TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Amma Usman]

Hey guys, random question: why do you think being innovative or entrepreneurial is important for trainees at law firms? I get why it matters for senior lawyers, since they’re more directly involved in creating client solutions and driving business development. But I’m struggling to see the link at trainee level -- how does it actually connect to a firm’s business model?

Great question!

I believe it matters because innovation and entrepreneurial thinking go right to the heart of a law firm’s business model. Even though trainees aren’t bringing in clients yet, firms succeed by delivering high-value advice as efficiently as possible. Clients are pushing for faster, more effective service, so when a trainee spots a smarter way to structure a document, uses tech to streamline research, or suggests a process improvement, it directly supports profitability and client satisfaction.

Trainees also tend to be closest to the day-to-day work and new tools, which puts them in a good position to identify practical changes. And from the firm’s perspective, trainees are future associates and partners—the people who will eventually build and grow client relationships. Showing that you can think commercially and look for opportunities to add value, even in small ways, signals that you’re already thinking like a future business builder.

 

[ZNadeem]

@ZNadeem @Abbie Whitlock @vera.mekhonoshina @Andrei Radu
Hi, How would you recommend structuring this answer for the Sidley Austin Summer VS application? Is this purely about explaining the skills important for a successful lawyer and how they are important using examples or do we also need to compare it to our experiences?

In your view, which personal qualities make a successful lawyer? (250 words max)

Hi! I’d recommend keeping it really focused and structured since you’ve only got 250 words. The best way is to choose 2–3 personal qualities that you genuinely believe are key to being a successful lawyer (e.g. attention to detail, resilience, teamwork, commercial awareness). For each quality, you should do two things:

1. Explain why it matters in the context of law—e.g. why resilience is important when handling long matters, or why teamwork is crucial when working with different departments or international offices. This shows you understand what the profession demands.
2. Link it to your own experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). That could be from academic work, extracurriculars, employment, or pro bono. The key is to be specific: instead of saying “I am resilient,” give a short example where you proved it, and then tie it back to why that matters for lawyers.

This way, you’re not just describing qualities in the abstract, but actively demonstrating how you’ve already developed them and why they’ll make you effective at Sidley.