TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[rapunzel]

I was in this same boat, as I graduated in 2024

you can do the sqe if you feel its best for you, i don't think firms would question you if you are not working at a firm whilst doing the sqe as landing a paralegal job itself is a competitive process too, i would say to keep your experiences varied, whatever you do spend your time working as can always be linked back to law with transferable skills so don't worry, use that time to get as much experiences as you can, a bonus if its areas you're interested in as you can start figuring out areas of practice you enjoy and don't enjoy

as for less favourable position, i know people that completed the sqe that still struggle to land a tc and i know people that haven't done the sqe that landed a tc, and those that were paralegals, ultimately you still have to go through the same application process, whether you believe the sqe will help you there is your decision, use your experiences to your advantage each person's will be different

each person's path to success will look different so honestly don't worry you should feel proud of getting yourself through your final year, take some time to celebrate your milestones too!

Thank you so much for your advice. I really needed to hear that.

Your words are so reassuring and I will definitely take some time off, this application cycle has been rough.

Thank you!!!

 

[tianna09]

Weightmans interactive assessment invite

when did you apply? i got an email from them this morning but just stating that they’re going through applications and they’ll get the outcome latest end of april.

 

[sibs23]

PFO from HCR yesterday.

In their PFO email, they said of the reasons for rejecting candidates was a lack of research about the firm and understanding of motivations for applying. The questions were mostly very competency based and I did make sure to link back to being a trainee at HCR, albeit not in huge detail because the focus of the question was competency. My usual approach is to answer the question I am given. I find the feedback hard to understand because the questions did not give us much room to expand on knowledge of the firm very much.

 

[Mug Fan]

PFO from HCR yesterday.

In their PFO email, they said of the reasons for rejecting candidates was a lack of research about the firm and understanding of motivations for applying. The questions were mostly very competency based and I did make sure to link back to being a trainee at HCR, albeit not in huge detail because the focus of the question was competency. My usual approach is to answer the question I am given. I find the feedback hard to understand because the questions did not give us much room to expand on knowledge of the firm very much.

Was this a post-app PFO? Or post subsequent stage?

If the former, please don’t spend time analysing the BS rejection emails. They have to let everyone down with some sort of generalised feedback and this is the easiest excuse to use.

If the feedback was tailored to you, fair enough, but otherwise just move on.

 

[sibs23]

Was this a post-app PFO? Or post subsequent stage?

If the former, please don’t spend time analysing the BS rejection emails. They have to let everyone down with some sort of generalised feedback and this is the easiest excuse to use.

If the feedback was tailored to you, fair enough, but otherwise just move on.

Just post-app and I know, I expect you're right. There could be so many reasons why I didn't get through that it's pointless trying to guess. I just worry about repeating mistakes in future applications

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Anyone here know what vac schemes or direct tc’s are still open yet I have a realistic chance of still getting (large cohort and not near the deadline if rolling)?

Hiya @A worried graduate

I wanted to send across some firms that generally only make offers through their direct TC routes, as well as a few firms that have had a historically strong track record of taking a good number of applicants through direct TC routes.

• Baker McKenzie
• BCLP
• Dentons
• Farrer & Co
• Haynes Boone
• K&L Gates
• Macfarlanes
• RPC
• Stephenson Harwood

Hope this is helpful to you and good luck with your applications!

 

[JR8]

Hogan Lovells PFO finally... For those interested I completed my WG on 12 February.

I completed mine on the 9th but still nothing :/

 

[A worried graduate]

Hiya @A worried graduate

I wanted to send across some firms that generally only make offers through their direct TC routes, as well as a few firms that have had a historically strong track record of taking a good number of applicants through direct TC routes.

• Baker McKenzie
• BCLP
• Dentons
• Farrer & Co
• Haynes Boone
• K&L Gates
• Macfarlanes
• RPC
• Stephenson Harwood

Hope this is helpful to you and good luck with your applications!

This is great.

As I am a non-russell grad with grades below AAB, which of those are still realistic?

 

[Chris Brown]

This is great.

