TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hello @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu
Hope you're doing well!
I had a doubt regarding how to respond to this question "Why City law?". I would be very grateful to have any insight into what are firms looking for in this answer.

Hiya @FutureTraineeMaybe

Just jumping in here, but I'm sure @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would have much more to say.

When answering this question, you'll want to focus on what makes a legal career in the City of London distinctive and compelling. City firms are at the heart of one of the world's leading financial and business hubs. This means the work you undertake often directly impacts major industries and global markets. When I've reviewed application answers to this question, applicants often discuss some of the following points:

• London’s role as a global financial centre, where City firms are often surrounded by leading financial institutions and regulators. This typically creates opportunities to work on transactions or disputes that have significant economic and political implications. You should have a think about why the City's financial significance matters for you personally as an applicant.
  
  
• You can also potentially talk about how London is an international centre. This is particularly reflected in the opportunities for multi-jurisdictional work carried out by law firms in the City. Aside from exposure to other legal systems through cross-border work, this international aspect can make the City an exciting place to collaborate with multinational, international colleagues and clients.
  
  
• Even for firms that don't have a strong finance focus, law firms in the City are also known for working on matters in emerging sectors such as fintech, renewable energy, and life sciences. This can be incredibly appealing if you are interested in how law evolves alongside industries, or interested in emerging companies and venture capital work.
  
  
• Finally, you might also want to think about the personal and professional growth opportunities available in the City. The scale and complexity of the work, combined with the resources and training offered by City firms, are often highly attractive for developing your legal expertise and commercial awareness. Working in such a globally connected, high-stakes environment can also make a tangible impact on your career trajectory and personal development.

Again, these are just some of the points I've seen raised when answering this sort of question. I'd try to discuss such points in a way that is compelling and personalised to you! Good luck with the application!

 

[zq522]

Trowers Birmingham AC!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hey, does Cooley send a feedback report post WG?
Also, does it say if we have reached the benchmark?

Hiya @Law queries (and for anyone else waiting post WG)

If I remember correctly, Cooley doesn’t release the pass mark or any feedback report for their Watson Glaser test. I believe this was intentional to maintain fairness across all applicants. This policy might have changed, but I distinctly remember graduate recruitment saying this to me after I passed the Watson Glaser and requested my score. That said, the turn around for a response after the Watson Glaser test was quite fast. So I'd recommend hanging in there. You should find out whether you've passed the benchmark shortly. Best of luck!

 

[suhana]

hey @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu

I’ve got a question that might be a bit basic. I recently did a virtual assessment center with a law firm, and one of the tasks was a written exercise. We had 60 minutes to go through a 14-page document and draft a report answering four questions. It was an M&A case study where we had to advise a client on choosing between two potential target companies.

The questions focused on risks for both companies, which company to acquire, and "commercial factors." But I’m a bit confused about what "commercial factors" really mean. A lot of the points I wanted to make felt more legal—like one of the companies had IP issues, and I wasn’t sure if it was right to bring that up as a "commercial factor."

I also felt like I ended up overlapping my answers, especially when I started discussing external market-specific content in the quesiton of which company to acquire and risks. so when you’re advising on a choice like this, are you expected to bring in outside commercial knowledge, or should you stick strictly to what’s in the case study and save external factors for later?

Basically, I was blending legal and commercial factors in my answers and wasn’t sure where the line is. Could you give me some tips on what’s actually expected when they ask about "commercial factors"?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hello, can someone please advise? If I email graduate recruitment with a question about my application that they answer and confirm my application is under review, should I reply to say thanks (for replying and letting me know)? In the original email I included thank you. I would reply because I consider it polite to do so but I've heard that reading that email can be a waste of time for grad recruitment and that they're not really going to remember you replying to say thanks but they may get a bit annoyed otherwise?

Hiya @floral.tcla

There's no harm in doing so, but it likely won't have any bearing on your chances if you don't reply. Good luck and I hope you hear back with great news soon!

 

[legal18]

Anything from Weil?

 

[BillSikes]

I applied on the deadline, did the WG on the 20th and still nothing. Do you know anyone whos heard back yet who applied on the deadline?

Exact same situation as me. Don’t worry about it.

 

[member7830]

a quick question about CV blind interviews - do I have to censor the name of my university, for example, can I say I am a final year law student at ______ or say that I worked for ____ Law Society

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Does anyone know how long CRS takes to get back after the deadline.

Hiya @cjwx (and anybody else waiting to hear back from CRS)

From my experience applying a few cycles ago, it can take around 3-4 weeks to hear back from the firm. I received my response during the second week of February the year I applied. At that time, the vacation scheme application process included only a written application and a video interview. While this process might have changed since then, I’d recommend giving them at least a month from the deadline before following up to ask about your application’s status. Best of luck! I hope you hear back soon with good news!

 

[fitzer401]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst post written assessment?

 

[TC129129]

Can anyone offer any help with Osborne Clarke Virtual AC. Happy to offer help on ACs at Simmons and Simmons, White & Case, Withers

 

[NJS]

Yes post app for summer spring, have you heard back?

nope, I applied for Spring

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Is there any point waiting for Latham Summer AC? When people have already got offers post AC?🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

This cycle has just given me depression

I didn’t think anyone had heard for summer yet?

