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Search results

  1. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Not at all - I was progressed to the AC stage following two different VI experiences where I had failed to properly conclude my point and got cut off in at least one answer. I think recruiters generally care a lot more about your substantive points and about how you went about expressing them...
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think what matters more here is how you go about discussing achievements or positions of responsibility rather than how many of them you discuss. You want each of your points to be properly contextualised and to be very specific about what you exactly did and accomplished, but at the same time...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    No worries! For the types of transactional-focused firms you mentioned, the information relating to the practices you mentioned covers the core of what you will need to know. Besides that, I think you should just aim to be able to explain in laymen terms some more basic business and commercial...
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @CharlesT47 while this is not a topic I am extremely knowledgeable about, I will list some points of analysis that you could consider addressing in your answer: The positive impacts may be gradual rather than immediate, as from my understanding the lowering of the capital adequacy threshold...
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think it is ok to keep the same deal as long as you update it with mentions of any relevant new legislation and experiences. If you feel like this is still not enough (in terms of the answer looking "new"), you can always look to simply reformulate and restructure some points, changing the...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @flower1 that is a really good question that I also used to struggle with. Firstly, I will clarify that generally you will not be expected to know as much about finance as you will be expected to know about M&A, so you should not worry a lot simply because your knowledge of finance seems more...
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @elle woods I really sympathise with how disappointed you must be feeling right now - it is completely normal, and I would argue healthy, as such emotions should be expressed and felt rather than repressed. I remember going through a similar thing in my last application cycle when I failed to...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    While I cannot make any decent estimation of your overall success chances at this stage (as that depends on a huge number of variables and unknowns), I would advise you to try to make more applications if you have the available time. Generally, to maximise chances of securing a TC, I think the...
  9. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @iklawapps while I do not think there is much you can do in terms of actual adjustments you can ask from the firm, I would not be too worried. In my view, generally 3-4 days dedicated entirely to AC preparation is more than enough to be able to do well in it - in fact, this is exactly the...
  10. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I found this article on strengths-based interviews I thought I would link here. I have not completed this type of interview personally, but based on a variety of sources it seems to involve more of a focus on personal questions such as: How do you spend your free time? What subjects did you...
  11. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @yk1906 just to add my thoughts before @Abbie Whitlock can come back to you - in my view, you should still focus on the reasons why those experiences made you realise and later confirm that this is the ideal career for you to pursue. The fact that all your experiences are in commercial law...
  12. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    On Sidley's market position and strengths: Sidley is a Top 10 global law firm by revenue (sitting around the $3.5bn mark), is more international than most US rivals (with 20+ offices), with a large both New York and London presence (currently the 17th by London-generated revenue, having...
  13. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    No worries, glad I could help! For M&A resources, I would recommend the following: TCLA's free introductory M&A guide written by @Jaysen TCLA's M&A course TCLA's M&A Bootcamp (a series of 5 lectures going in depth into everything that goes in an M&A deal) Amma's list of M&A terms explained...
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I do not think this is a major enough issue to warrant emailing the graduate recruitment team about it directly; instead, I would advise you to update it in the Additional Information section. That will show attention to detail and will also dispel and potential doubts that may have arisen in...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    You can and definitely should keep some things similar, particularly main themes and motivations. Since you have previously progressed, graduate recruiters will likely expect less in terms of how much you will have changed your answers. That said, I would highly encourage you to at least change...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @ashwright and first of all huge congratulations for getting your first AC - you should be very proud of yourself 🥳 🥳 !! As for your questions, I would say the following: For general competency interview preparation advice, I would advise you to follow the step-by-step approach I laid out...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Hi @pfoapplicant just to add to the great response from @wooliewoo I wanted say that based on the firm's prompt, you can definitely include a wide range of experiences that go beyond contract-based roles that would formally be classified as "work experiences". That said, as I see it, if you have...
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    A few commercial advantages of a sector-focused approach that come to mind are: Ease of service: essentially, a sector-focused firm will deliver legal services in a way that is a lot easier for the client to use. Firstly, if a firm organizes teams more around sectors than practice areas, it...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    I think it is very likely the case that you gave passed the WG benchmark and your application is now being reviewed again in a holistic manner (so, taking account WG performance + everything that went into the application form) before the firm decides who to progress to the interview stage - at...
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

    Could you give me more detail about what the mistake was? Generally, I would advise you to apply the rule I mentioned in my previous post: If the mistake is one that may disable a graduate recruiter to properly consider your application on its true merits, or if it is one that may lead to a...

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