a cover letter for a direct training contract. Currently waiting for a feedback and hoping for good news!

 

[Deleted member 2707]

How important is it to discuss defining characteristics of a firm in your application? For example, is it a must to discuss private client work if applying to Macfarlanes or the 8-seat-TC for Freshfields? I'm worried that forcing it into my application may make it sound too generic. Conversely, I'm worried not mentioning it means I am not well-acquainted with the firm.

 

[Dheepa]

How important is it to discuss defining characteristics of a firm in your application? For example, is it a must to discuss private client work if applying to Macfarlanes or the 8-seat-TC for Freshfields? I'm worried that forcing it into my application may make it sound too generic. Conversely, I'm worried not mentioning it means I am not well-acquainted with the firm.

I think it’s important to show an interest in the firm’s work and ideally at least one of it’s core areas of expertise (ultimately that proves you have done your research and are actually interested in the work at that firm) but that doesn’t mean you have to show an interest in all their defining characteristics, whether that’s about a particular area of work or the training. It’s only worth mentioning characteristics that are personally important to you and explaining why that is so and you’re completely right in saying forcing it without that personal link back to yourself will come across as generic.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

How important is it to discuss defining characteristics of a firm in your application? For example, is it a must to discuss private client work if applying to Macfarlanes or the 8-seat-TC for Freshfields? I'm worried that forcing it into my application may make it sound too generic. Conversely, I'm worried not mentioning it means I am not well-acquainted with the firm.

Definitely not a must to claim either of those if they are not of interest to you or less important than other aspects you want to highlight.

There is much more to both firms than these individual factors, and if anything not citing them will probably help you stand out for the right reasons, unless you can provide evidence/rationale as to why those things are important to you.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Hello everyone it has been a while since I have been active on the forum just checking in.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

This is a fairly unrelated question but could saying that you want a more 'intellectually challenging' career be offensive to someone who has close relatives in my old career? It's come up in conversation during a vac scheme and reflecting on it, I feel as though it may have come across badly. I did caveat by saying I found it to be a challenging career in different ways.

Highly unlikely to offend them. At worst they may just disagree with you and think it is intellectually challenging. Not everyone will measure intellectually challenging work the same way. Often with these type of conversations (in applications and interviews, not in informal conversations), it is important to explain WHY or WHAT will make it more intellectually challenging for you as an individual.

 

[Jacob Miller]

This is a fairly unrelated question but could saying that you want a more 'intellectually challenging' career be offensive to someone who has close relatives in my old career? It's come up in conversation during a vac scheme and reflecting on it, I feel as though it may have come across badly. I did caveat by saying I found it to be a challenging career in different ways.

I think it depends on a lot of different factors (e.g., context/ tone etc) and also not least the particular career in question. It's no secret that commercial law is intellectually challenging - so I don't think that's a 'wrong' thing to say per se - and it's also no secret that not every career is intellectually challenging in the same way, otherwise anyone and everyone could become a lawyer where that's clearly not the case in practice.

Unless it was said in a particularly condescending/ patronising/ out of context/ otherwise unpleasant way, which it doesn't sound like it was, I really wouldn't worry too much here.

 

[Deleted member 2707]

I think it’s important to show an interest in the firm’s work and ideally at least one of it’s core areas of expertise (ultimately that proves you have done your research and are actually interested in the work at that firm) but that doesn’t mean you have to show an interest in all their defining characteristics, whether that’s about a particular area of work or the training. It’s only worth mentioning characteristics that are personally important to you and explaining why that is so and you’re completely right in saying forcing it without that personal link back to yourself will come across as generic.

Definitely not a must to claim either of those if they are not of interest to you or less important than other aspects you want to highlight.

There is much more to both firms than these individual factors, and if anything not citing them will probably help you stand out for the right reasons, unless you can provide evidence/rationale as to why those things are important to you.

Thank you both! This is reassuring to know as I was re-reading applications from this cycle and fell as if thats what was a big issue of mine.

 

[breadpitt]

Hi all, is private equity usually under a law firm's corporate practice area? I can't seem to find the answer on this.

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi all, is private equity usually under a law firm's corporate practice area? I can't seem to find the answer on this.

