TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[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?

 

[Lalis]

Anyone still waiting for W&C direct tc from last cycle?

is it normal that the firm opened for a new cycle already and we still wait to hear back from the last cycle 🥹

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Knowing we will probably hear from PH and K&L Gates this week is excruciating.

 

[LB24]

Anyone anything from AG last week or this week?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Does anyone know if CMS has a health direct tc intake?

 

[Zi48]

Does anyone know if CMS has a health direct tc intake?

They changed their process last year and now only recruit through the direct TC (from their website it looks like they’re doing a graduate solicitor apprenticeship route this year too). Future trainees do the CMS academy which used to be their VS

 

[Maddy]

Are deloitte and pwc's legal graduate schemes open?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Are deloitte and pwc's legal graduate schemes open?

Not that I’ve seen, not yet

 

[jaytnn]

Another month, another wait for PMC. Surely this has to be a record 😂

Have you received any emails yet Still waiting...

 

[jaytnn]

Another month, another wait for PMC. Surely this has to be a record 😂

Have you heard anything yet... I'm still waiting😭

 

[MR218]

W&C pfo at last lol

 

[Kay Aston]

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.

Hi @Moorview - thanks for your questions! Completely understandable to be nervous when approaching applications, especially from a non-conventional route. Similarly, I worked in a different industry before transitioning to law, and I also had to navigate mitigating circumstances in my applications. My thoughts are:

1) There is no need to go into detail about your MC's on your CV. My MC's are for lower grades in my A Levels, and so where I state my grades on my CV, I simply add a bullet point underneath which says 'mitigating circumstances available on request'. You could do something similar if concerned, although to be honest, taking 4 years to complete an undergraduate degree instead of 3 is not uncommon at all (think: placement years, Scottish degrees, integrated masters, years abroad...), so I really doubt it would raise red flags to begin with, and I am sure that any questions the firm had about it, they would simply ask.

2) This one is an entirely personal decision. I did something similar in my Clifford Chance written application, where it asked for an 'achievement I was most proud of', and I spoke about overcoming challenging circumstances which fed into my MC's. However, I did this because I was comfortable doing so, and bear in mind that if your application progresses, your interviewers may have access to your written application, so don't discuss anything you aren't comfortable talking about in an interview!

3) You don't need to dwell on this too much, people change roles and companies all the time for better opportunities and it isn't considered being disloyal! Focus on the reasons why you are applying to the new role, such as growth opportunities you would like to gain, or qualities about the specific firm that appeal to you, and try not to talk about reasons for wanting to leave your current employer, as this has the potential to come across negatively. You already clearly have a great idea of this, and the reasons you have touched on (broader experience, varied clients), are perfectly legitimate reasons for making a transition.

4) Again, this is a personal decision for you, however you can sometimes gauge the level of experience required in direct TC apps by looking at the future trainees that did not undertake a vacation scheme (LinkedIn is great for this!). One thing I would say, is that it is very rare for law firms to specifically require experience in private practice law firms, in order to be successful in a direct TC app. Firms are increasingly valuing diverse experiences, and I personally did not have any experience in a law firm, but I was able to leverage my professional experience (in finance) really effectively in my applications, so focus on what you already have! Having an experience that nobody else has can really be your superpower in applications.

I hope this was helpful, happy to discuss further!

 

[Jessica Booker]

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.

Just to add to @Kay Aston ’s very useful post, disclosing the mitigating circumstances will be needed where you won’t have any grades for one year. I wouldn’t worry about this though - you can just say due to ill health generally (rather than disclosing mental health) you and the university agreed to defer your year to the following academic year. If you want to, and it feels appropriate to do so, you can also say that period of ill health has concluded.

As your grades are strong, I really don’t think this will be an issue. But you will need to declare the four year instead of three year course where you won’t have grades for one of the four years.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi, all. Do people know of any list on the forum that goes over US firms having a legit direct TC route? It seems as if most US firms either recruit only through vac schemes or even if they do direct TC, they aren't opening that route this cycle. Thanks.

 

[jmak]

Hi, all. Do people know of any list on the forum that goes over US firms having a legit direct TC route? It seems as if most US firms either recruit only through vac schemes or even if they do direct TC, they aren't opening that route this cycle. Thanks.

Direct TC's open after all the vac schemes are done. This is usually from June/July onwards. The US firms are now focusing on vacation schemes, with direct TC's opening later. The direct TC's cycle just ended last month

 

[Soniastudent]

Hello, does anyone have any advice for Gibson Dunn cover letter (especially middle east one), and who should we address it to ?

 

[Nine]

@Jessica Booker Hi! I’m hoping to get your advice on how I should go about applying to a firm where I previously applied for a Vac scheme, got the VI, but didn’t make it to the AC, and very recently they emailed me and offered a VI again for a TC (I had marked TC and VS on the application form which is perhaps why). Both times, I have not been able to perform very well on the VI - I want to reapply to this firm this year but is this advisable? I understand I would need to have a drastic change in my application + VI to be invited to an AC but what are your thoughts on this?

Happy to hear any advice anyone has for me!