I could never figure out what HL is looking for, even having attended their VS. I think you have a shot just as much as anyone
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Personally, Grad apprenticeships seem slightly easier to get than TCs as those who have taken SQE1 can’t apply and in-house roles tend to be less competitive in general as they aren’t advertised
Still will be hard though
Oxon should give you a leg up, consider applying for US firms. I also have a low 2.1(RG) but a low 2.1 from Oxford is probably worth more.
It's a rigged game, you just have to learn how to play it. I actually abhor the whole recruitment process but this is what firms are forced to do as applications far exceed spaces. I have friends who have never made it to an AC after over a hundred applications, and know people who have been unemployed for months looking for a secretary/paralegal role. It's a cruel Neoliberal world that we live in.
Hi all, would you say it’s a good idea to train in-house at a financial/insurance firm? And there’s a chance you will undertake one seat (litigation) in private practice during your time there at a reputable commercial law firm. Could I go back to private practice? Even though I’ve only done one seat in it
oh wow, best of luck...hoping you smashed it!! Thank you for the tips on what to expect I was scared it might be something on commercial news 😫
Hey I completed it 24 March and haven't heard anything still either....
Jessica Booker
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To me, graduate apprenticeships are no different to training contracts - you just do your SQE training alongside working rather than ahead of the TC. Otherwise they are the same opportunity.
I got my feedback report (if you can really cal it that, quite short and pretty boiler plate). Nothing else before though so you should be fine so long as you clicked submit. Took a day to get the report
Jessica Booker
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I think its good if you want to work in-house long term, and especially if you have an interest in financial services or the insurance industry.
Moving to private practice is not going to be straight forward if your experience is mainly in-house, even with a six-month secondment to a private practice firm. You will be competing in a job market where people have mainly worked in private practice. Those people will have worked with a broader range of clients, have gained work experience across practice areas and got used to more private practice process knowledge like business development, time recording etc.
It is not to say it will be impossible, it just will be more difficult than if you have trained in private practice. It may be more possible for firms that have a financial services/insurance sector focus, because your sector knowledge may be in more demand.
People may think it might be easy to impress on a six month secondment to the private practice firm and potentially be hired by them, but sometimes there are terms in secondment agreements that restrict firms/in-house teams from nabbing talent from one another.
I think it might also be an online test...not sure still waiting to hear back
I think there is a Watson Glaser test and a video interview before the AC. I saw it on the allaboutlaw website and on the forum as this was the process for 2024, maybe allaboutlaw is not updated for this year so not too sure
PS: It would be amazing if it’s just an ac after the app😭
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Hill Dickinson AC being 7.5h long and not even the Last stage is mad
Thank you Jessica for your response. If I were keen to qualify into litigation in private practice - would you say this would be more feasible?
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