• How confident are you in your knowledge of the core LLB/PGDL subjects, including Contract, Tort, Trusts, Land, Criminal, and Public Law?

    TCLA is teaming up with BPP for a free interactive event designed to refresh your fundamentals, especially for those interested in or planning to take the SQE. We'll practise multiple choice SQE questions, with prizes for the highest scoring participants!

    Register Here
  • Are you a future trainee?

    We're hiring at TCLA. Apply by midnight on 31 March 2025.

    Apply Now

TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

yk1906

Star Member
Aug 26, 2024
43
24
It might be better to explain exactly what you did in the role and what transferrable skills you gained as a result.

By saying “engaged in” and “assisted in”, it is probably not going to show what contribution you made, or what your duties actually were, in an effective and accurate way. 🙂

I also think it’s better to stick to the word count for the personal statement. Given it is 20 words over, making minor changes to the phrasing of sentences might be a good idea. 🙂

Best of luck with your Freshfields application!!
Thank you!
 

desperateTCseeker1998

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jan 1, 2023
429
502
Any graduates who are full time working, do you quit your job for vac schemes? Or is that the plan? Would you book annual leave for a vac scheme but is that unethical?
Annual leave or unpaid - it’s not unethical because you will likely have to tell them anyway since most contracts include a clause saying you can’t undertake paid employment elsewhere without consent
 

0livia.pope

Esteemed Member
Premium Member
Nov 26, 2023
91
121
Has anyone had experience writing a brief for a written assessment task? This is for the BBC solicitor apprentice role and I am struggling on how I can prepare.. would it be similar case study style task but with a media law focus?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated !
 

Amma Usman

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
937
1,138
Thank you so much! I think i will just talk about two and try and go in depth. Would you recommend any resources to help research this question? I listen to the FT news briefing everyday but i still do not think my commercial awareness is good enough for the applications !

Hey,

I’ve linked below a thread I made on resources to boost commercial awareness.

When I was applying, I didn’t jump straight to the FT to help with CA because I knew that I wasn’t going to understand much. The terms were unfamiliar and so were many of the concepts, so I took some time off to understand these first. This in itself, is commercial awareness. To this effect, I have linked a couple more threads to help.




 

spamelinazoid

Legendary Member
  • Dec 19, 2021
    214
    326
    Does anyone know if Freshfields have a spring/summer window for Direct TC apps? I feel like they did in previous years.

    I was going to apply for this winter cycle but with the new test (and if they have another cycle in the summer) may be better to wait and prepare a better app/practice for this test…

    It is a bit wild that they didnt mention this test to people earlier. Considering people spend upwards of 15 hours on an application its not great practice imo to blindside people like this and not allow them sufficient information to prepare for a test…
     
    Reactions: Chris Brown

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    595
    1,962
    Does anyone know if Freshfields have a spring/summer window for Direct TC apps? I feel like they did in previous years.

    I was going to apply for this winter cycle but with the new test (and if they have another cycle in the summer) may be better to wait and prepare a better app/practice for this test…

    It is a bit wild that they didnt mention this test to people earlier. Considering people spend upwards of 15 hours on an application its not great practice imo to blindside people like this and not allow them sufficient information to prepare for a test…
    I think they have now scrapped the summer window for direct TC to make way for the new winter VS. The winter VS is open to law and non-law finalists and graduates and lasts for a week. I think the first VS is this year and applications open in August. 🙂

    The introduction of the new VS is why they have added an automatic SJT for the direct TC route. It should have been mentioned earlier tbh. This would give applicants sufficient time to prepare for the SJT. 🥲
     
    • Sad
    Reactions: spamelinazoid

    spamelinazoid

    Legendary Member
  • Dec 19, 2021
    214
    326
    I think they have now scrapped the summer window for direct TC to make way for the new winter VS. The winter VS is open to law and non-law finalists and graduates and lasts for a week. I think the first VS is this year and applications open in August. 🙂

    The introduction of the new VS is why they have added an automatic SJT for the direct TC route. It should have been mentioned earlier tbh. This would give applicants sufficient time to prepare for the SJT. 🥲

    Ah I see, that’s genuinely a shame.