As I am a non-russell grad with grades below AAB, which of those are still realistic?

I think Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and SH don’t have a minimum A-level requirement at all. To be fair, even for firms that do have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB, they will still consider applicants who marginally miss the grades (e.g., ABB-BBB), provided that they meet their social mobility (rare recruitment) criteria. I know of someone who got a TC with White & Case with BBB/ABC (non-RG), even though they have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB. It’s worthwhile applying to whichever firms you have a genuine interest in. Best of luck! 🤞​

 

[Mug Fan]

I think Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and SH don’t have a minimum A-level requirement at all. To be fair, even for firms that do have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB, they will still consider applicants who marginally miss the grades (e.g., ABB-BBB), provided that they meet their social mobility (rare recruitment) criteria. I know of someone who got a TC with White & Case with BBB/ABC (non-RG), even though they have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB. It’s worthwhile applying to whichever firms you have a genuine interest in. Best of luck! 🤞​

I second this. Applied to loads that wanted AAB and I only have ABB. Regularly passed app stages without any issues.

 

[A worried graduate]

I think Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and SH don’t have a minimum A-level requirement at all. To be fair, even for firms that do have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB, they will still consider applicants who marginally miss the grades (e.g., ABB-BBB), provided that they meet their social mobility (rare recruitment) criteria. I know of someone who got a TC with White & Case with BBB/ABC (non-RG), even though they have a minimum A-level requirement of AAB. It’s worthwhile applying to whichever firms you have a genuine interest in. Best of luck! 🤞​

I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.

Bakers last year rejected me after four days so I don’t think they want me.

Macfarlanes have rejected me for the vac scheme this year so I cannot apply.

Would you say that BCLP is worth a shout?

As for W+C, I haven’t had my vac scheme back yet.

Big thank you though.

 

[Chris Brown]

I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.

Bakers last year rejected me after four days so I don’t think they want me.

Macfarlanes have rejected me for the vac scheme this year so I cannot apply.

Would you say that BCLP is worth a shout?

As for W+C, I haven’t had my vac scheme back yet.

Big thank you though.

I don’t think you should assume a firm ‘doesn’t want you’. This whole process is super competitive, with some firms having just a 0.5% chance of securing a TC! Just because Baker McKenzie rejected you last year, doesn’t mean they will do the same this year. Besides, you wouldn’t know unless you gave it a shot and reapplied. I got rejected for one of their open days this cycle and I’m not letting that discourage me from applying for their DTC lmao. 🤣

To my understanding, Macfarlanes allow you to re-apply in the same cycle, if you got rejected for the VS after the application stage. I would double check this though just in case. If you can apply again, I’d say go for it! The firm seems really good! 🙂

BCLP is a shout tbh. They have a really good training contract and offer a lot of client and international secondments. If you are interested in real estate, BCLP is the best firm for that kind of work. I went to their Dec open day this cycle and liked the firm a lot.

I would also recommend applying to Stephenson Harwood (SH). They don’t have a minimum A-level requirement, their annual trainee intake is around 25, their NQ salary is £100,000 and they specialise in things like shipping, aviation and international trade. If that sounds interesting then I’d apply to them as well. 😎

I think social mobility and rare recruitment are different to mitigating circumstances. If for example you went to a comp state school, were eligible for free school meals, were the first generation in your family to attend university, come from a low income background, grew up in care, etc., you would be considered socially mobile, in which case firms would assess your A-level grades in the context they were achieved in. Mitigating circumstances is things like illness, bereavement and things beyond your control like the COVID-19 pandemic for instance. 🙂

I would say apply to any firm you are interested in, regardless of whether they have a minimum A-level requirement. I think firms are more concerned with performance at university than at school. If you are on track for a strong 2:1 or first, having lower A-level grades won’t matter too much. It would be more competitive for sure, but you have to give yourself a chance at least! Best of luck! 🤞​

 

[Mug Fan]

I’ve not got any mitigating circumstances sadly.

Bakers last year rejected me after four days so I don’t think they want me.

Macfarlanes have rejected me for the vac scheme this year so I cannot apply.

