TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Bbhu19]

Hey Adrian and @Chris Brown and first of all congratulations on reaching the final stage! As for your query, you will appreciate that for reasons of fairness and confidentiality I will not be able to list the specific questions I was asked. I can however give you some general thought on what I think is meant by the phrase mentioned in the email and on how you could go about preparing.

By "commercial motivational questions" I think the firm simply means questions that test your (i) ability analyze commercial factors and (ii) to link them to your motivations. For instance, you may be asked about the firm's competitors - and say you then list some firms. However, you could then be further asked what were the specific criteria you chose to identify competitors by, and why did you consider those aspects of the firm to be more relevant than others. Then, you may be asked why would you prefer Willkie over its competitors or over other firms you have been applying for. You could once again list a number of aspects in which Willkie does better than the others. However, you could once more be asked why do those factors specifically matter more to you than other factors that would have favored those other firms.

To give an example, say you are comparing Willkie with Milbank. If asked why you applied for Milbank, you could mention its finance expertise, whereas for Willkie you could mention its PE practice. Now, Willkie has a premium high-end PE offering, whereas Milbank, having recently acquired Dickson Minto, has one of the best mid-market ones. However, Milbank also has one of the best high-end finance practices, whereas Willkie's is more mid-market. In explaining why you prefer Willkie to Milbank, a great answer would not just elaborate on why you prefer to work in a team with a focus on high-end rather than mid-market PE deals; but it would also explain why working at the top of the market in PE is more attractive to you than working at the top of the market in finance. This is an example of a situation where your response will involve a lot of commercial analysis, but where you would eventually return to a question of your interests and experiences.

As for the question about guidance, I am afraid I cannot say a lot more than I did in a previous post. I would try to research in depth the type of work the firm specializes in, to have a real understanding of what its different practice areas do and how they come together in a transaction/case. I would also try to make my answers to the main motivational questions as persuasive as possible, ensuring the analysis is nuanced and can withstand further questioning. Finally, I think you could benefit from practicing formulating your thought process out loud and making best guesses. You might be asked questions where there is no expectation for you to have known the answer prior to the interview but where you could get close to it by working from what you know and with the help and guidance of the interviewers.

Could you give me an example like this for Katten as it is difficult to find much about them online.

 

[👩🎓]

Evening, does anyone have any tips regarding Foot Anstey's VI? I would really appreciate any advice.

 

[E__yiha]

So for everyone, like me, still waiting for R&G, it seems they send out a lot of rejections and then wait a week before sending out more rejections/AC invites, looking at last year. Thinking maybe our apps are potentially reviewed a second time? So could be a while until hearing back.

Ac starting in 10 days - how long of a gap you think they might give to future candidates?

 

[jfb]

has anyone heard from womble bond dickinson following their high potential assessment

 

[applebunny]

Anyone heard from Winston & Strawn?

 

[jojo23]

it's easy to overanalyse to make ourselves feel better because it gives meaning and keep us sane and makes us feel like we're heading in the right direction, but I do think grad recruiters enie mine mine mo this sh*t sometimes ffs.

Law firm applications are the definition of f*ck around and find out🤣

 

[jojo23]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

 

[Rus]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

Those emails are genuinely evil tbh

 

[Interested_In_Law]

Ac starting in 10 days - how long of a gap you think they might give to future candidates?

Looking back, last year they came out on 26th Feb I think.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

I applied to the London office and enquired about when we can expect to hear back. Grad rec said they're still reviewing apps and aim to get back to candidates within 10 weeks of the app deadline. I'm expecting a pfo. I think they have so many candidates further down the pipeline who've completed VIs, I think realistically, London spaces will fill up fast.

 

[legallawyer]

AG AC invite! Super nervous and happy all at the same time. Any tips would be greatly appreciated (can exchange for my very best well wishes only as this is my first AC this cycle 🤣)

 

[YS391]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

For direct TC?

 

[jojo23]

For direct TC?

Nah, vac scheme although you get assessed for both???

 

[Legallywhatever]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

 

[Tintin06]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

Good luck for Stephenson Harwood, mate.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Anyone with experience working for a charity/social enterprise/CIC or any other relevant socially minded business structure?

 

[trainee4u]

I dont think my maintenance grant will fully fund living costs during PgDL, what options do I have? ANyone got experience getting loans fro high street banks?

You can do it as an MA and get a postgrad loan from the government.

Are you required to study at a particular uni or campus?

 

[Chris Brown]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

Their deadline is the 28th and whilst they review on a rolling basis, you can technically send your application on deadline day and they would still review it (they don’t make any offers before the deadline). It’s 4 days till deadline day, so technically you could do 600 words per day (i.e., 1 question per day) and still get the application in on time. If you only have one day, I don’t know for sure whether it’s feasible to do 1,800 words in that time. However, I did manage to write 3,000 words in 24 hrs for an online medical law exam in final year so it’s certainly doable. Best of luck with it! 🙂​

 

[trainee4u]

received a "PFO some more, ya filthy animal", from Cleary.

Applied 30th October. Received PFO 31st October. Received identical PFO today.

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi, has anyone applied for Paul Hastings' vac scheme? Any ideas on their grade requirements or tips for the application?

Their website says they look for a 2:1 or 1st at undergraduate level and a majority of A grades at A-level, which I’m guessing means AAB. I think they use rare recruitment though and do take into consideration MC, so idk how strict that requirement is. 🤷🏾‍♂️

I’m working on my application for it atm and I am hoping to get it sent within a few days. 🙂​