2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

[Jessica Booker]

Anyone know just how strict A Level requirements are with firms? I imagine very strict, but just wanted to check. I am running out of firms I can apply to, and most of the firms I wanted to apply to have high A Level requirements so I ended up avoiding them.

I got CDE on my A Levels after struggling with my mental health. The flip side of this is that I don't like explaining it in mitigating circ. because I feel they don't view my mental health particularly favourably either lol, but I do it if I need to.

@Jessica Booker , do you have any info on this?

Unfortunately this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string answer.

Some firms will be exceptionally strict - so much so you might not even be able to apply
Some firms will say that applicants will "usually have achieved" certain grades, but clearly there are exceptions
Some firms also use contextualised recruitment system which change the approach to A-level grades too.

You may want to look at the following page on the Chambers website: Application and selection criteria - Chambers Student Guide

Put brutally frankly though, you'll need to claim your mitigating circumstances for any firm - that is my advice anyway. Without it, a firm will just assume you didn't apply yourself to your studies at that point in life (whether they have a requirement or not).

 

[glaw23]

Unfortunately this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string answer.

Some firms will be exceptionally strict - so much so you might not even be able to apply
Some firms will say that applicants will "usually have achieved" certain grades, but clearly there are exceptions
Some firms also use contextualised recruitment system which change the approach to A-level grades too.

You may want to look at the following page on the Chambers website: Application and selection criteria - Chambers Student Guide

Put brutally frankly though, you'll need to claim your mitigating circumstances for any firm - that is my advice anyway. Without it, a firm will just assume you didn't apply yourself to your studies at that point in life (whether they have a requirement or not).

Thank you so much! That link is far easier that wasting time with extensively researching each firm to find out their policy.

Do you have any advice on how to word the mitigating circ.? Short and sweet? Do I make a point of saying that my mental health is significantly better now? Mine is for depression and anxiety.

 

[Legalmel_99]

Hi all!

This feels completely unbelievable to say. But I was offered a training contract last week to start in 2022! 🎊

I genuinely have felt like I wasn't good enough for so long. After having a few hard years mentally and getting some horrible grades at university, I thought I wasn't capable of this.

I just want to say a huge thanks to this forum. You have all been so amazing (especially @Jessica Booker and @Alice G). Thank you for lifting me up when I was down and didn't believe in myself.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Massive congratulations I am so happy for you!!!!🥰❤️

 

[Anon 11031]

Massive congratulations I am so happy for you!!!!🥰❤️

Thanks Mel! I hope you are doing okay! ❤️

 

[Jacob Miller]

Thank you so much! That link is far easier that wasting time with extensively researching each firm to find out their policy.

Do you have any advice on how to word the mitigating circ.? Short and sweet? Do I make a point of saying that my mental health is significantly better now? Mine is for depression and anxiety.

I think honesty is really the best policy. If things are better, more manageable, then say that.

Similarly, if they're not, I would try and display that you're nevertheless working on it and gradually building towards improvement and management of your conditions - it's exceedingly important to be proactive insofar as you can be in situations such as this, and working towards an action plan/ improvement of your health is an important element to this.

In terms of how long it should be, unfortunately it's impossible to say exactly. Make sure you do justice to the facts and circumstances, don't feel the need to downplay anything, but equally you don't need to go into forensic detail.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you so much! That link is far easier that wasting time with extensively researching each firm to find out their policy.

Do you have any advice on how to word the mitigating circ.? Short and sweet? Do I make a point of saying that my mental health is significantly better now? Mine is for depression and anxiety.

There are several approaches you can take here.

You can claim the circumstances broadly and not disclose the specifics. Eg “Due to health issues in 2016-17, my A-level grades were impacted”. You’ll need to put some context around how it impacted your studies (eg non attendance at school, poor concentration due to medication, impacted exams through illness) but you don’t have to be specific with what the illness was.

Or you can be more specific if you feel comfortable with disclosing the situation in more detail.

If your academic grades have subsequently been strong, then you can say something like “since then, my health has improved and my education has not been impacted, as demonstrated by my strong academic performance”.

