TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[norothrow324]

They previously asked you to summarise an article as part of the application in previous cycles.

I started working on an app last year but didn’t submit it. I think the article was on yachting and you had to summarise its key points.

Now that a lot of people would just use ChatGPT, they’ve removed that question.

indeed. I noticed that they had done this last year but perhaps decided to remove for your reasons

 

[lawelmo]

Does anyone know how long it takes to hear back from DACB post VI - feel like they review them as they go.

Hi, I received an automated email from them earlier today saying:

All applications are currently being reviewed. We hope to have final outcomes early March.

 

[norothrow324]

Got the Mayer Brown feedback pack from their test just now.

 

[SS21]

66 and no tick

I even emailed them and no reply lol Links grad rec is asleep

 

[James Wakefield]

Mind this is for DTC

I don’t know for DTC but I suspect it may be automatic for the VS.

I got mine the next morning after I applied, having sent off an application pretty late, so I doubt they read it.

It may technically be a next stage based on some automatic check- e.g., did the applicant meet the minimum grade requirement. But not a next stage in a substantive sense I reckon.

 

[trainee4u]

I need some advice.

I am an EU national but have a British partner with whom I live in the EU (my boyfriend is from England). I have a very strong CV, multiple years of legal experience, a lot of transactional work, good uni grades, very strong extra curriculars (founded two of the larger student clubs in my uni) and have an LLB and an LLM. I still somehow can’t get past the application stage. I have tweaked, peer reviewed, refined, you name it, but nothing.

This leads me to think that the visa could be the main issue? SO my question is, most law firms ask whether I have the right to work in the UK without restriction, which I currently don’t. My partner is able to sponsor me through the partner visa, if I say yes to the Q, that’s technically not true as we’d only apply for the partner visa and initiate the move to the UK contingent on me getting a TC offer. But if I say no the Q, then oftentimes I have no way of letting them know I could go the route of them not sponsoring me. What would you do?

not sure if you are aware, but a partner visa takes typically 12 weeks to process, plus your partner will need to either meet the income + work requirements or have a pile of untouched cash, so from the firm's perspective this is really rather uncertain.

 

[norothrow324]

not sure if you are aware, but a partner visa takes typically 12 weeks to process, plus your partner will need to either meet the income + work requirements or have a pile of untouched cash, so from the firm's perspective this is really rather uncertain.

Fair enough, thankfully in a situation where my partner fulfils all the criteria. nonetheless indeed it is a risk for them too.

 

[yellowponytwin]

Fair enough, thankfully in a situation where my partner fulfils all the criteria. nonetheless indeed it is a risk for them too.

I (British citizen) have an American partner so I feel your struggle as keeping him here has been a nightmare! Part of the reason I started looking into this career in the first place is because I was doing enough of the legal research with none of the reward, haha. and i'm too broke to sponsor him lol

Anyway, just commenting to say that if your partner qualifies as a sponsor, I wonder why you haven't started that process yet? It's harder if you aren't married but still doable if you have been together long enough. I feel like that would help your application, but of course I don't know anything about you / your situation, and I am not qualified to say anything for certain! But surely worth a try.

Either way, I would tick the 'eligible' box and explain you have a partner who is a British citizen willing and able to sponsor you. I do think that would help! No harm in trying, as it isn't untrue!

Best of luck

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Fair enough, thankfully in a situation where my partner fulfils all the criteria. nonetheless indeed it is a risk for them too.

I'll also add that most big firms sponsor visas these days (unless you're applying to vac schemes), so they wouldn't reject you purely because of this. I don't know which firms you're applying for, but out of the ones usually mentioned here, I can only count one or two that don't sponsor visas

 

[yellowponytwin]

TLDR - personal schedule clash with AC dates for one of my fav firms, how to proceed?

Worrying slightly prematurely about an application and wondering if anyone ( @Jessica Booker ?) might be able to help.

It is for HCR, which is one of my top choice firms, direct TC. The ACs are held on basically the only two days I am unavailable - 3rd and 4th June. I applied to the Cheltenham office, and as a Chelt local, I want to stay in the area, so put a lot of effort into applying. Also feel like I might have been in with a chance if it weren't for the AC dates, so I am keen to do whatever I can to sort this out!

