TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[EK_27]

Hi everyone,

I don’t post often but wanted to say thank you for the support received on the forum. Specifically to @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu as I used your tips this cycle for my VI, AC and general commercial awareness.

I was offered a TC today so feeling very happy.

My first cycle I submitted 15 applications and only progressed to 1 VI.

Second cycle I submitted 11 applications and progressed to 2 VIs and 1 AC.

It’s really cliche but you do only need one firm to say yes. Wishing everyone the best of luck!!

 

[TCseeker17]

Hi everyone,

I don’t post often but wanted to say thank you for the support received on the forum. Specifically to @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu as I used your tips this cycle for my VI, AC and general commercial awareness.

I was offered a TC today so feeling very happy.

My first cycle I submitted 15 applications and only progressed to 1 VI.

Second cycle I submitted 11 applications and progressed to 2 VIs and 1 AC.

It’s really cliche but you do only need one firm to say yes. Wishing everyone the best of luck!!

Hey that's amazing news! Where did you get the TC offer if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Tintin06]

There are a number of older cases with similar judgements. I am not completely up to date on employment law though, so cannot advise if this is the most up to date precedent/case that judgements would be used against.

Ultimately, you can ask for adjustments whether there are employment tribunal cases or not though.

Realise bringing this up is dramatic. Thank you for your reply here.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Realise bringing this up is dramatic. Thank you for your reply here.

It’s not dramatic - it’s good to know what happens in terms of best practice, and case law will impact that on a certain level.

It is also useful to use decisions like this to reference why the adjustment is necessary.

Where I get slightly cautious on this is the autism is a broad spectrum of conditions and I think it’s really difficult to apply adjustments consistently. Ultimately any employer/recruiter (and their test provider) should be adapting processes with some basic “best practice” approaches, and I would expect some neurodiverse candidates to have an adjustment to an SJT. This is why many tests have no time requirement, but I would stress that I personally feel this is still not sufficient in many cases.

 

[Tintin06]

It’s not dramatic - it’s good to know what happens in terms of best practice, and case law will impact that on a certain level.

It is also useful to use decisions like this to reference why the adjustment is necessary.

Where I get slightly cautious on this is the autism is a broad spectrum of conditions and I think it’s really difficult to apply adjustments consistently. Ultimately any employer/recruiter (and their test provider) should be adapting processes with some basic “best practice” approaches, and I would expect some neurodiverse candidates to have an adjustment to an SJT. This is why many tests have no time requirement, but I would stress that I personally feel this is still not sufficient in many cases.

That all makes sense - thank you. I worry about bothering graduate recruitment. Also the perception of making excuses. Maybe this is just overthinking, however.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

That all makes sense - thank you. I worry about bothering graduate recruitment. Also the perception of making excuses. Maybe this is just overthinking, however.

It is your responsibility to request the adjustment and clearly explaining the need for the adjustment.

It’s the employer/recruiter’s responsibility to determine whether that adjustment is reasonable.

You are not bothering graduated recruitment - this is part of their job and it is their legal responsibility to ensure reasonable adjustments are considered and applied.

If they don’t do that, they are at significant risk of the claims like the BT one.

 

[Boating]

When did people recieve the freshfields test, is it a few days after submitting the app?

 

[Sad_Old_Grad]

Would anyone who has written a Freshfields personal statement be willing to take a look at mine? *Screaming, crying, throwing up* over here

 

[AlarmedBookkeeper448]

Would anyone who has written a Freshfields personal statement be willing to take a look at mine? *Screaming, crying, throwing up* over here

Heyaa

I am happy to but not an expert at all

 

[DisciplineTC2526]

I would say practice case study questions if you’re not used to them / haven’t done them before. I would also make sure you know the basics of terminology that could crop up (think finance terms, the M&A process and real estate considerations like planning, title restrictions, indemnities/insurance/warranties and basics of contractual rights). You’ll need to consider issues that will face the fictional client so perhaps researching common issues relating to different sector work would be a good starting point.

Just generally, practicing speaking out loud and theorising questions is so helpful if you get nervous at all when articulating your points. Ensuring you’re comfortable public speaking would be helpful, not only for CC but for almost any application.

Hope this helps! Best of luck.

Thanks for this. Any good practice case studies?

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

Hey

The email they send is:

You will be invited to complete the Law Online Assessment on 27 January 2025after the application window has closed.

Hi! May I ask if this is an automatic email from Candid right after you submitted your application?
I am asking because the Candid confirmation email that I received after submission does not include this information. Was this another email, directly from Freshfields' graduate recruitment?

 

[AlarmedBookkeeper448]

Hi! May I ask if this is an automatic email from Candid right after you submitted your application?
I am asking because the Candid confirmation email that I received after submission does not include this information. Was this another email, directly from Freshfields' graduate recruitment?

Heyy
And it was a separate email just saying they changed the process

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

Heyy
And it was a separate email just saying they changed the process

I see, thanks!! How long roughly did it take for you to receive it after you had submitted your app?

 

[AlarmedBookkeeper448]

I see, thanks!! How long roughly did it take for you to receive it after you had submitted your app?

I applied on 24th December and received it 13th Jan … you might get it sooner since the test should be coming on Monday?

 

[cjwx]

Please give details of your current interests and activities including the nature of your involvement (60 words max).
Could my answer to this be about learning another language, because of my interest in culture and business developments in a specific region? @Jessica Booker @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu

 

[sarahfw]

How quickly do law firms tend to get in contact with the written offer letter and terms after making the phone call? Thank you

 

[crt1s]

Has anyone interviewed with Fieldfisher in the last two weeks and heard back?

 

[Amiyrerose]

Please can someone help me, should I expect a PFO if people received an AC for Kennedys

i emailed them to ask if rejections will be issued too since people have received invites to the AC . i will keep you updated if i hear back.

 

[pickyportkey]

Literally!! When did you apply?

Applied 28 Nov... just got my PFO a few min ago

 

[CHLTC]

After countless applications, I continue to be rejected.



I know rejection is something everything goes through, but honestly, and without sounding overly cocky, I’m quite shocked I’ve not had a single Vac Scheme offer, ever.



Quick summary:

• Corporate paralegal in London for 2 years
• 1st class degree at undergraduate from Russell group.
• Distinction in GDL
• fluent in multiple languages
• Multiple post grad degrees both from LSE in Corporate Law and in M&A. Bear in mind, these gave me the academic knowledge necessary to bridge the gap between theoretical academic law from the GDL to real work in a commercial law firm.
• pro bono advisor at a legal clinic for a year, and still do.
• Other legal roles including for trusts and for barristers

I sometimes wonder what else I can even do!



If they said bad grades, I would say fine, but I couldn’t have done better at undergraduate and GDL.



If they said, no work experience, I would say fine, but I have 3 different ongoing legal roles, including my paralegal role in a London city law firm, which clearly shows my experience - quite frankly, my paralegal role has given me some experience that even being a trainee would not.



I got to 2 AC’s last year. But got rejected after both.



This year, I still have a couple applications in the pipeline, but I’m honestly not hopeful at all. I will mention that an American firm which I attended their AC last year, this year failed me on the first round. Which, tbh, I don’t see how that makes any sense. With 1 year extra experience, suddenly I can’t get past the first stage, but last year I reached the last stage ? That to me makes no sense. I don’t mean to be rude, but I think that is BS!



What’s stopping me from giving up, after spending years studying and working in law?



If I did any other profession, I’d be so much further along, but I made the terrible mistake of wasting my time with law.

@Jaysen
@Jessica Booker