TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Really hope we get something today because the wait is genuinely draining lol

Yea otherwise I think they must get back to us next Monday? It’ll be 14/7 which is just one week away from the 21/7 AC

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

I have seen a lot of people ask already, but just checking, has anyone heard back from Broadfield yet? Thanks!

Have you heard back? One person said they received an VI invite yesterday. I applied on the deadline and haven’t heard back

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi everyone I’ve just received a video interview invite for broadfield and was wondering if anyone had preparation tips? It’s 4 questions

Congrats! May I know when you applied? I applied on the deadline but haven’t heard back

 

[User5678]

has anyone heard back from PMC DTC? It’s been super long now

 

[trainee4u]

has anyone heard back from PMC DTC? It’s been super long now

I've seen this same question about five times - they said on 23rd May that they'd revert by the end of July

 

[tobywstress]

Does anyone know when Dorsey normally conducts their first-stage interview? Trying to guess if I have already been rejected and ghosted

 

[lawstudent2]

Personally, the way I am approaching the cover letter for white & case is by focusing on why commercial law, why this firm and why me (basing it on my competencies)

If there are questions outside the cover letter asking about your hobbies that is an indication they don't expect to read about hobbies in the cover letter. I also read somewhere that an effective cover letter rarely goes over 5 paragraphs.

What I want to know is if the question about firm events is there for us to demonstrate we are actively engaging with the legal field.

The W&C questions are

"Please provide a covering letter (1000 words) in the space below.

Please tell us why you are interested in a career in commercial law and, in particular, why you would like to join White & Case. We are also interested in knowing what skills and attributes you have developed that you think are suited to a career in law at our firm. We are specifically looking for you to demonstrate some of our core competencies, in particular tenacity and determination, commercial awareness and a global mindset."

So this is:

1. Why do you like comm law, and our firm in particular?
2. Demonstrate that your skills and attributes are those we are looking for

and then

"Please give details of any interests and extra-curricular activities, including any positions of responsibility or achievements. Tell us what skills and competencies you have developed in the activities you have undertaken and how you developed these."

(350 words)

The second question is very generic - a copy + paste to some extent, but it's important to answer all the questions being asked.

1) interests /extra-curricular
2) positions of responsibility/achievements in these
3) skills developed in these
4) how those skills were developed

So I would make sure my answer answers the question posed - about extra-curriculars & interests. For the main question, it's very much not a given that the question would be answered by talking about extra-curriculars: some people will have work experience, for example. However if you don't, then there's likely to be repetition. I wouldn't see that as a problem per se - they are looking for impressive candidates because it's one of the most desirable jobs for graduates, so providing your e-c and activities do demonstrate the calibre of candidate that they are looking for I don't think duplication is a problem

Hey,

So generally, the structure comes in three-fold; why commercial law (not just why law as you need to be precise), why the firm, and why you.

In the why you section, you could tend to focus on more substantial/academic/ work experience elements, as opposed to extracurriculars, seeing as there is a section on that already. Even if you feel to mention those, do so lightly as the dedicated application question was created to enable you to expand on it in more detail/ introduce other discussions and elements.

Another thing is that you can mention a point twice in both the cover letter and application question - just paraphrase it and make the application question description more backed up.

I would personally not re-use points for both sections - and this is my subjective opinion. If I were a recruiter, I would love to read fresh things, so try to look deep into your portfolio and I’m sure you’ll find different yet relevant things to include. However, I can also understand why one may want to re-use points if they are truly relevant and I do not think you will be penalized heavily for this.

Thank you all for these insights - very helpful!

 

[User5678]

Does anyone know when Dorsey normally conducts their first-stage interview? Trying to guess if I have already been rejected and ghosted

It’s not rolling and applications only just closed. I think we should hear back by the end of the month.

 

[mandamasochist]

Hey, have you heard back from CRS yet?

PFO unfortunately - London office post AC

 

[mandamasochist]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

 

[mcqueens]

hi, has anyone heard back from Eversheds for the DTC. I think they said they would get back by the end of this week

 

[apapasozomenos]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

DMed you because I am in a similar boat.

