m's successful(?) journey to a tc

[mfuturetrainee]

so guess its time for me to use this tcla forum as my actual accountability tracker. still v lost atm but optimistic

background:
- third year llb, studying in london
- applied in 2nd year, v scattergram approach, got thru to an interview w slaughters (rightfully rejected because I knew nothing but also v grateful I was)
- 3rd year: ive gotten thru VIs with w&c, v&e and got to an ac w CC for direct tc which I consider a massive win
- atp im waiting on apps for travers and macfarlanes, I dont have much hope left for vac schemes if im honest and I might send off a few more TC apps before the cycle concludes but im kind of hoping I get a job as a paralegal/ LA post uni so I can figure out law as a career itself and get some actual experience under my belt.

currently:
- idk if ive reached my point of delulu but im optimistic going forward becasuse I know my apps are strong enough to get thru the first stage and the rest I can try and work on. im hoping to get a bit more legal work experience. I was devastated after I got rejected post AC for CC but I like to find the silver lining in things and maybe im jus not ready yet, but theres no rush, we'll get there when the time is right

lovely to meet u all

 

[mfuturetrainee]

y’all im so tired and exhausted, ive given up on this cycle. jk but not really. feb was draining and im gonna take some well earned rest( in the form of catching up on uni work)

im jus working on my dissertation atm and hoping that once ive made a dent in writing this, the flow comes back and i can shoot off some tc apps

 

[Ali A]

Congrats on making it to the AC for some huge firms and past the first stage for others.

This tells me it is only round the corner for you and you just have to keep going!

 

[axelbeugre]

so guess its time for me to use this tcla forum as my actual accountability tracker. still v lost atm but optimistic

background:
- third year llb, studying in london
- applied in 2nd year, v scattergram approach, got thru to an interview w slaughters (rightfully rejected because I knew nothing but also v grateful I was)
- 3rd year: ive gotten thru VIs with w&c, v&e and got to an ac w CC for direct tc which I consider a massive win
- atp im waiting on apps for travers and macfarlanes, I dont have much hope left for vac schemes if im honest and I might send off a few more TC apps before the cycle concludes but im kind of hoping I get a job as a paralegal/ LA post uni so I can figure out law as a career itself and get some actual experience under my belt.

currently:
- idk if ive reached my point of delulu but im optimistic going forward becasuse I know my apps are strong enough to get thru the first stage and the rest I can try and work on. im hoping to get a bit more legal work experience. I was devastated after I got rejected post AC for CC but I like to find the silver lining in things and maybe im jus not ready yet, but theres no rush, we'll get there when the time is right

lovely to meet u all

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with many on this forum as I think it will be very helpful!

You should be so proud of the milestones you have achieved such as getting an assessment centre at CC, which is so hard to get.

Your determination will get you far in life and this post is a testament to that, keep applying and keep following your dream!

Good luck!

 

[Aks.Khurana]

so guess its time for me to use this tcla forum as my actual accountability tracker. still v lost atm but optimistic

background:
- third year llb, studying in london
- applied in 2nd year, v scattergram approach, got thru to an interview w slaughters (rightfully rejected because I knew nothing but also v grateful I was)
- 3rd year: ive gotten thru VIs with w&c, v&e and got to an ac w CC for direct tc which I consider a massive win
- atp im waiting on apps for travers and macfarlanes, I dont have much hope left for vac schemes if im honest and I might send off a few more TC apps before the cycle concludes but im kind of hoping I get a job as a paralegal/ LA post uni so I can figure out law as a career itself and get some actual experience under my belt.

currently:
- idk if ive reached my point of delulu but im optimistic going forward becasuse I know my apps are strong enough to get thru the first stage and the rest I can try and work on. im hoping to get a bit more legal work experience. I was devastated after I got rejected post AC for CC but I like to find the silver lining in things and maybe im jus not ready yet, but theres no rush, we'll get there when the time is right

lovely to meet u all

Hey @mfuturetrainee, I'm really glad to see you using the forum to stay accountable! Your optimism here is infectious - I'm so glad you can view all the obstacles so far as learning opportunities. An interesting perspective I came across during my first application cycle was the idea that failure is data. By going through the process and having attempted various stages already, you have some really valuable information about yourself. When I reached my second and final cycle, I collected loads of specific insights into my strengths and weaknesses, which I used to identify areas to improve. Gradually, I got better at individual elements and ended up with 7 ACs and 2 TCs in my second cycle (following 7 consecutive rejections from my first cycle)!

