TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[confusedbird]

@confusedbird I noticed you thumbs upped! Could I ask when you heard back & when you applied?

Hey, I haven't heard back...that was a glitch and for some reason I couldn't remove the reaction. Sorry if that created any confusion 😭

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

Any thread you can direct to for AC prep? Particularly case study ones!

Thank you!

Hi @suhana I quoted bellow a post where I listed some of the best resources I found for case study preparation, both from TCLA and from other external sources. Besides this, take a look at the many useful threads you can find under the Interview Discussion heading and at my Complete Guide for Competency Interviews.

Hi @CHLTC I really empathize with your struggles, as case studies/written tasks were always the hardest part of ACs for me as well. I don't think there is a specific method you can prepare, since as you mentioned, they come in a wide variety of formats. In my view, the only way to prepare is by developing the underlying skills every case study will seek to test: time-management and work under pressure, clarity of writing and structure, commercial awareness and analysis, ability to digest large amounts of information, etc.

To do that, I think it is useful to both practice actual case studies and to read more widely about the commercial matters that might be relevant for them. A particularly helpful resource for me was the course offered by TCLA on the matter (which you can find here). It includes a number of mock PE and M&A case studies, recordings of two hour long sessions explaining how to think through written/interview style M&A case studies, and a number of questions that are analyzed in depth by the TCLA team. To link a few useful free resources on TCLA:

• An amazing guide for M&A case studies by @Jacob Miller, which includes both a mock case study and a model answer with detailed explanations of how you should think through the materials (which you can find here).
• A mock written case study offered by TCLA here.
• An excellent article written by @Jaysen Sutton, which explains the process, types, structures, and general terms of an M&A transaction (which you can find here).
• A glossary of M&A terms by @Amma Usman here.

Besides these, I have also found a few external resources you may want to take a look at:

• A great LSE article giving an overview of case studies and preparation methods for each element
• An article with tips from the Oxford Careers Service
• A Next City Lawyer case study available on a fee basis

Finally, I quoted bellow a recent post I wrote which I think you could find useful - it includes my top tips for any written task:

 

[johnnysins]

anybody experienced accidentally leaving another firm's name in a work experience and still being progressed to the AC? 🥲

 

[Andrei Radu]

Any advice for telephone interviews please? What questions can I ask GR

I think for phone interviews I would advise you to keep your answers short and easy to understand, as you will simply have less time and a harder time communicating than in an actual interview. Because of the time constraints most of it will likely be focused on the usual competency/motivational questions, so prepare for them really well.

As for questions you can ask the graduate recruitment team, while I think it is generally best to try to link them with something discussed in the interview, I will list some that I think are fine bellow:

• Are there any particular skills/attributes you are particularly looking for in a candidate? What is the most common quality trainees at the firm have?
• What have you observed to be the most common difficulties that trainees at the firm deal with, and how does the firm support them in overcoming them?
• What is the firm's training philosophy? Are people at the firm offered any training on non-legal matters?
• How does the firm's seat/secondment allocation process work?
• What does the firm do to foster its culture?

 

[Mena M]

That Goodwin VI was unnecessarily stressful!

Hi - Would you be able to share whether the questions were motivation/competency etc. And/or if we get any prep time or if its unlimited?

 

[plsletmein]

Does anyone have any insights into withers’ interview or pinsent masons’ ac? any help would be appreciated!!

 

[Amakaa]

I think for phone interviews I would advise you to keep your answers short and easy to understand, as you will simply have less time and a harder time communicating than in an actual interview. Because of the time constraints most of it will likely be focused on the usual competency/motivational questions, so prepare for them really well.

As for questions you can ask the graduate recruitment team, while I think it is generally best to try to link them with something discussed in the interview, I will list some that I think are fine bellow:

• Are there any particular skills/attributes you are particularly looking for in a candidate? What is the most common quality trainees at the firm have?
• What have you observed to be the most common difficulties that trainees at the firm deal with, and how does the firm support them in overcoming them?
• What is the firm's training philosophy? Are people at the firm offered any training on non-legal matters?
• How does the firm's seat/secondment allocation process work?
• What does the firm do to foster its culture?

