TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[trainee4u]

I don’t have much to add to Ram’s great response, but just a quick note to be mindful of how rankings are interpreted. A firm might be placed in Band 3 for a broader practice area but still hold a Band 1 position in a specific niche within that area - whether that’s regionally, globally, or based on sector expertise.

For instance, Clyde & Co is highly regarded for its global insurance practice, even if its ranking in broader corporate categories might differ. Similarly, Travers Smith is exceptionally strong in private equity M&A within the UK, even if it appears in a different band in more general corporate rankings.

The point I’m trying to make is that while band rankings are definitely useful and worth considering, they aren’t everything. It’s always helpful to look a bit deeper into what the rankings actually reflect.

yes.
i was looking at https://www.legal500.com/firms/903-devonshires-solicitors-llp/r-england/rankings

and it shows for London

Band 1 - Debt Recovery
Band 1 - Social housing: finance
Band 1 - Social housing: LAs and RPs

this might suggest similar capabilities in Debt Recovery and Social housing.

However, in reality 100+ of the firm's lawyers deal with social housing and only around four with debt recovery.

Therefore, the firm's competitors are in reality those that deal with Social Housing, and even within the "Debt Recovery" rankings, which are rather small, competitors don't always appear to be competing for the same clients. So just looking at rankings can give a totally distorted view of firm's revenue, especially also where it's a competitive area, and the firm is perhaps "band 2" for a certain practice area but in reality for that firm, that's its main practice area.

 

[Amma Usman]

yes.
i was looking at https://www.legal500.com/firms/903-devonshires-solicitors-llp/r-england/rankings

and it shows for London

Band 1 - Debt Recovery
Band 1 - Social housing: finance
Band 1 - Social housing: LAs and RPs

this might suggest similar capabilities in Debt Recovery and Social housing.

However, in reality 100+ of the firm's lawyers deal with social housing and only around four with debt recovery.

Therefore, the firm's competitors are in reality those that deal with Social Housing, and even within the "Debt Recovery" rankings, which are rather small, competitors don't always appear to be competing for the same clients. So just looking at rankings can give a totally distorted view of firm's revenue, especially also where it's a competitive area, and the firm is perhaps "band 2" for a certain practice area but in reality for that firm, that's its main practice area.

Exactly, you've hit the nail on the head. Well done! If you’re keen on identifying a law firm’s competitors too, I have linked this here to help - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....to-identifying-a-law-firm’s-competitors.9422/

 

[trainee4u]

Exactly, you've hit the nail on the head. Well done! If you’re keen on identifying a law firm’s competitors too, I have linked this here to help - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/guide-to-identifying-a-law-firm’s-competitors.9422/

that's a good guide; one thing I also did to better identify a firm's revenue and therefore its competitors is download the lawyers' profiles using a script into a spreadsheet with areas of expertise for each lawyer, which can then be easily summed (including also an AI-generated summary of their expertise and experience):


(this can still be a misleading as "dispute resolution" might well cover quite different areas of litigation)

 

[optimistic_undergrad]

That would be excellent news, really.

How so? Even if they haven't got as many applications as they might have expected, they'll still maintain their standards, right? So if not for your good performance, the selection has nothing to do with the number of applications imo.

 

[Tintin06]

How so? Even if they haven't got as many applications as they might have expected, they'll still maintain their standards, right? So if not for your good performance, the selection has nothing to do with the number of applications imo.

More chance of getting an interview?

 

[Rasma123]

I haven't heard from them either but it is true that it is application and then straight to AC if successful

Really? I thought the next stage would be a telephone interview for PMC?

 

[toad92]

Been putting off Kingsley Napley’s TC questions until today because wtf 🫠

Even went to have a coffee with a
mutual friend who’s a KN associate to talk about life at the firm etc, I told her the questions and as someone who obviously knows the clients and work they do, she was also puzzled lmao

New managing partner trying to get ideas for growth from its potential future trainees rather than its associates and partners? Interesting strategy 🤣

 

[optimistic_undergrad]

Been putting off Kingsley Napley’s TC questions until today because wtf 🫠

Even went to have a coffee with a
mutual friend who’s a KN associate to talk about life at the firm etc, I told her the questions and as someone who obviously knows the clients and work they do, she was also puzzled lmao

New managing partner trying to get ideas for growth from its potential future trainees rather than its associates and partners? Interesting strategy 🤣

The question in the DTC application of Baker McKenzie was of a similar nature, right?