It broadly falls under the transactional bracket so I woukd start looking through transactional practice areas. Specific "layout", so to speak, will vary extensively be firm though so I couldn't tell you exactly where to look for each firm.

 

[S87]

Guys,
I am currently applying to Slaughter and I am not understanding something. The website says that you can apply for a law vacancy if have a completed a qualifying law degree. But if you have already finished the gdl you can apply for non-law vacancy. I have completed both the GDL and LPC, so does it mean that I do not have a qualifying law degree?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Guys,
I am currently applying to Slaughter and I am not understanding something. The website says that you can apply for a law vacancy if have a completed a qualifying law degree. But if you have already finished the gdl you can apply for non-law vacancy. I have completed both the GDL and LPC, so does it mean that I do not have a qualifying law degree?

Yes - I suspect they would still consider you a non law applicant, but worthwhile contacting them to check.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

It broadly falls under the transactional bracket so I woukd start looking through transactional practice areas. Specific "layout", so to speak, will vary extensively be firm though so I couldn't tell you exactly where to look for each firm.

Would you say PE is a form of M&A as it is private M&A but it is so much different from M&A for example funds in PE. But correct me if I am wrong here as I am still at basic on PE.

 

[Hele25]

So I have a zoom interview for a TC (still pinching myself), BUT I’m really nervous if I get asked the question “why did you not apply for our VS?” Because honestly, my answer was that I didn’t believe I could get it so why try really hard only to be rejected. My mindset has now altered however to - you won’t get anything if you don’t try/just back yourself you’re a bad b****
I just don’t want to be seen as defeatist or lacking commitment as I truly am so resilient. It’s just that last year was really difficult dealing with constant rejections and at the time I couldn’t cope with more. Should I just make something up instead?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

So I have a zoom interview for a TC (still pinching myself), BUT I’m really nervous if I get asked the question “why did you not apply for our VS?” Because honestly, my answer was that I didn’t believe I could get it so why try really hard only to be rejected. My mindset has now altered however to - you won’t get anything if you don’t try/just back yourself you’re a bad b****
I just don’t want to be seen as defeatist or lacking commitment as I truly am so resilient. It’s just that last year was really difficult dealing with constant rejections and at the time I couldn’t cope with more. Should I just make something up instead?

You could frame it in a more positive way. You could state that you wanted to apply when you felt you were in a stronger position and that you spent the time between vac scheme and tc applications developing yourself further (using evidence of how you have done this) and that since then you felt now is the right time to apply.

 

[Kola]

Would you say PE is a form of M&A as it is private M&A but it is so much different from M&A for example funds in PE. But correct me if I am wrong here as I am still at basic on PE.

PE should be seen as an industry that the firms acts within - like Oil & Gas, Projects, Chemicals, or Real Estate. M&A should be seen as a service that the firm provides, like debt finance or litigation. Services cater towards industry, which is of course broad. So, PE is not a form of M&A, but rather M&A is a service provided within the industry of PE.

 

[Hele25]

You could frame it in a more positive way. You could state that you wanted to apply when you felt you were in a stronger position and that you spent the time between vac scheme and tc applications developing yourself further (using evidence of how you have done this) and that since then you felt now is the right time to apply.

Thanks Jess, this is really good advice!

 

[Jacob Miller]

Would you say PE is a form of M&A as it is private M&A but it is so much different from M&A for example funds in PE. But correct me if I am wrong here as I am still at basic on PE.

I completely agree with what @Kola has said here. I think that's a phenomenal explanation.

While PE houses often engage in M&A work, I think it's slightly back-to-front to say abstractly that PE = M&A. I would really encourage you to see them as separate and distinct: PE work has so many nuances and requires real specialists that not every M&A lawyer could manage a deal for a PE house.

The other thing to remember (on a more basic level) is that M&A does stand for Mergers and Acquisitions. In my mind, that's a bit of a misnomer for most PE work which is almost invariably focussed on partial or full-stake acquisitions.

In any case, I dont want to wildly overcomplicate things, so would reiterate Kola's point to consider PE an industry focus which will use specialist transactional-focussed teams.