TC offer dilemma

[TCfinder12]

Hi all,

I find myself in a very privileged situation with a TC offer and a summer vacation scheme offer elsewhere.

I am currently doing the SQE and have been given 2 weeks to accept/reject the TC offer. This obviously would mean that I would be required to accept the TC offer well before the vacation scheme takes place. What makes the situation particuarly complicated is the TC firm would like to financially cover the remaining part of my SQE studies (just completed SQE1). I understand when you become financially tied to the firm and reneging becomes extremely difficult. I was wondering what penalties I may face if I later choose to renege post summer vacation scheme in this scenario?

Additionally, I was hoping for clarity in terms of what steps I can take. Should I try ask the summer vacation scheme firm to expedite me on a direct TC process if that is a possbility. I enjoyed the vacation scheme firm more and their practice areas align more with my interests but the dilemma of having a guaranteed TC is spinning my head. Any clarity or thoughts on steps I could take will be appreciated.

Thanks!

@Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all,

I find myself in a very privileged situation with a TC offer and a summer vacation scheme offer elsewhere.

I am currently doing the SQE and have been given 2 weeks to accept/reject the TC offer. This obviously would mean that I would be required to accept the TC offer well before the vacation scheme takes place. What makes the situation particularly complicated is the TC firm would like to financially cover the remaining part of my SQE studies (just completed SQE1). I understand when you become financially tied to the firm and reneging becomes extremely difficult. I was wondering what penalties I may face if I later choose to renege post summer vacation scheme in this scenario?

Additionally, I was hoping for clarity in terms of what steps I can take. Should I try ask the summer vacation scheme firm to expedite me on a direct TC process if that is a possibility. I enjoyed the vacation scheme firm more and their practice areas align more with my interests but the dilemma of having a guaranteed TC is spinning my head. Any clarity or thoughts on steps I could take will be appreciated.

Thanks!

@Jessica Booker

Is the 2 weeks to return your signed formal documents with the offer or is this just a verbal offer at this stage?

Penalties - you will need to be in a position to pay back any investment into your training and that could be fairly immediately. What can be difficult is if the firm is paying for your course and assessment fees directly - you don't have invoices/receipts with your name on it, and then getting reimbursement from your VS firm (assuming they offer something similar) can become particularly tricky because you have no proof of purchase beyond reimbursing the old firm. Can get even trickier if the VS firm don't offer the same level of sponsorship or pay lower SQE prep course fees than the TC firm.

Your options at this stage are really any of the following:

- Negotiate a longer offer period with the existing TC firm. You might want to do this already, as you may not get the VS firm to even expedite their process in such short time.

- As you have suggested, speak to the VS firm to see if they can offer you a direct TC process instead - however, expect them to potentially say no or even if they can do this, that they may not be able to complete the process by your two week deadline.

- Accept the TC offer but drag out any processes about reimbursement of the SQE course fees/assessments as long as possible - however, given you have already sat SQE1, I am assuming you are sitting SQE2 in April or July which would give you very little time to do this.