TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[MCL]

PFO from AG too 🤝 (applied to London office)

 

[Geezone]

PFO from AG - London office

 

[SamiyaJ]

Sorry for the rejection. The comms from AG has been awful. Just wondering which office you applied for and when?

Sucks but got to keep going! I applied to the London office on 17 July

 

[HB2024]

Do you mind me asking what this is for? I applied for their Legal Assistant (Paralegal) role for the London office back in March, did some online test and then heard nothing for months. I emailed in June asking when they'd get back to me and they said they'll only review my app when there's an opening and will contact me then - but still haven't heard anything.

Hi - I am planning on applying to the legal assistant programme soon. Do you mind if I ask what the online test involved? Were there any written questions? I want to make sure I submit when I'll have sufficient time in the following week to complete the test.

Thank you in advance.

 

[studentdelaw786]

PFO from Mayer Brown for 2026 Direct TC. I was about to ask for feedback until i read the email again, and they said they won’t provide it lmfao

 

[latome19]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering whether, if I self-fund my LPC course this year and then take SQE2, firms would let me qualify under the ‘Equivalent Means’ route with them or would they still make me take SQE1? I’m a little bit confused as to how that would work

 

[Tintin06]

I've just phoned Paul Hastings. The named contact on Law Careers net is Zoe Washington. I've left a message for her. Hopefully this isn't another long-delayed PFO.

 

[Seville123]

Pfo post video interview from Mayer Brown

 

[Iwantatcpls]

Any form of communication from Stephenson Harwood?

 

[SamiyaJ]

This is going to sound so pathetic but how do I react to posts?! All I can do is like, reply and quote. I check this forum on my phone via safari

 

[Tintin06]

This is going to sound so pathetic but how do I react to posts?! All I can do is like, reply and quote. I check this forum on my phone via safari

Just hover over the like button.

 

[user3883930]

Any news from Dentons?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Just hover over the like button.

Genius, thank you!

 

[RVD23]

Is anyone starting the SQE1 prep at BPP Holborn next week?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering whether, if I self-fund my LPC course this year and then take SQE2, firms would let me qualify under the ‘Equivalent Means’ route with them or would they still make me take SQE1? I’m a little bit confused as to how that would work

You wouldn't need to do LPC + SQE2 + Equivalent means. Instead, you would do LPC + SQE2 + 2 years of QWE.

There is no reason you should have to do SQE1 - you have an exemption because of the LPC, although I have heard of one firm forcing their trainees to do SQE1 which is just bizarre in my opinion. I don't see the logic of that at all. Most firms would just say you'd need to complete SQE2.

However, if you haven't started your LPC course already, consider just doing SQE1 and SQE2 - it makes a lot more sense to do it this way rather than investing into the LPC for a whole year only to then have to do SQE2.

 

[MCL]

Hi - I am planning on applying to the legal assistant programme soon. Do you mind if I ask what the online test involved? Were there any written questions? I want to make sure I submit when I'll have sufficient time in the following week to complete the test.

Thank you in advance.

I applied and did the test on the same day because I had time. This was back in March though so I don't remember the exact format sorry - but I think it should be broadly similar to most SJT's etc. I think it took around 30-40 mins.

 

[user3883930]

W&C TI invite!

 

[CuriousGeorge]

Hi @Jessica Booker & @Jaysen - I have a query for you below and was wondering if either of you are able to please advise. I will include as much context as possible.

I am a graduate who completed an undergraduate degree in law (1st class, non-RG uni) and the LPC, I have more than 5 years experience as a paralegal at a mix of firms including US (2) and midsize. I had a very difficult family life and health issues for many years which is why I had poor A Level grades (with mitigating circumstances). Therefore, I prioritised working and surviving rather than applying for training contracts.

Last year I cracked down and serioiusly started applying for my first round of TCs and submitted around 15 applications, I passed on to Video Interview Stage with 2 of them (US firms) and then didn't succeed. However, one of the firms I passed all the way through and secured a direct TC (regional firm in thier London office). As this was the only offer I had secured in the cycle and a good firm, where the people were very lovely I accepted this offer and after many years as a paralegal I would like to finally qualify.

