TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[hfbjsdhfbhf]

Hello, is there a question bank anywhere for strength and competency questions for ACs?

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam I would be super grateful if you could give insights into what types of questions and what essential points a good answer would contain to do well in an AC Thank you very much!

 

[theonecompetant]

HSF PFO - I feel it has to do with academic requirements.
I have terrible A-level grades but got a 2:1 at uni (with inconsistent grades throughout the 3 years) and did the LPC. Also, have a fair amount of paralegal experience.
Is it still worth making new TC/Vac Scheme apps???

 

[cjwx]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman. I am applying to Trowers & Hamlin's London office. One of their questions asks for a commercial story that I found interesting and how it relates to Trowers. I wanted to talk about foreign investment in the Middle - East as I know Trowers has large presence there. Would it be a bad idea to talk about this because it is not specifically about the London office. The question does not say it has to be office specific. I just thought it showed my interest in their global strategy.

 

[jacksollaf]

HSF PFO - I feel it has to do with academic requirements.
I have terrible A-level grades but got a 2:1 at uni (with inconsistent grades throughout the 3 years) and did the LPC. Also, have a fair amount of paralegal experience.
Is it still worth making new TC/Vac Scheme apps???

did they send you an initial email saying you past the benchmark on the online test?

 

[jacksollaf]

23rd Oct

did they send you an initial email saying you past the benchmark on the online test?

 

[jacksollaf]

Got a PFO from HSF's summer vac scheme post-test, so I think no news is good news

did they send you an initial email saying you past the benchmark on the online test?

 

[jacksollaf]

Currently in the same situation!

did they send you an initial email saying you past the benchmark on the online test?

 

[jacksollaf]

yep

ah alright; they also told me that I passed the benchmark but still havent hear anything yet; hoping it's good news I'm on a double-degree in English and French Law, with 1 month experience at BM and have been rejected by A&O, Skadden, S&M, Jones Day, WFG, CC, Capsticks, Cleary and Reed Smith; pretty sure I suck at their tests...

 

[Tintin06]

Hearing anything from W&C is impressive, congrats! I applied for their Winter Vac and still haven't heard anything despite the programme starting already

They might consider for spring / summer. It’s not over until it’s over. I emailed them about it all. They confirmed this was the case.

 

[jacksollaf]

W&C VI - any advice would be great from ppl who have done it previously

is that for summer VS?

 

[Tintin06]

W&C VI - any advice would be great from ppl who have done it previously

Well done - happy to help here. I did the VI last year. I ended up passing it somehow.

 

[helloj]

W&C VI - any advice would be great from ppl who have done it previously

Hiya congrats! Is this for Spring and when did you apply?

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman
Do you think a 2021 deal is too old to mention, even if its exactly the type of work you want to do and there's no more recent examples on the firm's website?

Thanks a lot!

No, I think that will be fine. Generally speaking, I am of the opinion that the 'fit' element of a deal/case (how well it aligns with your motivations/points you are trying to illustrate about the firm) is more important than the recency consideration. Regardless, work done in the past three years I think would be considered by most recruiters to count as 'recent'. Only when you go back further, such as 5 or 6 years, does it start to become a problem.

Beyond this, just generally for your research purposes, I would say not to rely only on the firm's website when looking into deals or cases. Some sites are better than others, but I don't know any one that provides an exhaustive list. Firms merely look to showcase the expertise they deem to be most relevant from a client perspective. For your research purposes, especially if you have a specific type of matter in mind, I would go beyond that and see what I can find on a general Internet search, but also on the firm's LinkedIn profile and on The Lawyer and Law.com.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

HSF PFO - I feel it has to do with academic requirements.
I have terrible A-level grades but got a 2:1 at uni (with inconsistent grades throughout the 3 years) and did the LPC. Also, have a fair amount of paralegal experience.
Is it still worth making new TC/Vac Scheme apps???

I'm so sorry to hear that..When did you submit the app if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Monopolyman]

Jones Day PFO

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hello, is there a question bank anywhere for strength and competency questions for ACs?

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam I would be super grateful if you could give insights into what types of questions and what essential points a good answer would contain to do well in an AC Thank you very much!

I don't know of any question bank entirely dedicated to competency question, but TCLA offers an excellent question bank with 320+ questions, over three quarters of which come from actual interviews. It is split in various sections, and has one specifically listing a few dozen competency questions. You can take a look here.

As for my advice, I firstly wanted to link here a recent Guide to Competency Interviews I have written, which explains my step by step preparation approach and top tips. Besides this, I think to do well when asked a strength/situation-based question in an interview you should do the following:

• Pay a lot of attention to the exact strength, situation or competency you are asked about. Many candidates will have prepared for a very similar but not exactly identical question and will then have the temptation of making their pre-prepared answer fit. However, it usually comes off as a mixture of awkward and robotic.
• Take some time to think - if no idea immediately comes to mind as to how to answer it, ask for a minute to consider your response. Then try to mentally picture your CV and try to think which of your experience best fits the question. It can be very tempting to feel that you need to start talking immediately after you are asked the question, but if you have not thought of a way of doing it properly you will end up rambling and potentially even seeming incoherent. It is better to take the time to consider, and if you still can't find anything sensible to say, to own up to it.
• Be clear and structured yet conversational with your speech. A key skill you are tested on is an ability to communicate effectively, as the firm wants to see if you are the kind of person who they would one day be able to put in front of a client. Thus, more importantly than trying to show off impressive substantive points, you must make sure there is no ambiguity in the way you express your thoughts. However, avoid sounding to mechanical: try to nod, smile, to change the pace of your speech, and change your body language, your tone and attitude at various points. Finally, when possible, leave space for/invite commentary and back and forth conversation with the interviewer.

 

[VMS]

Not me stuttering and having to fully glance down at my notes in the Mishcon VI

Will be blasting ABBA Take A Chance On Me outside their office from now on RIP.

 

[Shandy101]

Weil Vi invite! But why does the email read like you already have the vacation scheme: "[t]his is a formal invitation for you to complete Vacation Scheme 2025." . Applied Dec 10

 

[DulyDiligent]

Hiya congrats! Is this for Spring and when did you apply?

Summer - applied dec 5th

 

[vr36]

What do law firms ask academic references? @Jessica Booker or anyone who might have an insight.