They've come back to me today saying that I only need 45 minutes as I can complete the other part the following week - they have offered me 12 or 3pm, neither of which feel exactly ideal - if it was a bit after 12 that would be one thing as it's lunch time, but rushing off at 11:45am would likely raise an eyebrow.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
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They've come back to me today saying that I only need 45 minutes as I can complete the other part the following week - they have offered me 12 or 3pm, neither of which feel exactly ideal - if it was a bit after 12 that would be one thing as it's lunch time, but rushing off at 11:45am would likely raise an eyebrow.
- Sep 7, 2024
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I completely understand the excitement of wanting to chat with your trainee buddy/supervisors prior to the vac scheme. Though, you do not need to stress with connecting/ building those connections already. There will be plenty of time to do that during the VS, and you’ll even be able to engage more properly in person.
Okay, I was just a bit confused as I had seen it be recommended to introduce yourself via LinkedIn earlier in this forum so I thought that was common practice. Thank you for clearing that up.
all technical (law school module ques, they are quite easy if you’re a law student or have law experience) and competency ques (a very good number of them) - no motivation and commercial ques but it’s good to put what you know about news in the technical ques!
- Sep 7, 2024
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So the transactional law firms have open days that open up in about Sep (though check each firm’s website to be sure). They tend to almost always cover an intro to their core practices (M&A/PE), and some even go through fictitious case studies with candidates to help them better know how these things work. Examples: Latham Kirkland.
As for where to find them, they’re usually located on the firm‘s grad rec site. Sometimes members of their early careers team tend to repost on LinkedIn too.
If you want to know more about these practices, there are loads of sources here on TCLA too. I’ve linked them below to help. The content in TCLA’s premium package also contains loads on these.
Essential Terms For An M&A Interview
Hello TCLA family! I’ve listed below a non-exhaustive list of M&A terms/definitions that should help out with interviews. As this becomes a hotter topic for law firm case studies, we hope you find this useful. Merger: When two companies join to form a single new entity, usually to expand...
www.thecorporatelawacademy.com
Mock M&A Case Study: Analysis
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having a fantastic day. We’re entering the season of assessment centres (ACs) at law firms, and a hot topic for many of these ACs is Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)! So, in this thread, I’ll be guiding you through a short fictitious M&A case study and highlighting...
www.thecorporatelawacademy.com
PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE
This thread is for the general discussion of the Article PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE. Please feel free to add to the discussion here.
www.thecorporatelawacademy.com
to prepare for next year's app season, i was thinking of writing responses to this year's and previous year's application questions. does anyone know if A and O, HSF, HFW, Milbank, Clyde and Co, WFW, and DLA keep their q's the same year on year?
Thanks so much Amma, I really appreciate thisSo the transactional law firms have open days that open up in about Sep (though check each firm’s website to be sure). They tend to almost always cover an intro to their core practices (M&A/PE), and some even go through fictitious case studies with candidates to help them better know how these things work. Examples: Latham Kirkland.
As for where to find them, they’re usually located on the firm‘s grad rec site. Sometimes members of their early careers team tend to repost on LinkedIn too.
If you want to know more about these practices, there are loads of sources here on TCLA too. I’ve linked them below to help. The content in TCLA’s premium package also contains loads on these.
Essential Terms For An M&A Interview
Hello TCLA family! I’ve listed below a non-exhaustive list of M&A terms/definitions that should help out with interviews. As this becomes a hotter topic for law firm case studies, we hope you find this useful. Merger: When two companies join to form a single new entity, usually to expand...
Mock M&A Case Study: Analysis
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having a fantastic day. We’re entering the season of assessment centres (ACs) at law firms, and a hot topic for many of these ACs is Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)! So, in this thread, I’ll be guiding you through a short fictitious M&A case study and highlighting...
PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE
This thread is for the general discussion of the Article PRIVATE EQUITY : A BASIC GUIDE. Please feel free to add to the discussion here.
