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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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a day or 2 before the deadline but haven't heard anything yet!thank youI applied on the deadline! what about you?
Should we create a WhatsApp group then?
Me ignoring my weekend tasks to read the annual TCLA D&I debate - It's becoming a tradition at this point....
Edit: I don't mean to undermine anyone's points but it's really interesting that this happens every year and always gets out of hand. Thank God @Jessica Booker helps moderate the discussion because God knows how far it will go
Edit: I don't mean to undermine anyone's points but it's really interesting that this happens every year and always gets out of hand. Thank God @Jessica Booker helps moderate the discussion because God knows how far it will go
*Describe three of your key strengths that will assist you in a career as a commercial lawyer and explain how you have developed them.*
While answering this question, how should I explain the development part? I only have particular examples to showcase them but not sure how to explain the development process.🤔
While answering this question, how should I explain the development part? I only have particular examples to showcase them but not sure how to explain the development process.🤔
From my experience, the development part just means the examples like you've correctly identified. They're just making sure that you put emphasis on how those skills have been cultivated through your own experience.
Congrats! Although i’m actually baffled by this firm. First they said their spots were full to some people in January, and they only sent me a WG this week.
I've created a WhatsApp group for direct TC. Would love to help and take help in this difficult journey 🥰
@Jessica Booker As someone who hasn't done a VS, how much more difficult will it make securing a TC through a direct application as a finalist?
I do have a fair amount of legal work experience, just nothing directly related to commercial law. The closest I have is 2 weeks working in-house at a bank.
I do have a fair amount of legal work experience, just nothing directly related to commercial law. The closest I have is 2 weeks working in-house at a bank.
Obligatory I’m not Jess, but I’d imagine it depends on the firm. Some recruit purely from, or prioritise, vac scheme applications and then make up the rest of their intake numbers through direct TC apps if they offer these, whereas others have a pretty even 50/50 split and not having done a vac scheme with them will in no way disadvantage your application. Some don’t do direct TCs at all and you’d have to apply to their VS to be in the running for a TC so it’s essentially one and the same. I think there is a thread somewhere on TCLA distinguishing between which firms use which recruitment methods and in what proportions, will try to find and link
Hi, thanks for the reply. I understand that strategically some firms have a higher percentage intake from direct TC, I just find it hard to imagine a firm offering me a TC without ever having seen me work, or knowing that I've done a VS. I can imagine so many interview questions revolving around that which would be hard to give a convincing answer to. But, I see people have managed to do it.Obligatory I’m not Jess, but I’d imagine it depends on the firm. Some recruit purely from, or prioritise, vac scheme applications and then make up the rest of their intake numbers through direct TC apps if they offer these, whereas others have a pretty even 50/50 split and not having done a vac scheme with them will in no way disadvantage your application. Some don’t do direct TCs at all and you’d have to apply to their VS to be in the running for a TC so it’s essentially one and the same. I think there is a thread somewhere on TCLA distinguishing between which firms use which recruitment methods and in what proportions, will try to find and link
Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2022-2023
Hi everyone! I hope that this can be useful in planning out where you will apply for vacation schemes and where you will apply directly for training contracts. You can decide when to apply to each firm by looking at my compilation of law firm deadlines as well as my thread about which firms...
www.thecorporatelawacademy.com
This thread is from the 2022-23 recruitment cycle but I’d imagine that most of the information there is still pretty up to date. I think certain firms do have stipulations when applying to their TCs that you need some level of legal experience to be eligible, and if not, you’d have to apply to their vac scheme, whereas others don’t require you to have much or any legal experience to be eligible for their TC. I suppose it’s really down to which specific firm you’re hoping to apply to and go from there. For example, I think certain firms like Clifford Chance have entirely done away with vac schemes so you wouldn’t necessarily be expected to have done one with them to apply to their TC. Other firms like Linklaters I believe require you to have some level of legal experience (even if only a couple weeks) to be eligible to apply for their TC. Many don’t necessarily expect you to have any legal experience so long as you can convincingly justify why you want to practice law and specifically why at that firm, which you can explain by showing engagement from having attended Open Days and events such as those hosted by Legal Cheek and AllAboutLaw
Me too - applied a couple of days before deadline and haven’t heard anything … starting to think PFO…
Jessica Booker
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- Aug 1, 2019
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I think it is different when you do have legal work experience - and to correct you, you do have commercial legal experience if you have worked in-house at a bank! This is definitely commercial experience!!
As others have pointed out, it is difficult if firms recruit exclusively or predominately from vacation schemes, but many firms don't do this and there will be plenty of firms you can apply to via a direct TC route who will look at your other experiences favourably.
Jessica Booker
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TCLA Moderator
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Graduate Recruitment
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Forum Team
- Aug 1, 2019
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Of course! I attended an insight event organised by Freshfields and it helped me to differentiate it from other firms in my personal statement. I frequently referred back to the page about the application process on their website and stuck to the structure they suggest. In terms of WG, I practised on all free tests that are available out there on the internet. There isn't a short cut for this unfortunately, you have to practise to get better at it. Good luck!
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