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

[Shootingstars2]

Both is fine. I'd suggest trying to firm up what exactly you're keen on within those areas - commercial law is a very, very broad field and if CRS has any particular practice groups you're interested in then go to that level of detail.

I'm not sure how they run their private client practice but again that can involve a lot of things - assuming their focus is HNW individuals, do they handle private investment ex. into family offices, trusts, wills & estates, big-ticket divorces, Dickensian inheritance disputes, individual commercial/business disputes, real estate, secured borrowing? Identify your interests, get into what about this interests you, and why.

Thank you - really grateful for your detailed response. Is having a specific interest in particular areas really important in the application phase? I have lots of pro bono experience and I enjoyed helping individual clients and understanding their personal issues, so this has clarified that private client law is my particular interest. Would they expect to know specific areas of private client law and why they interest me?

I only have limited law firm experience and I only had expose to wills and estates, and by exposure, I mean, I helped draft a will by filling in a template for a fake client (not that exciting). Whilst for example, big-ticket divorces interests me, how would you explain this interest without having experience in this area?

But I also enjoyed my business experience, and working with businesses, and M&A type work. They are such different areas (private and commercial) so worried the law firm will think I just have no clue, and will never find an area I want to qualify into if i'm interested in such polar practice areas....

 

[Rob93]

Thank you - really grateful for your detailed response. Is having a specific interest in particular areas really important in the application phase? I have lots of pro bono experience and I enjoyed helping individual clients and understanding their personal issues, so this has clarified that private client law is my particular interest. Would they expect to know specific areas of private client law and why they interest me?

I only have limited law firm experience and I only had expose to wills and estates, and by exposure, I mean, I helped draft a will by filling in a template for a fake client (not that exciting). Whilst for example, big-ticket divorces interests me, how would you explain this interest without having experience in this area?

But I also enjoyed my business experience, and working with businesses, and M&A type work. They are such different areas (private and commercial) so worried the law firm will think I just have no clue, and will never find an area I want to qualify into if i'm interested in such polar practice areas....

Don't worry too much about what exposure you've had - most applicants don't have much experience. Your pro bono experience sounds great, for private client I'd really lean in on wanting to do work that has a direct impact on people's lives - just bear in mind that the type of client and the type of work will obviously be very different. For, say, divorce discuss why it interests you - ex. these are obviously very charged disputes with a lot at stake, and the prospect of acting as a level-headed advisor to help clients achieve the best outcome in these challenging situations is attractive. Re: commercial and M&A, again the key thing is what's attractive about it for you personally?

I don't think it's an issue to talk about both private client and corporate/commercial if you're applying to a firm that is serious about both of those things and where you're likely to have a seat in both areas during training. On the contrary, it gives you a strong 'why this firm?' response - because there aren't a lot of firms that have substantial capabilities in both those areas, training there will help you make the right decision about what to pursue on qualification.

 

[Rob93]

Thank you - really grateful for your detailed response. Is having a specific interest in particular areas really important in the application phase? I have lots of pro bono experience and I enjoyed helping individual clients and understanding their personal issues, so this has clarified that private client law is my particular interest. Would they expect to know specific areas of private client law and why they interest me?

I only have limited law firm experience and I only had expose to wills and estates, and by exposure, I mean, I helped draft a will by filling in a template for a fake client (not that exciting). Whilst for example, big-ticket divorces interests me, how would you explain this interest without having experience in this area?

But I also enjoyed my business experience, and working with businesses, and M&A type work. They are such different areas (private and commercial) so worried the law firm will think I just have no clue, and will never find an area I want to qualify into if i'm interested in such polar practice areas....

To answer the more general question, at application stage it's best to calibrate the level of specificity to the firm. If you were applying to a US firm with an intense finance focus then obviously it would be appropriate to go deep on that. Conversely, some MC and other full service firms will raise an eyebrow if you're too focused on one thing because you'll spend most of your TC doing other things and they don't want you phoning it in.

 

[Shaz]

Received a Links WVS offer as an external applicant on Monday! My AC was last Tuesday

 

[Slawrelated]

Why would a firm ask you why you are applying to that specific office? i.e London instead of Manchester etc

 

[GXA123]

Received a Links WVS offer as an external applicant on Monday! My AC was last Tuesday

what do u mean by external applicant?

 

[GXA123]

Why would a firm ask you why you are applying to that specific office? i.e London instead of Manchester etc

depends on numbers of vac schemes offered, dates, preference, TCs and so on

 

[Shaz]

what do u mean by external applicant?

As in, I wasn't a candidate on the Pathfinder scheme or Making Links Scholarship as I know the VS invitations went out to them before candidates not on those schemes.

 

[GXA123]

As in, I wasn't a candidate on the Pathfinder scheme or Making Links Scholarship as I know the VS invitations went out to them before candidates not on those schemes.

Thank you x

 

[Anoned]

Just received an invite to Weil's Insight Day at their office! Those of you that have applied, I recommend you check your spam folders, as mine went there and there's a time limit to confirm attendance.

Same here! Which day did you pick?

 

[kat_]

If the word count for work experience is 250 words, does that mean I have to write that much about each job?

 

[layk]

Does anyone know Baker McKenzie's competencies/ values?? I can't seem to find them on the website

 

[layk]

Anyone else been sent a video interview from Bird & Bird? 😊

Could I ask what percentage you got for your WG test?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Would it be recommended to wait for NRF to open Summer Apps and apply then, or risk it and apply Spring if I prefer the dates of the scheme?

I’d apply for Spring if that is your preferred date.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know Baker McKenzie's competencies/ values?? I can't seem to find them on the website

This might help: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/-/media/files/careers/global_recruiting_ebrochure.pdf?la=en (although is a little older as it’s when the firm still was using the & in its name).

 

[m.aspiring.lawyer]

Congrats on the AC! Please can I ask when you heard back post VI?

Thanks, it was about two weeks I think!

 

[Shootingstars2]

To answer the more general question, at application stage it's best to calibrate the level of specificity to the firm. If you were applying to a US firm with an intense finance focus then obviously it would be appropriate to go deep on that. Conversely, some MC and other full service firms will raise an eyebrow if you're too focused on one thing because you'll spend most of your TC doing other things and they don't want you phoning it in.

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Slawrelated]

depends on numbers of vac schemes offered, dates, preference, TCs and so on

It was in an application question. They said why this office so I was wondering what the reasoning is behind that and what they expect us to say?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Why would a firm ask you why you are applying to that specific office? i.e London instead of Manchester etc

Because most people are not geographically mobile and cannot work in multiple locations. The firm needs to ensure they have the right amount of talent pipeline for each vacancy they have.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If the word count for work experience is 250 words, does that mean I have to write that much about each job?

No - some jobs can be described in a much shorter word limit (eg if the job was fairly straight forward/limited responsibilities/for a short period of time).