TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[S87]

Hi guys,

When talking about the firm's international reach can you mention the Chambers & partners global rankings?

 

[AvniD]

Hi guys,

When talking about the firm's international reach can you mention the Chambers & partners global rankings?

You could but that doesn't necessarily relate to a firm's global reach per se. How are you planning to phrase it?

 

[Adrian_S]

If the TC is rolling, I'd send the application now and update the application portal or email grad rec with your final results when you have them.

Any suggestions if it isn't a rolling application? Presumably, just go ahead and submit? Thanks in advance, @AvniD!

 

[lawnoob]

Is it bad to begin almost every sentence in my application with "I.." ?? Like "I experienced.." "I also.." "I honed.." This is for "why law" and "why me"

 

[S87]

You could but that doesn't necessarily relate to a firm's global reach per se. How are you planning to phrase it?

That's a good point, I could actually mention its presence in more than 50 countries and headcount of 3700 global lawyers.

 

[Abii]

That's a good point, I could actually mention its presence in more than 50 countries and headcount of 3700 global lawyers.

You could. I would also look at the amount of inter-office collaboration and cross border work though. International reach doesn’t really mean anything if they have 50 offices but they all keep the work to themselves and the London office only does UK based work for UK based clients.

 

[S87]

You could. I would also look at the amount of inter-office collaboration and cross border work though. International reach doesn’t really mean anything if they have 50 offices but they all keep the work to themselves and the London office only does UK based work for UK based clients.

Yes I found a deal involving more than 6 offices.

 

[YJ]

The Norton Rose Fulbright website says that penultimate years can apply, however when I try to apply it says only final years or graduates. Can anyone advise?

 

[AvniD]

Any suggestions if it isn't a rolling application? Presumably, just go ahead and submit? Thanks in advance, @AvniD!

You could, yes!

 

[AvniD]

Is it bad to begin almost every sentence in my application with "I.." ?? Like "I experienced.." "I also.." "I honed.." This is for "why law" and "why me"

If you're beginning every sentence with 'I', you're probably not setting enough context for the reader to understand the circumstances in which you did or developed something. If you think this isn't an issue and there is enough context even with almost every sentence beginning with 'I', then trust your instinct and go for it.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it bad to begin almost every sentence in my application with "I.." ?? Like "I experienced.." "I also.." "I honed.." This is for "why law" and "why me"

I’d try to mix it up - there is a risk that it could sound more repetitive if most sentences start with the same phrase/word.

 

[Niloufar Nateghi]

Even though Latham hires predominantly from their vacation scheme, is it worth still applying through direct tc route or are they likely to make all their offers to vac scheme applicants?

 

[lawnoob]

Is it ok to contract practice area names without bracketing first? So if I first say 'Capital markets' then continue with CM for the rest of the paragraph, is that fine? Or should I just stick with CM the whole way?

 

[tt_xo]

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The Norton Rose Fulbright website says that penultimate years can apply, however when I try to apply it says only final years or graduates. Can anyone advise?

i emailed them last week and direct tc route for penultimate years is not on offer anymore

 

[anonymous_]

Hi all! May I ask if anyone have done the Withers initial interview and have you heard back

Hi, how long did it take between completing the test and getting a first stage interview invite?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it ok to contract practice area names without bracketing first? So if I first say 'Capital markets' then continue with CM for the rest of the paragraph, is that fine? Or should I just stick with CM the whole way?

I wouldn’t do shorten practice department name unless the firm does, eg like an acronym like IP/IT or ACT.

So with your example I would just use Capital Markets, not CM.

 

[malvern3142]

Is Kirkland & Ellis' work/life balance really as drastically bad as it's reported? Legalcheek says average finish time is 11.30pm. As notorious as US firms are long hours, surely an average workday of 14 hours couldn't be accurate?

 

[S87]

Is Kirkland & Ellis' work/life balance really as drastically bad as it's reported? Legalcheek says average finish time is 11.30pm. As notorious as US firms are long hours, surely an average workday of 14 hours couldn't be accurate?

Well, I know an associate who works there and believe me when I tell you that it is bad!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is Kirkland & Ellis' work/life balance really as drastically bad as it's reported? Legalcheek says average finish time is 11.30pm. As notorious as US firms are long hours, surely an average workday of 14 hours couldn't be accurate?

It could be a fair estimation but it really depends when the question was asked, what time scale they were asked to think about, and particularly with more remote working how you now calculate it.

For instance, the question used to be when did you leave the office. But the reality is now you might not always be in the office, so now you do factor in when you log off from your computer/phone? If people consider that, then I would say a lot of lawyers in the city might actually say their finish time is very late at night.

Some people might also calculate it more by total hours and then average it out. All it takes is for you to work 10 hours over a weekend, and that would actually be more like a 9.30pm average end during the week.

But I don’t think this is something that is unique to Kirkland. If you are considering them, then the reality is that it is most likely that the other firms you are considering and the practice areas you are interested in will result in long hours. And averaging 14 hours at certain times will be something most trainees experience at certain points of their training contract.

That will happen more often the more transactional practice your TC is. It will be impacted more if you are working with firms with US offices due to the time difference. California is currently 8 hours behind us, so a contracted working day is over before theirs have even started. That is ultimately going to result in late finishes to coordinate work between those offices. And the larger office is more likely to determine the timings.

 

[StudentOfLaw21]

I have, have you heard back at all?

Nope, I have not heard anything just yet :/