If you do go with the broader/vaguer description, then you may also want to say something like: “further information can be provided on request” and/or “further information, including academic references/medical reports, can be provided on request.

If you are claiming notifications circumstances, you will need something to evidence it, and ideally having some form of academic referee who knew of the circumstances and can reference how/how much they impacted your studies is often the easiest way to manage these situations.

 

[Nnu]

hi! does anyone have any experience with interviewing for rosenblatt and would be ok for me to message?
would appreciate it massively!
thanks

 

[Noodles52]

Anybody been able to apply for Kirkland Ellis? Their website is really confusing and says there's still time to apply, but no link to the actual application.

 

[ChantelleTen]

Add ice cream and Netflix to this, and you have my post AC routine.

I've found my people - let's all wallow in our post AC-anxieties together

 

[Noodles52]

Five more firms to hear back from with one app to finish, before the 2023 cycle closes for me. Decided there was no point in me applying for firms that I have no interest in, or who don't work in the area I want to specialise in. September opens for the 2024 apps and I'll be back on it then!

 

[TT98]

Five more firms to hear back from with one app to finish, before the 2023 cycle closes for me. Decided there was no point in me applying for firms that I have no interest in, or who don't work in the area I want to specialise in. September opens for the 2024 apps and I'll be back on it then!

I hope the rest of this cycle works in your favour What sort of firms/areas are you interested in?

 

[Daniel Boden]

Anybody been able to apply for Kirkland Ellis? Their website is really confusing and says there's still time to apply, but no link to the actual application.

They have already filled their positions for 2023 by offering to the strongest people who applied through the vac scheme route I'm afraid

 

[Noodles52]

I hope the rest of this cycle works in your favour What sort of firms/areas are you interested in?

Thank you! I really appreciate it


I'm looking for work in media/entertainment, so smaller/niche or mid-tier's that provide experience in that realm. Usually with a far smaller trainee take each year, but the larger US firms never really appealed to me!

 

[Noodles52]

They have already filled their positions for 2023 by offering to the strongest people who applied through the vac scheme route I'm afraid

Thank you for this! I had a feeling they may have done, but it was rather confusing to work out.

 

[Jaysen]

I can’t believe I’m writing this but I’ve been offered a TC…..!!!!!! This was my third app cycle so I have literally been waiting years for the call and I was so over the moon I cried!!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone on this forum I was pretty active last year but have kept a much lower profile this season partly because I’ve been so exhausted by the entire process but all the support and resources have been invaluable!!!!!

I fully understand how difficult balancing work apps and life can be… but keep going guys we’ve all got this!!!!

Delighted to read this - well done!

 

[RoughWood]

In a DM someone said that this was just what they needed to hear, so I have copied it here for anyone else that may benefit from a boost during this difficult application season.


The main thing to remember is that it is not about how good you are. You could literally be the absolute best version of yourself and not get it purely because it isn't about you, it's about who you are up against. You can't control who the other applicants are so focus on being the best version of yourself.

I say similar to my team at work, if you have had the worst possible day where absolutely nothing has gone right but you know that you couldn't have done your job any better, then it is a good day and you should be proud.

Try not to worry about things that are outside of your control. You control yourself, so be the best self that you can.

 

[c1070]

WOOOOOO congrats!!!! That's amazing!!! Who is the lucky firm?

Thanks so much I'm still smiling about it! It is for Dentons via direct TC app for anyone else who was interested

 

[Etudierlaw2022]

Hasn't this been a record breaking application cycle? I'm trying to remember if I've heard some firms say they've received more applications than any other year - like thousands more, can anyone confirm this? I wonder why that is if true...

 

[Veep9]

Macfarlanes TC rejection came through

 

[Daniel Boden]

Hasn't this been a record breaking application cycle? I'm trying to remember if I've heard some firms say they've received more applications than any other year - like thousands more, can anyone confirm this? I wonder why that is if true...

Yes a lot of firms have said that and I imagine one reason is that a fair few people were made redundant due to covid and so were looking at pursuing other career options