    For people in full-time work Im sure more Direct TC windows would be more appreciated…if anything the processes for entering this profession are only becoming more unfriendly towards mature applicants or grads (3+ week long vac schemes??) . In most other professions the prospect of using 6 days - 3 weeks of annual leave for an AC and an internship only for the prospect* of receiving a job offer is disproportionate…
     

    Tintin06

    Legendary Member
    Oct 23, 2019
    854
    2,055
    Ah I see, that’s genuinely a shame.

    For people in full-time work Im sure more Direct TC windows would be more appreciated…if anything the processes for entering this profession are only becoming more unfriendly towards mature applicants or grads (3+ week long vac schemes??) . In most other professions the prospect of using 6 days - 3 weeks of annual leave for an AC and an internship only for the prospect* of receiving a job offer is disproportionate…
    I echo all of this, honestly.

    I'm lucky to be self-employed. I can just take days/weeks off. Self-employment has its own drawbacks, however. It's cost-benefit analysis ultimately, isn't it? I have met paralegal on VSs. They used annual leave for VSs. With that job, it's more accepted? Since the firms know your game. Your ultimate goal is a TC. Best of luck with your applications.
     

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    595
    1,962
    Ah I see, that’s genuinely a shame.

    For people in full-time work Im sure more Direct TC windows would be more appreciated…if anything the processes for entering this profession are only becoming more unfriendly towards mature applicants or grads (3+ week long vac schemes??) . In most other professions the prospect of using 6 days - 3 weeks of annual leave for an AC and an internship only for the prospect* of receiving a job offer is disproportionate…
    The winter VS is a week long so not like the summer VS which is 3 weeks. I guess it is still not ideal for those in full-time work who have to use annual leave regardless.

    It is unfortunate but I guess they believe it is a lot better for future trainees to do a VS at Freshfields before they offer them a TC. 🥲

    Other MC firms like CC and Slaughter and May still have two direct TC windows. This may be because they don’t have VS for finalists and/or graduates. 🙂

    I definitely agree that if anything law firms are becoming less and less inclusive by introducing these changes. It makes it harder for grads/mature applicants to enter the profession. 😞
     
    Last edited:

    ad.

    Distinguished Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Aug 21, 2024
    52
    58
    I think they have now scrapped the summer window for direct TC to make way for the new winter VS. The winter VS is open to law and non-law finalists and graduates and lasts for a week. I think the first VS is this year and applications open in August. 🙂

    The introduction of the new VS is why they have added an automatic SJT for the direct TC route. It should have been mentioned earlier tbh. This would give applicants sufficient time to prepare for the SJT. 🥲
    If we apply for direct TC now, would we potentially still be eligible to apply for the Winter Vac Scheme when it comes to the ‘one opportunity per academic year’ rule? In other words, is the Winter VS considered part of a new application cycle? I’d appreciate any insights on this, especially from @Jessica Booker . Thanks!
     

    Tintin06

    Legendary Member
    Oct 23, 2019
    854
    2,055
    If we apply for direct TC now, would we potentially still be eligible to apply for the Winter Vac Scheme when it comes to the ‘one opportunity per academic year’ rule? In other words, is the Winter VS considered part of a new application cycle? I’d appreciate any insights on this, especially from @Jessica Booker . Thanks!
    I’m pretty sure the answer’s yes.
     

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    595
    1,962
    If we apply for direct TC now, would we potentially still be eligible to apply for the Winter Vac Scheme when it comes to the ‘one opportunity per academic year’ rule? In other words, is the Winter VS considered part of a new application cycle? I’d appreciate any insights on this, especially from @Jessica Booker . Thanks!
    Yeah you would still be eligible because the direct TC is for this academic year (24/25). 🙂

    The Winter VS is for next academic year (25/26). The applications open in Aug but close in Sep and the VS is in Dec (2025). 🙂

    If not, I’m sure you could apply for the direct TC window next academic year which would open in Oct and close in Jan 2026. 🙂
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    15,299
    21,356
    If we apply for direct TC now, would we potentially still be eligible to apply for the Winter Vac Scheme when it comes to the ‘one opportunity per academic year’ rule? In other words, is the Winter VS considered part of a new application cycle? I’d appreciate any insights on this, especially from @Jessica Booker . Thanks!
    yes - it would be a new recruitment cycle.
     
    • ℹ️
    Reactions: ad. and Chris Brown

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.