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  1. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I think what people are really celebrating when they celebrate YOU is the fact that all the resilience has paid off! Anyone who has gone through this process will know it is naive to associate an individual's success too closely with the firm they got their offer from - their success comes from...
  2. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    They say that roughly 85% of their 50 trainees complete the vac scheme. That leaves open the possibility for 5-10 direct TCs every year!
  3. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    'Meant to' - no. But this is a complete gift! It enables you to build that elusive 'rapport' with your interviewers if you have something interesting to say about their background, including practice area, nationality, affinity groups, or leisure interests (depending on how much digging you...
  4. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    As to whether it's 'okay', I am not sure there is anything explicit anywhere about this, but I was certainly guilty of doing so on occasion! It honestly tends to create more stress than it relieves, however, if you have to look through your notes during an interview. Referring to pre-prepared...
  5. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I have a friend who interviewed at a magic circle firm and partners teased him about a spelling mistake in his application. He basically just acknowledged it and said he would make sure to avoid such a mistake in future... he got the vac scheme! They probably won't ask you and if they do, then...
  6. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    This could be the case although some regional firms will have a London office, despite not being considered a 'city firm'
  7. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    This is such an excellent attitude to go in with! Many candidates will make it past the app stage for the first time when they are 10 or even 20 apps in and 2 or 3 cycles in or more. But, the common tale is that those who stick with the process and work on improving their applications do start...
  8. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Absolutely! A training contract is so versatile, gets you a sought-after qualification and can prepare you to do almost anything else afterwards (with a level of legal insight and expertise that most businesses would value)! And on the topic of 'doing good', I just remembered that in my final...
  9. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I think that there can be different things to say for these two questions! 'What makes this firm stand out?' relates more to the firm's place in the market, I think. So I would not say that the firm's trainee buddy system makes the firm 'stand out', but it could be a reason that you are...
  10. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    This is a great point @Rob93 and it has been an interesting conversation to follow. The one area where I say that 'doing good' can come into your motivations is if you are asked 'Why law over finance?' The pro bono focus in law (especially at US firms) is such that, whilst it is still a small...
  11. James Carrabino

    Resolutions for 2022 🎉🤞🤔💪

    This is such an excellent idea @AvniD! I really want to get back into reading regularly for leisure - I got out of the routine and now find it hard to fit it in!
  12. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I am so glad to hear that it is helpful @Asil Ahmad!
  13. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone was able to take a break from applications and relax a little over the holidays. Please find my first application pitfalls post of January here. I have also added it to the bottom of my main post at the top of the thread. My next update will be in two...
  14. James Carrabino

    Weekly Application Pitfalls

    Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone was able to take a break from applications and relax a little over the holidays. Please find my first application pitfalls post of January below. My next update will be in two weeks as I have exams next week! Please do reach out if you have any...
  15. James Carrabino

    How Important Are A-Levels?

    @Rijul Shah as @Jessica Booker said, many firms do not have academic requirements! I can definitely say that people with worse grades than you have got training contracts at top firms. Nevertheless - don't give up on getting good grades! I am sure you are more than capable of improvement as you...
  16. James Carrabino

    Withers vacation scheme

    @zidoeslaw always very happy to help!
  17. James Carrabino

    Applying for a training contract after 3/4 years as a mature candidate

    Really a range - Skadden, Latham, BCLP, Mayer Brown come to mind but I would say that most would be equally open to it
  18. James Carrabino

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    The main suggestion I have would be to research the firm very well! I do not quite recall the prep time/talking time but it was around a minute or 90 seconds I think. Also, make sure to follow instructions on which browser to use (Safari does not work very well if I recall)
  19. James Carrabino

    Withers vacation scheme

    To follow on from @Jessica Booker's great advice, I will say that this is a question I did not prepare for at all and it came up in my first ever interview. I had no idea what to say and pondered for thirty seconds. Someone came to mind immediately but I thought it would not be a very good...
  20. James Carrabino

    Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!

    Honestly not many people are overwhelmingly passionate about a news story. Just think about the kinds of industries you are interested in as well as the practice areas that could be involved and find a news story that fits into those criteria so that you feel you are able to talk about it :)

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