TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica, I’m struggling on what approach to take when asking for work in other departments on a vac scheme. Do I just reach out to the individuals I’m interested in doing work for if I have nothing on my plate (without asking for approval) or do I first ask my supervisor/ trainee buddy if there’s any work and if there isn’t, if it would be okay for me to reach out to the individual in the other department?

I would always ask your supervisor first - going off and working for another department without asking is rarely a good idea, as for all you know your department may have something to give you. I think it also risks you not showing an interest in the team you are allocated to.

Instead of asking for work from another department, you can just arrange a coffee catch up at the start/end of the day or close to lunchtime. You don't have to work for other departments either - there is not an expectation for you to do this unless you are in a firm that is known for this approach where trainees are not really allocated to a department and have to find their own work.

 

[Legalstalker]

@Jessica Booker

If I had already completed the bar course would I still need to do SQE 1 & 2 or just SQE 2?

Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

If I had already completed the bar course would I still need to do SQE 1 & 2 or just SQE 2?

Thank you

Assuming you mean the bar course in England & Wales, then there are no exemptions for the course alone.

 

[Jazlaw]

Hi all. I applied for a September 2025 TC role and have been offered a TC commencing September 2026. Although I'm really pleased by this, the wait is longer than I would like (I have completed my LPC and am currently a paralegal). Do you think its worth it to ask if I can start earlier or is there no point? I don't want to come across as ungrateful. Thank you!

 

[SolicitorHopeful]

Has anyone heard back from Wedlake Bell, TLT, or Wiggin?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all. I applied for a September 2025 TC role and have been offered a TC commencing September 2026. Although I'm really pleased by this, the wait is longer than I would like (I have completed my LPC and am currently a paralegal). Do you think it’s worth it to ask if I can start earlier or is there no point? I don't want to come across as ungrateful. Thank you!

There is no harm in asking. I suspect if you applied for a 2025 opportunity but have been given 2026, they have already taken this into consideration, but there is absolutely no issue with asking if there are any opportunities to start earlier. The worst that is going to happen is that they say no, but that puts you in no different a position than you are in now.

 

[PlscanIhaveaTC]

I applied to a few firms in Jan/Feb for their direct TC and haven’t heard anything back. Not sure whether to email or wait until after the vac schemes have finished :/

Edit: waiting to hear from HFW and WFW btw. Has anyone heard from them?

 

[RiverJules]

I was invited to the proofreading test

Congrats btw, that's amazing!

Has anyone else gotten anything yet? Starting to get a bit worried...

 

[BonanzaBih_]

I applied to a few firms in Jan/Feb for their direct TC and haven’t heard anything back. Not sure whether to email or wait until after the vac schemes have finished :/

Edit: waiting to hear from HFW and WFW btw. Has anyone heard from them?

are they non-rolling firms? if they are, you are unlikely to hear until after the deadline

 

[BonanzaBih_]

anyone who did the GLD reasoning test, have you heard back yet? or any idea of when can we expect to hear back?

 

[Szofi66]

Has anyone that got the june 7th holding email already heard from Ashurst post HR interview?

 

[lawyerletsgo]

anything from bclp? or brandsmiths?

 

[icebear]

anyone who did the GLD reasoning test, have you heard back yet? or any idea of when can we expect to hear back?

we hear between 11th and 12th june. this link has the entire timetable: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-legal-service-gls-legal-trainee-scheme-how-to-apply--2

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Does anyone have a clue about the costs associated with self sponsoring a vac scheme visa?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone have a clue about the costs associated with self sponsoring a vac scheme visa?

You can’t self sponsor work visas - they have to be with your employer. You can look for alternative visas that allow you to work though, such as the post graduate visa, but the costs really depend on what visa you are applying for.

 

[norothrow324]

Has anyone heard from Dentons at all over the past couple months? any tests/VIs etc?

 

[hannah04]

What counts as "extracurricular and leisure interests"? For extra-curricular that would be the standard societies and sports, but then what would constitute "leisure"?

 

[evianmineral]

What counts as "extracurricular and leisure interests"? For extra-curricular that would be the standard societies and sports, but then what would constitute "leisure"?

hobbies most likely

 

[RiverJules]

Anyone know when to expect the results of the Howard Kennedy VI? I thought I remembered them saying at one point but can't find it anywhere so idk if I imagined it

 

[Jessica Booker]

What counts as "extracurricular and leisure interests"? For extra-curricular that would be the standard societies and sports, but then what would constitute "leisure"?

Sports and societies will be included in this. Consider an extra curricular as anything where other people are expecting you to turn up or deliver something. Leisure would be the things you do where the only commitment you are making is to yourself.