TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Jessica Booker]

I suspect it is but not 100%. I think @Jessica Booker would be a better authority as to that.

No SJT just the video interview this year.

 

[Lawyer2003]

If I want to apply to a firm that has a set week for interviews that I already know I won't be available for, is it better to just not apply? or to contact them now to ask if they can normally accommodate interviews at a later date? or just to apply and then get in touch if I get invited to an interview?

What firm is this?

 

[Heartofglass]

Latham pfo at last.

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Latham pfo jus now 🥲 what a way to start my Friday

 

[Metepow]

Still nothing from Slaughters?

 

[RonRod13]

Ha! Bet you didn't know that @ElonMusk!

I love how you claimed they are competitors yet provided the arguments that perfectly contradict your statement.

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

 

[laby201]

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

I don’t think anyone wants to see this debate to continue anymore, especially because you’re ignoring pretty sound advice, but I think you’re getting confused.

No one is disputing that W&C aren’t competitors with all other US firms. To a degree, all City law firms compete against each other. However, if you were asked in an interview who W&C’s competitors were and your answer was “all US firms”, I can almost guarantee that interviewers would not be impressed. It shows a serious lack of critical thinking and depth, just like if you were asked who Freshfields’ competitors were and you said “all of the MC”. It just isn’t the case when in many regards, HSF or Hogan Lovells will be considered bigger competitors.

I’d say Latham is probably W&C’s biggest competitor but that’s not purely because it’s a US firm, it’s because it’s clearly the firm W&C aspires to be by making its London office its biggest, rather than a satellite office like most US firms in London. It also is increasing its work in the corporate/capital markets sphere like Latham. Skadden is worth a mention too.

However, you wouldn’t say somewhere like Orrick is a bigger competitor than W&C than Clifford Chance, say, who excel in capital markets, insolvency, and other areas that W&C specialises in. If you’re focusing on energy and projects, which W&C is known for, Norton Rose would be a far bigger competitor than Paul Hastings for W&C.

It’s a nuanced answer. It’s fine to say a US firm, like Latham, if you can back it up. Saying Morgan Lewis, Orrick, and Weil are competitors solely because they’re US firms, while ignoring a firm like NRF, who is arguably a bigger competitor, won’t get you far.

Now let’s end this debate here. If you don’t want to take the advice, that’s your choice!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

I don’t think anyone wants to see this debate continue anymore, especially because you’re ignoring pretty sound advice, but I think you’re getting confused.

No one is disputing that W&C aren’t competitors with all other US firms. To a degree, all City law firms compete against each other. However, if you were asked in an interview who W&C’s competitors were and your answer was “all US firms”, I can almost guarantee that interviewers would not be impressed. It shows a serious lack of critical thinking and depth, just like if you were asked who Freshfields’ competitors were and you said “all of the MC”. It just isn’t the case when in many regards, HSF or Hogan Lovells will be considered bigger competitors.

I’d say Latham is probably W&C’s biggest competitor but that’s not purely because it’s a US firm, it’s because it’s clearly the firm W&C aspires to be by making its London office its biggest, rather than a satellite office like most US firms in London. It also is increasing its work in the corporate/capital markets sphere like Latham. Skadden is worth a mention too.

However, you wouldn’t say somewhere like Orrick is a bigger competitor than W&C than Clifford Chance, say, who excel in capital markets, insolvency, and other areas that W&C specialises in. If you’re focusing on energy and projects, which W&C is known for, Norton Rose would be a far bigger competitor than Paul Hastings for W&C.

It’s a nuanced answer. It’s fine to say a US firm, like Latham, if you can back it up. Saying Morgan Lewis, Orrick, and Weil are competitors solely because they’re US firms, while ignoring a firm like NRF, who is arguably a bigger competitor, won’t get you far.

Now let’s end this debate here. If you don’t want to take the advice, that’s your choice!

word im waiting for updates on firms and all the notifs i get is about this debate going on from yday 😭 please start a new forum guys, the rest of us jus wanna know if we’re getting rejected or not, leave us be xo

 

[NJS]

NRF will get back by the 8th of March? I remember seeing someone post that

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

Sorry I’m confused, where is the contradiction exactly?

