TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

[Jessica Booker]

Do freshfields require a cv

No - it’s just their application system which is designed for vacancies outside of graduate recruitment. All the information you would be providing would be in your application, and so it’s just duplication and is highly unlikely not even going to be read.

If it was necessary it would be compulsory and you wouldn’t be able to proceed with your application without submitting it

 

[jplaw1010]

No - it’s just their application system which is designed for vacancies outside of graduate recruitment. All the information you would be providing would be in your application, and so it’s just duplication and is highly unlikely not even going to be read.

If it was necessary it would be compulsory and you wouldn’t be able to proceed with your application without submitting it

Great thanks, so just the 850 personal statement?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Great thanks, so just the 850 personal statement?

There will be a full application form that the 850 personal statement is part of, but that application form is sufficient.

 

[Soniastudent]

How long has it been since your last application?

It has been one year since my last application!

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Morgan Lewis TI invite. Applied 10 June. Does anyone have any insights? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jessica Booker]

It has been one year since my last application!

I would expect your application to change somewhat. You’ll need to show what you have developed in the last 12 months both in terms of skills and knowledge, but also demonstrating your pursuit of the career.

I think it’s risky applying with the same application, as although you think the application was unsuccessful on the basis of the test, you may not know whether the application would have been successful if you had done well in the test.

Even if it had been successful, showing you are actively developing your skills and finding opportunities to do so, will also be important.

 

[Soniastudent]

I would expect your application to change somewhat. You’ll need to show what you have developed in the last 12 months both in terms of skills and knowledge, but also demonstrating your pursuit of the career.

I think it’s risky applying with the same application, as although you think the application was unsuccessful on the basis of the test, you may not know whether the application would have been successful if you had done well in the test.

Even if it had been successful, showing you are actively developing your skills and finding opportunities to do so, will also be important.

Thank you for your answer! I am thinking more about the reasons why I am interested in commercial law and why I want to join Freshfields. These reasons have not changed since my last application. If I were to change my reasons for being interested in commercial law, wouldn’t that be weird?

 

[Sharon Wu]

Morgan Lewis TI invite. Applied 10 June. Does anyone have any insights? Thanks in advance.

On a Sunday?

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

On a Sunday?

Yeah, really strange. I thought grad rec didn't work over the weekend.

 

[AspiringLawyer2002]

Anyone else unable to view their freshfields tc application on the link post submission? Worried there was a technical error submitting my application.

 

[Livvia]

Yeah, really strange. I thought grad rec didn't work over the weekend.

I am sure these ones are super excited about their job.

 

[Livvia]

Anyone else unable to view their freshfields tc application on the link post submission? Worried there was a technical error submitting my application.

Once you make the submission, I do not think you are typically permitted to view it. I think you would just see that some attachments have been made but wont be able to access those attachments.

 

[km_bntn]

Just wanted to ask for Direct TCs, I've heard from a number of law firms at legal cheek events that the threshold is higher in terms of the expectation for legal experience. But how much legal experience is necessary? Outside of volunteering at my uni's legal clinics, I'd say I only have about 6-7 months of legal experience. I'm afraid I don't know if that will be enough...

 

[Maddy]

@Jessica Booker

I am planning to apply to Freshfields. I have completed my LL.M, however, there isn't a specific section in the application to enter this detail. They do ask if I have attended a second university, but I guess this refers to a second undergraduate degree. Can you please clarify ?

 

[bangarangbass39]

Just wanted to ask for Direct TCs, I've heard from a number of law firms at legal cheek events that the threshold is higher in terms of the expectation for legal experience. But how much legal experience is necessary? Outside of volunteering at my uni's legal clinics, I'd say I only have about 6-7 months of legal experience. I'm afraid I don't know if that will be enough...

which law firms said this? I thought a vacation scheme, regardless of what firm it was at was enough?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just wanted to ask for Direct TCs, I've heard from a number of law firms at legal cheek events that the threshold is higher in terms of the expectation for legal experience. But how much legal experience is necessary? Outside of volunteering at my uni's legal clinics, I'd say I only have about 6-7 months of legal experience. I'm afraid I don't know if that will be enough...

6-7 months will be more than enough. I would say 4 weeks is typically enough (eg two or more vac schemes or a longer placement).

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

I am planning to apply to Freshfields. I have completed my LL.M, however, there isn't a specific section in the application to enter this detail. They do ask if I have attended a second university, but I guess this refers to a second undergraduate degree. Can you please clarify ?

I would take this as postgraduate. Very few people do two undergraduate degrees.

 

[bangarangbass39]

6-7 months will be more than enough. I would say 4 weeks is typically enough (eg two or more vac schemes or a longer placement).

By the end of the summer I would have completed around 4 weeks worth of legal experience. In my application for a direct TC that has already been submitted, I only mentioned my internship which lasted two weeks because the other two experiences had not been completed. Additionally, the form required that I list up to 3 experiences so I did not want to list everything legal. I'm also on the final round of interviews for a politics internship for 6 weeks where a lot of legal experience is on offer.

Would grad rec look at this negatively? Is it worth reaching out and asking if I could add this completed work experience to my application?

 

[km_bntn]

which law firms said this? I thought a vacation scheme, regardless of what firm it was at was enough?

I'm not sure, I just attended the Legal Cheek Spring and Winter Fair, and across the board I asked this question to many firms not one in particular, and that was the consensus: Legal experience not necessary for vacation schemes, but for training contracts it will be.

 

[legal_student2024]

Anyone heard from Withers yet?