TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[Miki3999]

Ok that EY Verbal reasoning test was definitely not 15 minutes...

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Does anyone know of any UK/US law firms with strong ties to Latin America?

 

[bibss]

Ok that EY Verbal reasoning test was definitely not 15 minutes...

I am going to take it in the morning and this is scaring me lol. Is it very intense?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone know of any UK/US law firms with strong ties to Latin America?

Awards are only one way to measure success (and not always a good way), but this might give you some indication:

Chambers Latin America Awards 2020 - Chambers and Partners | Researching Outstanding Lawyers Globally | chambers.com

 

[AvniD]

Hi everyone so Osborne Clarke’s VS app has ‘Please describe a current business issue or opportunity for organisations operating within one of our sectors’ - now I would like to talk about ESG investing/have a good topic and answer. However, OC also have another question on the app saying “please outline why you want to work at OC - how have you developed your interest in commercial law through experience’ - in this answer I have mentioned my interest in energy and my desire to further this at OC as Energy is one of their core sectors.
Are these answers too similar? Should I pick a different news story to go with?
It will not be the same answer/will present different points, but it is reiterating my interest in the energy sector. Is this too focussed/ not showing my ability to be interested in multiple sectors? Thanks

Hi @Hele25!

The crux of the two questions is different- the first is sector-specific and the second is specific to your motivations- which, depending on your drafting, will result in different answers, even if they have energy in common. I would, however, mention at least a couple of areas that I'm interested to work in at the firm while answering the second question but would not feel the pressure to leave out energy just because it was the focus of the first question.

I hope this helps!

Best,

Avni

 

[Lumree]

I didn’t really, I refreshed a few stats to be more current but the rest I kept the same and managed to get past the app stage again if that’s reassuring!

Have you heard back post test yet?

 

[IzzyAn_na]

Have you heard back post test yet?

Yes! I hear back a week ago and did the VI last weekend

 

[aishwaryakarunakaran]

Hi guys, I had a question regarding Norton Rose Fulbright. Has anyone heard from grad rec that the firm does not like to be referred to with the abbreviation NRF? Anyone who may have used it, have you been successful? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[JM1998]

Hi guys, I had a question regarding Norton Rose Fulbright. Has anyone heard from grad rec that the firm does not like to be referred to with the abbreviation NRF? Anyone who may have used it, have you been successful? Thanks so much in advance!

I used NRF not Norton Rose Fulbright in my cover letter and got through the app stage, so I don’t think they mind it

 

[M777]

Hi guys, I had a question regarding Norton Rose Fulbright. Has anyone heard from grad rec that the firm does not like to be referred to with the abbreviation NRF? Anyone who may have used it, have you been successful? Thanks so much in advance!

I used it in my cover letter last cycle and reached AC so think it's fine.

 

[OB]

I'm reapplying Bird & Bird, last year my application got through initial screening and was sent the test. Should I be rewriting my answers to "what will be the greatest innovation to influence the firm in the next 5 years and why?" and "what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" The former spanned developments over 5 years!

I sent the same answers and got sent the test again. Haven't heard back since the test though :/

 

[pfoapplicant]

@Jessica Booker @Jaysen

Hi guys - how many questions would you recommend to ask at the end of an interview? Is 1 perfect, or is it advisable to keep going until the interviewer calls time?

 

[Veep9]

I didn’t really, I refreshed a few stats to be more current but the rest I kept the same and managed to get past the app stage again if that’s reassuring!

I sent the same answers and got sent the test again. Haven't heard back since the test though :/

Thank you, @IzzyAn_na and @OB! I read over mine after @George Maxwell ’s reply to me and can definitely see room for improvement so I’ll edit mine but stick to the same topics generally.

Hi guys, I had a question regarding Norton Rose Fulbright. Has anyone heard from grad rec that the firm does not like to be referred to with the abbreviation NRF? Anyone who may have used it, have you been successful? Thanks so much in advance!

I once heard them say they don’t mind NRF if properly defined at the start - so “…Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) …” - but they dislike being referred to as Norton Rose and really bristle if Fulbright is spelled incorrectly, like with two l’s.

 

[Hele25]

Hi @Hele25!

The crux of the two questions is different- the first is sector-specific and the second is specific to your motivations- which, depending on your drafting, will result in different answers, even if they have energy in common. I would, however, mention at least a couple of areas that I'm interested to work in at the firm while answering the second question but would not feel the pressure to leave out energy just because it was the focus of the first question.

I hope this helps!

Best,

Avni

Thanks so much, this really helps!

 

[Jaysen]

@Jessica Booker @Jaysen

Hi guys - how many questions would you recommend to ask at the end of an interview? Is 1 perfect, or is it advisable to keep going until the interviewer calls time?

If you have just one genuine question to ask, that's absolutely fine. I wouldn't ask more questions for the sake of doing so.

If you do have more questions, I will say more than three/four would be pushing it.

 

[aishwaryakarunakaran]

Thank you, @IzzyAn_na and @OB! I read over mine after @George Maxwell ’s reply to me and can definitely see room for improvement so I’ll edit mine but stick to the same topics generally.

I once heard them say they don’t mind NRF if properly defined at the start - so “…Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) …” - but they dislike being referred to as Norton Rose and really bristle if Fulbright is spelled incorrectly, like with two l’s.

That's really helpful, thanks so much!

 

[psr23]

Does anyone know if the Hogan Lovells winter vs deadline is genuinely extended or if it’s an error with their application system?

 

[SR99]

Does anyone know if the Hogan Lovells winter vs deadline is genuinely extended or if it’s an error with their application system?

Its been extended to midday today

 

[Miki3999]

I am going to take it in the morning and this is scaring me lol. Is it very intense?

Yeah I found it a bit intense

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Awards are only one way to measure success (and not always a good way), but this might give you some indication:

Chambers Latin America Awards 2020 - Chambers and Partners | Researching Outstanding Lawyers Globally | chambers.com

Thank you! Very helpful!