TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[spamelinazoid]

Just an update for everyone waiting to hear- HL replied to my email stating their ACs for the direct TC will be in late April

thanks for sharing! I assume a tsunami of PSOs/invites is incoming over this week and next then…

 

[Tintin06]

Just an update for everyone waiting to hear- HL replied to my email stating their ACs for the direct TC will be in late April

That’s good to know - thank you.

 

[Kakaboo]

What firms accept direct TC applications without any VS schemes that are still open?

 

[Tintin06]

What firms accept direct TC applications without any VS schemes that are still open?

Fried Frank and Paul Hastings are.

 

[RaniaH062002]

Anyone know any effective ways to practice for the Ashurst test that's not behind a paywall? (I believe it is Cappfinity this year)

 

[Tintin06]

Anyone know any effective ways to practice for the Ashurst test that's not behind a paywall? (I believe it is Cappfinity this year)

I think other places use Cappfinity. Banks and possiblly the big four. Might be worth some applications there. Then you can practice with them. That’s what an Ashurst NQ suggested.

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am in final year and received my grades from semester 1 a month ago. One of them is a 2:2. I have two other grades that are 2:2, one each from first and second year. Do you think this is going to impact my chances at getting a TC?

I am an international student and very distressed about this. Would be very grateful if you could provide any insight.

 

[RaniaH062002]

I'm applying to Baker McKenzie right now- I feel like I don't have a magnitude of experience in terms of attending their open days, insight events etc.. I've never been accepted to do a vacation scheme in another firm, does anyone have any advice for how to approach adding additional work experience if I don't have a plethora of it?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am in final year and received my grades from semester 1 a month ago. One of them is a 2:2. I have two other grades that are 2:2, one each from first and second year. Do you think this is going to impact my chances at getting a TC?

I am an international student and very distressed about this. Would be very grateful if you could provide any insight.

No - this will not necessarily impact your chances of securing a TC, especially if you are able to get strong grades throughout the rest of this year.

 

[Tintin06]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am in final year and received my grades from semester 1 a month ago. One of them is a 2:2. I have two other grades that are 2:2, one each from first and second year. Do you think this is going to impact my chances at getting a TC?

I am an international student and very distressed about this. Would be very grateful if you could provide any insight.

I got 62.5% with multiple 2.2s. I’ve got Ropes, Travers VSs since. Plus Jones Day, Latham, W&C ACs. I don’t think it’s fatal, honestly. Focus on what you can control. Namely, how you sell your experience. Experience plus motivation counts far more.

 

[TC129129]

Does anyone have any advice for Greenberg Traurig Written task

 

[👩🎓]

Does anyone know when HFW start ACs for direct TCs?

 

[mandamasochist]

Evening all (and @Jessica Booker!),

I'm just doing the Farrer & Co direct TC application, and realise that in addition to a 350 word cover letter, the firm asks for answers to 5 different questions, each 250 words:
- What makes Farrer & Co stand out to you compared to other firms and why?
- What skills have you developed which are transferable to a career as a solicitor?
- How do you fill your time outside of work and studying and why?
- What positions of responsibilities have you held and what skills have you developed as a result?
- Tell me about a situation where you worked effectively with others in a team. What was your role and what responsibilities did you have?

My question is this one: what on earth should I put in my cover letter other than 'why law'? It seems that these questions are extremely comprehensive and cover motivations for applying, skills, extra-curriculars, leadership positions and teamwork (all things one might include in a cover letter). Do you think the cover letter should exclusively be used to discuss the 'why law' question?

 

[x_lauren112]

Does anyone know which firms allow TC applications after a failed vac scheme application in the same cycle? For example, I believe from Farrer &Cos rejection email that they allow another application?

 

[Tintin06]

Does anyone know which firms allow TC applications after a failed vac scheme application in the same cycle? For example, I believe from Farrer &Cos rejection email that they allow another application?

Morgan Lewis and W&C for starters. Not sure about other firms though. Depends how far the app got.

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

Evening all (and @Jessica Booker!),

I'm just doing the Farrer & Co direct TC application, and realise that in addition to a 350 word cover letter, the firm asks for answers to 5 different questions, each 250 words:
- What makes Farrer & Co stand out to you compared to other firms and why?
- What skills have you developed which are transferable to a career as a solicitor?
- How do you fill your time outside of work and studying and why?
- What positions of responsibilities have you held and what skills have you developed as a result?
- Tell me about a situation where you worked effectively with others in a team. What was your role and what responsibilities did you have?

My question is this one: what on earth should I put in my cover letter other than 'why law'? It seems that these questions are extremely comprehensive and cover motivations for applying, skills, extra-curriculars, leadership positions and teamwork (all things one might include in a cover letter). Do you think the cover letter should exclusively be used to discuss the 'why law' question?

Hey, I'm not Jessica Booker, but I got offered a place on the Farrer & Co vacation scheme (+ am currently applying for the DTC), and I thought I could just share what I put on my cover letter.

I split my cover letter into - 'Why I'm pursuing a career as a solicitor, why I am particularly interested in Farrer & Co, and why I am drawn to the work they do".

I guess because the cover letter was only 350 and I answered the three elements, I only wrote a few sentences on each point and then I could talk about similar points in a bit more detail in the other questions. My 'why law/solicitor' was definitely the biggest portion of my cover letter. For example, 'Why I am interested in Farrer & Co' is quite similar to 'What makes Farrer & Co stand out', but I was able to expand more in the latter question on my reasonings and why it stood out to me compared to its competitors.

I'm no expert, but hopefully this'll provide some pointers! Best of luck with your application

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

Starting this direct TC application journey after 3 rejections post interviews (2 at US law firms ffs😭) like "sigh, let me have it, how worse can it get". That said, does anyone have tips on how to approach Pennington Manches Cooper's cover letter?

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

Does anyone know which firms allow TC applications after a failed vac scheme application in the same cycle? For example, I believe from Farrer &Cos rejection email that they allow another application?

Just to agree with you that at an open day Farrer & Co said that they do allow a DTC app if you got rejected from the VS - they had a trainee there that had got their TC that way.

I’m afraid I don’t know any others off the top of my head tho!

 

[mandamasochist]

Hey, I'm not Jessica Booker, but I got offered a place on the Farrer & Co vacation scheme (+ am currently applying for the DTC), and I thought I could just share what I put on my cover letter.

I split my cover letter into - 'Why I'm pursuing a career as a solicitor, why I am particularly interested in Farrer & Co, and why I am drawn to the work they do".

I guess because the cover letter was only 350 and I answered the three elements, I only wrote a few sentences on each point and then I could talk about similar points in a bit more detail in the other questions. My 'why law/solicitor' was definitely the biggest portion of my cover letter. For example, 'Why I am interested in Farrer & Co' is quite similar to 'What makes Farrer & Co stand out', but I was able to expand more in the latter question on my reasonings and why it stood out to me compared to its competitors.

I'm no expert, but hopefully this'll provide some pointers! Best of luck with your application

Very helpful, thanks. I’ll probably do something similar in that case!

 

[yueyueer]

Hi all, I’m looking to submit my Ashurst application soon, but am also looking to start a new paralegal role either tomorrow or on Thursday. I was just wondering how I would approach this on the work experience section as I haven’t started the role yet?