TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Amma Usman]

Hey @marisachr , good question. This is a tough one, particularly because competencies differ between firms and it is rather difficult to know which is the ‘right‘ answer. The truth is, often times there is no right answer. I’ve gone to several presentations by the providers of these SJTs which all say to trust your gut and intuition. Avoid spending too long on a question as this could make you run the risk of switching from the right answer, to the wrong one.

Hey there @floral.tcla ,

Unfortunately, there is no correct answer to this. What is considered right or wrong differs per question. I’d say to just always trust your instinct. It’s great you’re bearing the firm’s values in mind whilst answering. I’ve usually kept these in mind when answering every question, and the approach has served me well. Above all, prior to clicking on an answer, ensure that it sits well with you - and what you will genuinely do in that situation. There is usually no perfect answer in an SJT. However, there are usually answers that are evidently wrong from the start. This is where you can start cancelling them out mentally to focus on weighing more likely accurate answers. With regards your other specific question, a mentor once told me that there is a certain level of mindfulness a trainee needs to possess to ensure that they make the most of the learning and development opportunity. However, this should not come at the expense of speaking up and conveying your views on a discussion. In fact, it is very much needed as you were hired for your opinion - hired to add value. So, I recommend keeping both approaches in mind whilst responding.

Best of luck, and I’m sure you'll do great!

I wouldn’t worry too much about the numbers, to be honest. Firms have different metrics for how they assess things like this - sometimes they’re equally weighted, sometimes some categories are more weighted than others. Another thing is that there never really is a wrong answer in an SJT, some answers will just be more correct than others. Please do not worry too much about this, as I know it’s easy to dwell on such. Put it out your head, grab a nice hot cocoa, and go on with your day - this approach personally helped me when I was worried about applications that I’ve already sent. Or just do anything that excites you, really!

Any tips for BCLP’s SJT?

Hi there, I have quoted some general tips on SJTs above to help.

 

[student101!]

Hi! Has anyone heard back from Mayer Brown after completing their online tests? for direct tc.

 

[LB24]

Hi @Jessica Booker

I’ve been offered a TC that I have to accepted by the 4th April, but I’ve got an AC for a vac scheme in a couple of weeks with the vac scheme being in June/July.

I think I prefer this second firm, and if I were to get a vac scheme and TC offer from them, how is best to go about it. Can I accept the TC for the first firm and then rescind the offer if I get a TC offer from the second firm?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker

I’ve been offered a TC that I have to accepted by the 4th April, but I’ve got an AC for a vac scheme in a couple of weeks with the vac scheme being in June/July.

I think I prefer this second firm, and if I were to get a vac scheme and TC offer from them, how is best to go about it. Can I accept the TC for the first firm and then rescind the offer if I get a TC offer from the second firm?

Yes, you can renege on the first firm as long as you haven't received any financial support from the firm or have started the onboarding processes for studying for the GDL/SQE.

 

[mmm918]

Anyone heard back from K&S?

 

[Chris Brown]

What sort of candidate does W&C usually go for, are they hell-bent on a certain 'type' for want of a better word?
I have never applied to them before and am considering the Direct TC route. Also, is the direct route a well-trodden one with W&C or do they hire mainly through VS'?

I think they recruit up to 50 trainees per year, across two intakes (March and September). To my knowledge, they hold 3 VS’ (Winter, Spring and Summer), with around 25 people per VS. In total, there will be about 75-80 VS’ers. I think they make TC offers to around 50% of all VS’ (i.e., 40/80 candidates get a TC offer). 😅

That means around 80% of their TC offers are made through the VS route (40/50), with the remaining 20% of TC’s (10/50) given out through the DTC route. It’s probably going to be a bit tougher to secure a TC with them through the DTC route, but not impossible. Best of luck with your application to White & Case! 🙂​

 

[kokoprep]

not at all, my bf gave the interview virtually and even with 2:2 grades in some subjects in non-law, got a TC with them this year. they are only going to ask questions based on your CV which helps them see the story behind you, and you will find their FAQs in TCLA threads of previous years. just prepare for them and you will be fine

hey would you be open to sharing what’s the home country of the person who got the TC and did they need sponsorship to work in UK?

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

hey would you be open to sharing what’s the home country of the person who got the TC and did they need sponsorship to work in UK?

yes he needed sponsorship

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

does anyone know how many trainees Ashurst takes through DTC?

