TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[LB24]

Hi congratulations first of all was this for the direct tc or for the vac scheme?

Thanks, and it was for the direct TC

 

[FoxStella]

Hey, Congratss on the AC invite! May I ask when you applied to S&M?

I applied around mid Nov I think!

 

[Aimanhussain004]

Same, I was reading mine a few days ago, thinking “oh gawd” 😂

Do you guys reckon Goodwin will send out more VI's ? I think my app was actually really good T_T [took two weeks doing it]

 

[xMontmorency]

Hello! Long time lurker here, I'm a non law career changer and have done about 10 applications for TCs or VSs, heard back from a couple with PFOs so haven't really felt the need to post anything yet.

However I've just had an interview invite from Slaughter and May! Has anyone got experience with their interview process and what I should prepare? Any advice for this would be fantastic and greatly appreciated, it's my first interview for any legal role and I am bricking it!! 😰

I did the S&M AC for direct TC in October.

One thing I'd say is, unless they've changed it, the written exercise was very challenging for me. You have to write a report on a company's business strategy. There's not a lot of time to think (you have an hour to read different materials, prepare and write the report), and I think it's very easy to fall into the trap of regurgitating information without adding nuanced opinions.

Interviews were bog standard. I personally think the interviewers were a bit unfriendly, but that's luck of the draw.

Hope that helps.

 

[rain2801]

The gap ahead of your degree will not be an issue.

Many firms do not heavily assess A-level equivalents and so would look much more favourably at your degree results, which as you have said you is a strong result, so you will have a chance.

It is challenging for international candidates, and especially those with no experience (educational or work related) in the U.K. - that will be a bigger barrier than academics for many, but at the same time plenty of international candidates manage to secure TCs so it shouldn’t be something that stops people from trying to secure something.

Thank you for this response! I just had a follow up- I do have work experience in the legal field though not in the UK. How do you suggest I can best translate this in my application?

 

[NJS]

Has anyone had a delay in received the Osborne Clarke test/not received it… I applied last night