 

[Anissa]

Has anyone heard anything from Withers for the DTC after the test?

I haven't even received the test, how long after applying have you received it ?

 

[Anissa]

Withers interview invite! Does anyone have any insights/tips? It's for 1 hour with a member of HR and a Partner

Congrats !! When did you apply ?

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

I haven't even received the test, how long after applying have you received it ?

I received it the day after applying. Some people on the thread say it's automatic, but the wording on the invite suggests it was not.

 

[Aimeeb7]

I just completed the Browne Jacobson amberjack assessment and got my feedback report straight away, but it had someone else’s name on it. I’ve emailed them but I can’t work out if it’s my assessment feedback with the wrong name or just someone else’s altogether. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[wannabe_solicitor]

Orrick DTC q2: ‘Why have you decided to pursue a career as a commercial lawyer in an international law firm’ 250words

Q1 is a cover letter. So I was gonna focus more on the international law firm part in q2 rather than the “why commercial law”. Would people agree or should I try and fit in commercial law stuff too? Thanks

 

[toad92]

The question in the DTC application of Baker McKenzie was of a similar nature, right?

Not sure, rejected post vac scheme VI so not sure they’d have wanted me to apply DTC too lmaoo

Difference is, KN is a firm with a lot of focus on criminal litigation + public, with smaller commercial teams, and with only one office here in London…. Bakers is already a global commercial law firm with loads of offices and a clear international focus 😭

 

[Gin]

Finally Monday is coming and I could start begging for emails again.

 

[TCseeker101]

Congrats !! When did you apply ?

Thanks! I applied early March

 

[optimistic_undergrad]

Not sure, rejected post vac scheme VI so not sure they’d have wanted me to apply DTC too lmaoo

Difference is, KN is a firm with a lot of focus on criminal litigation + public, with smaller commercial teams, and with only one office here in London…. Bakers is already a global commercial law firm with loads of offices and a clear international focus 😭

Not exactly what I meant originally, but yeah, understandable. Have a nice day!

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, Baker McKenzie or Hogan Lovells (for DTC) today?​

 

[Tintin06]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, Baker McKenzie or Hogan Lovells (for DTC) today?​

Nothing from Ashurst as of yet. Not feeling too hopeful about Cappfinity. Not a test I've passed yet.

Trying to focus on summer TCs. Paul Hastings feels more likely now. No VS to speak of, obviously. Plus, attended their selective open day. Did you also apply to PH?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Orrick DTC q2: ‘Why have you decided to pursue a career as a commercial lawyer in an international law firm’ 250words

Q1 is a cover letter. So I was gonna focus more on the international law firm part in q2 rather than the “why commercial law”. Would people agree or should I try and fit in commercial law stuff too? Thanks

Ideally, I think you would address both in q2 as well. I think you could achieve that by expressing an interest in the kind of work commercial lawyers do in an international law firm, rather than the work that they would do in a national one. Presumably, this will be an interest in complex cross-border transactions, cases, or advisory matters for clients with businesses in many jurisdictions. The challenge of understanding the legal and commercial implications in many foreign countries could be one that is appealing to you. Similarly, the types of clients you would get to work for - multinational corporations, huge financial institutions, and sophisticated investors - could once again be attractive for various reasons. The point is that if your interest in working at an international firm has to do with the particular type of commercial law work that entails, your motivation will answer both parts simultaneously.

If, however, your motivations for wanting to work for an international law firm are not very commercial-law related (say, if it has to do with wanting to get exposure to different legal systems - something you would get if you were working at an international law firm even if it specializes in something like family law), I think you should address the commercial law point specifically as well. If you feel you have adequately addressed it already in the cover letter you do not need to elaborate a lot. It should be fine to build on some of the conclusions you have reached in the cover letter and move on to motivate the international firm element more quickly.