TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, hope you are well. What are your views on batching multiple legal internships where the responsibilities were largely the same (researching, proof reading etc.)? Will I be shooting myself in the foot here because on their own, these experiences can form 5-6 entries but by batching them, am I giving the impression that throughout these internships I didn't do much (which is why I am writing them together)?

The issue is, if I write them separately, they might look very similar and boring, plus I won't be able to write 200-300 words for each entry.

I’d keep in person internships separate. Rather than the responsibilities being the same, maybe focus on the differences in each experiences rather than repeating the same type of details. You are likely to have worked in different practice areas or with different types of clients or different types of legal processes/documents, or different topics for tasks like research, so focus on those details rather than generic responsibilities ( eg drafting, attending meetings etc).

 

[Jessica Booker]

I see some firms have now opened their vacation scheme apps. I have graduated uni in June and started paralleling that month.

I would prefer direct TC app as there are less hurdles, do not have to worry about my annual leave allowance and because VS dates are longer they are more likely to clash than TC interview dates.

I am wanting to apply to direct TC for firms that hire a large percentage of people through that route - and VS for firms that favour the VS route - but I don't want to do this if I'll be disadvantaged through lack of legal experience.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

This is a very sensible approach to take.

 

[Jessica Booker]

This is insane and I can't believe it isn't being talked about more

I wonder if it’s because people are qualifying via other means, such as paralegals, solicitor apprenticeships or through foreign qualified lawyer programmes.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey guys, I am one year post grad- took a gap year and have been paralegalling for about 2 months now. i am looking to apply for straight TC's as I can't get enough days off my job to attend vac schemes. Not sure if I will be disadvantaging myself doing this as I know alot of firms hire through vac schemes. Applying for around 5 firms and doing about 2-3 hours of research per firm before drafting my application. Does this sound like a good plan of action? Intrigued on peoples thoughts!

If you can, I’d try to apply to a slightly higher number of firms, unless you have a very precise set of requirements for future employers which means there are only 5 firms you are interested in.

However, it’s common for some people to focus on direct TC applications for similar reasons to those you have mentioned, and it’s not an issue to do so. As you have mentioned, you will want to focus on firms that have a good ration of hiring from direct TCs, but maybe if there are a couple of firms you are particularly interested in that only recruit from their VS, apply to them anyway and see what happens if you get an offer. It maybe that there is a way to make it work for you with your current employer.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, @Jessica Booker. I have recently completed my LLM SQE. For the LLM part, I've taken all the exams but won't get my results until December. In what part of my application, if at all, should I include the LLM portion and the modules I did? Would it be in the postgraduate section?

Include it in the postgraduate section where it is an LLM. You can explain the module grades you have received but say your overall grade is pending/TBC. Firms will be aware that grades might come later in the year.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, how long would you recommend spending on an application/how long should one application realistically take - I know it depends on the number of questions etc but lets say it is a firm with 2/3 application questions?

I really don’t think there is an answer to this unfortunately.

Some people can spend a couple of hours on an application, while others may need to spend much more time researching and then writing. Some people find some questions very easy to write, and others more difficult.

Focus more so on what you feel is the right/comfortable level of research for you based on your existing knowledge and also how important the firm is to you.

 

[VV]

W&C anyone still waiting?

 

[Donuttime]

Any news from PH??

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Thanks to @Legalstalker, we now know that we *should* be contacted from PH by the end of this week, if we’ve been successful

 

[Amjaya]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I want to ask you a question regarding self-funding the SQE. So I have just completed a PGDL and was wandering whether I should self-fund the SQE. If I do this I fear being rejected in the future for Training Contracts or Graduate Apprenticeships. Is it likely that firms will decide not to interview me for a TC / hire me where I have already completed the SQE. I am thinking to do the SQE 1 only, but fear I will have no where to actually qualify. I am thinking also to not do the SQE and keep applying for TC's and hope to be offered a TC and qualify this way - should I do this?

Thank you

Any others who have experience of this please PM me or provide advice on this.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I want to ask you a question regarding self-funding the SQE. So I have just completed a PGDL and was wandering whether I should self-fund the SQE. If I do this I fear being rejected in the future for Training Contracts or Graduate Apprenticeships. Is it likely that firms will decide not to interview me for a TC / hire me where I have already completed the SQE. I am thinking to do the SQE 1 only, but fear I will have no where to actually qualify. I am thinking also to not do the SQE and keep applying for TC's and hope to be offered a TC and qualify this way - should I do this?