Thank you so much!

 

[M_m]

This might be a dumb question, but one of the OC application questions is “Please describe the top three extracurricular and/or work/volunteering experiences that have most significantly contributed to your skills development. Which skills have you developed through these experiences? And why do you believe that these skills are essential for a successful career at Osborne Clarke?”

What exactly counts as “skills”? In the sense, do resilience, adaptability, discipline, etc. count as skills?

 

[chrisbrown]

This might be a dumb question, but one of the OC application questions is “Please describe the top three extracurricular and/or work/volunteering experiences that have most significantly contributed to your skills development. Which skills have you developed through these experiences? And why do you believe that these skills are essential for a successful career at Osborne Clarke?”

What exactly counts as “skills”? In the sense, do resilience, adaptability, discipline, etc. count as skills?

I would say these are more examples of your attributes and character.

Skills could be things like time management, multi-tasking, communication, organisation, teamwork and attention to detail etc.

For example if you worked in customer service you could mention how you developed communication and interpersonal skills.

If you held a position of responsibility in a uni society you could draw on teamwork and active listening skills.

You would also need to link these skills and show why you think they would be essential for a career at OC.

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

Anyone with tips on the Akin telephone interview?

 

[MR218]

Have you been invited to it?

Yeah I got an invite today

 

[ren1110]

i think their email said they'd send out invites and tests in January? Also jan 10th (today!) has been mentioned as a date we might hear back about tests so keeping my eyes extra peeled on my inbox today

Have u heard from them ( bakers)?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

anybody experienced accidentally leaving another firm's name in a work experience and still being progressed to the AC? 🥲

Yes I did this for a US firm this cycle

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Hi, would it be safe to assume a Davis Polk PFO?

 

[pepsicola96]

have completed the NRF arctic shores and I am more perplexed than anything else.

I am anti-psychometric test in general, but at least with other tests I can kinda see where they're coming from. E.g watson glaser is objectively testing skills for a lawyer, SJT tests are testing how you respond in real situations you may be put it. This test felt like it was solely testing my reaction time. Having read the feedback report I don't think any of those conclusions are reasonable to make about a person based on this test.

Having said all that I actually think it went okay, just definitely the most odd one I've ever done.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Not heard from Taylor Wessing… probably a PFO?

 

[Reem2024]

Hi! I was just wondering, when we are asked to give references to previous employers it would only be for ones with formal work experience? For example, a part-time jobs/ internships rather than let’s say a volunteering position or a society role/ mentorship scheme?

Also, if I’m a tutor on a platform like tutorhunt, and I count as self-employed how would I go about providing a reference for my work?

 

[asplawyer100]

If I have not heard back from Mayer Brown after job simulation, is it a PFO or are they sending our invites staggered? I am a bit concerned because I realised I did not receive an email to confirm completion after the assessment.

I’m wondering the same thing. I did the Mayer Brown job simulation a couple of weeks ago. I have seen that a fair few people on this forum have received AC invites as long as a week ago, so I’m guessing it’s likely a PFO for us.

 

[helterskelter]

Hi. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to prepare for the analytical interview portion of the Freshfields AC?

I’ve been regularly reading the FT and Watson’s Daily but I’m struggling to find overarching trends so feel this puts me as a disadvantage. Is there any recommendations for a website that clearly articulates how each story affects the overarching industry.

Thanks!

 

[kokoprep]

Hi. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to prepare for the analytical interview portion of the Freshfields AC?

I’ve been regularly reading the FT and Watson’s Daily but I’m struggling to find overarching trends so feel this puts me as a disadvantage. Is there any recommendations for a website that clearly articulates how each story affects the overarching industry.

Thanks!

Is this for DTC