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

Literally the same thing happened to me except I scored 1/9 in applied intellect lmao, but 776 in the other three and high in both verbal+numerical. Curious how they assess these versatile scores, I’m guessing they check every VI answer separately to get a better view of candidates’ real potential. I talked to some people in the past days and apparently RS has progressed people with very low scores before so I assume they don’t have a strict cutoff for Amberjack like other firms do.

In any case: verbal and numerical are completely separate, they’re just the results of your answers in the multiple choice. How you rank the scenario Qs is what gives you x/9 for the 4 areas, and since every Q concerns at least 2 areas, your answers can block each other out. You can get 7 for one area but 0 for another based on what your most and least likely options were.

I personally think this kind of testing makes absolutely NO sense and it’s just a way of filtering people out. Picking the “wrong” options for a number of Qs shouldn’t decide one’s career because it’s simply not representative of anything but a momentary decision. Of course they have to make a decision somehow on whom to progress but I’d literally prefer if they were just more selective in the first round..

 

[apapasozomenos]

Literally the same thing happened to me except I scored 1/9 in applied intellect lmao. Curious how they assess these versatile scores, I’m guessing they check every VI answer to get a better view of the candidates’ real potential. I talked to some people in the past days and apparently RS has progressed people with very low scores so I assume they don’t have a strict cutoff for Amberjack like other firms do.

In any case: verbal and numerical are completely separate, they’re just the results of your answers in the multiple choice. How you rank the scenario Qs is what gives you x/9 for the 4 areas, and since every Q concerns at least 2 areas, your answers can block each other out. You can get 7 for one area but 0 for the other based on what your most and least likely options were.

Oh interesting!

I hope you're right about getting through to AC with low amberjack scores. I got 0 for creative force but demonstrated it in my VI.

 

[TortillaTC]

Oh interesting!

I hope you're right about getting through to AC with low amberjack scores. I got 0 for creative force but demonstrated it in my VI.

I think making it to AC with low scores is more like the exception than the rule but in any case RS seems to be on the flexible, lenient side when it comes to Amberjack. Else we’d have got rejected already and they wouldn’t bother assessing our VI at all.

 

[trainee4u]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

Amberjack has verbal and numerical questions. These have ZERO impact on the other four scores which are SJT.

Grit means - working all hours/not giving up
Creative force means coming up with creative solutions
Digital mindset essentially the same thing but using computers

So IMO these three attributes are quite strongly linked. OTOH "applied intellect" means "social skills", which doesn't really relate to the others at all.

 

[lovedalaw]

Hi all, just wanted ask your opinions on something. I've received TC offers in both London and Dubai. I'm just wondering what, as a trainee and at the start of my career, would be most beneficial.

For context, the firm in London is American, not very international but is prestigious and pays well. However, it would likely be a very intense work culture. On the other hand, the one in Dubai is very solid, very international and allows me to come to London for a seat at minimum. I'm really unsure on what to do and would appreciate some thoughts, as I only have a few days to respond to the offer.

 

[trainee4u]

Hi all, just wanted ask your opinions on something. I've received TC offers in both London and Dubai. I'm just wondering what, as a trainee and at the start of my career, would be most beneficial.

For context, the firm in London is American, not very international but is prestigious and pays well. However, it would likely be a very intense work culture. On the other hand, the one in Dubai is very solid, very international and allows me to come to London for a seat at minimum. I'm really unsure on what to do and would appreciate some thoughts, as I only have a few days to respond to the offer.

Don't listen to me, but pretty sure London is preferable to Dubai for experience.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Yea otherwise I think they must get back to us next Monday? It’ll be 14/7 which is just one week away from the 21/7 AC

omg Burges Salmon just came back saying they’ll get back by next Wednesday which means there’ll only be 4 whole days to prep for the AC if it’s on 21/7 💀

 

[lovedalaw]

Don't listen to me, but pretty sure London is preferable to Dubai for experience.

How so?