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

[RS31]

Thanks @machingkiubrian1234 and @Jessica Booker - this is helpful!

 

[BM99]

Are there any question banks for AC interviews? Should I prepare for all the questions in it?

 

[S87]

Well, I have a VI with Irwin Mitchell..their private practice is quite good. Any tips?! Can you give me some tips on how to approach the questions?

 

[mckelly]

Does anyone know if Davis Polk are rolling?

 

[BM99]

Does anyone know if Davis Polk are rolling?

They are not rolling

 

[John Doe]

Hello, does anyone know if I can apply to Shearman vacation twice in the same cycle?

i.e. I applied to their 2021 Winter VS and was rejected, now I am looking to apply for their 2022 Summer VS, and I couldn't find any specific statement on their website requesting candidates only to submit one application per recruitment cycle.

 

[GXA123]

What law firms use Amberjack for testing?

 

[Jessica Booker]

What law firms use Amberjack for testing?

It won’t necessarily be a standardised test if via Amberjack. They design bespoke tests for firms.

 

[Donuttime]

what firms have a deadline on 31st December?

 

[GXA123]

what firms have a deadline on 31st December?

Hogan, DLA, Dechert

 

[M991]

Hello @Jessica Booker. Hope you're well.

One of the questions in an application I am currently working on asks about a practice area I am interested in. I was planning on mentioning a case that representatives from the firm talked about during a case study workshop I attended around a year ago - I found it very interesting. However, I have just found out that the firm eventually lost the case and they do not mention it anywhere on the website. Therefore, I am not sure whether I should mention it, or rather not as it could seem like I have not been following the subsequent developments... I don't know. Maybe I am just overthinking it

 

[Rob93]

Hogan, DLA, Dechert

I believe Dechert is 31/12 for spring, 31/01 for summer.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Hogan, DLA, Dechert

Dechert only spring

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker. Hope you're well.

One of the questions in an application I am currently working on asks about a practice area I am interested in. I was planning on mentioning a case that representatives from the firm talked about during a case study workshop I attended around a year ago - I found it very interesting. However, I have just found out that the firm eventually lost the case and they do not mention it anywhere on the website. Therefore, I am not sure whether I should mention it, or rather not as it could seem like I have not been following the subsequent developments... I don't know. Maybe I am just overthinking it

You still have to represent clients and you won’t always win cases - it’s part of being a litigator, so I don’t think it’s an issue mentioning it as long as you explain what it was about the case that made it interesting to you.

 

[kajsa.persson]

Hi, I couldn't do the Watson Glaser test for Hogan Lovells due to experiencing technical issues mid-test (so it got submitted with no answers), I've messaged Grad Recruitment about it. Does anyone know whether they would send me a new test link?

 

[Rob93]

Hello, does anyone know if I can apply to Shearman vacation twice in the same cycle?

i.e. I applied to their 2021 Winter VS and was rejected, now I am looking to apply for their 2022 Summer VS, and I couldn't find any specific statement on their website requesting candidates only to submit one application per recruitment cycle.

I would be surprised if they permit that, but yeah they don't say anything in any of the obvious places.

 

[OB]

Well, I have a VI with Irwin Mitchell..their private practice is quite good. Any tips?! Can you give me some tips on how to approach the questions?

Think of the difference between “private practice” and “private client” if you’re going to mention that in the why IM question

 

[George Maxwell]

Thank you @AvniD !! What are your top tips for making sure we apply commercial awareness to the case study questions. I need to make sure I answer in enough detail and I need to be able to think on my feet a bit more, so do you have any advice for this? Thanks!

Hi @OO28,

Welcome to the forum! 🙌 I hope that you have had a restful few days since you posted this.

Adding to what @AvniD said, I thought that you might find the following links to some of the best resources on TCLA useful. These might be helpful to look at before your case study interview!

• Here is a thread about podcasts to check out if you are looking to improve your commercial awareness ahead of your interview. I completely agree with Avni about other resources, particularly Watson's Daily. I found doing some reading little and often worked well. For example, reading through an FT article or Watson's Daily with a morning coffee.
• General tips for case study interviews.
• @Jacob Miller's fantastic article on case studies. It might be helpful to look at his other articles (linked here), particularly "Foundations of Commercial Law".
• Structuring answers in case study interviews.
• If you are a non-law student, the level of legal knowledge a firm may expect of you in a case study interview.
• Tips for case studies requiring you to weigh up two companies/options.

I hope this helps! 🚀

 

[Law2021vacschemer]

Could anyone tell me what slaughter and may’s top practice areas are? Like the 2-3 areas that they are best in/most focused on?

 

[George Maxwell]

Could anyone tell me what slaughter and may’s top practice areas are? Like the 2-3 areas that they are best in/most focused on?

Hey @Law2021vacschemer,

I would take a look at Chambers and Partners for this sort of information. Band 1 is the highest ranking a practice area can be awarded for reference.

In general though, Slaughters are particularly renowned for their corporate M&A work. They are also strong in corporate finance, tax, financial restructuring and competition (albeit this list is definitely non-exhaustive!).

I hope that helps 🚀