Hi! I have a VS offer for a firm which is sponsoring a moot/debate I am competing in. Will this boost or hinder my chances of getting a TC?
Conversion is likely going to mostly come down to your performance in the VS itself, and how much of a cultural fit the firm thinks you would be. The moot/debate competition is unlikely to be a significant factor in their decision-making at this point. That said, to the extent there is any, I expect the impact on conversion chances to be a positive one. I do not see how your participation in this competition could hurt your chances. If your performance is not great and you do not progress to the final stages, it is very unlikely they will independently take note of that - as such, you can simply not mention it. However, if you perform well, this is something you may be able to mention in final interviews. I also know that in the last stages of such competitions, people are sometimes judged by lawyers at the sponsoring firm, and winners sometimes get prizes such as an exclusive office visit. This would enable you to connect with more people in the firm, and thus, in theory, increase your conversion chances.