TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[trainee4u]

Hello, I recently received an invite for the Dentons SJT and Baker McKenzie SJT. Both came back quite negative/mixed. Am I most likely to be disqualified by a benchmark or how should I manage my expectations? I'm really not sure..

How did you score ?

 

[DulyDiligent]

Anyone still not got the test for NRF? Applied a while back and still nothing despite email saying I would get access to the Arctic Shores Test

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Has anyone heard back from Mayer Brown for the spring or summer VS?

At the open day grad rec said not to worry if you don’t get the test/ a response quickly as until January it’s only one person on the team!

 

[BBsharkk]

@Andrei Radu May I ask did you attend open days at the firms you did a Vacation Scheme with, particularly Davis Polk? Would you say attending an Open Day is necessary for these firms, and if not, would an applicant be disadvantaged in any way?

 

[Ricky]

Could anyone let me know if the Latham & Watkins VI question is motivational, competency or commercial awareness based? Video interviews are really hard for me as I am neurodivergent but firms don’t seem to be very willing to give adjustments for them (not that I asked Latham btw) so Im trying to tough them out :/ I know it wouldn’t be fair to be told the exact question but knowing what type it is would really calm my anxiety

Competency (integrity) and they will give extra time.

 

[abhuzaifa]

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

How would you guys advise on answering the following application question: Imagine you are advising a client in one of our sectors who is facing a major commercial challenge. Identify a recent business or current affairs issue which may impact them and describe how you would determine the appropriate support they would need from 'X' firm.

Specifically, for the part which says '...how you would determine...', what does it mean by this ?

Thank in advance !

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

How would you guys advise on answering the following application question: Imagine you are advising a client in one of our sectors who is facing a major commercial challenge. Identify a recent business or current affairs issue which may impact them and describe how you would determine the appropriate support they would need from 'X' firm.

Specifically, for the part which says '...how you would determine...', what does it mean by this ?

Thank in advance !

I think this means, if you were working in the firm, what’s steps you would need to undertake to know how best to advise them on the matter.

I don’t think they are expecting you to know how specifically you would advise the client now, but instead what resources/suppprt you might utilise within the firm to work it out.

 

[Wompycapy]

i can’t stop overthinking my latham video interview answer now… i’m not sure if i was succinct enough i definitely could’ve ended 10 seconds earlier eughhhh 🫣🫣

This might be a little bit random, but am I trippin or was there only one question for VI? I applied for summer VS.

 

[Wompycapy]

Hey was it just one question for the video interview?

same here...one question for VI and no reasoning tests? Just SJT?

 

[User5678]

If you can't then it must be a good thing.

I have noticed some law firms are not asking for module grades as they are trying to be more inclusive with their application process. I have asked a few firms and some of them do not look at your grades or your name or your degree grade and do not know you until the AC it is why some of them have adopted this blended assessment or have removed the VI element.

This is very interesting! Do you mind sharing some firms with this approach? I did notice this about kennedys, IM and WBD

 

[jta227]

This is very interesting! Do you mind sharing some firms with this approach? I did notice this about kennedys, IM and WBD

Pinsent Masons, Gowling WLG

 

[lawror]

Did anyone get a confirmation email after doing the Latham SJT? I haven’t received anything

 

[abhuzaifa]

I think this means, if you were working in the firm, what’s steps you would need to undertake to know how best to advise them on the matter.

I don’t think they are expecting you to know how specifically you would advise the client now, but instead what resources/suppprt you might utilise within the firm to work it out.

Hi @Jessica Booker !

Thanks for providing a response.

Would I be correct to say that I could discuss how I would use the support of various teams i.e., employment team to advise on employment law related issues or tax team to advise on tax issue - but obviously with more detail.

 

[axele]

Does Addleshaw Goddard use a sector focused approach? They seem to call it ‘deep sector knowledge‘? @Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker !

Thanks for providing a response.

Would I be correct to say that I could discuss how I would use the support of various teams i.e., employment team to advise on employment law related issues or tax team to advise on tax issue - but obviously with more detail.

i sense the question is more about how you would identify the issues to then advise rather than jumping straight to getting lawyers to advise.

 

[theone132213]

Does anyone know whether Simmons is like Pinsent in that they don’t mind if you do SJT and VI on separate days ? Can’t seem to find a day where I have time for both 🙃

 

[tomaspessanha]

Does anyone know whether Davis Polk only accepts applications from law students/graduates for their vs scheme? Or do they also accept applications from non-law?

 

[Tclarocks123]

Any news from HL Lift off?

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

Does anyone know the Goodwin application questions and can just type it out here please? Wanted to get it sorted first before having to fill out the rest of the form

 

[Gg2001]

summer!

Hi did you use the full 500 words for each question for BCLP application? My current word count for each question is around 400 I am wondering if that would look bad?