TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[NJS]

What are the questions?

Thank you for the response, they are:

1. When have you worked towards an ambitious goal? As part of your answer, please describe how you tackled this goal, what set-backs you faced and what energised you about the situation.

2. When have you delivered a piece of work where quality was an important factor? As part of your answer, please describe why quality was important to you, what approaches you took to help you deliver and what you enjoyed?

3. You are working on a query for a new client, which has to be responded to tomorrow morning. You were told it was important as Eversheds Sutherland want to impress them. However, you have a lot of work on and the query is taking you longer than you expected. You are now behind on your work for today. You also have emails from other people chasing you for work you have not yet started. What would you do? As part of your answer, please also describe what personal strengths would you draw upon and what would you find energising in this situation?

All 500 words

 

[avry]

For anyone who has heard back from Bird&Bird post-app - how long did it take? I applied a few weeks ago and think it’s WG next (honestly loosing track) but haven’t heard back yet

I've got a b&b AC invite - I applied ages before the deadline, invites to each stage were sent to me about a week from each other

 

[lawyerinzootopia]

Things I would do are:

• Write a brief summary of the commercial news you have decided to talk about. Make sure you use clear and easy language as it is important to remember that more often than note graduate recruitment is reading those and as much as they might know a lot about the topic, it will still be challenging to read a very difficult piece of writing with complex language.
• Make sure that you say the article you read this information from, if you read it somewhere, however this is not always necessary. I personally dived straight into the article so you may want to ask future trainees at the firm about how they went above this specifically.
• Include a link to the legal sector (and the firm you are applying to) if possible. I think this would be a good thing to do as you show you understand a commercial topic and how it impacts the legal sector and potentially the firm you would be working for. For example, for my Goodwin application, I talked about the discrepancy between U.S. and E.U. subsidies for green technology and how tech start-ups were deciding to relocate from their European birth place to the United States because of the economic benefits that the US offers for green technology firms. I included a paragraph towards the end of my answer talking about how this piece of news could have a huge impact on law firms such as Goodwin and its clients. Specifically, the firm will need to keep up to date with the change in legal provisions to better help its clients and mentioning some of Goodwin's departments that might be involved in this trend.

I think that the example I gave you is what I always did for the commercial questions in my applications. I hope this is helpful and good luck with you application cycle!

Wow, this is incredibly helpful!! Thank you very much!!

 

[aemond54]

Does anyone have any advice or tips for the Pinsent Masons Online Video Interview

 

[ETA2026]

I've got a b&b AC invite - I applied ages before the deadline, invites to each stage were sent to me about a week from each other

When did you get the AC invite, if you dont mind?

 

[Wmana10]

Anyone heard back from an application to Latham and Watkins? I completed my summer VS application weeks ago but have yet to get any response.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you for the response, they are:

1. When have you worked towards an ambitious goal? As part of your answer, please describe how you tackled this goal, what set-backs you faced and what energised you about the situation.

2. When have you delivered a piece of work where quality was an important factor? As part of your answer, please describe why quality was important to you, what approaches you took to help you deliver and what you enjoyed?

3. You are working on a query for a new client, which has to be responded to tomorrow morning. You were told it was important as Eversheds Sutherland want to impress them. However, you have a lot of work on and the query is taking you longer than you expected. You are now behind on your work for today. You also have emails from other people chasing you for work you have not yet started. What would you do? As part of your answer, please also describe what personal strengths would you draw upon and what would you find energising in this situation?

All 500 words

The first two require no reason to tie it back to the firm - just focus on describing the example and making sure you hit all the points of the question.

The final question does not need to be tied back to the firm directly. However, you may want to think about the structure of the training/supervision at the firm, and also the support mechanisms the firm has too when answering this question.

I don’t think you have to use all 500 words for these answers - you may find you get to 400 or so and not need the rest (and that is fine). But it is important to hit all the parts of the questions - they are quite clear in stating there are multiple layers to the answer they are expecting.