"Just because they try to target different audiences, brand themselves differently, price their cars differently etc."

That's like saying a fine dining restaurant competes with McDonald's because they both have burgers on the menu.

I don't want to restart this debate so, please just read other comments and reflect. Good luck with the applications!

 

[Kenomy]

No SJT just the video interview this year.

Thanks Jessica. I was more referring to saj2002s question of whether we had been shortlisted to the next stage

 

[TurnbullBR]

W&C VI invite last night just before 9pm. Even if I pass, I just realised am still a further stage away from actually meeting someone in person......that is a bit soul destroying.

I've applied to approximately 20 firms, with 9/10 applications still live (either upcoming interviews/AC's or still waiting to hear back post-app).

Out of curiosity, I'd be interested to speak to anyone who has explored training with a boutique firm, particularly one which specialises in disputes/contentious work.

 

[impostersyndrome]

I don’t think anyone wants to see this debate to continue anymore, especially because you’re ignoring pretty sound advice, but I think you’re getting confused.

No one is disputing that W&C aren’t competitors with all other US firms. To a degree, all City law firms compete against each other. However, if you were asked in an interview who W&C’s competitors were and your answer was “all US firms”, I can almost guarantee that interviewers would not be impressed. It shows a serious lack of critical thinking and depth, just like if you were asked who Freshfields’ competitors were and you said “all of the MC”. It just isn’t the case when in many regards, HSF or Hogan Lovells will be considered bigger competitors.

I’d say Latham is probably W&C’s biggest competitor but that’s not purely because it’s a US firm, it’s because it’s clearly the firm W&C aspires to be by making its London office its biggest, rather than a satellite office like most US firms in London. It also is increasing its work in the corporate/capital markets sphere like Latham. Skadden is worth a mention too.

However, you wouldn’t say somewhere like Orrick is a bigger competitor than W&C than Clifford Chance, say, who excel in capital markets, insolvency, and other areas that W&C specialises in. If you’re focusing on energy and projects, which W&C is known for, Norton Rose would be a far bigger competitor than Paul Hastings for W&C.

It’s a nuanced answer. It’s fine to say a US firm, like Latham, if you can back it up. Saying Morgan Lewis, Orrick, and Weil are competitors solely because they’re US firms, while ignoring a firm like NRF, who is arguably a bigger competitor, won’t get you far.

Now let’s end this debate here. If you don’t want to take the advice, that’s your choice!

Why are y'all responding, this person just got y'all to answer an interview question for them by instigating your intense need to correct ppl 😂😂😂

 

[laby201]

Why are y'all responding, this person just got y'all to answer an interview question for them by instigating your intense need to correct ppl 😂😂😂

It’s not an “intense need to correct people”. The exact point of my response (and others who have replied) is to help give an answer to an interview question or at least inspire one. This is a forum designed to help people and provide advice on answers because it’s an extremely tough process that we’re all going through. If you can help someone have a better interview answer/understand a topic, that’s a positive and the whole point of why we’re all here: to get support in this community.

If the OP doesn’t want to take the advice, that’s their prerogative, doesn’t mean we won’t give it. It’s a forum designed to help others, so there’s no need to be rude. Given we’re all in a tough spot, this forum can make your eyes roll at times with attitudes like this.

 

[Arf1309]

Has anyone heard back from IM (personal services) or DWF (ethnic minority scheme) post VI for Manchester?

 

[S87]

Anyone received K&L Gates PFO so far?

They will send an outcome email by the 29th of February.

 

[lllaaawww098]

They will send an outcome email by the 29th of February.

Ok great! So if I haven't received the tests/AC so far, it is likely to be an implicit PFO

 

[Ehotlom]

Still no response from addleshaw London summer. I got through to the test but haven’t heard about AC yet

 

[S87]

Ok great! So if I haven't received the tests/AC so far, it is likely to be an implicit PFO

I do not know but I am in the same boat and am not positive.

 

[S87]

Still no response from addleshaw London summer. I got through to the test but haven’t heard about AC yet

You and I both, I put them in my PFOs list.