Hi, I’m currently doing a vacation scheme and I don’t think it’s going well. For context it’s a week. Yesterday I was quite shy. I spoke to people and tried to ask insightful questions but I was scared shitless. I also had a task which had no due date and only had 2 hours to do it. I stayed late but still didn’t complete it and when I asked when it’s due they said tomorrow is fine. Today I went in early to recap on a tech talk that I missed 10 mins of due to it issues. I feel like I also ask a lot of questions about how to do things to my supervisor and ask for help quite a lot. Yesterday I had some attention to detail issues but I have started to ask less and less. At the end of today I started to get more confident and I have 3 coffee chats booked and had one today with a member of my team which they invited me on. When in meetings and getting tasks I try and show an interest of the wider topic but I’m in a dept I haven’t studied so I’m really struggling. Does anyone have any words of wisdom of what to do? Any tips please!! What should I do to stand out I feel I’ve blended into the background a bit.
I see. Thank you. When you mean technical did they ask about Insurance/Construction legislation, cases and concepts eg warranty?
Hi there, I can align with how you feel here. It's normal to feel shy and scared - it can be a daunting environment. Don't shy away from asking the questions you want to ask and don't be afraid of thinking that your question isn't insightful enough. The point of the vacation scheme is to build your knowledge and understanding of the firm, the work they do, and the people in it.
If it takes you longer to do a task, that's expected. They don't expect you to have seen a contract or any form of formal document before. If you need help, say it. You're not expected to know what to do immediately or how to do it. Even I'm in my learning phase right now and constantly absorbing new things or methods of doing things - so are those more senior to me.
IT issues are part and parcel of the job. It happens. Don't overthink it.
It's normal to ask a lot of questions to your supervisor - it's part of the learning experience. It's better to ask and clarify and get it right than to not ask, get it wrong and have to redo it. I'm a trainee buddy now for one of the vacation scheme students at the firm and he's asked me loads of questions about the task, but that is both expected and appreciated. Even in my day-to-day, if it's not told to me at the outset, I still ask questions even though I know what the answer will likely be just so I can be sure that is what/how they want me to do it. No one ever had an issue with me asking too many questions. If you feel like you need clarification, ask.
Attention to detail is developed over time, but no one catches everything and nothing is perfect.
Show an interest in the department and the work. You're not expected to know it in and out. Back when I did my vacation scheme, it was in a department I had zero prior knowledge about, and it was a very complex area of practice as well. I showed up anyways - asked questions and used what I know to try and understand what I don't.
Enthusiasm to learn and being keen in taking task and giving it your all is how you stand out.
Hope this helps!
That's not necessary. At the firm I'm training at, we (the trainee buddies) reach out to the vacation schemers and supervisors do the same as well. In any case, as already said, you get to know them over the course of your scheme anyways. No need to stress about it.
They asked some stupid question last year 'if you could have any superpower'.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Well done! This will help - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....de-for-competency-interview-preparation.9380/
- Sep 7, 2024
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Thank you so much for this @RANDOTRON - it’s really amazing and lovely advice! On a side note, I also really love your username haha!
@Kakaboo , nobody expects you to know everything - the most important part of preliminary stages like vacation schemes is to just throw yourself out there and ask as many questions as possible. People are most of the time really happy to give up their time and this helps you swim! If you don‘t ask those questions, you may end up being perceived as disengaged, which affects your chances. Think less about the tiny details (though I appreciate this may not be the easiest thing to do), and more about making the most of being surrounded by a plethora of legal talent! Ask questions; those coffee chats you’ve scheduled are great - ask questions you won‘t see online! Ask about how a deal was from the perspective of those actually working on it. Ask more personable questions like any challenges lawyers may have faced, and how they overcame it. Socialise with people on your vacation scheme - these will become your fellow colleagues and also professional contacts down the line. And above all, just have a really amazing time, you so deserve it!
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