pickyportkey's Path to a TC 🛤️

[pickyportkey]

Hello everyone! I'm currently doing my LLM at NUS in Singapore after having finished my LLB in the UK this year.

Posting my daily progress here, just to keep myself accountable throughout this so very tiring process as a student applying from outside the UK 🙂‍↔️

No luck so far, with PFOs from:
Clifford Chance
Pinsent Masons Direct TC
A&O Shearman Direct TC

Waiting to hear back from:
- CMS TC (London) - submitted 28/11, received WG on 29/11 [AHHH hoping for VI soon, but I also hate VIs]
- Linklaters Singapore-London TC [honestly don't think I met the requirements (studying in the UK) ahah, but applied anyway]
- Slaughter & May TC - submitted 29/11
- Mayer Brown TC - submitted 30/10

It doesn't help that applying for most vacation schemes is now ruled out for me ahah. But I'm more frustrated because every year, I tell myself that I will work on submitting my applications early. And every year, something gets in the way. NUS this year has been 10x more rigorous than studying in the UK, and its been so difficult to dedicate time to this because of submissions and exams every week for the past two months. BUT, hoping to be really productive this winter break! Hopefully, this tardiness won't cost me...

⭐️ This week, I'm aiming to submit:
- Reed Smith Summer VS
- Sidley Summer VS
- Macfarlanes Summer VS
- Hogan Lovells Direct TC

Note: Trying to also get my sleep schedule together at the same time lol, so going to try and avoid burning that late night oil so I can be productive during the day instead 🧐

 

[pickyportkey]

This is also my fourth cycle of sorts. First cycle with insight schemes was successful, I'd say (3 insight schemes + few competitive insight days). Second cycle, I applied to 6 vacation schemes (reached WG for one and final partner interview for another). Third, I managed to apply to a grand total of 6 firms in Singapore sigh with only ONE in the UK for which I had some luck and reached VI...what was I thinking that year. AHHH now I really wish I'd applied more seriously whilst I was still in the UK.

Giving it my all this year though, regardless of the circumstances! 💪

 

[pickyportkey]

Not much progress made

Started interning 9-6 this week so its been hard to find the time to work on applications. Hopefully, will complete atleast Hogan Lovells by tomorrow.

But also got a CMS VI invite earlier this week! Will be taking that tomorrow too.

 

[sapphireoreos]

Hello everyone! I'm currently doing my LLM at NUS in Singapore after having finished my LLB in the UK this year.

Posting my daily progress here, just to keep myself accountable throughout this so very tiring process as a student applying from outside the UK 🙂‍↔️

No luck so far, with PFOs from:
Clifford Chance
Pinsent Masons Direct TC
A&O Shearman Direct TC

Waiting to hear back from:
- CMS TC (London) - submitted 28/11, received WG on 29/11 [AHHH hoping for VI soon, but I also hate VIs]
- Linklaters Singapore-London TC [honestly don't think I met the requirements (studying in the UK) ahah, but applied anyway]
- Slaughter & May TC - submitted 29/11
- Mayer Brown TC - submitted 30/10

It doesn't help that applying for most vacation schemes is now ruled out for me ahah. But I'm more frustrated because every year, I tell myself that I will work on submitting my applications early. And every year, something gets in the way. NUS this year has been 10x more rigorous than studying in the UK, and its been so difficult to dedicate time to this because of submissions and exams every week for the past two months. BUT, hoping to be really productive this winter break! Hopefully, this tardiness won't cost me...

⭐️ This week, I'm aiming to submit:
- Reed Smith Summer VS
- Sidley Summer VS
- Macfarlanes Summer VS
- Hogan Lovells Direct TC

Note: Trying to also get my sleep schedule together at the same time lol, so going to try and avoid burning that late night oil so I can be productive during the day instead 🧐

Hey, I’m Singaporean as well so good luck with your journey! I’m sure you got this

 

[pickyportkey]

Hey, I’m Singaporean as well so good luck with your journey! I’m sure you got this

Hi there, so nice to hear that! Fingers crossed for you too!

 

[pickyportkey]

Update: Took the CMS VI last evening - don't have much hopes for AC after that ahah

Going to try to move on to Hogan Lovells and Macfarlanes now

 

[pickyportkey]

Submitted Reed Smith yesterday and Macfarlanes on 3rd Jan - just took the test for Macfarlanes right now too!

Aiming to finish Hogan Lovells (I keep procrastinating this, but I literally have only one more question left to answer 😭) and Sidley Austin this week before classes start again on Monday! Really hoping I get Reed Smith VI by then 🙂‍↕️

 

[pickyportkey]

Update: Finally submitted Hogan Lovells TC application today - hopefully not tooo late, given that AC invites seem to be going out already!

Received CMS post-VI rejection on 10/01 too lol but expected that. Waiting for Reed Smith test + VI for SVS, really hoping I get it!
Slaughter & May really doesnt want to reply, waiting since end-Nov and it seems like such a loooong wait 🫠

 

[pickyportkey]

Update: Completed Freshfields TC SJT yesterday.
But received Reed Smith PFO post-VI today... kind of gutted. I've also gotten PFOs from Slaughter & May and Macfarlanes in the past couple of weeks.

I don't know what more I can even be doing. I have a First-Class LLB from a Russell-Group and an LLM from a global top 10 university, on top of legal experience in two jurisdictions, part-time jobs showing transferrable skills, and volunteering. My application writing skills are clearly not a problem since I usually seem to pass the initial stages. So demotivated at this point... sometimes this whole process seems so unnecessarily difficult and designed to work against you, just to weed people out in the easiest way possible.