TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Hamaaida Khan]

Is it normal to receive no form of confirmation from V&E post app?

My confirmation email went into the spam folder

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Hi, im currently working on an application and one of the questions is as follows:
'In a recent survey, our clients scored us higher for collaboration and enterprising solutions than any other law firm they’ve used. To achieve this, our lawyers have needed to demonstrate more than just legal expertise. In your opinion, aside from technical legal knowledge, what else is fundamental to helping our clients achieve their objectives?'

How would you approach it? Especially as they specify aside legal expertise? any ideas would be really helpful, thank you so much. @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker

 

[kokoprep]

PLEASE ANY IDEA ON WHEN SIDLEY WILL GET BACK

 

[ren1110]

Anyone completed the Simmons VI? Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[mulan0]

Anyone else not received anything from Addleshaw Goddard since taking the critical thinking test? I took it early November

 

[seaweed.bond]

PLEASE ANY IDEA ON WHEN SIDLEY WILL GET BACK

I didn’t apply but I checked last year’s thread and some people got PFOs at the beginning of February. Someone got an invite at the end of January though.

 

[legaldruid]

Anyone else not received anything from Addleshaw Goddard since taking the critical thinking test? I took it early November

I applied close to the deadline which doesn't help my case either.

 

[legalxp2]

anyone else still waiting for Mishcon post-VI?

 

[studentdelaw786]

anyone still waiting on Davis Polk?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Anyone completed the Simmons VI? Any tips would be appreciated!

Same!!

 

[HLL]

Did people with pfos from Bakers apply late? I applied on the deadline which was probably not wise lol

I applied on the deadline day. No news is probs good news for you

 

[AlegalA]

Does anyone just have general links for mock written exercises? Would really appreciate it!!

 

[BuddyingLawyer744]

should I assume Goodwin and K&E PFO, if haven't got VI invite?

i haven't heard back from goodwin either. Not assuming anything, just praying....

 

[lou1707]

has anyone heard back from HFW or Birketts

 

[legaldruid]

Did people with pfos from Bakers apply late? I applied on the deadline which was probably not wise lol

Applying means you have a chance regardless of how close it is to the deadline. Its much better than not applying at all, imo

 

[Bubbles O_O]

Does anyone just have general links for mock written exercises? Would really appreciate it!!

Yes me too, this would be really useful and I feel there is a serious lack of widely-available material online!

 

[bjelostan]

hey if anyone has done reed smith VI please message me

 

[yasmars]

hey if anyone has done reed smith VI please message me

Congrats! When did you submit your app?

 

[bjelostan]

Congrats! When did you submit your app?

thank you, applied on the 3rd

 

[Jessica Booker]

For Squire Patton Boggs, the first question says “why you are motivated to pursue a career in a commercial law firm, in particular Squire Patton Boggs” but the second question says “Which of our practice areas are you most interested in, what has influenced your interest in this area” (both 200 words).

One of my reasons for why the firm is their work, but should I steer away from that and use other reasons so that my answers don’t overlap? I’m worried that will make my first answer a little vaguer and not tailored enough to the firm if I only discuss things like their initiatives. Any help is appreciated!

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

From the SPB applications I have seen, it is best to avoid the repetition and just focus on other aspects of the firm's opportunities outside of practice areas. This can include things like sector expertise, the structure of their training contract/trainee supervision, cultural aspects of the firm, or things like their approach to CSR/pro-bono/client relationships etc. I think you can often still find things that are very SPB specific for these and then focus on the practice areas in the other question, especially as you also have to cover "why commercial law" in this question too, which means you don't have a lot of word count to dedicate to these other factors.