TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[billyonthespeeddial]

does anybody know when HL plans on keeping its Acs for the direct TC route?

I don't know exactly when, but I know they plan to hold them before the summer schemes start, because I've been told that Direct TC offers are made before SVS TC offers

 

[norothrow324]

I know W&C is rolling, but I always say this - you never know unless you try.

Let‘s look at it from two angles.

• Angle 1: If you wait till the next cycle to apply for the winter VS, you will still have time to put in your application eventually. You could also spend the time before reading more about the firm, refining your application/ interview skills, and so on.
• Angle 2: If you apply for the direct TC and get it, that’s great. If you don‘t, the experience is not wasted. You will have certainly improved your written application skills (in time for the next cycle). If you progress to the later stages, you will have received feedback, which is always good, and help more for the next cycle.

Feedback is so important. One of the greatest things I appreciate is when I get feedback, no matter how direct it may seem. It shows a firm/person cares about your development enough to give you areas to improve on. I have had my fair share of PFOs, but the feedback kept me going. You will be able to gauge that X and Y is good, but I need to improve on H and Q for next time. It could also help in seeing that hmm, maybe if I do O and R next time, then I could tackle this stage of the application process better, and so on.

Bets of luck on the apps!

Just as a quick point, W&C is non rolling for DTC which makes it even better as far applying goes.

 

[Amma Usman]

Just as a quick point, W&C is non rolling for DTC which makes it even better as far applying goes.

Yep - even better! From what I remember, the application is a cover letter (correct me if I’m wrong). I’ve quoted a post I made on this in the past to help.

Hey there,

I totally get this feeling. There are so many things one could possibly include in a cover letter given the flexibility of it. It’s far from application questions where you are directed towards a certain type of focus point, and expected to stay within that.

There are three key things worth mentioning;

• Why commercial law.
• Why the firm.
• Why you.

The three, “why’s”, essentially.

Why CL - there are so many professions out there, especially in the corporate world, and your ability to succinctly deal with the first why, helps show your reader you have thought this path through. Now, it’s not enough to just state your experiences, you need to precisely show what you did during that period. Further, you will still need to take it to the next level by showcasing why and how that links to commercial law (or an aspect of it, like a practice area), to create a good answer. At this point, you do not need to worry about whether the experiences you choose, or the practice areas you talk about, are a core area of the firm you are applying to. Just showing your journey and how you discovered this path is enough. Law firms want to see your story. How you genuinely communciate this passion is by showing them this. You could say something like you tried X didn’t like it because of Y and Z. You then maybe tried B and picked out that you liked O and G, which commercial law offers, and decided that this was a great path to go down for I and J reasons. Apologies for bombarding you with alphabets, but essentially this is the structure you should aim for (or some variation of it).

Why the firm - as above, seeing as there are so many firms out there, even this is a rather challenging question to answer. Many firms work on similar types of work, similar kinds of deals, have similar core practices, and so on. If the firm operates within a niche area, typically not done by other firms that are reasonably considered its competitors, this could be a distinguishing factor which could draw you more to the firm you are applying to. Focusing clearly on these niche aspects (though I appreciate this may not always be the case/ easy to find), will help your answer appear less generic, and showcase yourself as a candidate that actually knows what they want, AND has done research into knowing where they can get that.

Why you - this is perhaps the easiest and hardest question of all. It’s easy because you know yourself and experiences well, so this should not be hard to communicate. It’s hard because I see a lot of applicants, sway towards downplaying themsleves, whereas this should really be where you sell yourself well. I once watched a webinar on personal branding when applying for jobs, and this is where you really hone into any standout qualities, achievements, backed up with specific examples, that could elevate your application.

Best of luck.. hope this helps!

 

[JasmineM9]

Yep - even better! From what I remember, the application is a cover letter (correct me if I’m wrong). I’ve quoted a post I made on this in the past.

Yep - even better! From what I remember, the application is a cover letter (correct me if I’m wrong). I’ve quoted a post I made on this in the past to help.

The only thing that was holding me back in applying for the DTC was the low chance of success for W&C Direct TCs applications, I am aware that most TCs go out to successful vac schemers. 😅

 

[NJS]

Anyone heard back from King & Spalding?

 

[thomaibal]

Anyone heard back from King & Spalding?

No, not yet!

 

[Cool pigeon]

Anyone know how long slaughters take to reply following DTC interview?

