TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Alturistic whale]

It wouldn't be possible to cover everything in a job description (JD) in a cover letter - but it is important to cover:

• Why specifically this opportunity (more so why this department/role rather than "why this firm")
• Highlighting your key skills/experiences that align with some of the JD's requirements that you think are less obvious from your CV or aspects you particularly want to highlight - this should effectively be the "why you" part of a cover letter

What length do you recommend for a a cover letter for a paralegal role? Would 2 pages be too much?

 

[adrian_nlh]

Applying for jobs in the legal sector is the most violently humbling experience I have ever had, and this is my 3rd cycle 🥹

I'm sorry to hear this. It is genuinely so exhausting. I'm graduating soon and have no idea what to do. I am seriously losing hope and resilience and may just pivot to applying to another job with transferrable skills at this point.

 

[User5678]

I'm sorry to hear this. It is genuinely so exhausting. I'm graduating soon and have no idea what to do. I am seriously losing hope and resilience and may just pivot to applying to another job with transferrable skills at this point.

Exactly the same for me!!

 

[RaniaH062002]

Baker McKenzie PFO 😭 lol and they had a grammatical error in their email. Very ‘professional’ for an intentional law firm like them. 😂

 

[spamelinazoid]

Im super curious now what it is lol

Baker McKenzie PFO 😭 lol and they had a grammatical error in their email. Very ‘professional’ for an intentional law firm like them. 😂M

 

[RaniaH062002]

Im super curious now what it is lol

 

[RaniaH062002]

Only one left now for this year is Ashurst (which I’ve probably been PFOd too tbh)

 

[Tintin06]

View attachment 7094

You should seriously reject this rejection.

 

[RaniaH062002]

You should seriously reject this rejection.

I am super tempted to email them. Just to be petty and say ‘well actually… 🤓’

 

[Jessica Booker]

What length do you recommend for a a cover letter for a paralegal role? Would 2 pages be too much?

Yes - really should only be a page to a page and a half maximum (and that’s assuming it has all cover letter formalities/formatting)

 

[wannabe_solicitor]

Hahahahaha just noticed it

Out of interest, when did you guys apply? Wondering if it’s cause I applied on the deadline

I applied on the deadline too :’) maybe I need to acc sort my life out

 

[User5678]

Hahahahaha just noticed it

Out of interest, when did you guys apply? Wondering if it’s cause I applied on the deadline

I applied on the deadline too and got a pfo later this evening

 

[law_junkie]

Sorry to hear that did you apply quite early to them?

tbf not really, I applied mid march

 

[rosedunn]

anyone not heard from Baker McKenzie yet?

 

[trainee4u]

View attachment 7094

this is a sloppy edit by them.

I got their PFO in January and it had the "Due to" sentence (which is already clumsy- "high volume of applications" would make more sense), but the "AI" sentence wasn't there at that time.

On the plus side, we can be sure AI didn't write that sentence.

 

[YL]

Does anyone have any news on Bristows DTC?

I had my interview today and they said it would take a while to hear back unless you have another TC offer which would speed up the process. They did explicitly state it wouldn't be before Easter though so I doubt we will hear back until then.

 

[RaniaH062002]

I applied for schemes/ TC’s starting in my 2nd year of uni albeit I’ve never took it seriously, same in 2024. This was my first year taking it seriously and I didn’t get anywhere.

I’m turning 23 this year and I used to think that not getting a TC now means I’ll be ‘out of my prime’ when I may end up getting one years down the line with fresh graduates securing TC’s at the ages of 20. But I realise that’s just ridiculous and it’s unfair to compare myself to other people.

I do feel very down about my rejections but I’m not going to give up! I mean it’s not the end for me, although I don’t work in a legally qualifying job I do work in a stable job as crown court clerk, I’m currently doing my Law Conversion Course (Master’s) with BPP and I’m prepping to take the SQE1 next year in the summer.

And it’s not the end for everyone else either! You can get thousands of rejects but we only need one yes to move forward.

Am I correct that the application cycle for the majority of firms begin in October/November? I’m going to make it my mission to start prepping early.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I applied for schemes/ TC’s starting in my 2nd year of uni albeit I’ve never took it seriously, same in 2024. This was my first year taking it seriously and I didn’t get anywhere.

I’m turning 23 this year and I used to think that not getting a TC now means I’ll be ‘out of my prime’ when I may end up getting one years down the line with fresh graduates securing TC’s at the ages of 20. But I realise that’s just ridiculous and it’s unfair to compare myself to other people.

I do feel very down about my rejections but I’m not going to give up! I mean it’s not the end for me, although I don’t work in a legally qualifying job I do work in a stable job as crown court clerk, I’m currently doing my Law Conversion Course (Master’s) with BPP and I’m prepping to take the SQE1 next year in the summer.

And it’s not the end for everyone else either! You can get thousands of rejects but we only need one yes to move forward.

Am I correct that the application cycle for the majority of firms begin in October/November? I’m going to make it my mission to start prepping early.

Many people are surprised to hear the average age of a trainee is 28/29 - so you really are not behind or "out of your prime". I'd also say it is far more common for non-law graduated to come to the career after they have graduates or when they have started their GDL.

There maybe some direct TCs you can apply to between now and mid-to-late July, but there are some firms that have closed for this year, whether this is because they recruit solely through their vacation schemes or where they have already closed for TCs this year.

Well done on persevering - it is half the battle with this process. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help with.

 

[law_junkie]

I applied for schemes/ TC’s starting in my 2nd year of uni albeit I’ve never took it seriously, same in 2024. This was my first year taking it seriously and I didn’t get anywhere.

I’m turning 23 this year and I used to think that not getting a TC now means I’ll be ‘out of my prime’ when I may end up getting one years down the line with fresh graduates securing TC’s at the ages of 20. But I realise that’s just ridiculous and it’s unfair to compare myself to other people.

I do feel very down about my rejections but I’m not going to give up! I mean it’s not the end for me, although I don’t work in a legally qualifying job I do work in a stable job as crown court clerk, I’m currently doing my Law Conversion Course (Master’s) with BPP and I’m prepping to take the SQE1 next year in the summer.

And it’s not the end for everyone else either! You can get thousands of rejects but we only need one yes to move forward.

Am I correct that the application cycle for the majority of firms begin in October/November? I’m going to make it my mission to start prepping early.

Yeah, sometimes it just gets really frustrating — you put so much time and effort into your applications, only to end up with rejections. It stings, hard.This is my second cycle as an international student and honestly, I’m at the point where I’m like… what else am I supposed to do? Start sending personalised hampers to the graduate recruitment teams?

 

[RaniaH062002]

Yeah, sometimes it just gets really frustrating — you put so much time and effort into your applications, only to end up with rejections. It stings, hard.This is my second cycle as an international student and honestly, I’m at the point where I’m like… what else am I supposed to do? Start sending personalised hampers to the graduate recruitment teams?

I know how you feel it's extremely frustrating. I keep wondering what am I doing wrong? Am I not fit to be a lawyer? Especially when you work really hard on an application and don't even make it past the first stage...