You know where you excel, and you know what you need to work on. This data can be instrumental in your journey to a TC if you use it to learn and re-inform your strategies! On a practical level, then, use the information from your feedback calls and reflections from past (successful and unsuccessful) applications to improve your upcoming applications/interviews.

I think your strategy of pursuing roles as a paralegal or legal assistant alongside your direct TC apps is the ideal approach. I would focus on maintaining a high standard for each of your applications and applying what you have learned from previous applications to improve your upcoming apps. And certainly, make sure you're taking that well-deserved rest and giving your university work the emphasis it deserves!

I have my fingers crossed for you! 😌

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Hey @mfuturetrainee, I'm really glad to see you using the forum to stay accountable! Your optimism here is infectious - I'm so glad you can view all the obstacles so far as learning opportunities. An interesting perspective I came across during my first application cycle was the idea that failure is data. By going through the process and having attempted various stages already, you have some really valuable information about yourself. When I reached my second and final cycle, I collected loads of specific insights into my strengths and weaknesses, which I used to identify areas to improve. Gradually, I got better at individual elements and ended up with 7 ACs and 2 TCs in my second cycle (following 7 consecutive rejections from my first cycle)!

You know where you excel, and you know what you need to work on. This data can be instrumental in your journey to a TC if you use it to learn and re-inform your strategies! On a practical level, then, use the information from your feedback calls and reflections from past (successful and unsuccessful) applications to improve your upcoming applications/interviews.

I think your strategy of pursuing roles as a paralegal or legal assistant alongside your direct TC apps is the ideal approach. I would focus on maintaining a high standard for each of your applications and applying what you have learned from previous applications to improve your upcoming apps. And certainly, make sure you're taking that well-deserved rest and giving your university work the emphasis it deserves!

I have my fingers crossed for you! 😌

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with many on this forum as I think it will be very helpful!

You should be so proud of the milestones you have achieved such as getting an assessment centre at CC, which is so hard to get.

Your determination will get you far in life and this post is a testament to that, keep applying and keep following your dream!

Good luck!

Congrats on making it to the AC for some huge firms and past the first stage for others.

This tells me it is only round the corner for you and you just have to keep going!

thank you everyone for your kind words and advice <33 grateful to have this community 🥹

 

[mfuturetrainee]

so update:

I did do a massive slack last week because I was exhausted (now it's reading week, I have a dissertation and 2 formatives to complete (+ I also just got out of a relationship, tmi? tmi indeed) so its BEEN A LOT but I feel more refreshed going into this week

I used monday and Tuesday as a way to write up my first 2 sub chapters for my dissertation which actually makes sense? I love my research topic and its international human rights so im v passionate!!

although im still in no way shape or form ready to tackle applications again (processing a lot of stuff from last week) I feel bad that im slacking on my commercial awareness, so im going to try and update this forum w news articles ive been finding interesting and how this may relate to law firms --> im doing this because this was a feedback from my last AC where this was a weakness. SO DONT JUDGE ME WHEN I WRITE, im still new to this and its difficult

BUT if anybody finds whatever I write even remotely interesting and has another take on it, do reply to it pls because I like hearing about diff fresh perspectives and if im wrong lmk lol

also I love the thinking that @Aks.Khurana mentioned, definitely such a positive way to look at things, failure is indeed data and I will defo focus on my weaknesses and strengths and re-evaluate them when going to ACs or even when shooting off apps (+ hopefully my next relationship will be a bit more sustainable)

bye ily all

talk soon!!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

hello hello
ive been v awol atm ik, no updates have been made but a lot of reflection has! I decided to jus focus on uni deadlines, write my dissertation, and try and make it through easter break in one piece which has been somewhat of a success

planning to shoot off hopefully 2 v last minute tc apps by 31st, ik there r a few deadlines there so I might have to jus burn the midnight oil and get it done. my motivation has run dry so im hoping my discipline kicks in. besides reading a few headline FT news articles, I havent kept tracked ill be v honest which is prolly not advisable as everyone says try to keep disicplined with ur commercial awareness but the ramadan fatigue is real and im exhausted (caffeine withdrawal headache every single day, its bad) but im really enjoying this somewhat downtime period since I dont have many classes and im grateful to be given that time to jus spend it w my family and focus on reconnecting w myself which is always nice

anyway

ily all
ik we're in the final stretch of the academic year for most, whether it be second year or third year or masters, etc, and I hope you all are powering thru <33 hopefully ill bounce back soon and come @ u w my updates

 

