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  1. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @andreilover01 I’m sure you'd just LOOOOOVE some insight from @Andrei Radu (and I would too tbh), but I just wanted to chime in to say YES, you can absolutely talk about debate and the steps you’ve taken to improve your skills. It’s a great example that can be taken in a lot of interesting...
  2. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Tclarocks123 👀 I think it's understandable that you don’t want to change what worked (I remember feeling this way with some firms that I re-applied to during my second cycle), but depending on how long ago you applied, giving your application a bit of a facelift is important. Without some...
  3. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Amehta1 :) I think it’s absolutely fine to mention a career path that’s different from banking or consulting! In fact, choosing something you’re genuinely passionate about, like software engineering, can make your answer stand out (and show you have a personality!). The key is to explain...
  4. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Aspiringsolicitor01 Completely agree with @Jessica Booker (to absolutely nobody's surprise)! These schemes are fantastic experience to mention in your applications! In my first application cycle, I relied heavily on opportunities like the Legal Cheek Winter Vacation Scheme to demonstrate...
  5. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @tholds :) I think it’s absolutely fine to apply again (and I'd highly recommend you do so)! It’s great that you’re already planning to update your cover letter - that’s always my recommended first step! You don't have to revise all sections of your application, but it might be worth...
  6. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Legalgirl I wanted to jump in here and add to what @lolasparks insightfully mentioned. I'm also sure @Andrei Radu would have more to say here. First, I’d advise against using the exact same answer from your open day application for the vacation scheme. While the answer was successful the...
  7. Ram Sabaratnam

    Low first year and second your grades , applications discussion

    Hi @Anonbird :) I think it’s absolutely possible to secure a training contract, even if your grades aren't exactly as you'd like. Many firms take a holistic approach to applications, considering factors like work experience, extracurriculars, and mitigating circumstances. It's important to...
  8. Ram Sabaratnam

    Norton Rose Fulbright Question:

    Hi @Elijah Wee Yang Yi :) Your suggestion to discuss legal risks isn’t necessarily incorrect, but the question is more commercially focussed. It’s asking you to pinpoint one specific sector and identify areas of growth over the next 12 months. Navigating legal risks isn't what is typically...
  9. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @sarahfw Good luck with your AC! Even though the firm doesn’t have offices in the US, it might still be worth considering the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs or trade policies on the firm’s clients in Europe and the UK. This is particularly worth thinking about given the US’s...
  10. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @jojo23 Completely agree with @Andrei Radu here. There's no need to include your research or motivations for joining Reed Smith in your answer to this particular question. Instead, I would treat this as a standard motivational question about why you’re pursuing a career in commercial law...
  11. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    And Ram Sabaratnam won't start his training contract until he is 35 (but in all seriousness, loved this @Amma Usman!!!!).
  12. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @sibs23 I think it’s absolutely fine (and even important) to mention the GCO route, as it’s a key feature of the programme you’re applying for. Having taken a quick look at the description, I was particularly struck by the distinctive nature of the seats offered and the specific work...
  13. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @Zaraa.x :) I think the key factor here is the quality of your application. If you’ve already reviewed it thoroughly and feel confident that it’s polished and ready to go, there’s no reason why you can’t submit it for the Spring deadline. While they do recruit on a rolling basis...
  14. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @agx Yep, I think Bird & Bird actually puts out some excellent publications on industry trends across a variety of industries. You can access the report here. It's relatively recent and should give you a good sense of the sort of trends currently affecting the key industries that Bird &...
  15. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @sarahfw Just to add to what @Jessica Booker response, this approach is exactly what I used for these kinds of questions. If I didn’t have enough word count in the extracurriculars section, I would use this space to include additional volunteer roles, extracurricular activities, or...
  16. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @C_AJH :) If the application form doesn’t have a section specifically for extracurricular activities, you could consider including these experiences in the work experience section. In my own applications, I’ve included pro bono casework roles in the work experience section, even though...
  17. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Heya @billyonthespeeddial 👀 I completely agree with @Jessica Booker on this. When I was in a similar position, I did include a vacation scheme offer in my work experience section, but in hindsight, I found that my applications often worked better when I mentioned it more briefly elsewhere...
  18. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Completely get how frustrating it can be to condense a strong answer into just 90 seconds! It can be really tough to know, too, whether you've struck the right balance between depth and conciseness. That said, in these cases, I think it's really important to ask yourself whether you can...
  19. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hi @Zaraa.x :) I think @Jessica Booker and @Andrei Radu would also have some things to add here, but just wanted to jump in before. Completely understand overthinking questions (guilty of this on too many previous occasions to count)! That said, I think the primary aim of this question is less...
  20. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Heya @j3llyfish :) I’m sorry to hear about your experience with the video interview, but don’t be too hard on yourself. I'd keep in mind that recruiters aren’t just focussed on your delivery; they’re also paying close attention to the content and structure of your answers. A friend of mine had...

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