2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

[Anon 11031]

They percentages are public - however the data is anonymised, so you don’t get to see which uni has ranked so badly.

But that’s why I would be asking an individual university to provide evidence as to what their pass rate is. And I’d be asking for it in writing too!

I don't have a choice because I have to attend ULaw but do you know if there are varying statistics across different ULaw campuses?

I'm probably going to phone around if this is the case.

 

[glaw23]

I don't have a choice because I have to attend ULaw but do you know if there are varying statistics across different ULaw campuses?

I'm probably going to phone around if this is the case.

I have been checking Freedom of Information Act requests for unis and postgrad pass rates, but for ULaw I can only find stuff requested about the GDL

I would definitely say phone around to check!

 

[Amy_22]

BCLP rejection😔😔😔😔

Sorry to hear this When did you apply and to which office?

 

[Law2022]

Sorry to hear this When did you apply and to which office?

7th April and London

 

[Jessica Booker]

I don't have a choice because I have to attend ULaw but do you know if there are varying statistics across different ULaw campuses?

I'm probably going to phone around if this is the case.

You can still ask them for the stats.

Unfortunately it isn’t public information which university has which figure, so I don’t know what it applies to of even if the BPPs/UoL is broken down by campus.

 

[Anon 11031]

I have been checking Freedom of Information Act requests for unis and postgrad pass rates, but for ULaw I can only find stuff requested about the GDL

I would definitely say phone around to check!

Thanks! I have been doing a bit of googling and I can only find GDL rates too!

 

[bhim]

What to do if I sent off an application with an inaccurate date?

On the application I wrote the duration of my degree to be Sept 2019 - June 2021 when it's actually Sept 2018 - June 2021.

I know how important an accurate application is, so is this something I should reach out to grad recruitment to fix or would drawing attention to it make it worse (sign of incompetence)? Since I realised when I read the final submitted application page, a minute after submitting.

 

[Jacob Miller]

What to do if I sent off an application with an inaccurate date?

On the application I wrote the duration of my degree to be Sept 2019 - June 2021 when it's actually Sept 2018 - June 2021.

I know how important an accurate application is, so is this something I should reach out to grad recruitment to fix or would drawing attention to it make it worse (sign of incompetence)? Since I realised when I read the final submitted application page, a minute after submitting.

For starters, this isn't a terrible error by any stretch of the imagination - plenty of successful apps have had a lot worse discrepancies than that! I would personally raise it with them - when you're in practice, if you make a mistake, it's on you to own it and notify the relevant people ASAP to minimise any damage done.

 

[golden99]

Thanks! I have been doing a bit of googling and I can only find GDL rates too!

Do you mind sending me the link to the GDL rates ?

 

[MLF]

Hi, I have a question that isn't directly related to TC app, hope it's ok.

When someone qualifies after a TC, let's say in employment law, and then notices a few years later that they'd rather practice medical law, is it possible to transfer to another department within the firm/change firm? Do you have to start over as an NQ? How does this work?

Many thanks

 

[Anon 11031]

Hi, I have a question that isn't directly related to TC app, hope it's ok.

When someone qualifies after a TC, let's say in employment law, and then notices a few years later that they'd rather practice medical law, is it possible to transfer to another department within the firm/change firm? Do you have to start over as an NQ? How does this work?

Many thanks

I'm not sure this will directly answer your question but, from information I've managed to gather from friends in the legal profession you end up picking up skills/knowledge in lots of different areas so you can shift specialism.

From my experience, however, I've only seen people do this when they actually change firm - rather than internally. For example, I have a friend that moved from tech to healthcare. They integrated a lot of their tech knowledge into their new role so it's more of a hybrid situation, but they're technically a 'healthcare' lawyer now.

It can be done, and you probably won't be treated like an NQ, but you would probably have to evidence that you've managed to acquire knowledge of the relevant sector and explain your change of career path.

 

[Legalmel_99]

Eversheds pfo - Birmingham office

 

[OH]

Hi, I have a question that isn't directly related to TC app, hope it's ok.

When someone qualifies after a TC, let's say in employment law, and then notices a few years later that they'd rather practice medical law, is it possible to transfer to another department within the firm/change firm? Do you have to start over as an NQ? How does this work?

Many thanks

I know of two people who've done this but it wasn't a complete area switch.

The first moved from pensions to general employment at 1PQE internally by simply applying for a NQ role and restarting on the pay-scale. She said it was almost entirely done through networking in the pensions year with those in charge of hiring.

The second moved from transactional banking to financial litigation, and did this by changing firms. They wrote to their network at other firms and were eventually offered a job in the department they wanted. He went from 4PQE back to NQ salary wise, but he's now a partner so it worked out well in the end.

 

[MLF]

I know of two people who've done this but it wasn't a complete area switch.

The first moved from pensions to general employment at 1PQE internally by simply applying for a NQ role and restarting on the pay-scale. She said it was almost entirely done through networking in the pensions year with those in charge of hiring.

The second moved from transactional banking to financial litigation, and did this by changing firms. They wrote to their network at other firms and were eventually offered a job in the department they wanted. He went from 4PQE back to NQ salary wise, but he's now a partner so it worked out well in the end.

I'm not sure this will directly answer your question but, from information I've managed to gather from friends in the legal profession you end up picking up skills/knowledge in lots of different areas so you can shift specialism.

From my experience, however, I've only seen people do this when they actually change firm - rather than internally. For example, I have a friend that moved from tech to healthcare. They integrated a lot of their tech knowledge into their new role so it's more of a hybrid situation, but they're technically a 'healthcare' lawyer now.

It can be done, and you probably won't be treated like an NQ, but you would probably have to evidence that you've managed to acquire knowledge of the relevant sector and explain your change of career path.

Thank you both this is really helpful to know it can be done!

 

[m.aspiring.lawyer]

Anyone heard from macfarlanes?

 

[Anon 11031]

Thank you both this is really helpful to know it can be done!

I should mention that in the example I'm talking about the person stayed on their PQE salary - but I think this varies wildly from situation to situation!

 

[SB1539]

Did anyone on here do the Howard Kennedy written assessment? Just want to know how people found it! I thought it was a tough one!

 

[M777]

Does Watson Farley & Williams invite everyone to video interview?

 

[Noodles52]

How did the interview go? What did they ask?

I think overall, despite not getting a TC, I do think the interview went well. I'm yet to hear back my full feedback report, but overall I think it was a case of that they couldn't offer everyone, and had to eliminate the weakest, even if it was only marginal. I'm sure once I get the feedback I'll understand actually where went wrong and not quite to standard, but it really wasn't too bad. It was very similar to the phone interview and AC interview, really. A lot of motivational questions with some scenario. If you have been/are waiting to be invited to the interview, you'll have a full email explaining everything!

 

[MLF]

I see a lot of people have received responses from Eversheds but I still haven't heard back for the London office, how long should I wait?