 

[FoxStella]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst post written assessment?

Just heard back with an invite to interview!

 

[paralegaltotrainee]

Hi, I have a question about the Watson Glaser test on the GFB (Getfeedback) platform. If the time runs out before I press 'confirm' or 'finish,' will the answers I provided so far still be submitted, or will they be voided? Thank you!

 

[futuretrainee2025]

Anyone heard back from Aspiring Solicitors for the Amazon (post second form) or DHL mentoring scheme?

 

[cwhite233]

Can anyone offer any help with Osborne Clarke Virtual AC. Happy to offer help on ACs at Simmons and Simmons, White & Case, Withers

I did it last year and passed and I would say just research OC's key sectors and themes facing those sectors / areas very broadly, as well as thinking about what practice areas at OC might get involved in matters relating to those themes / specific issues facing those sectors. Otherwise, there really isn't a whole lot you can do to prep if it's the same format as last year as they just spring a topic on you, you have some time to prep a presentation / answer the specific questions they ask but given that you only find out the topic last minute, not much you can do I think.

 

[chloeanderson1]

Has anyone got any experience with Birketts partner interview? I have it next week would be grateful if anyone has experience they can share

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Did anyone who didn’t get the Latham email contact them in the end?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

hey @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu

I’ve got a question that might be a bit basic. I recently did a virtual assessment center with a law firm, and one of the tasks was a written exercise. We had 60 minutes to go through a 14-page document and draft a report answering four questions. It was an M&A case study where we had to advise a client on choosing between two potential target companies.

The questions focused on risks for both companies, which company to acquire, and "commercial factors." But I’m a bit confused about what "commercial factors" really mean. A lot of the points I wanted to make felt more legal—like one of the companies had IP issues, and I wasn’t sure if it was right to bring that up as a "commercial factor."

I also felt like I ended up overlapping my answers, especially when I started discussing external market-specific content in the quesiton of which company to acquire and risks. so when you’re advising on a choice like this, are you expected to bring in outside commercial knowledge, or should you stick strictly to what’s in the case study and save external factors for later?

Basically, I was blending legal and commercial factors in my answers and wasn’t sure where the line is. Could you give me some tips on what’s actually expected when they ask about "commercial factors"?

Hiya @suhana

@Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would definitely have more to say here, but I just wanted to chime in beforehand.

I think this is a really good question. It's easy for discussions of “commercial" and "legal" factors to overlap significantly when drafting a written exercise. That said, I think the most straightforward way to conceptualise the difference is by thinking of "commercial factors" as including, more broadly, the financial, strategic, or operational implications of a business decision (whether an acquisition, a restructuring, or investment). When law firms ask applicants to discuss commercial factors, they want to see that you’re able to think about such factors when drafting your answers.

I've generally found that econ and business students are more likely to have come across the factors below, but it's worth bearing in them in mind when completing an exercise that's testing your commercial awareness. The factors below are just some of the things you'll want to think about:

1. Financial Factors

• Revenue Growth: Will the decision lead to sustainable increases in the company's income?
• Profit Margins: Does the decision help maintain or improve profitability?
• Cost Efficiency: How effectively are resources being used? Does it reduce costs or at least do the costs lead to measurable improvements in a client's operational efficiency?
• Return on Investment: Are the financial returns worth the cost and risk of the decision?

2. Strategy and Market Factors

• Goal Compatibility: Does the acquisition/investment decision align with the company’s long-term goals and vision?
• Competitive Advantage: Will the business decision strengthen the company’s position in the market (e.g. allowing the client to differentiate itself)? Is the client likely to be competitive in the particular industry or will it struggle to keep up as a result of the business decision?
• Market Expansion: Does the decision create opportunities to enter new markets or grow market share in existing ones?
• Market Needs: Does the decision address current or emerging customer demands effectively?
• Opportunity Cost: If you advise the client to pursue one option over another, what other opportunities are being foregone, and is this preferred decision the best use of resources by comparison?
• Timing: Is the decision being made at the right time to maximise impact or capitalise on opportunities?

3. Operational Factors

• Scalability: Can the decision be scaled up effectively if needed?
• Efficiency Gains: Does the business decision streamline processes or improve productivity?
• Integration Feasibility: If it involves merging or acquiring, how easily can the new entity be integrated?
• Risk Mitigation: How well does the decision anticipate and address potential challenges?
• Employee and Cultural Impact: Does the decision improve employee satisfaction, retention, or productivity? Are there cultural tensions that emerge as a result of the merger/acquisition that might need to be addressed?

In an M&A case, any of these factors could be discussed depending on the scenario you've been given. To ensure there's sufficient clarity, I'd encourage you to focus on the structure and organisation of your written work. You can simply signpost within the written exercise itself to indicate that you're moving from one set of commercial considerations to another, and then clearly state when you're discussing the more legal elements at play. This can help you easily distinguish the commercial from the legal in your answer. Apologies in advance for the length of this reply but I hope it helps!