TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Hana ♥]

I’m not an expert on applications at all as this is only my first cycle. What has crossed my mind is that these points seem more suited to address why someone would want a career at Paul, Weiss (training, mentoring, coaching, lean team structure, small trainee intake and greater responsibility) and doesn’t seem to address the specific question which asks ‘as a premier law firm, what enables Paul, Weiss to maintain its competitive advantage’. There is no mention of Paul, Weiss being a premier law firm, or how it maintains its competitive advantage against other premier law firms (I don’t know if this is needed necessarily).

Also, I think since Paul, Weiss is so new in London (it’s pretty much still in growth mode as they still need a dispute resolution practice), it may have been good to highlight what gives Paul, Weiss a competitive advantage on an international scale or in the US. If it needed to be more UK focused, perhaps discussion of the London office being PE focused (most of Paul, Weiss’ clients in London are PE firms) would have been good. To expand on this, you could have added the points from the first paragraph (hiring top PE talent and having a full service transactional focus to offer the best service to PE clients, which results in positive outcomes like the KPS Capital deal and how this will allow Paul, Weiss to maintain its competitive advantage against other PE focused firms in the UK). They also moved to Soho strategically to be closer to their PE clients.

I don’t know whether these points are right or wrong at all it’s just what crossed my mind, so please bear in mind I might actually be waffling here. 😂😂​

I completely agree, I would have read that question like that too - i.e., what are PW’s competitive advantages and strategic positioning vs. competitors. However, the answer focuses heavily on existing expertise (the only point I got was that the teams are high quality, and each paragraph gives a different angle of what that looks like) without fully addressing how PW can leverage this expertise strategically going forward.

The first paragraph outlines really well PW’s strengths but misses a chance to connect them to market trends. The second paragraph’s focus on mentoring and development is good too, but it feels like an extension of the ‘talent’ theme rather than a distinct advantage. Similarly the final paragraph reads as a little too underdeveloped.

The answer could have better focused on only two points and frame these as key strengths that PW could use to capture future growth (eg not just current expertise and how it's used - a little too descriptive).

I hope this is helpful @legal18 !

 

[tarty23]

have people heard back (good or bad news, anything) from Dechert for their summer scheme? or for Cleary summer - I believe I saw some WG invites recently?

I received written exercise today

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Has anyone done K&L Gates verbal analysis test? Can't find anything on it at all

When did you hear?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Anyone else waiting for that Paul, Weiss rejection? My amberjack was not good

 

[congrades]

Anyone else waiting for that Paul, Weiss rejection? My amberjack was not good

me! I wish they'd just put me out of my misery! how did you do?

 

[Chris Brown]

Anyone else waiting for that Paul, Weiss rejection? My amberjack was not good

Yeah I’m still waiting for my Paul, Weiss PFO. I want it to be over and done with asap the anxiety is too much for me. That Amberjack test was horrid. 🥲🥲​

 

[kelisi88]

Guys, this cycle has been worse than terrible. Now I'm clueless as to what to do this summer! Does anyone have any ideas for non-commercial law or non-law work experience that could benefit next year's apps? I don't want to have nothing on my CV this year. @Jessica Booker any advice..?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi, I have an AC coming up next week. I wanted to get some thoughts on how to prepare for a CV-blind and application-blind interview. In such a case, can I recycle my answers from my applications, or is it unwise to do that? Similarly, how much in-depth research should I do into the firm? It's my first AC, and I'm really keen to get the VS. @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman any tips would be appreciated!

I generally think there is nothing wrong with using answers you formulated in your applications as well, although for some reason it seems many people initially assume that this is the case. Of course you can and should polish and tailor the answers for the purposes of the interview, perhaps by adding deeper insights and changing the phrasing for a more suitable one. However, I do not think any interviewers have an expectation for your answers to differ much in substance from your answers in the application form. In fact, it would be more concerning if your answers were radically different, as it would show either dishonesty or an instability in your fundamental motivations.