[axelbeugre]

hello hello
ive been v awol atm ik, no updates have been made but a lot of reflection has! I decided to jus focus on uni deadlines, write my dissertation, and try and make it through easter break in one piece which has been somewhat of a success

planning to shoot off hopefully 2 v last minute tc apps by 31st, ik there r a few deadlines there so I might have to jus burn the midnight oil and get it done. my motivation has run dry so im hoping my discipline kicks in. besides reading a few headline FT news articles, I havent kept tracked ill be v honest which is prolly not advisable as everyone says try to keep disicplined with ur commercial awareness but the ramadan fatigue is real and im exhausted (caffeine withdrawal headache every single day, its bad) but im really enjoying this somewhat downtime period since I dont have many classes and im grateful to be given that time to jus spend it w my family and focus on reconnecting w myself which is always nice

anyway

ily all
ik we're in the final stretch of the academic year for most, whether it be second year or third year or masters, etc, and I hope you all are powering thru <33 hopefully ill bounce back soon and come @ u w my updates

Such an amazing mindset, it is amazing to read how hard you are still working! Congratulations and keep going, I am sure you will accomplish your goals very soon!!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

hi everyone

I'm BACK. final year exams r done, I think I had 2 days to rest before someone triggered me into the next void by asking me what my future plans were. they didnt trigger me, im jus obnoxiously anxious and I forgot that I have to return to the cracking job market and figure out my next steps which is frightening

atm the plan is to try to apply and land a paralegal job or try and get some legal work exp under my belt (seems v dubious) BUT yk what its ok. I also need to catch up w whats happening w the business world because ive been so out of it (oops) so yep thats that. I hope everyone who is sitting exams or have sat or are going to smashes it <33

 

[mfuturetrainee]

I havent been here for a good minute but hello everyone

ive started my first ever paralegal job, turns out im pretty much shite at everything and besides me there is only one other trainee! which is great !! problem w me is that I hate relying on people and I like to just get things done to the best standard but my first office job is really making me kind of push that ego down and ask for help (its mortifying for me honestly) but yes! only 3 days in and im already tasked to prepare a bundle which is uh concerning but with anything in life, u jus have to get stuck in and this uncomfortable phase will pass

hope everyones well!!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

also this is ur reminder that directly reaching out is a lot more efficient than actually applying thru a system, I was hassling law firms for weeks directly and managed to land a couple of interviews that way


worst they can say is no

 

[Legalstalker]

Congrats on the new role that’s amazing!!! Especially since you just left uni what an achievement 😆 super happy for you!

Totally agree about the asking for help situation as that’s how a felt last year when I started my first big girl office job haha. I just found that asking and getting the work correct than doing myself getting it wrong and delaying deadlines was best haha

Once again congratulations!! 🥳

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Congrats on the new role that’s amazing!!! Especially since you just left uni what an achievement 😆 super happy for you!

Totally agree about the asking for help situation as that’s how a felt last year when I started my first big girl office job haha. I just found that asking and getting the work correct than doing myself getting it wrong and delaying deadlines was best haha

Once again congratulations!! 🥳

thank you!! so sorry for the late reply, I feel like I went super AWOL but yes, its been super hectic! I hope things are going well for you

 

[mfuturetrainee]

so IM BACK, passed my probation period and its jus been busy, how on EARTH do people balance a full time job with app season, I really took my student life for granted, im trying to balance actually going to the gym rn (in the winter, the motivation is 10ft underground) WHILST trying to write apps WHILST trying to not become a hermit which is impossible!!!

anyway ive submitted three apps so far for links (wvs), w&c (wvs) and bird & bird direct tc!!

im also really trying to be consistent w my commercial awareness but its so HARD,rn podcasts r my saviour

 

[mfuturetrainee]

also am I the only one who is lowkey traumatised submitting apps, my most recent rejection was post AC for a direct tc literally in July and I still feel scarred

getting started again is petrifying but ig it eventually falls into space?? I hope everyone's doing well

 

[LillyandSilver]

Totally get it. I used to block firms on Linkedin for a while until I was over the rejection. You become numb after a while I think and you just have keep moving and applying to more things.

I had a disastrous final and just seeing the law firm name now still hurts. The thought of running into my interviewer again irl makes me break out in a cold sweat. But I took a few days off realised id never make the same mistakes again and that it was a learning moment and then started again and I found a law firm that I love in the end.

also am I the only one who is lowkey traumatised submitting apps, my most recent rejection was post AC for a direct tc literally in July and I still feel scarred

getting started again is petrifying but ig it eventually falls into space?? I hope everyone's doing well