Hiya
@ohnoselim
That doesn't sound silly at all - I asked myself the question several times at the end of my first vacation scheme cycle, having failed to secure any. It's also a question that many candidates ask themselves, particularly if they've graduated without an offer. I've known several candidates who've secured TCs in exactly this way, though I should note that they've done so particularly at British firms. While vacation schemes are obviously quite popular, I've found that firms generally understand that they aren't always accessible or practical for everyone (e.g. like international candidates or career changers who can't easily take time off). In fact, I got my first training contract directly without extensive previous commercial law experience, which should reassure you that this is entirely realistic.
In my experience, though, it's important to be pragmatic/realistic if you're taking this route. It doesn't require you to necessarily have done a vacation scheme before, but some firms might have a slightly higher bar for direct TC applicants. I've often found that they can expect strong commercial awareness, excellent research into the firm, and well-developed communication skills. However, I wouldn't let the high bar discourage you. These skills are very learnable.
Given that you have several months until firms start their assessment centres for direct TCs, I'd encourage you to focus your efforts on learning how to write high-quality applications and build up your commercial awareness. Invest time in thoroughly researching the firms, practising written and verbal communication, and familiarising yourself with common case study scenarios. The effort you put into refining these skills now will pay off significantly when assessments begin around early summer.
Please do consider applying and good luck!
