TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Lastseasonwonder]

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?

 

[ad.]

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

 

[ad.]

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

 

[nyanchan22]

CMS Dubai PFO post-WG... gutted but it is what it is I guess

 

[Anon1111]

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.

Any response?

 

[Jessica Booker]

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

Anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

You can ask the graduate recruitment team as to when you should expect the paper work.

 

[Zaraa.x]

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

Omgggg so sorry to hear😭😓!! I applied first week of Nov and still nothing…

 

[Anon1111]

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

have you received a response yet?

 

[Amiyrerose]

Any response?

Nope 😭 none at all

 

[Broadwater]

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

If you failed to progress 2 ACs, then it’s not your profile on paper that’s lacking. It’s your ability to perform well on the tasks at the ACs which requires improvement.

Also, if you’re not passing application stages with your profile then your application writing skills need improvement.

Perhaps arrange for an application review from TCLA or a mentor and if you have an AC coming up arrange a mock interview.

Writing applications and passing ACs is a skill in itself that is almost entirely separate from the quality of your profile on paper

 

[rain2801]

Has anyone heard back from Linklaters and Freshfields yet?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Linklaters is so bafflingly slow… there’s nothing on those applications to review!