TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Newport@2008]

Hi! I have received a TC offer but have been waiting to hear back after a Kirkland AC last Monday. Is it worth asking for an expedited decision or could this have a negative impact on the AC outcome?

Hi, congratulations on the TC offer! Can I just ask if your Kirkland AC was for DTC or a VS?

 

[wanttosolicit]

Hi, congratulations on the TC offer! Can I just ask if your Kirkland AC was for DTC or a VS?

Thank you! It was for VS - but I saw that someone on the VS forum received a direct training contract offer so I don’t know whether there will be a VS at all.

 

[hehostressed]

Has anyone done field fishers assessment - any advice what is it

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi! I have received a TC offer but have been waiting to hear back after a Kirkland AC last Monday. Is it worth asking for an expedited decision or could this have a negative impact on the AC outcome?

As it has been 8 working days since your AC, I would ask as to when you will hear back so you can manage a conversation with your existing offer.

This is then not asking for the process to be expedited but is making clear you have another offer.

And you can then manage the existing offer too by knowing when you will hear back.

 

[andrecsaa]

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?

I’m really sorry to hear about all the rejections, it’s a tough process, and I know it can be frustrating.

I’m not sure which firms you’re applying to, but every year, many candidates who require visa sponsorship secure training contracts, so I don’t think the visa is a major issue. MC / SC always select international applicants who require visa.

That said, it’s a highly competitive process, many trainees go through 4–5 cycles before receiving a TC offer.

I don’t know your specific circumstances, but if you’re not getting past the application stage and your drafting skills are strong, the issue might be your LLB grades (since an LLM doesn’t carry much weight for TC applications) or your performance on the WG/SJT tests. It could also be that the firms you’re applying to have limited capacity, so applying to more firms might help.

 

[bluescarf]

Has anyone done field fishers assessment - any advice what is it

Got rejected following test this morning so not going to give any advice on how - as to what, it's quite a bizarre test, clicking buttons based on instinctive answers about your working style / firm culture etc.

 

[Jessica Booker]

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?

I would make clear in your application form that you would apply for a spousal visa.

For the drop down menus, I would choose that you have the right to work as you would have it at the point you start the role, not right now.

 

[TC129129]

When did you receive invite if you don’t mind me asking? I still haven’t heard anything, wondering if that is just a PFO..

last week

 

[trainee4u]

Received Slaughters PFO @ 2pm.