I will be in America as a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding on the 5th June, and there are no direct flights to her state so even if I did the AC on the 3rd and flew immediately after, I wouldn't make it to the wedding on the 5th. My cousin and I are as close as sisters, and flights are booked. I can't let her down by missing her wedding!

I've seen posts before about rescheduling ACs and am asking
1) would this even be a good enough reason to see if they can do anything? do I tell them the truth?
2) is it even worth applying to the firm if I know already that I can't make the AC dates?
3) if I do try to get special circumstances, when do I tell them? (I'm on round one at the moment, only just submitted application)

Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just hoping I can get an outside perspective here and tips for how to proceed. I know if I do tell the recruitment team then it would need to be as soon as possible, so that's why I'm asking so early in the application! (as well as to save myself the trouble of even applying further if it's a lost cause...!)

Thank you in advance x

 

[crl227]

Sanity check - the NRF TC application has not started? Thanks😅

 

[norothrow324]

Sanity check - the NRF TC application has not started? Thanks😅

It should have - but nope

 

[Jessica Booker]

TLDR - personal schedule clash with AC dates for one of my fav firms, how to proceed?

Worrying slightly prematurely about an application and wondering if anyone ( @Jessica Booker ?) might be able to help.

It is for HCR, which is one of my top choice firms, direct TC. The ACs are held on basically the only two days I am unavailable - 3rd and 4th June. I applied to the Cheltenham office, and as a Chelt local, I want to stay in the area, so put a lot of effort into applying. Also feel like I might have been in with a chance if it weren't for the AC dates, so I am keen to do whatever I can to sort this out!

I will be in America as a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding on the 5th June, and there are no direct flights to her state so even if I did the AC on the 3rd and flew immediately after, I wouldn't make it to the wedding on the 5th. My cousin and I are as close as sisters, and flights are booked. I can't let her down by missing her wedding!

I've seen posts before about rescheduling ACs and am asking
1) would this even be a good enough reason to see if they can do anything? do I tell them the truth?
2) is it even worth applying to the firm if I know already that I can't make the AC dates?
3) if I do try to get special circumstances, when do I tell them? (I'm on round one at the moment, only just submitted application)

Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just hoping I can get an outside perspective here and tips for how to proceed. I know if I do tell the recruitment team then it would need to be as soon as possible, so that's why I'm asking so early in the application! (as well as to save myself the trouble of even applying further if it's a lost cause...!)

Thank you in advance x

1. Yes - significant family commitments and travel that isn't straight forward to rearrange because of the timings would be considered a good enough reason - so yes, just tell them the truth
2. Yes - I think it is worthwhile applying anyway
3. I would tell them at the point you are invited to the stage that you cannot make.

 

[yellowponytwin]

1. Yes - significant family commitments and travel that isn't straight forward to rearrange because of the timings would be considered a good enough reason - so yes, just tell them the truth
2. Yes - I think it is worthwhile applying anyway
3. I would tell them at the point you are invited to the stage that you cannot make.

ok, that sounds hopeful - thank you so much for your time!

 

[sibs23]

Does anyone know the exact time that HCR closes their TC applications pls? I know they close on Friday but unsure if that means midnight or the end of the business day. May email them to be on the safe side

 

[brocholey]

Hi TCLA,

Wondering if anyone has done an assessment day at Lewis Silkin. Would love to have some insights and tips on preparation! (my first ever AC) Do drop me a message or reply to this thread!

Thank you

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi TCLA,

Wondering if anyone has done an assessment day at Lewis Silkin. Would love to have some insights and tips on preparation! (my first ever AC) Do drop me a message or reply to this thread!

Thank you

Someone who did it last year gave some tips. Not sure if it’s here or the vacation scheme threads you can have a check!

 

[rain2801]

did you complete a watson glazer or was this after the SJT?

Post SJT, pre- WGT.

 

[rain2801]

Has anyone heard back from Links? Positive or negative?

 

[shays]

anyone heard back from HL following WG?