TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[davinap99]

Macfarlanes PFO. I mean this is ridiculous!!! I felt this was my best application and connected with the firm on so many points yet I keep getting rejected every single time at the first stage. Judging by the way I’m going I might never get a TC, very sorry for this depressing post. I literally feel like banging my head against a wall 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I completely understand this feeling! The amount of times that I felt like quitting or banging my head against a wall is unreal. However, hang in there. It will happen even if it takes some time. For example, it took me 4 application cycles before I received my training contract last week from my dream law firm.

During tough times like this, I had one single phrase that got me through the process: ‘If you keep banging on the door long enough, eventually someone will answer the door’. I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or you just want to talk about it (btw this goes for everyone on the forum) 🙂

 

[ADKM]

I completely understand this feeling! The amount of times that I felt like quitting or banging my head against a wall is unreal. However, hang in there. It will happen even if it takes some time. For example, it took me 4 application cycles before I received my training contract last week from my dream law firm.

During tough times like this, I had one single phrase that got me through the process: ‘If you keep banging on the door long enough, eventually someone will answer the door’. I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or you just want to talk about it (btw this goes for everyone on the forum) 🙂

Thank you so much for your lovely messages. This community is incredible, I honestly would've been a trainwreck without this much encouragement. Btw, congratulations on your TC offer. Its great to see how your overcame so many obstacles to achieve your goal. Your story certainly inspires me, would you be happy if I DM you for some questions?

 

[davinap99]

Thank you so much for your lovely messages. This community is incredible, I honestly would've been a trainwreck without this much encouragement. Btw, congratulations on your TC offer. Its great to see how your overcame so many obstacles to achieve your goal. Your story certainly inspires me, would you be happy if I DM you for some questions?

Thank you and of course! Go for it 🙂

 

[hw12]

Has anyone heard from Freshfields this week.

I have no solid evidence to back up my statement but I think we should be expecting a PFO unless we hear from them tomorrow

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I have no solid evidence to back up my statement but I think we should be expecting a PFO unless we hear from them tomorrow

I agree and guess we will see.

 

[Marissa]

Is it just me or did anyone else notice that the subject line of the NRF test invite email today said “Training Contract 2022”?

 

[Tintin06]

I have no solid evidence to back up my statement but I think we should be expecting a PFO unless we hear from them tomorrow

You are the Watson Glaser and this is an interpretation! Nevertheless, good luck 🍀

 

[Civ457]

Has anyone heard from Payne hicks beach?

 

[Tintin06]

If we don’t get through to NRF, we can do FOIA Subject Access Requests for Arctic Shores and WG scores, IIRC. A Macs lawyer once explained this to me (it helps a lot).

 

[Jessica Booker]

I have no solid evidence to back up my statement but I think we should be expecting a PFO unless we hear from them tomorrow

I wouldn’t make this assumption. There are lots of reasons why you wouldn’t hear back tomorrow but could still be invited through to the assessment centres, even if they are in a matter of weeks.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If we don’t get through to NRF, we can do FOIA Subject Access Requests for Arctic Shores and WG scores, IIRC. A Macs lawyer once explained this to me (it helps a lot).

You can do a SAR, but to go in with a SAR first is pretty bullish.

Instead, ask for the information to be shared with you, and explain you would seek an SAR if the firm is unable to provide this information.

SARS are exceptionally time consuming and also long winded for both you and the firm. It won’t necessarily result in you getting the information you actually need either. Therefore politely asking the firm to provide the specific information you want is likely to save both you and them time and effort. It’s only if they refuse to give you this information or don’t respond, that you can say you will submit an SAR (this usually prompts them to act, as they will want to do the less manual process of giving you the information without a full SAR).

 

[Tintin06]

You can do a SAR, but to go in with a SAR first is pretty bullish.

Instead, ask for the information to be shared with you, and explain you would seek an SAR if the firm is unable to provide this information.

SARS are exceptionally time consuming and also long winded for both you and the firm. It won’t necessarily result in you getting the information you actually need either. Therefore politely asking the firm to provide the specific information you want is likely to save both you and them time and effort. It’s only if they refuse to give you this information or don’t respond, that you can say you will submit an SAR (this usually prompts them to act, as they will want to do the less manual process of giving you the information without a full SAR).

Fair enough. I guess they seemed more applicable to getting notes made at interview.

For anyone thinking of that, I did an SAR for a US firm a few years ago and got detailed info.

 

[Riya20000000]

If we don’t get through to NRF, we can do FOIA Subject Access Requests for Arctic Shores and WG scores, IIRC. A Macs lawyer once explained this to me (it helps a lot).

how do you go about doing this?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Fair enough. I guess they seemed more applicable to getting notes made at interview.

For anyone thinking of that, I did an SAR for a US firm a few years ago and got detailed info.

The last SAR I did took over 3 working days (in terms of hours needed to do it) across 3 internal teams to conduct.

For anyone thinking about it, a whole load of people requesting SARS is only going to hinder recruitment more generally and slow things down - please only do it as a last resort and if the firm refuses to provide the information you want.

 

[Jessica Booker]

how do you go about doing this?

Useful post here about how to do it

Thread 'Using A Subject Access Request for Law Firm Feedback'
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ct-access-request-for-law-firm-feedback.3292/

 

[bibss]

Freshfields WG invite! Again, I was losing hope 🤣

 

[Adrian_S]

Freshfields WG invite! I applied on 13 July. If you haven't heard back, please don't worry just yet!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

congrats to everyone getting their freshfields WG test, so proud of all of you!! 🎉just a quick q, how long does Freshfields typically take to respond after completing WG?

 

[serojasa]

could use some advice:

i have been offered a TC at a firm - one of the terms is that i stop engaging in the recruitment process for any other firm etc etc.

i've just recieved a WG for freshfields. if i did pass this, the AC would take place after the deadline to accept my TC offer at the other firm.

would it be stupid to email the firm asking for an extension based on the possibility of an AC invite.
if i did and they didnt offer an extension -- what are my options? can i attend potential AC's as they wouldn't know and renege later on the offer? should i not take the risk?


fwiw- i have only been given around a week from receiving the offer letter to needing to accept

 

[LawIsInTheAir]

Anybody has any good WG resources?