TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[sl0712]

Saying they are regulated by the SRA is very different to saying they would report you. If the firm’s website says it’s okay to use it, this is just a default on Vantage that they haven’t been able to switch off and it can be ignored.

Thank you so much for your explanation!

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

I am looking to get an opinion on which firms I should apply to after this- I do not want to spend more time working on applications for firms that do not consider them since they hire from their vacation schemes predominantly. if anybody can guide me on this, I would be grateful

 

[yk1906]

Heard back today and I had my AC last week Thursday

With an offer?

 

[efm99]

Hi everyone, does anyone know what the general timeline for Harbottle & Lewis is after the first interview?

I see on their website they have a 20 minute cognitive test as the next stage after the interview (maybe this is new because I can't find anything about it from older threads) and then an AC.

 

[elsx]

Hi everyone, does anyone know what the general timeline for Harbottle & Lewis is after the first interview?

I see on their website they have a 20 minute cognitive test as the next stage after the interview (maybe this is new because I can't find anything about it from older threads) and then an AC.

Hi did you receive an interview invite?

 

[efm99]

Hi did you receive an interview invite?

Yes, I did on Tuesday

 

[elsx]

Yes, I did on Tuesday

Oh congrats! When did you apply if you don't mind sharing?

 

[efm99]

Oh congrats! When did you apply if you don't mind sharing?

Thank you! No problem, I applied on the day of the deadline so the 31st.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I have a follow-up question here: If we start a new job after obtaining a TC, surely the law firm won't contact the newest employer, right? since they would have our employment details only until we made the TC application.

Hiya @futuretraineesolicitor

This will depend on the firm, but in my experience, most firms I've secured a training contract/vacation scheme with have required a background screening process after the offer was made. Depending on who they use for these checks, they may ask for details about any employment you've had since you first applied (this was the case for me at every US firm I'd applied to). If there were any gaps where I wasn’t in education or employment during the screening process, I was asked to account for them. It was pretty clear that they were trying to contact every organisation that I'd mentioned working for during this screening process.

Nothing to be worried about, but just to clarify that you may, in some cases, be asked to account for any employment you've had since initially making your application.

 

[MaryAra299]

Last year it was around 15 i believe

I saw somewhere that they're offering like around 40 TCs

 

[norothrow324]

I saw somewhere that they're offering like around 40 TCs

Indeed. The Q was about apps from the direct route.

 

[yk1906]

Hi! Can you recommend any good mentoring schemes please?

 

[yellowponytwin]

Michelmores post-VI invite to online interview with HR team!

 

[yellowponytwin]

I am looking to get an opinion on which firms I should apply to after this- I do not want to spend more time working on applications for firms that do not consider them since they hire from their vacation schemes predominantly. if anybody can guide me on this, I would be grateful

there is a thread somewhere listing which firms recruit from direct TC versus from vac schemes. if you have a quick search you should find it

 

[MaryAra299]

Indeed. The Q was about apps from the direct route.

Oh yeah so 40 could the total amount of trainees then. So, 15/40 that's not bad Ig.

 

[sibs23]

What stage are you at? I completed the video task and have not heard anything since. But they said they would get in touch with us about whether or not we are invited to AC by the 21st of February so we should hear tomorrow!

I’ve heard nothing since first stage. Guess it’s a PFO for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[Legallywhatever]

Does anyone have ideas on what experience is decent for direct TC apps? I don't have paralegal experience but is that necessarily a hinderance?

 

[Szofi66]

Does anyone know if Curtis gets back to applications?

 

[norothrow324]

Does anyone have ideas on what experience is decent for direct TC apps? I don't have paralegal experience but is that necessarily a hinderance?

I think something to think about isn’t what the title/firm was but what transferable skills you gained.

With that said though, direct apps usually have experienced applicants (a lot of foreign trained jurists) so experience is definitely valued

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Does anyone have ideas on what experience is decent for direct TC apps? I don't have paralegal experience but is that necessarily a hinderance?

Really differs from firm to firm but with how competitive things are, I expect that lots of firms expect at least a vacation scheme under your belt if you don't have a legal support role. NRF was (before they axed direct TC completely) honest about this, they said they expected candidates to demonstrate some legal work experience to be considered for direct TC. However, this is definitely not a hard and fast rule. I know some people who have got direct TCs without any legal experience. But that's quite rare. I know the general vibe here is optimistic rather than realistic, but if you're at 0 legal work experience, I think it's better to try and gain some rather than spending time shooting for DTCs