TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

[A worried graduate]

Anyone heard from Stephenson Harwood, Ashurst or Shoosmiths?

 

[The-PFO-Collector]

Anyone heard from Stephenson Harwood, Ashurst or Shoosmiths?

No for Shoosmiths

 

[Petallove1]

Also how do people with full time jobs manage to attend schemes and interviews? I started a full time job a few months ago (so don’t have the full amount of annual leave for the year which doesn’t help) and having attended a few ACs already I am really worried about running out of leave (it’s keeping me awake in case you couldn’t tell). Do people pull sickies? Claim they have doctors appointments? What about if you have an AC or interview that isn’t a full day, do you only take half the day off and claim you have an appointment? The direct TC routes seem to have multiple interviews and so that could build up very very quickly

Hey! I work full time as a paralegal and totally understand this feeling 🤣 I started at the end of October last year so had very few days of leave up until the new year but had several open days, etc. Unfortunately I just took the hit and used up all of my holiday last year on those things. So far this year I’ve already taken a week and 1/2 leave for assessment centres, written assessments, and days for prep before assessment centres. When I have something like a written assessment in advance I take a 1/2 day (this has also helped with nerves if I am working in the morning and doing it in the afternoon!). If any of your ACs happen to be virtual I guess you could do that - but I think it’s a pain when they’re in person and makes it more stressful. I wouldn’t recommend pulling a sickie unless you’ve ran out of leave and an AC comes up where you genuinely have no option. Sorry I don’t have better advice but I do understand the struggle!!

 

[Deleted member 31571]

Does anyone else have their in person HR interview with Ashurst tomorrow? pm me if so

 

[ztyh]

hey! if an application form provides space for an optional cover letter (after 6 application questions), is it advisable to fill it in? if so, should it follow the format of why commercial law/why me/why firm or focus on a particular area?

 

[Jessica Booker]

hey! if an application form provides space for an optional cover letter (after 6 application questions), is it advisable to fill it in? if so, should it follow the format of why commercial law/why me/why firm or focus on a particular area?

If the questions are covering motivations reasons for the career/the firm/the opportunity, then no need to provide a cover letter. It is probably a default where the system is used for other vacancies.

 

[Kodak123]

Did anyone else get PFO for NRF post TI but got fast tracked to assessment day for their winter vac scheme?

 

[Zaakir]

Does anyone have a list of law firms that actually care about getting a first? And by “care”, I mean to the extent that they, for the most part and bar the occasional anomaly, won’t interview candidates with 2.1s. Thanks!

 

[OllieCockman]

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Have Cleary Gottlieb shut their direct tc app window before the deadline? perhaps cos they are rolling? I tried applying via the link but the website says "no open positions". could others please confirm? Thanks.

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Have Cleary Gottlieb shut their direct tc app window before the deadline? perhaps cos they are rolling? I tried applying via the link but the website says "no open positions". could others please confirm? Thanks.

They won't be recruiting from the direct TC route this year. All TCs will go to vac scheme candidates.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

They won't be recruiting from the direct TC route this year. All TCs will go to vac scheme candidates.

I'm wondering how many firms are going to do this this year... several firms that are on the TCLA list as having a "healthy direct TC intake" are not planning on opening direct TC applications which sucks especially since some firms don't even say on their website that they primarily recruit through VS so some of us chose to apply direct TC instead for various reasons and now don't have the option (*cough* Latham *cough*)
I'm considering emailing firms such as W&C that are open for direct TC but traditionally give a large proportion of TCs to their vac schemers to check direct applicants actually stand a chance

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

I'm wondering how many firms are going to do this this year... several firms that are on the TCLA list as having a "healthy direct TC intake" are not planning on opening direct TC applications which sucks especially since some firms don't even say on their website that they primarily recruit through VS so some of us chose to apply direct TC instead for various reasons and now don't have the option (*cough* Latham *cough*)
I'm considering emailing firms such as W&C that are open for direct TC but traditionally give a large proportion of TCs to their vac schemers to check direct applicants actually stand a chance

I think it may be because of market conditions. Historically, White & Case recruits predominantly from vac schemes. I heard of a person securing a tc with W&C via the direct TC route. But the whole process took many months if I remember correctly. Chances of securing a TC with W&C via the direct TC route are slim but I’d still give it a shot.

 

[studentdelaw786]

anyone still not heard from Mayer Brown? been 6 weeks since I did the test..

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I think it may be because of market conditions. Historically, White & Case recruits predominately from vac schemes. I heard of a person securing a tc with W&C via the direct TC route. But the whole process took many months if I remember correctly. Chances of securing a TC with W&C via the direct TC route are slim but I’d still give it a shot.

Yeah I think it's market conditions too but it's just very unfortunate considering vac schemes are inaccessible to certain demographics so recruiting essentially solely through them impedes access which is desirable for neither firms nor applicants.

I found somewhere that W&C recruit roughly 20% through direct TC which would be 10 TCs but may well be old (edit: I got the 20% stat from their website which says they recruit approximately 80% of their trainees from VS). I've heard of a few people securing a TC through the direct route so thought it wasn't completely hopeless but given the trend of firms not even opening direct routes this year I feel like it might not be worth it this cycle...

It's all just very frustrating.

 

[crl227]

Has anyone heard back from Penningtons post app?

 

[Gday33]

anyone still not heard from Mayer Brown? been 6 weeks since I did the test..

Completed my test on 07/04 😂 heard nothing

 

[rn7]

Does anybody know when most firms will begin second-stage/in-person interviews for direct TC applicants? I have submitted about 10 applications and want to take a longish trip outside the UK for most of June. If I were to progress, is there a chance some of the in-person interviews would take place during the month of June?

 

[LillyandSilver]

Does anybody know when most firms will begin second-stage/in-person interviews for direct TC applicants? I have submitted about 10 applications and want to take a longish trip outside the UK for most of June. If I were to progress, is there a chance some of the in-person interviews would take place during the month of June?

I normally judge it based on when the last option to interview was plus a few weeks for a response and then a few weeks for a new date. Not always the best but sometimes it gives a rough idea. Also depends on if this is the final interview and if the firms run a vacation scheme. If you interviewed in early May it is quite likely you will be interviewing again in early/mid june. Also it gets quicker the further you progress and the fewer people there are.

 

[rn7]

I normally judge it based on when the last option to interview was plus a few weeks for a response and then a few weeks for a new date. Not always the best but sometimes it gives a rough idea. Also depends on if this is the final interview and if the firms run a vacation scheme. If you interviewed in early May it is quite likely you will be interviewing again in early/mid june. Also it gets quicker the further you progress and the fewer people there are.

Thanks for the input - to clarify, I have not heard back at all from any of the firms I submitted direct TC applications to. I assumed it is because most of them do run schemes, and so will not start assessing the direct applicants until after their summer schemes wrap up. The deadlines for most close later this month or in June, if that is of any help.