Regarding on your question as to how to prepare, I think mostly the same as you would for a normal competency interview:

1. Build up the most extended and comprehensive question bank you can and find ideas to answer those question;
2. Practice by recording yourself and then reviewing your performance;
3. Do mock interview;
4. Deepen your research into the firm and brush up on your commercial awareness.

On the last point, I think your research should be as extensive as it can be and I would definitely take at least half a day for it. Among the aspects that you should know, I would list the following:

• Basic firm facts: number of offices, financial figures, firm history
• Practice area/sector strengths and the firm's market position compared to competitors
• Recent big deals cases
• Recent awards and other forms of market recognition
• A few core clients
• Firm's business strategy and any recent developments (new offices, lateral hires etc)
• Training philosophy and details of the offering

 

[NJS]

Paul, Weiss theory:

They may be looking for applicants who also have a good amount of legal experience too, kinda like a direct TC applicant would. Would you think considering its their first ever cohort, they would want students fresh out of uni with no experience? Just a thought I might be wrong

 

[jta227]

Paul, Weiss theory:

They may be looking for applicants who also have a good amount of legal experience too, kinda like a direct TC applicant would. Would you think considering its their first ever cohort, they would want students fresh out of uni with no experience? Just a thought I might be wrong

I feel like if this was the case they should've just said so instead of leading on hundreds (thousands?) of people at their Open Days as surely they would have known that was their strategy at that stage. Though we haven't seen the resumé of anyone who has progressed so I wouldn't assume this yet!

 

[sapphireoreos]

I generally think there is nothing wrong with using answers you formulated in your applications as well, although for some reason it seems many people initially assume that this is the case. Of course you can and should polish and tailor the answers for the purposes of the interview, perhaps by adding deeper insights and changing the phrasing for a more suitable one. However, I do not think any interviewers have an expectation for your answers to differ much in substance from your answers in the application form. In fact, it would be more concerning if your answers were radically different, as it would show either dishonesty or an instability in your fundamental motivations.

Regarding on your question as to how to prepare, I think mostly the same as you would for a normal competency interview:

1. Build up the most extended and comprehensive question bank you can and find ideas to answer those question;
2. Practice by recording yourself and then reviewing your performance;
3. Do mock interview;
4. Deepen your research into the firm and brush up on your commercial awareness.

On the last point, I think your research should be as extensive as it can be and I would definitely take at least half a day for it. Among the aspects that you should know, I would list the following:

• Basic firm facts: number of offices, financial figures, firm history
• Practice area/sector strengths and the firm's market position compared to competitors
• Recent big deals cases
• Recent awards and other forms of market recognition
• A few core clients
• Firm's business strategy and any recent developments (new offices, lateral hires etc)
• Training philosophy and details of the offering

Thank you so much, this is so helpful! I’m just wondering how I can prepare on the commercial awareness front, as I’ve completely slacked on that. Thanks again!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu, how do you recommend preparing for an hour long analytical interview where I will be given an article to read for 30 minutes and after that two interviewers will ask me questions for an hour?
The article may be fictious and unrelated to current commercial issues and I will have to take business considerations into account and wider implications.

Interview is on Thursday so will be really grateful if you could share your thoughts at your earliest convenience.

Hi @pleasepleaseplease as I have never been assessed under this particular format I will not be able to speak from experience, but as I see it this exercise is set out to test mainly two things:

1. Firstly, your commercial awareness. More specifically, since you mention it could be unrelated to current issues, it will likely test you ability for commercial analysis. That is, can you identify the most relevant business considerations that arise from any particular issue? Can you explain how exactly they matter for a business' operation? Can you identify the different stakeholders and identify their positions? Can you then point out the possible courses of action and then make an argument in favour of one? For this, I think the best you can do is to read widely about commerce and to try to engage critically with the materials. However, in these last few days in the buildup to the AC, you could focus a bit more on materials giving an overviews about how businesses work - a great resource I recommend here is Investopedia.
2. Secondly, your ability maintain composure under pressure, to think on your feet, and to defend your views. For this, I think the best practice is to simply simulate the assessment condition. If you can, get a friend to select a longer business article and then have them question you on it. While the questions will likely differ from what you get in the actual interview, if properly set up this will give you useful experience with this type of assessment and should make you feel more at ease on the day.

