TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone,

With a new recruitment cycle starting in the next few weeks, we thought it best to start a new master thread to discuss direct training contract applications for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

You can find the 2023-24 cycle thread here.

Best of luck to everyone for this upcoming cycle

Thanks,

Jess

 

[Donuttime]

Thanks Jessica

 

[A worried graduate]

In classic “A worried graduate” style, I might be getting an AC for an in-house SQE TC.

Unfortunately, this has come a few days after I have booked the flights for a family holiday and even gave notice to my part-time job.

I still haven’t had the exact date and had been waiting to hear since April (they told me I would have a telephone interview and then skipped this step in May to an AC) with little information or updates until a few hours ago.

How sympathetic are firms to these sorts of situations and if I hassled them enough would they give more details so that I could find some sort of arrangement.

No hotel/accomodation has been booked and the plan was to go for around 3-4 weeks with the AC date working out around 10 days in and the flights were pretty cheap thankfully.

They are also yet to guarantee that I will even be invited to the assessment centre which makes things particularly difficult.

 

[Zaidoz10]

Hey guys does anyone know if the Trowers online assessment is automatic post application? The invite email says it’s the next stage of the process and it’s always been selective but people are saying it’s automatic this year. Anyone have any idea? Pretty crazy if it’s automatic as the stage right after it is the AC.

 

[HarmonyN]

Hey guys does anyone know if the Trowers online assessment is automatic post application? The invite email says it’s the next stage of the process and it’s always been selective but people are saying it’s automatic this year. Anyone have any idea? Pretty crazy if it’s automatic as the stage right after it is the AC.

Probably automated, I got the test less than 24hours after applying 🤷🏽‍♀️.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Does anyone know when A&O usually hold their direct TC ACs

 

[19.mfjones]

Probably automated, I got the test less than 24hours after applying 🤷🏽‍♀️.

Yeah, the deadline closed yesterday - no way they could read through everything so quick!

 

[Szofi66]

Does anyone know when winter vacation usually starts at the University of Law (conversion course, 50 weeks, full time)? Admissions said that we'll get the official timetable a couple of weeks before course start date, but would be good to know as soon as possible for winter vac scheme apps

 

[19.mfjones]

Does anyone know when winter vacation usually starts at the University of Law (conversion course, 50 weeks, full time)? Admissions said that we'll get the official timetable a couple of weeks before course start date, but would be good to know as soon as possible for winter vac scheme apps

When you use ulaw website to look at your couse (as a prospective student), if you scroll down there's a section called something like course dates or timetable. You should be able to download it from there and it says about every holiday you'll receive during your course.

 

[Szofi66]

When you use ulaw website to look at your couse (as a prospective student), if you scroll down there's a section called something like course dates or timetable. You should be able to download it from there and it says about every holiday you'll receive during your course.

Thank you

 

[user254]

Anyone heard back from Hill Dickinson after AC?

 

[A worried graduate]

Dentons PFO

 

[LB24]

Anyone heard from AG?

 

[Amjaya]

Hi all,

I wanted to ask what this means. I recently got in touch with Hogan Lovells regarding their benchmark for Watson Glaser. I was told this is in the 38% percentile. Isn’t this quite a low score?? What does this mean?

Thank you all and best of luck with your applications ❤️

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Hi all,

I wanted to ask what this means. I recently got in touch with Hogan Lovells regarding their benchmark for Watson Glaser. I was told this is in the 38% percentile. Isn’t this quite a low score?? What does this mean?

Thank you all and best of luck with your applications ❤️

I would assume it means they don’t give much weight to the test and base most of the decision off the application but who knows

 

[adrk1234]

Anyone heard back from HL or PHB

 

[WhiskeyCharlie]

Hey guys does anyone know if the Trowers online assessment is automatic post application? The invite email says it’s the next stage of the process and it’s always been selective but people are saying it’s automatic this year. Anyone have any idea? Pretty crazy if it’s automatic as the stage right after it is the AC.

The invite for both this year and last year said "next stage of the process".

According to Grad Rec, they are not rolling and review every application. During the 2023 cycle, they did not send out MMAT invites until 3 weeks after the deadline. This year, 2024 cycle, the MMAT invites were sent out the day after (deadline 8 Jan, MMAT invite 9 Jan). I submitted my app 7 Jan.

In 2023 = filtered MMAT, invite to AC depending on MMAT score, current and existing trainees mentioned the cutoff for an AC invite to be 40/50. 40/50 was also confirmed to be cutoff post AC feedback directly by grad rec.

Keep in mind, they have new grad rec this year.

 

[WhiskeyCharlie]

Anyone heard back from Hill Dickinson after AC?

PFOs have been received by unsuccessful candidates 30 July

 

[Amjaya]

I would assume it means they don’t give much weight to the test and base most of the decision off the application but who knows

I was quite surprised because normally they expect you to attain at least 80%+ percentile. Especially for Hogans Lovells. You are probably right in saying they look at your application holistically.

 

[lawyerdreams]

At what point of the recruitment process will GR contact your references? And what happens if one reference doesn't respond to them?