 

[sunnyd]

Has anyone applied for a TC at Herrington Carmichael (either previously or in this year's cycle)

 

[Tintin06]

I think they recruit up to 50 trainees per year, across two intakes (March and September). To my knowledge, they hold 3 VS’ (Winter, Spring and Summer), with around 25 people per VS. In total, there will be about 75-80 VS’ers. I think they make TC offers to around 50% of all VS’ (i.e., 40/80 candidates get a TC offer). 😅

That means around 80% of their TC offers are made through the VS route (40/50), with the remaining 20% of TC’s (10/50) given out through the DTC route. It’s probably going to be a bit tougher to secure a TC with them through the DTC route, but not impossible. Best of luck with your application to White & Case! 🙂​

10 is plenty - only need one.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

would it be detrimental to express interest in m&a if we are doing the Ashurst app. Sure they do good M&A but they have other practices that are market leading and ranked higher comparatively. Will the M&A reference in the app make the grad rec feel that we didn't do enough research? (Even if I clearly specify why I wanna do M&A at Ashurst) @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam . Thanks in advance.

 

[M123]

Has anyone emailed King & Spalding to ask about their application status?

 

[Andrei Radu]

would it be detrimental to express interest in m&a if we are doing the Ashurst app. Sure they do good M&A but they have other practices that are market leading and ranked higher comparatively. Will the M&A reference in the app make the grad rec feel that we didn't do enough research? (Even if I clearly specify why I wanna do M&A at Ashurst) @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam . Thanks in advance.

I think it is highly unlikely it would be detrimental. Firms are aware that at the moment of entry in the profession candidates can have interests in a wide variety of practice areas; and no firm is the best in every single one. As such, you expressing interest in a practice area where there are other firms which are somewhat better ranked is no issue. I think it could have only really been a problem either if the practice area was one the firm did not offer at all, or if the practice was a small/niche one in the firm.

Fundamentally, to have a good 'why the firm' reasoning, I do not think you necessarily need to show that Ashurst is the best firm for every single one of your relevant selection criteria (ie practice area/sector interests, training style, strategy etc). You only need to provide a convincing argument that, all things considered, Ashurst is the best firm for you.

As such, imagine you provide three reasons for wanting to join Ashurst: (1) a strong corporate M&A practice, (2) leading expertise in sectors you are interested in - say, financial services and oil & gas; and (3) leading real estate practice. Now, if your only motivation was centered around M&A, this would be an issue, as firms like Freshfields and Slaughter and May are arguably better for it. However, these two firms will likely not be equally strong for the sectors/practices at (2) and (3). Thus, if you care about all three, it makes sense that you would pick Ashurst.

 

[Tintin06]

Has anyone emailed King & Spalding to ask about their application status?

Not sure it would help much. Probably best to wait for them. More time to make further apps. Plenty of firms are still open. I’ve never found follow-ups work, personally. Good luck with your K&S app.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

I think it is highly unlikely it would be detrimental. Firms are aware that at the moment of entry in the profession candidates can have interests in a wide variety of practice areas; and no firm is the best in every single one. As such, you expressing interest in a practice area where there are other firms which are somewhat better ranked is no issue. I think it could have only really been a problem either if the practice area was one the firm did not offer at all, or if the practice was a small/niche one in the firm.

Fundamentally, to have a good 'why the firm' reasoning, I do not think you necessarily need to show that Ashurst is the best firm for every single one of your relevant selection criteria (ie practice area/sector interests, training style, strategy etc). You only need to provide a convincing argument that, all things considered, Ashurst is the best firm for you.

As such, imagine you provide three reasons for wanting to join Ashurst: (1) a strong corporate M&A practice, (2) leading expertise in sectors you are interested in - say, financial services and oil & gas; and (3) leading real estate practice. Now, if your only motivation was centered around M&A, this would be an issue, as firms like Freshfields and Slaughter and May are arguably better for it. However, these two firms will likely not be equally strong for the sectors/practices at (2) and (3). Thus, if you care about all three, it makes sense that you would pick Ashurst.

Thank you. This was very helpful.

 

[OliverTwist]

I think they recruit up to 50 trainees per year, across two intakes (March and September). To my knowledge, they hold 3 VS’ (Winter, Spring and Summer), with around 25 people per VS. In total, there will be about 75-80 VS’ers. I think they make TC offers to around 50% of all VS’ (i.e., 40/80 candidates get a TC offer). 😅

That means around 80% of their TC offers are made through the VS route (40/50), with the remaining 20% of TC’s (10/50) given out through the DTC route. It’s probably going to be a bit tougher to secure a TC with them through the DTC route, but not impossible. Best of luck with your application to White & Case! 🙂​

Thank you! This is very helpful. Best of luck with your cycle!

 

[OliverTwist]

This is based only on people I know, but I have noticed that they tend to like people with an international element to their profile. Whether that be someone who has worked abroad for a while, speaks different languages, grew up in a different country.

Nice, thank you!

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

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

 

[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…