Best of luck !

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much, this is so helpful! I’m just wondering how I can prepare on the commercial awareness front, as I’ve completely slacked on that. Thanks again!

To improve commercial awareness as much as you can over a short period, I advise you to do the following:

• Try to understand well the basics of how businesses and investments work. On the business side, look up how businesses generate revenue and grow, but also what are the main risks they face and costs they incur. Also, try to get a basic understanding of the differences between the main economic sectors. On the investment side, research the types of investments strategies, the key types of financial institutions in the market and their roles (investment banks, PE funds, hedge funds, asset managers etc), and the core concepts in capital markets (debt vs equity, bonds, IPOs etc). Investopedia has a number of great articles on these, but you can also just browse the internet and you will find many good resources.
• Learn the basics of the different practices areas in commercial law: what do they do, how does their work differ, why do the clients need those services? In particular, try to get a good grasp of M&A and PE, as those come up most often in interviews. Here, I would recommend the great courses offered by TCLA.
• Read a few recent articles on the most major current issues so that you have an idea about them if they come up. I would list, in no particular order: AI and the stock market rally, inflation and monetary policy, geopolitical tensions, the US elections and threats of tariffs, and changes in energy policy.
• Listen to as many episodes of commercial awareness podcasts as you can (and make use of moments like commuting to do that). In particular, I recommend: the FT News Briefing, BBC Business News, Watson's Daily, Goldman Sachs Exchanges, The Lawyer Podcast, Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg News.

 

[Someoneinlaw]

Does anyone have a discount or free log in for assessment day(the preparation website) please ?🥺

 

[Legal Wizard]

It’s such a shame that in our desperation to secure vacation schemes and TC’s that we often forget our own value- how much these firms would be lucky to have us. Because we forget our worth and apply en masse to these firms, they understandably create ways to siphon our applications without even giving them a cursory glance- applications that we spend days, weeks and even months perfecting.

I wonder if enough of us stopped applying to firms that give these downright silly assessments (especially NRF) that allow them to dismiss our applications without even giving them a read is the way forward. The American firms have all but given up on the WG and other similar tests to their credit and when you meet their lawyers the difference is very evident from the magic circle/ silver circle cookie-cutter candidates that are often more or less all the same (Slaughters). I’ve been very lucky this year with applications; however, if I have to do a third cycle next year I will not be applying to any firms that disregard my efforts as a candidate by not even reading my application instead dismissing it based on some archaic assessment system that doesn’t truly gauge a candidate’s potential. Ultimately, I want to invest my energy in firms that genuinely value individuality, recognise diverse experiences, and are prepared to look beyond test scores to appreciate the full picture of who I am and what I bring to the table. We all should.

 

[simplyfaith]

Paul, Weiss theory:

They may be looking for applicants who also have a good amount of legal experience too, kinda like a direct TC applicant would. Would you think considering its their first ever cohort, they would want students fresh out of uni with no experience? Just a thought I might be wrong

I'm going to say this isn't the case, on the basis that they put a lot of emphasis on wanting to develop a strong pathway from trainee to partnership. While this was mainly from the perspective that it fosters stronger teams compared to lateral hiring, I think it also demonstrates a commitment to growing talent from a fresh slate. They'll have to eventually, and they already have more than enough lawyers of all experience levels. Passing on those without legal experience feels against their current philosophy. They are a business, and those with more legal experience might appear a strong short-term move. However, I feel it would be a long-term detriment. At least on a micro scale. I assume they would take a balanced approach. That's my thinking, at least.