 

[Tintin06]

I believe it‘s always worth applying regardless of the stats. If they have a direct TC portal still open, then they are more likely than not going to offer at least a few slots via that. You never know unless you give it a shot…

Thank you for your encouraging words.

 

[Tintin06]

Anyone know how long slaughters take to reply following DTC interview?

Generally they don’t take that long. It was a week for me. This was back in 2019, however.

 

[mandamasochist]

Any news re WBD? Still waiting.

As an aside, my score was 6,6,7,9 with high written and middling numerical intellect.

 

[legallycece]

Hogan Lovells pfo post-WG

So sorry to hear this - how long roughly did it take to hear after you took the test ?

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

does anybody what ever happened to goodwin post VI for the direct TC? its been more than 2 months now

 

[Mug Fan]

does anybody what ever happened to goodwin post VI for the direct TC? its been more than 2 months now

The vac schemers have now all had their offers/PFO’s so I was hoping DTC might hear something this week but alas…

 

[Tintin06]

The only thing that was holding me back in applying for the DTC was the low chance of success for W&C Direct TCs applications, I am aware that most TCs go out to successful vac schemers. 😅

True but you only need one. W&C do give out direct TCs. A LinkedIn connection got W&C DTC. Plus W&C have many TCs generally. Always worth a shot I think.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

True but you only need one. W&C do give out direct TCs. A LinkedIn connection got W&C DTC. Plus W&C have many TCs generally. Always worth a shot I think.

Just about that LinkedIn connection with the DTC, did they have prior vac schemes/paralegal experience?

 

[JasmineM9]

True but you only need one. W&C do give out direct TCs. A LinkedIn connection got W&C DTC. Plus W&C have many TCs generally. Always worth a shot I think.

Thanks for the encouraging words! I will apply and give it my best go!!! (Fingers crossed)

 

[Tintin06]

Just about that LinkedIn connection with the DTC, did they have prior vac schemes/paralegal experience?

They had two law work experiences.

 

[eirake]

They had two law work experiences.

Adding on to this, I know someone personally who got the W&C dtc with no prior legal work experience and a non-law degree, so it’s defo worth a shot.

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu any thoughts on emailing grad rec to flag my upcoming vacation scheme at a similar firm where their application form specifically asked for future vacancies (but I've already sent it?)? ty

Hi @billyonthespeeddial If you can think of a plausible way to feature it into an email (perhaps informing them of unavailability for future dates?) I think you should do it. My view has always been that having a firm know about other VS offers can significantly increase your progression chances (I will quote a post where I anaysed this topic in more depth) and does not come with any substantial downside. One of my friends who had actually been waitlisted post-AC was offered a VS not long after informing the firm of VS offers elsewhere.

I would. Besides this definitely being valuable legal work experience, having a VS offer is a very impressive achievement that will immediately distinguish you from the majority of other applicants. Essentially, I believe it has the effect of instantly communicating to graduate recruitment that you were deemed to be a top 98-99% percentile candidate by a peer firm. This will invariably have an important impact in both (i) boosting up your candidate profile; and (ii) making graduate recruiters look at your application through different eyes, and thus making it more likely they will rate other aspects of it higher as well.

Even if they wanted to assess the rest of it independently and objectively, there is a lot of research in social psychology indicating that knowledge of peer opinions has a prevailing impact on one's evaluative judgements. This is particularly impactful in situations presenting a high degree of ambiguity and discretion, and I would argue the decision of whether to classify an application as a whole (so, one involving the multi-faceted assessment of a lot of factors) as "good, but not quite impressive enough" or "great, impressive enough to progress" has exactly those features.

As such, my view is that you would be doing yourself a disservice in not including the upcoming scheme. However, you can try to reduce the risk of it seeming like you put it there merely for purposes of impressing by adding in the description section (i) a short summary as to why you had applied for this firm and what your general applications strategy has been; and/or (ii) the seats you will do in the scheme and the work you expect to complete; and how that will be relevant for the development of your skills.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Hi @billyonthespeeddial If you can think of a plausible way to feature it into an email (perhaps informing them of unavailability for future dates?) I think you should do it. My view has always been that having a firm know about other VS offers can significantly increase your progression chances (I will quote a post where I anaysed this topic in more depth) and does not come with any substantial downside. One of my friends who had actually been waitlisted post-AC was offered a VS not long after informing the firm of VS offers elsewhere.

Fantastic, thank you very much!