However, I have always wanted to qualify at a US Law firm because of the complexity of the work, diversity of seats offered in these firms (i.e. Private Equity, Leveraged Finance, Corporate) and having been a paralegal at some of these firms I have seen the level of responsibility that trainees are given. And the firm that I accepted only has a general corporate seat e.g. Corporate and Commercial, but has some other unique seats.

I understand that once someone has secured a TC the SRA states that they are not meant to continue applying and to disclose to future employers that they have accepted one. But this seems unfair to me as this means from an applicant's perspective we are unable to be selective outside of each cycle and if an opportunity arises which is more suited, we are restricted. I also understand that the competition for US law firm TCs is very high. But I have been loosing sleep thinking what if?

I don't want to loose my current offer but I also don't want to keep wondering what would have or could have happened. I also would ideally like to be able to start TC without doing SQE 2 as I've done the LPC already (regional firm is allowing this as they accept the LPC) but for the right firm I would do the SQE 2 if I have to but I do not really see the point.

1. Is it possible to continue applying to TCs having secured one already? And will this impact the current offer?
2. Is it worth continuing to apply and going through the recruitment process (and possibly wait another year for a 2027 start) or is it better to qualify at the regional firm then break into the US law firms at 1-2+ PQE stage? And how hard is this to do if you've done a more general corporate and commercial seat?
3. What is the movement like at PQE stage between Regional Firms and US firms? And which department/areas of law see the most movement into US law firms for PQE recruitment?

I also don't know yet which area I would like to qualify in but I would like to do a corporate seat. Please help, any advice would be welcome.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker & @Jaysen - I have a query for you below and was wondering if either of you are able to please advise. I will include as much context as possible.

I am a graduate who completed an undergraduate degree in law (1st class, non-RG uni) and the LPC, I have more than 5 years experience as a paralegal at a mix of firms including US (2) and midsize. I had a very difficult family life and health issues for many years which is why I had poor A Level grades (with mitigating circumstances). Therefore, I prioritised working and surviving rather than applying for training contracts.

Last year I cracked down and serioiusly started applying for my first round of TCs and submitted around 15 applications, I passed on to Video Interview Stage with 2 of them (US firms) and then didn't succeed. However, one of the firms I passed all the way through and secured a direct TC (regional firm in thier London office). As this was the only offer I had secured in the cycle and a good firm, where the people were very lovely I accepted this offer and after many years as a paralegal I would like to finally qualify.

However, I have always wanted to qualify at a US Law firm because of the complexity of the work, diversity of seats offered in these firms (i.e. Private Equity, Leveraged Finance, Corporate) and having been a paralegal at some of these firms I have seen the level of responsibility that trainees are given. And the firm that I accepted only has a general corporate seat e.g. Corporate and Commercial, but has some other unique seats.

I understand that once someone has secured a TC the SRA states that they are not meant to continue applying and to disclose to future employers that they have accepted one. But this seems unfair to me as this means from an applicant's perspective we are unable to be selective outside of each cycle and if an opportunity arises which is more suited, we are restricted. I also understand that the competition for US law firm TCs is very high. But I have been loosing sleep thinking what if?

I don't want to loose my current offer but I also don't want to keep wondering what would have or could have happened. I also would ideally like to be able to start TC without doing SQE 2 as I've done the LPC already (regional firm is allowing this as they accept the LPC) but for the right firm I would do the SQE 2 if I have to but I do not really see the point.

1. Is it possible to continue applying to TCs having secured one already? And will this impact the current offer?
2. Is it worth continuing to apply and going through the recruitment process (and possibly wait another year for a 2027 start) or is it better to qualify at the regional firm then break into the US law firms at 1-2+ PQE stage? And how hard is this to do if you've done a more general corporate and commercial seat?
3. What is the movement like at PQE stage between Regional Firms and US firms? And which department/areas of law see the most movement into US law firms for PQE recruitment?