 

[cashshmoney]

Has anyone here done the critical thinking test for DAC Beachcroft and how did you find it! Is it a watson glaser and i'm hoping it's not too difficult 🥲

Hey, have you done the test? Was it an SJT or Watson Glaser?

 

[Amakaa]

I'm going to say this isn't the case, on the basis that they put a lot of emphasis on wanting to develop a strong pathway from trainee to partnership. While this was mainly from the perspective that it fosters stronger teams compared to lateral hiring, I think it also demonstrates a commitment to growing talent from a fresh slate. They'll have to eventually, and they already have more than enough lawyers of all experience levels. Passing on those without legal experience feels against their current philosophy. They are a business, and those with more legal experience might appear a strong short-term move. However, I feel it would be a long-term detriment. At least on a micro scale. I assume they would take a balanced approach. That's my thinking, at least.

Paul mentioned during the open day that they ideally prefer students who can start their training contracts next year. As a result, it is highly likely that career changers, final-year students, and graduates will be prioritized. I'm uncertain how many of the 10 offers will go to penultimate-year students. I asked Paul if he knew what percentage of TC offers would allow for a start date in 2027. He stylishly avoided answering, saying that if there were outstanding applications that could start in 2027, those candidates would definitely receive an offer. I just want to raise awareness among penultimate-year students like me not to feel discouraged, even if you have a strong application, as the firm needs trainees as soon as possible.

 

[jfb]

I did it last year and got the scheme. There’s nothing I could tell you to help you do better on it. You just have to attempt it and do your best. It was tough and you’ll need a calculator.

Okay thanks! What about the video interview, how many qs did they ask roughly, and how much about the firm?

 

[Ricky]

I haven't heard back from P,W yet but this was my answer. I focused on linking each paragraph back to the client and what it means for them.

Paul, Weiss’s full-service offering, underpinned by sponsor-side financial expertise, supports private equity clients from fund formation to IPO. Two-thirds of London lawyers specialise in private equity and debt finance, enabling Paul, Weiss to provide tailored, flexible financing strategies that balance stakeholder priorities. In TDR Capital’s acquisition of Acqua & Sapone, Paul, Weiss structured €400 million fixed-rate and €450 million floating-rate notes listed on the Euro MTF to attract institutional investors and secure competitive pricing alongside a €130 million revolving credit facility. This combination met the client’s unique needs by optimising the cost of capital and providing liquidity for funding the acquisition and post-transaction for strategic growth, exemplifying Paul, Weiss’s ability to deliver value-driven financing strategies.

Coordinating advice across London, New York, and Brussels for General Atlantic’s Kyriba investment exemplified Paul, Weiss’s “one-firm” culture. The absence of billing targets eliminates internal competition, prioritising knowledge sharing and high-quality advice over billable hours. This enabled Paul, Weiss to reconcile US-UK tax frameworks and structure equity and financing arrangements that safeguarded General Atlantic’s minority investment and advanced Kyriba’s treasury technology leadership. Additionally, a capacity manager ensures efficient resource allocation, keeping critical activities like due diligence and financing coordination on track. AI tools like Harvey enhance this process by identifying red flags early and facilitating informed risk and deal viability assessments. This enables Paul Weiss to manage accelerated auction timelines, mitigate cross-border tax inefficiencies and deliver enhanced investor protections, all while securing strategic market positioning for clients.


Expanding partnership by 54% with 16 strategic hires in 2024 exemplified Paul, Weiss’s ambitious growth trajectory. Recruiting former TDR General Counsel David Holdsworth, whose unique insight into sponsor priorities strengthens the firm’s ability to anticipate TDR-specific challenges, structure tailored financing, and drive long-term portfolio growth, reinforced Paul, Weiss’s position as a trusted adviser for transformative private equity investments.