 

[EllaClayton]

Anyone heard back from an application to Latham and Watkins? I completed my summer VS application weeks ago but have yet to get any response.

Just have my test profile report and nothing since

 

[NJS]

The first two require no reason to tie it back to the firm - just focus on describing the example and making sure you hit all the points of the question.

The final question does not need to be tied back to the firm directly. However, you may want to think about the structure of the training/supervision at the firm, and also the support mechanisms the firm has too when answering this question.

I don’t think you have to use all 500 words for these answers - you may find you get to 400 or so and not need the rest (and that is fine). But it is important to hit all the parts of the questions - they are quite clear in stating there are multiple layers to the answer they are expecting.

Great thank you so much !!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

ive emailed shearman more than a week ago about my app but its taking so long for GR to respond🥲

 

[axelbeugre]

BCLP AC for spring vac scheme!

Congratulations!!

 

[axelbeugre]

Hey @axelbeugre, does Goodwin offer a restructuring seat? Their website says the London office has restructuring lawyers and capabilities in this area. However, chambers state otherwise. Thanks in advance

They do have a finance seat where I am sure you have some lawyers specialising in Restructuring but there is not a specific Restructuring seat, it is within the finance seat if that makes sense. That is what I know!

 

[axelbeugre]

I’ve just been offered a VS at DLA Piper! Did the AC today

Congratulations!! Huge Achievement!! You should be so proud of yourself and DLA Piper is a great firm indeed!

 

[axelbeugre]

Submitting a late app to Eversheds, the word count is 500 words, does this just mean I've been given more room to discuss my points? and the questions are all strength based, so is there any need to link to the firm (don't really know how you could with questions about my strenghts). Any thoughts appreciated @Jessica Booker @axelbeugre

Hey @NJS,

I think it depends on the question, what is the question they have asked?

I am assuming that the questions asks about your skills and professional experiences. I think that there is a chance to link your skills back to the firm. Whenever you are describing an experience, and you are elaborating the skills that you have learned from it, you can say how you are excited to demonstrate these skills as a future commercial lawyer at Eversheds (and that is a perfect link to the firm).

Whenever you get questions like these, when someone refers to linking what you are saying back to the firm, sometimes it basically means highlighting how the skills you have developed will make you a successful lawyer at the firm you are applying to.

That is what I used to do when I was applying last year. I tried to answer the question asked, describing my skills, for instance attention to detail or communication skills, linking it back to my professional and academic experiences. Then, I included how I believed that these skills would have benefited me as a trainee solicitor at the firm in question.

I hope this helps and good luck with the process!

 

[axelbeugre]

@Jessica Booker How should answer the question "How could CMS use technology to help you further your legal career?" should I mention something relate to Legal Tech?

Hey @Cynthia14,

I suggested some tips to someone who asked the same question here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-155771, I hope this helps you too!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

also is the Latham VI in the SJT competency based?

 

[NJS]

Hey @NJS,

I think it depends on the question, what is the question they have asked?

I am assuming that the questions asks about your skills and professional experiences. I think that there is a chance to link your skills back to the firm. Whenever you are describing an experience, and you are elaborating the skills that you have learned from it, you can say how you are excited to demonstrate these skills as a future commercial lawyer at Eversheds (and that is a perfect link to the firm).

Whenever you get questions like these, when someone refers to linking what you are saying back to the firm, sometimes it basically means highlighting how the skills you have developed will make you a successful lawyer at the firm you are applying to.

That is what I used to do when I was applying last year. I tried to answer the question asked, describing my skills, for instance attention to detail or communication skills, linking it back to my professional and academic experiences. Then, I included how I believed that these skills would have benefited me as a trainee solicitor at the firm in question.

I hope this helps and good luck with the process!

Amazing, thank you!

 

[kcr]

Anyone heard back from an application to Latham and Watkins? I completed my summer VS application weeks ago but have yet to get any response.

The application deadline has been moved to the 10th so nothing will be read until after then.

 

[user254]

Invite to Gowling VI!

 

[aemond54]

Jones Day invite to first round interview