TC applications - Timeline

[W5690]

Hello,

I enrolled in a law conversion course in January 2025 and I am due to complete it in November 2026 (part-time mode). I will, of course, have to prepare for and take the SQE afterwards.

I am planning to submit applications for a training contract. I am aware of the fact that law firms generally recruits 2 or even 3 years in advance, but I am pretty confused about the timeline in my case. Could you please help me figure out which start date(s) I should aim for to submit my TC applications? In the event that is too early, should I focus on submitting applications for vacation schemes instead, knowing that some law firms only recruit their trainees via their vacation scheme? I understand it is required to pass the SQE before starting a training contract, but it is not required to have it passed before you apply - am I correct? However, how can you know when you will have passed the SQE at the time of applying? I do not want to waste time, but at the same time it does not make sense to apply, in the best case scenario get a TC offer and not be able to start it.

@Jessica Booker Could you please let me know your thoughts on all of this? Many thanks.

Many thanks.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello,

I enrolled in a law conversion course in January 2025 and I am due to complete it in November 2026 (part-time mode). I will, of course, have to prepare for and take the SQE afterwards.

I am planning to submit applications for a training contract. I am aware of the fact that law firms generally recruits 2 or even 3 years in advance, but I am pretty confused about the timeline in my case. Could you please help me figure out which start date(s) I should aim for to submit my TC applications? In the event that is too early, should I focus on submitting applications for vacation schemes instead, knowing that some law firms only recruit their trainees via their vacation scheme? I understand it is required to pass the SQE before starting a training contract, but it is not required to have it passed before you apply - am I correct? However, how can you know when you will have passed the SQE at the time of applying? I do not want to waste time, but at the same time it does not make sense to apply, in the best case scenario get a TC offer and not be able to start it.

@Jessica Booker Could you please let me know your thoughts on all of this? Many thanks.

Many thanks.

You timeline is roughly going to be for a traditional training contract:

Finish GDL - November 2026
Start SQE prep course - anytime between November 2026 and January 2027
Sit SQE 1 - July 2027
Sit SQE2 - October/November 2027 or January 2028

So realistically your start date for a TC could either be February/March 2028 or September 2028.

Most firms will not require you to have passed the SQE before you accept the offer, unless the role is starting fairly soon.

If the training contract is in the form of a graduate apprenticeship, then you could start your TC shortly after your GDL is completed, and you would do you SQE education and assessments during your TC.