TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[VD19]

We don’t know the questions yet do we? So not prepping rn…

It’s not exactly a mystery as to what they will be 😂

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, just wondering how are people going about prepping for the Paul, Weiss application considering there’s not much on chambers/legal cheek/legal 500 etc? @Jessica Booker

Definitely - you’ve got to be in it to win it!

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

It’s not exactly a mystery as to what they will be 😂

idk some firms have really rogue questions and some don’t even ask “why X firm” or something to that point, unless I’m missing something and we specifically know what PW are likely to ask for a certain reason

 

[Xyz113]

Has anyone heard from White & Case after the video interview? Whether that be a rejection or through to next stage?

Hi, I still haven’t heard back. Has anyone heard back following the video interview a couple of weeks ago? Thanks

 

[19.mfjones]

What's the main reasons people go wrong in the app / VI / tests stages?

I only achieved 1 AC last cycle (granted it was my first). Looking to make significant progress this year so anyone who has any experience please chime in, and @Jessica Booker. Feeling completely frustrated at this point

 

[sarahlawconvert]

Still radio silence from AG - has anyone actually heard back since PFOs were sent last Friday, or know anyone that has heard anything?

No - but the email response from submission said 10 weeks from closing date which would be 9th October.

 

[lawyerdreams]

What's the main reasons people go wrong in the app / VI / tests stages?

I only achieved 1 AC last cycle (granted it was my first). Looking to make significant progress this year so anyone who has any experience please chime in, and @Jessica Booker. Feeling completely frustrated at this point

I honestly think that, most of the time, its not a case of an applicant going "wrong" to get rejected at those stages, it just boils down to so many applicants and so few AC spaces. The calibre of candidates who progress to the second-stages (VIs, tests etc) will be high, and, therefore, grad rec will have to find some way to select people for an AC and I think the reasons for this are firm dependent, depending on what they emphasise (for ex. things like commercial awareness, conciseness of written answers, evidence of firm knowledge etc). So if you've reached an AC stage, congrats! Its a huge achievement.

 

[Tintin06]

Anything from Paul Hastings LLP recently?

 

[lllaaawww098]

Anyone knows how many vac schemers has K&L Gates retained this year? It's been a long time waiting and there is no point if the spaces are all filled up. It's my last application of last cycle as well, I need to start the new one

 

[futurerookytobe]

Has anyone else applied to Milbank?

 

[Tintin06]

Has anyone else applied to Milbank?

From memory, they seem to take most from VS.

 

[Zi48]

Anyone knows how many vac schemers has K&L Gates retained this year? It's been a long time waiting and there is no point if the spaces are all filled up. It's my last application of last cycle as well, I need to start the new one

I’m not sure, but the email they sent this week said that they’re still reviewing applications and the process is ongoing. I don’t think they’d say that if they had filled spaces

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

useful info from latham - they arent going to open the direct route

 

[Tintin06]

It's not worth it for most US firms, in my humble opinion. Are you going to give a job which potentially pays £175,000 to someone you've met for a day? I know that's Freshfields NQ, but still.

 

[Lawlawlaw2]

Anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood?

 

[AS24]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

I trust you are well.

Do you know how long the W&C cover letter should be?

 

[lawyerdreams]

It's not worth it for most US firms, in my humble opinion. Are you going to give a job which potentially pays £175,000 to someone you've met for a day? I know that's Freshfields NQ, but still.

What do you mean by "its not worth it"?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

I trust you are well.

Do you know how long the W&C cover letter should be?

We typically see answers of around 750-900 words. Sometimes they are slightly longer, but where they are the content is still super concise/focused and meaningful content.

 

[s2203]

If anyone's waiting on W&C direct TC - they're giving out offers, so would be wise to assume PFO!

 

[BonanzaBih_]

What do you mean by "its not worth it"?

I think they mean applying, that giving a job with such a high salary to someone who has done a vac scheme and worked for a few weeks versus to someone who you have never engaged within a working environment. Basically more likely to get American firm tc from a vac scheme as opposed to direct tc.