• 📅 Vacation Scheme Applications 2025–26

    Planning to apply for winter, spring or summer vacation schemes? Join our dedicated threads for support, deadlines, and discussion:

    Let’s make this your strongest application season yet 💼

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  1. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it would be beneficial, for the same reason I believe referencing past unsuccessful vacation schemes is beneficial - it quickly communicates to the person reviewing your application the fact that another recruiter judged you to be a significantly stronger candidate than the majority of...
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I normally went for two or three points, but if you the time limit is quite restrictive (say, 60 seconds) or if the reason both quite uniquely applicable to the firm and also very important to your experience as a trainee there, I think it is fine. For instance, I would not expect a recruiter at...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I have heard that they have a roughly 1/2-1/3 candidate per place ratio, but that it sometimes differs on a year by year basis. I would say this places the pure statistical odds just about the same as in your average AC elsewhere.
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It is an acronym for 'Please (the F-word) Off', which is one phrase that has been commonly used on the forums to refer to a rejection.
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    The natural reading seems to include both elements, so I would try to address both - either as separate points, or, if you can, in a more narrative format. I would not interpret the question about practice area interest as replacing the broader why the firm or why commercial law question, though...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @CHLTC I really empathize with your struggles, as case studies/written tasks were always the hardest part of ACs for me as well. I don't think there is a specific method you can prepare, since as you mentioned, they come in a wide variety of formats. In my view, the only way to prepare is by...
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    In terms of generally applicable questions, a few I would list are: Am I answering every question in such a complete, persuasive and clear manner that I would find no issues with it, even if I reviewed it with a purpose of finding as many inadequacies as possible? Is my style of writing formal...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @svb risk management intern and first of all congrats for progressing to the VI stage! Considering the time limits, I think the safe choice is to limit your answer to two why the firm reasons - by far the biggest issue that has impacted my own VI performances has been trying to cramp down too...
  9. Andrei Radu

    Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

    Hi there! Firstly, I just wanted ask how long does it take you to answer if you keep everything in? Before my interviews I always had this worry about my answers being too long and the people advising me always told me not to worry too much about it - while you will hear a lot about...
  10. Andrei Radu

    MoFo app 2024-25

    I think you add value to your application by including either of the points you mentioned (the further why MoFo and why me) as long as you ensure they are not repetitive. You could also discuss your broader commercial law journey, as I see there was no direct 'Why commercial law' question...
  11. Andrei Radu

    Penningtons Manches cooper application

    Hey @mat123 - I agree there is a limit to how much business value you can add at this early stage, but I still think you can make some plausible claims. If the firm did not see potential for added business value, they would not commit to the significant financial investment involved in hiring a...
  12. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @hfbjsdhfbhf to add to the great response from @Jessica Booker in my case I have generally found it best to ask questions around the unique selling points on which I had based my 'why this firm' reasoning. I quoted bellow a post I wrote in which I explored this issue in more depth:
  13. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think you should just try to tell a short story about yourself. Let the reader know where you are from, a few of the personal interests and hobbies you have (especially the ones you would not necessarily put in a 'Why you' section), a bit about you general academic and professional journey and...
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I don't know too much about this issue and I think @Jessica Booker will be able to give you a more informed response, but I think this should be fine. The main competencies questions of this type aim to test are your ability for commercial analysis, knowledge of the legal market and of the firm...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I don't know of any question bank entirely dedicated to competency question, but TCLA offers an excellent question bank with 320+ questions, over three quarters of which come from actual interviews. It is split in various sections, and has one specifically listing a few dozen competency...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    No, I think that will be fine. Generally speaking, I am of the opinion that the 'fit' element of a deal/case (how well it aligns with your motivations/points you are trying to illustrate about the firm) is more important than the recency consideration. Regardless, work done in the past three...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    So I think it is possible to write a good answer if you choose either option - what is key is to show off (i) your general capacity for commercial analysis as applied to the business of law firms; and (ii) your research and knowledge of OC's unique business. I will list bellow some of the...
  18. Andrei Radu

    Penningtons Manches cooper application

    Hi @Meghna I think you should go for the usual 'Why me' skills/experience structure with some tweaks to address the specific point about adding value. Thus, I would employ a structure like the following: Walk the reader through your the relevant experience/achievement, using a STAR structure -...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    As @RSK mentioned, most successful applications will have at least one minor mistake or typo, and I can tell you this was the case for me for 3/4 of the firms that gave me a VS offer. Moreover, from my experience it is highly uncommon for firms to review written applications again when deciding...
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I would say yes if (i) you have learnt about and developed your interest in the industry during the application process and/or the AC itself; and (ii) getting to that AC was highly competitive, to the effect that this can be seen as an achievement worth mentioning. However, even if both...

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