I also don't know yet which area I would like to qualify in but I would like to do a corporate seat. Please help, any advice would be welcome.

The SRA has no involvement with TC recruitment processes and does not state anything about not continuing. They withdrew from the code of best recruitment practice (which references this) in 2015. The Law Society does still support the voluntary code though (but this code is voluntary and many firms don’t stick to their commitments in the code too).

1) It is possible to still apply but as soon as you receive any financial support from your TC firm, you should really be sticking to your TC firm. To me that is the point you are not going to be able to change without serious repercussions.

2) There is no set answer to this unfortunately. It really depends on your priorities. Jumping from a regional to a US firm at 2-3 years PQE is not going to be straight forward though, and you may find it takes a couple of moves over a greater number of years to get there. But it depends on so many variables it is very hard to give you direction on what is possible and what isn’t.

3) it doesn’t happen a lot. But mainly because most people who go to regional firms are not aiming for US firms, so are not applying for US PQE roles in large numbers. They made a decision that regional firms are better for them (eg they don’t want to work in London, they don’t want crazy hours). Even if they do, sometimes the work they are doing is not comparable to their US or International form trained peers too - they are less likely to have worked on the size and complexity of matters that those who have trained in US and International firms have done. So they will typically need to be working in a high demand area, or have had unique exposure to specific type of clients/matters that correlate to similar work the US firm does.

Most firms have now moved to the SQE because there are far fewer regulatory requirements of QWE compared to a period of recognised training, so I would expect there is a strong chance you will need to complete SQE2 unless you started a TC in the next 12 months.

 

[CuriousGeorge]

Thank you @Jessica Booker. This is very helpful.

I haven't received any financial support from the offering firm and as they do not require the SQE (and have accepted the LPC) I will not be receiving any financial support from them.

1. Apologies, I meant mid-size city rather than a regional firm is where I got the offer. Does that impact the difficulty of transition to US firm at 2-3 PQE? Or will that also require a couple of moves over a greater number of years?
2. Are you able to give examples of 'high demand areas' in contentious and non-contentious?
3. If I continued to apply in this cycle to US/Internatioal law firms, would there be a risk of a future firm disclosing that I applied to them to the offering firm and then the offering firm (mid-size city firm) renegging on the offer?
4. You mentioned that there isn't a lot of movement between Regional and US Firms. Is this also the case between mid-size city and US Firms?

So they will typically need to be working in a high demand area, or have had unique exposure to specific type of clients/matters that correlate to similar work the US firm does.

The SRA has no involvement with TC recruitment processes and does not state anything about not continuing. They withdrew from the code of best recruitment practice (which references this) in 2015. The Law Society does still support the voluntary code though (but this code is voluntary and many firms don’t stick to their commitments in the code too).

1) It is possible to still apply but as soon as you receive any financial support from your TC firm, you should really be sticking to your TC firm. To me that is the point you are not going to be able to change without serious repercussions.

2) There is no set answer to this unfortunately. It really depends on your priorities. Jumping from a regional to a US firm at 2-3 years PQE is not going to be straight forward though, and you may find it takes a couple of moves over a greater number of years to get there. But it depends on so many variables it is very hard to give you direction on what is possible and what isn’t.

3) it doesn’t happen a lot. But mainly because most people who go to regional firms are not aiming for US firms, so are not applying for US PQE roles in large numbers. They made a decision that regional firms are better for them (eg they don’t want to work in London, they don’t want crazy hours). Even if they do, sometimes the work they are doing is not comparable to their US or International form trained peers too - they are less likely to have worked on the size and complexity of matters that those who have trained in US and International firms have done. So they will typically need to be working in a high demand area, or have had unique exposure to specific type of clients/matters that correlate to similar work the US firm does.

Most firms have now moved to the SQE because there are far fewer regulatory requirements of QWE compared to a period of recognised training, so I would expect there is a strong chance you will need to complete SQE2 unless you started a TC in the next 12 months.