TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[RS Sanjanaa]

does anybody know if you are allowed to re-apply to Slaughter and May next year if you get rejected post AC for the direct TC?

 

[xxx]

can I ask where you heard this?

From their AC, I met 4 people 1 for London DTC, 3 for ME DTC

 

[SS21]

got it. but why wait so long to get back to people when ur gonna reject them ultimately? weird

fumingggg ngl

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

afaik, bakers is the only firm that doesnt mandate non law grads to undertake the pgdl (it just has some law foundation thing which takes 1-2 months before the actual sqe prep). Also, its sqe prep can be done 100% remotely, without being physically present in the UK. does anyone know of similar firms? @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu thanks

 

[lawelmo]

Is anyone applying for Brabners, or has done in the past and has any tips please?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

From their AC, I met 4 people 1 for London DTC, 3 for ME DTC

wait so they mix up their AC groups? how bizarre... agree it's odd that no one on here got one and posted about it though....

People also were still getting VS AC invites this week...

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

View attachment 6813 Hi @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu , for King & Spalding, does this picture mean that we can only add 3 pieces of work experiences? or can we just copy paste the format to accommodate as many as we feel like putting? thanks

Did anyone ever answer this? I think I will probably add more and bundle together what I can

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Re K&S...

For "What sets King & Spalding apart from other law firms? What attracts you to the firm?", are we meant to treat this as essentially "why this firm?"

For "In your view, what are three attributes or qualities that a lawyer needs to be successful? Please provide examples of where you have demonstrated these qualities", are people going qualities like personal characteristics or do we think skills are also fine?

For the news story one, are people relating this to the legal industry at all? Also how are people defining 'news story'? I'm thinking I'm going to do a quite specific issue that's in the news opposed to a singular article

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Didn't realise there was a thread just for training contracts. I was wondering if I could get some advice. I have had a very stressful couple of days due to personal reasons and I am not sure I can meet the Stephenson Harwood VS deadline next Friday. Does anyone here know if the firm heavily recruits from their VSs? Would I be massively limiting my chances applying to their direct TC instead 😭😭 I don't know whether to take annual leave and work on the app and rush it in or send off a solid direct TC app later


any insights would be appreciated!! x

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Didn't realise there was a thread just for training contracts. I was wondering if I could get some advice. I have had a very stressful couple of days due to personal reasons and I am not sure I can meet the Stephenson Harwood VS deadline next Friday. Does anyone here know if the firm heavily recruits from their VSs? Would I be massively limiting my chances applying to their direct TC instead 😭😭 I don't know whether to take annual leave and work on the app and rush it in or send off a solid direct TC app later



Would appreciate your thoughts @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

Honestly, we’re not entirely sure. The general consensus on this forum is that SH recruit a high percentage of trainees (around 50%ish) from Direct TC applications.

However, I think this data is quite outdated.

I made it to SH’s direct TC AC last year, and they only made a few offers via the direct TC route.
The year before, they took 5 people from the direct TC route.

I’d recommend emailing and asking Grad Rec. However, chances are, they won’t be transparent (partially because the numbers will vary each year).

I’d say a safer bet is applying to the VS

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Honestly, we’re not entirely sure. The general consensus on this forum is that SH recruit a high percentage of trainees (around 50%ish) from Direct TC applications.

However, I think this data is quite outdated.

I made it to SH’s direct TC AC last year, and they only made a few offers via the direct TC route.
The year before, they took 4 people from the direct TC route.

I’d recommend emailing and asking Grad Rec. However, chances are, they won’t be transparent (partially because the numbers will vary each year).

I’d say a safer bet is applying to the VS

Really helpful, thank you. That's not particularly encouraging that they made such few offers via direct TC tbf. When was your AC for direct TC btw?

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

Does anybody know if Stephenson Harwood sponsors visas for their placement schemes for international students?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Really helpful, thank you. That's not particularly encouraging that they made such few offers via direct TC tbf. When was your AC for direct TC btw?

I believe it was around October time. They started getting back to people in September though, shortlisting them to video interview.
They don’t recruit on rolling basis for direct TC, so it’s a long waiting game ahaha

 

[Miss Chocolate]

I believe it was around October time. They started getting back to people in September though, shortlisting them to video interview.
They don’t recruit on rolling basis for direct TC, so it’s a long waiting game ahaha

I would have thought the AC would be in the summer. So that means if I apply for the direct TC, I won't have the chance to potentially start the SQE this summer so I can start the TC in 2026 as opposed to 2027. Am I correct in assuming that? Is this the case for most direct TC recruitment process or does SH particularly start their TC recruitment late?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

I would have thought the AC would be in the summer. So that means if I apply for the direct TC, I won't have the chance to potentially start the SQE this summer so I can start the TC in 2026 as opposed to 2027. Am I correct in assuming that? Is this the case for most direct TC recruitment process or does SH particularly start their TC recruitment late?

This is something I was also confused about when I was going through the process with SH.

They have 2 trainee intakes. One in March and one in September. So I think if they run direct TC ACs late again, you’d likely be in the March 2027 intake, if that makes sense.

Most firms definitely recruit in the summer, in order for their future trainees to start the PGDL / SQE in September and join the firm the folllwing year.
SH are just unique lol

 

[norothrow324]

I believe it was around October time. They started getting back to people in September though, shortlisting them to video interview.
They don’t recruit on rolling basis for direct TC, so it’s a long waiting game ahaha

This year they’re reviewing it on a rolling basis.

“We review applications on a rolling basis but never make offers to fill all our places before the application deadline.”

 

[Miss Chocolate]

This is something I was also confused about when I was going through the process with SH.

They have 2 trainee intakes. One in March and one in September. So I think if they run direct TC ACs late again, you’d likely be in the March 2027 intake, if that makes sense.

Most firms definitely recruit in the summer, in order for their future trainees to start the PGDL / SQE in September and join the firm the folllwing year.
SH are just unique lol

I was legit about to have a meltdown because 5 of the apps I have yet to send are all direct TCs and I would ideally like to start the SQE in the summer lol. I need to research the direct TC route a bit more for sure. Thanks so much for clarifying that!

I am assuming most firms host separate ACs for direct TCs in the summer June - August?

 

[isabelle888]

Does anyone know when White & Case/W&C are meant to get back with decisions after AC/Interview?

 

[mooonoo123]

I wanted to ask if its worth applying for direct TCs if i havent done a vac scheme previously, i havent eena able to put alot of time into my vac scheme applications this cycle because of uni but i think with the direct TC applications i will have mor etime to invest in them, is there any point if i havent previosuly done a vac scheme ?

 

[ohnoselim]

I wanted to ask if its worth applying for direct TCs if i havent done a vac scheme previously, i havent eena able to put alot of time into my vac scheme applications this cycle because of uni but i think with the direct TC applications i will have mor etime to invest in them, is there any point if i havent previosuly done a vac scheme ?

go for it

doing a vac scheme previously isnt necessary to secure a TC