TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you @Jessica Booker. This is very helpful.

I haven't recieved any financial support from the offering firm and as they do not require the SQE (and have accepted the LPC) I will not be receieving 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 ale 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?

1. It depends on what you mean by mid-size. Is this a UK-only firm? If so, the same applies as it would do for a regional firm.
2. High demand fluctuates - what is high demand now could easily not be in 3-4 years. It isn't just about practice areas; it is also about sectors and knowledge in particular areas of law. All it takes is a major change in regulation or growth in industry/markets, and those could be the areas for higher demand for lawyers.
3. Your TC firm will only find out if you are applying elsewhere if you tell them or put it in the public domain (e.g., mention it on social media/LinkedIn). Data protection alone means a firm cannot tell another firm about your application status.

 

[CuriousGeorge]

1. It depends on what you mean by mid-size. Is this a UK-only firm? If so, the same applies as it would do for a regional firm.
2. High demand fluctuates - what is high demand now could easily not be in 3-4 years. It isn't just about practice areas; it is also about sectors and knowledge in particular areas of law. All it takes is a major change in regulation or growth in industry/markets, and those could be the areas for higher demand for lawyers.
3. Your TC firm will only find out if you are applying elsewhere if you tell them or put it in the public domain (e.g., mention it on social media/LinkedIn). Data protection alone means a firm cannot tell another firm about your application status.

Thank you @Jessica Booker you have calmed my stress. I've honestly been up at night thinking about this stuff. Greatly appreciate your advice on this.

 

[User5678]

Any news from Dentons?

No, I am so tired at this point!! I’m gonna be pissed if this is a delayed PFO!!

 

[👩🎓]

Hi @Jessica Booker. When writing a cover letter on Word, that is intending to be attached, what would you recommend the margin size to be? (Should it be normal or narrow and how strict are firms with this?)

Thank you!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker. When writing a cover letter on Word, that is intending to be attached, what would you recommend the margin size to be? (Should it be normal or narrow and how strict are firms with this?)

Thank you!

Standard default on Word for margins is 2.54. I think you can narrow down to 2.0 with no issue. Any narrower than that and the page starts to look quite cramped unless you are using paragraph and line spacing elsewhere in the document, and have a decent text size (e.g. 11). If you are using very narrow margins, font size 10 and little paragraph/line spacing the document is going to look far too crowded.

 

[qwop881]

I just took a look at the new Legal Cheek Most List for 2025. And it is showing Clifford Chance only offering 63 training contracts and Freshfields only offering 80? Can anyone confirm if these firms are slashing the number of places they plan to offer?

 

[Jessica Booker]

I just took a look at the new Legal Cheek Most List for 2025. And it is showing Clifford Chance only offering 63 training contracts and Freshfields only offering 80? Can anyone confirm if these firms are slashing the number of places they plan to offer?

Freshfields has been 80 for some time but that does seem to be a bit of a drop for Clifford Chance as it’s typically been about 100-110 per year for them.

 

[LB24]

Anyone else heard from AG?

 

[A worried graduate]

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.

Iirc it’s not timed.

It is a very run of the mill cappfinity test which is used by a lot of other firms (I can name Irwin Mitchell , KPMG and Macfarlanes off my head but there are a ton more).

What do you mean by written? There were some proof-reading style questions but nothing that requires research or an essay.

 

[HelpAStudentOut]

Should we assume HL PFO

 

[Lawlawlaw2]

Hi @Jessica Booker, hope all is well. Just wanted to ask you where I could find all the deadlines for the 2026-2027 training contracts (this new cycle). Thanks a lot!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, hope all is well. Just wanted to ask you where I could find all the deadlines for the 2026-2027 training contracts (this new cycle). Thanks a lot!

We will be providing such a list later in September once more firms have announced their application details.

 

[Lawlawlaw2]

@Jessica Booker okay great thank you for letting me know!

 

[bangarangbass39]

Is still possible to be invited to an AC for a 2026 TC this coming month? I haven’t heard back from Addleshaw yet n I’m worried that this is just a long PFO. The deadline for apps was July 31st and I applied on the 24th of May. Surely firms would need to formally decide by now (the beginning of a new application cycle) who is joining for the cycle and who is not?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is still possible to be invited to an AC for a 2026 TC this coming month? I haven’t heard back from Addleshaw yet n I’m worried that this is just a long PFO. The deadline for apps was July 31st and I applied on the 24th of May. Surely firms would need to formally decide by now (the beginning of a new application cycle) who is joining for the cycle and who is not?

With recruitment so far in advance there wouldn’t be an absolute need to confirm 2026 intakes.

I would contact the firm and see if they can give you an estimated time/date of when you will hear back though given the time that has passed.

 

[bangarangbass39]

With recruitment so far in advance there wouldn’t be an absolute need to confirm 2026 intakes.

I would contact the firm and see if they can give you an estimated time/date of when you will hear back though given the time that has passed.

Okay thank you. When I submitted my application, it said to expect a response within the 10 weeks of the end of the deadline. So it looks like I could wait till mid October 😕 I’ll email to hear what they have to say

 

[Jessica Booker]

Okay thank you. When I submitted my application, it said to expect a response within the 10 weeks of the end of the deadline. So it looks like I could wait till mid October 😕 I’ll email to hear what they have to say

That can be normal for firms - many don’t finish their TC process until the end of September/early October

 

[bangarangbass39]

That can be normal for firms - many don’t finish their TC process until the end of September/early October

Understood. I've just been in contact with a 2025 training contract offer holder who applied directly last year.

 

[Deleted member 9747]

How do you delete your tcla account?

 

[Jessica Booker]

How do you delete your tcla account?

You can private message me and I’ll delete it.