Would you say that BCLP is worth a shout?

As for W+C, I haven’t had my vac scheme back yet.

Big thank you though.

If it’s A-levels specifically you are concerned about, I got through BCLP this cycle with less than AAB. I’m also non-Russell group (although I don’t buy the whole RG thing anyway, my uni was better than most RG’s but technically isn’t one!)

The alternative is just don’t apply and never find out 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[ysr567]

Does anyone know if for Browne Jacobson's direct TC they send you a test invite automatically or do they review first? haven't heard back since sending off my application.

 

[A worried graduate]

I don’t think you should assume a firm ‘doesn’t want you’. This whole process is super competitive, with some firms having just a 0.5% chance of securing a TC! Just because Baker McKenzie rejected you last year, doesn’t mean they will do the same this year. Besides, you wouldn’t know unless you gave it a shot and reapplied. I got rejected for one of their open days this cycle and I’m not letting that discourage me from applying for their DTC lmao. 🤣

To my understanding, Macfarlanes allow you to re-apply in the same cycle, if you got rejected for the VS after the application stage. I would double check this though just in case. If you can apply again, I’d say go for it! The firm seems really good! 🙂

BCLP is a shout tbh. They have a really good training contract and offer a lot of client and international secondments. If you are interested in real estate, BCLP is the best firm for that kind of work. I went to their Dec open day this cycle and liked the firm a lot.

I would also recommend applying to Stephenson Harwood (SH). They don’t have a minimum A-level requirement, their annual trainee intake is around 25, their NQ salary is £100,000 and they specialise in things like shipping, aviation and international trade. If that sounds interesting then I’d apply to them as well. 😎

I think social mobility and rare recruitment are different to mitigating circumstances. If for example you went to a comp state school, were eligible for free school meals, were the first generation in your family to attend university, come from a low income background, grew up in care, etc., you would be considered socially mobile, in which case firms would assess your A-level grades in the context they were achieved in. Mitigating circumstances is things like illness, bereavement and things beyond your control like the COVID-19 pandemic for instance. 🙂

I would say apply to any firm you are interested in, regardless of whether they have a minimum A-level requirement. I think firms are more concerned with performance at university than at school. If you are on track for a strong 2:1 or first, having lower A-level grades won’t matter too much. It would be more competitive for sure, but you have to give yourself a chance at least! Best of luck! 🤞​

Thanks a lot for this

It was more the fact that I seemed to get “auto-rejected” by Bakers as everyone else’s applications took two months.

Thanks for the information though about Macfarlanes as I will have to take a look at that.

BCLP I will take a good look at too.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Does anyone know if for Browne Jacobson's direct TC they send you a test invite automatically or do they review first? haven't heard back since sending off my application.

I'm in the same boat. I applied ages ago, but their email said they'll be reviewing apps, so I didn't want to annoy them.

 

[User5678]

Does anyone know if for Browne Jacobson's direct TC they send you a test invite automatically or do they review first? haven't heard back since sending off my application.

Hi, I do not think it’s automatic because I haven’t seen anyone hear back from them post app . Even if it is meant to be automatic, I think they will check eligibility and send the invites all together like wbd did!

 

[gazdgazd11]

Does anyone know what to expect from DWF AC?

 

[Pola123]

If it’s A-levels specifically you are concerned about, I got through BCLP this cycle with less than AAB. I’m also non-Russell group (although I don’t buy the whole RG thing anyway, my uni was better than most RG’s but technically isn’t one!)

The alternative is just don’t apply and never find out 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yh BCLP is quite good tbh. I did my placement year there from 2023 to 2024. Non reg from Northern Ireland and made it to the final stage for a tc. If your application is good and you’re interested in real estate you’ll be fine. Funny enough the interview is more strength based so barely any commercial awareness. That was what threw me off but it’s definitely worth a shot.

 

[ysr567]

Does anyone know if it's correct that we can apply to Macfarlanes for a direct TC if we were rejected for a vacation scheme after the situational test. I saw a couple people say so but haven't found anywhere on their website that says this.