Thank you

Any others who have experience of this please PM me or provide advice on this.

This is tricky with the apprenticeships.

You won’t be eligible for the apprenticeships if you have studies/completed the SQE (even if this is just SQE1). For the firm to get the funding, you can’t have a qualification of the same subject/level.

Some firms are taking people on as trainees though just with no apprenticeship training though, so it’s worthwhile checking with the firms you are interested in.

If you are applying to TCs where you do your SQE before you start your TC, it won’t be an issue at all though. It is only going to be firms that offer you SQE training during the training contract , but it may not be an issue at all at the same!

 

[Amjaya]

This is tricky with the apprenticeships.

You won’t be eligible for the apprenticeships if you have studies/completed the SQE (even if this is just SQE1). For the firm to get the funding, you can’t have a qualification of the same subject/level.

Some firms are taking people on as trainees though just with no apprenticeship training though, so it’s worthwhile checking with the firms you are interested in.

If you are applying to TCs where you do your SQE before you start your TC, it won’t be an issue at all though. It is only going to be firms that offer you SQE training during the training contract , but it may not be an issue at all at the same!

Amazing thank you so much for this!

 

[BonanzaBih_]

This is tricky with the apprenticeships.

You won’t be eligible for the apprenticeships if you have studies/completed the SQE (even if this is just SQE1). For the firm to get the funding, you can’t have a qualification of the same subject/level.

Some firms are taking people on as trainees though just with no apprenticeship training though, so it’s worthwhile checking with the firms you are interested in.

If you are applying to TCs where you do your SQE before you start your TC, it won’t be an issue at all though. It is only going to be firms that offer you SQE training during the training contract , but it may not be an issue at all at the same!

Is it possible that it would be a plus? That if you have completed the SQE firms would not need to sponsor you?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Has anyone used Assess.ly to practice WG and was it worth it?

 

[Amjaya]

Does anyone know when the HMRC Legal apprentice opens [I think it recently just closed?]

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it possible that it would be a plus? That if you have completed the SQE firms would not need to sponsor you?

Possibly (which is why some firms will potentially allow you to do their TC even if you can’t do the apprenticeship). But the firm isn’t paying for the apprenticeship anyway so the idea of sponsorship isn’t really there whichever way it is.

 

[Moorview]

Hi all,

I graduated from Cambridge in 2020 with a high first in a non-law degree.
However, it took me four years to obtain my degree rather than three as I intermitted in my final term of third year on mental health grounds. I returned to studies the following September and graduated with strong grades.

I've now been working in a FTSE 100 company for three years and my company is sponsoring me to study a law conversion part-time, with the intention of qualifying inhouse. However, due to organizational change there is significant job insecurity, and I'm also aware that private practice training would give me broader experience and provide varied clients.

This is my first round of training contract applications and I'm a little nervous about approaching a couple of issues given this non-conventional route and wondered if I could have some guidance on how to address these in an application.

1) Do I overtly address intermission for mental health grounds in my CV; or to avoid overemphasizing this do I only mention this in extenuating circumstances?

2) Is there a recommended way to spin this in an application/or for competency based questions to demonstrate resilience - is it safer to keep it an extenuating circumstance?

3) How to address transitioning from a sponsored inhouse training route, as I don't want to appear disloyal to my current company.

4) I haven't done a Vac Scheme before, however instruct and work with external solicitors in my current role, even though I sit outside of the Project's Legal Team. Would you recommend applying for a direct Training Contract or do I need private practice experience?

In advance, many thanks for your consideration on these matters, and apologies for the lengthy post.

 

[j8]

I’m curious about how long people have waited after an AC to hear back? I had one almost a month ago and I’m still waiting for an answer 😵‍💫

 

[bangarangbass39]

I assume with the question below, it would be wrong for me to respond with points about how my values connect with the firm and vice versa. I'm worried I am being too direct and not thinking about the firm/role strongly in my response by just writing about my values and supporting them with my experience/evidence.

Q: What are your values? Can you explain these to us and explain why these values are important to you? This can be by a written statement of no more than 300 words or the equivalent length a PowerPoint or other presentation.

 

[lawyerdreams]

I’m curious about how long people have waited after an AC to hear back? I had one almost a month ago and I’m still waiting for an answer 😵‍💫

At the AC, did the firm give an indication of how long it would take for them to get back to you?