Thank you!!Hey!
That is definitely part of the answer that they are looking for, but I'd try to expand slightly!
When interviewers ask this, they're mainly testing how you approach the story (rather than the story itself). They want to see that you keep up with commercial or legal news and understand why the story matters, and that you can then explain it clearly and concisely. Importantly, you should also be able to spot the implications for clients and, where relevant, the firm itself.
Linking it to the firm or its sectors definitely helps, but it doesn't need to be forced. A structure that I would usually follow is:
- Brief context: set out what happened in one or two sentences, focusing on the core facts rather than details. The aim is to show that you understand the story well enough to explain it clearly and concisely.
- Why it is interesting and important: explain why this caught your attention. This might be because it affects a particular industry, highlights a wider market trend, creates legal or regulatory uncertainty, or shows how businesses are responding to change
- Implications for businesses or clients: discuss the practical consequences. This could be who is affected, what risks or opportunities arise, and what commercial decisions companies may now need to think about in response.
- Relevance to the firm: if appropriate, link this back to the firm's practice areas, sectors, or client base. This doesn't need to be forced - it can be as simple as noting where the firm might advise clients navigating the issue, and what practice areas might be involved.
- Your view: you could end with a short comment that shows your own judgment on the situation (i.e. whether you think the development is positive, challenging, or uncertain - and why)
You don't need to go into lots of technical detail - simply having an awareness of how the news story will affect clients in that sector and how the firm might assist them should demonstrate good commercial awareness! I hope that helps
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
It was like an hour ago so if you haven’t heard back from them it ought to be good news. Best of luck for the Dechert Spring VS champ!
Me too, he’s the final boss of VS 😂 had a nosey peak at his LinkedIn and just thought “bloody hell he definitely deserves it!”
Also I love how everyone is chronically on LinkedIn so we all know who the K&E guy is lmao
I’m actually doing one of the schemes he would've done so I’m just a teeny weeny bit glad he’s accepted a TC elsewhere lol 😭😭
As soon as I open LinkedIn it’s always the “I’m happy to share that I have accepted a..” posts! Happy for them but also think “damn when will it be my turn!”. Need that LinkedIn validation so bad 😂😂😂😂
WBD PFO🤣🤣now how did I mess that one up
Feel that so hard, this is my 3rd cycle and I've been rejected twice post vac scheme (at big US firms)
Hope so! I have noticed that there are way more online tests this time round compared to previous cycles
WBD PFO... honestly after the test I kinda realised it wasn't the right firm for me.
I recall someone saying that D&P were telling people about rejections by end of today right?
How did WBD decide who to reject based on the test..
What the helly WBD pfo, this is my best bet and I still lost it, really didn't know what did I do wrong honestly....
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