NQ positions, recruiters applying 2022

[FM302989]

I'm returning to the TCLA forums for the first time since I received my TC offer back in April 2021 and started in September 2021.

The less talked about step in the lawyer career path however, is life after the TC.

Some folks will love their firms, seats, departments etc and will looking for opportunities to be kept on. My query is for trainees that may be looking to fly the nest on or shortly after qualifying and seeing what else the market may offer.

Some queries I have now with 9/10 months left of my TC:
- What is typically the advice given to trainees in their 3rd/4th seat who are considering making the move;
- when is the best time to start looking;
- is it good practice to contact NQs/junior solicitors in firms we are interested in in a similar manner to when we were applying for TCs;
- have people had good experiences with recruiters they would like to share?

I'll probably have more thoughts (worries) that are normally best discussed in-person with NQs who have been in this position before. But at the very least I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread

 

[Alison C]

I'm returning to the TCLA forums for the first time since I received my TC offer back in April 2021 and started in September 2021.

The less talked about step in the lawyer career path however, is life after the TC.

Some folks will love their firms, seats, departments etc and will looking for opportunities to be kept on. My query is for trainees that may be looking to fly the nest on or shortly after qualifying and seeing what else the market may offer.

Some queries I have now with 9/10 months left of my TC:
- What is typically the advice given to trainees in their 3rd/4th seat who are considering making the move;
- when is the best time to start looking;
- is it good practice to contact NQs/junior solicitors in firms we are interested in in a similar manner to when we were applying for TCs;
- have people had good experiences with recruiters they would like to share?

I'll probably have more thoughts (worries) that are normally best discussed in-person with NQs who have been in this position before. But at the very least I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread

Do you know there is now a specific forum for junior lawyers, ie those with a TC offer and beyond? You might find some inspiration there too.

Click on the 'Forums' link and I think it should be at the top?

 

[FM302989]

Fab! What are these called and do you have links? I can see there’s a private trainee forum but I think my access needs to be approved @Alison C

 

[Jessica Booker]

Fab! What are these called and do you have links? I can see there’s a private trainee forum but I think my access needs to be approved @Alison C

I am tagging in @Erin and @Jaysen who will be able to confirm how you can get access to the Junior Lawyers Community

 

[FM302989]

I am tagging in @Erin and @Jaysen who will be able to confirm how you can get access to the Junior Lawyers Community

Superstar as always! Thanks Jessica!

 

[RoughWood]

I'm returning to the TCLA forums for the first time since I received my TC offer back in April 2021 and started in September 2021.

The less talked about step in the lawyer career path however, is life after the TC.

Some folks will love their firms, seats, departments etc and will looking for opportunities to be kept on. My query is for trainees that may be looking to fly the nest on or shortly after qualifying and seeing what else the market may offer.

Some queries I have now with 9/10 months left of my TC:
- What is typically the advice given to trainees in their 3rd/4th seat who are considering making the move;
- when is the best time to start looking;
- is it good practice to contact NQs/junior solicitors in firms we are interested in in a similar manner to when we were applying for TCs;
- have people had good experiences with recruiters they would like to share?

I'll probably have more thoughts (worries) that are normally best discussed in-person with NQs who have been in this position before. But at the very least I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread

I have a bit longer than you before i finish my TC but I have been starting to look into life after TC and would be very interested in this discussion also!

 

[Jessica Booker]

General rules from my perspective:

Start registering with recruitment agencies just over 6 months before the end of your TC - some firms might work more to 7-8 months ahead, especially if they only work with one trainee intake a year, but the majority of firms who have two intakes a year, they will typically only start the plan any NQ recruitment once the previous round has finished. Budgets and headcount rarely get agreed and signed off much more than 6-7 months in advance, and even when they do, it usually takes a few weeks for recruitment processes to be agreed/roles advertised etc - it can be a bit of a slow burn given that the NQ talent typically is only available at 1-2 times of the year.

Connecting with trainees/associates at the firm becomes a little more nuanced at NQ level. You have to be mindful that the trainees might be competing for the same NQ roles as you, and also junior associates are rarely involved in the recruitment process. If you have a specific interest in moving to a particular team/practice area, you may want to connect more with the hiring partners - they will be the ones deciding on whether to take on NQs and will be more clued up on whether they will be hiring from the internal trainee population or not.

I am not up to date with the best recruitment agencies. However, for many trainees, making sure their LinkedIn is up to date means they may be targetted directly by recruiters anyway. Depending on your interests and the demand/supply of NQ lawyers in that area, you could find yourself tapped up quite a lot by recruiters trying to fill NQ roles.

 

[Jaysen]

I'm returning to the TCLA forums for the first time since I received my TC offer back in April 2021 and started in September 2021.

The less talked about step in the lawyer career path however, is life after the TC.

Some folks will love their firms, seats, departments etc and will looking for opportunities to be kept on. My query is for trainees that may be looking to fly the nest on or shortly after qualifying and seeing what else the market may offer.

Some queries I have now with 9/10 months left of my TC:
- What is typically the advice given to trainees in their 3rd/4th seat who are considering making the move;
- when is the best time to start looking;
- is it good practice to contact NQs/junior solicitors in firms we are interested in in a similar manner to when we were applying for TCs;
- have people had good experiences with recruiters they would like to share?

I'll probably have more thoughts (worries) that are normally best discussed in-person with NQs who have been in this position before. But at the very least I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread

Welcome back to the forum!

We do now have a new private forum for future trainees and trainees. You can request access to join via this form.

 

[FM302989]

Thanks @Jaysen ! Sent that off now

 

[FM302989]

@Jaysen is there a link to the trainee forum ready? Thanks!!

 

[Maria d'Orey]

Hi @FM302989 ! Thanks for your query!

We'll be sending an email in regards to your request by 5pm today. Make sure to keep an eye out for it! 😄

 

[FM302989]

Hi @FM302989 ! Thanks for your query!

We'll be sending an email in regards to your request by 5pm today. Make sure to keep an eye out for it! 😄

Fabuloussss!

 

[Maria d'Orey]

Hi @FM302989 ! Just a note that emails about recent requests to the JLC forum should have now been sent off! ☺️

 

[FM302989]

Hi @FM302989 ! Just a note that emails about recent requests to the JLC forum should have now been sent off! ☺️

All received with a smile Maria (And yes, I should have chosen a simpler username but alas)!

 

[Maria d'Orey]

All received with a smile Maria (And yes, I should have chosen a simpler username but alas)!

Great - hope you find it helpful @FM302989 !

And no problem at all with your username! 🤣