TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[thelawyer.com]

Anyone have insights into HLC VI?

 

[Minhee]

Does anyone have any advice on how to tackle the W&C application question: Identify a current global development and explain how it might affect demand for legal services. How is White & Case positioned to help clients respond? 'Global development' is pretty broad, does this mean macroeconomic trends and are we expected to tie our personal firm motivations into the question?

Hellooo!!

I'd take it as macroeconomic trends, and geopolitical or regulatory shifts work too. Just pick one you can link to specific legal work they do (firms usually publish insights or trend reports on this, so worth a look). I'd also tie in personal experience rather than motivations (e.g. “From completing X, I understood Y” instead of “this is why I want to join W&C”).

Hi! I completely agree with Novaa

Global development: Novaa's advice is great! The WC website (https://www.whitecase.com/insights) itself could have some potential stories - if you want something more general, I also like to check FT Daily News Briefing / FT articles.

Structure:

I like to do:

Paragraph 1: 1-2 sentences identifying and summarising the global development. Keep this as short as possible! This is just to set context. Stick to the facts. If you can, be specific (names, figures, or 5 Ws).

Pargraph 2: I would find a list of WC's key clients (you can do this on Legal 500). I would then pick one or two sectors or client types and explain how the story might affect them. If you want, you can cite specific clients as examples to show that you have done your research and genuinely know who the firm is working for.

Paragraph 3: I would link this to one or two of the firm’s key practices and discuss how their lawyers might be able to help those clients and how this might increase / decrease demand for certain legal services. SWOT analyses can be useful here (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).

On the link: This part can be tricky. The first step is understanding what lawyers in each practice actually do - this will give you a better idea of how they might be able to help certain clients respond to developments. TCLA has a crash course going over different practices. You can also Google search this (‘what do M&A lawyers do?’) Idin’s LittleLaw newsletter has some examples on how you can link stories to different practices.

Personal firm motivations: To be honest, I wouldn't worry about including this! I assume the skills tested here would be commercial awareness, knowledge of WC's practice and clients + what lawyers and clients do generally, ability to break down complex concepts into simple words, analytical + critical thinking, writing ability, etc. Trying to tie in your WC motivations might just detract from your word count - I'm sure this will be tested through other Qs or at other stages!