TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

yellowponytwin

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2024
22
11
Fair enough, thankfully in a situation where my partner fulfils all the criteria. nonetheless indeed it is a risk for them too.
I (British citizen) have an American partner so I feel your struggle as keeping him here has been a nightmare! Part of the reason I started looking into this career in the first place is because I was doing enough of the legal research with none of the reward, haha. and i'm too broke to sponsor him lol

Anyway, just commenting to say that if your partner qualifies as a sponsor, I wonder why you haven't started that process yet? It's harder if you aren't married but still doable if you have been together long enough. I feel like that would help your application, but of course I don't know anything about you / your situation, and I am not qualified to say anything for certain! But surely worth a try.

Either way, I would tick the 'eligible' box and explain you have a partner who is a British citizen willing and able to sponsor you. I do think that would help! No harm in trying, as it isn't untrue!

Best of luck:)
 

billyonthespeeddial

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jan 21, 2023
134
349
Fair enough, thankfully in a situation where my partner fulfils all the criteria. nonetheless indeed it is a risk for them too.
I'll also add that most big firms sponsor visas these days (unless you're applying to vac schemes), so they wouldn't reject you purely because of this. I don't know which firms you're applying for, but out of the ones usually mentioned here, I can only count one or two that don't sponsor visas
 

yellowponytwin

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2024
22
11
TLDR - personal schedule clash with AC dates for one of my fav firms, how to proceed?

Worrying slightly prematurely about an application and wondering if anyone ( @Jessica Booker ?) might be able to help.

It is for HCR, which is one of my top choice firms, direct TC. The ACs are held on basically the only two days I am unavailable - 3rd and 4th June. I applied to the Cheltenham office, and as a Chelt local, I want to stay in the area, so put a lot of effort into applying. Also feel like I might have been in with a chance if it weren't for the AC dates, so I am keen to do whatever I can to sort this out!

I will be in America as a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding on the 5th June, and there are no direct flights to her state so even if I did the AC on the 3rd and flew immediately after, I wouldn't make it to the wedding on the 5th. My cousin and I are as close as sisters, and flights are booked. I can't let her down by missing her wedding!

I've seen posts before about rescheduling ACs and am asking
1) would this even be a good enough reason to see if they can do anything? do I tell them the truth?
2) is it even worth applying to the firm if I know already that I can't make the AC dates?
3) if I do try to get special circumstances, when do I tell them? (I'm on round one at the moment, only just submitted application)

Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just hoping I can get an outside perspective here and tips for how to proceed. I know if I do tell the recruitment team then it would need to be as soon as possible, so that's why I'm asking so early in the application! (as well as to save myself the trouble of even applying further if it's a lost cause...!)

Thank you in advance x
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
14,999
20,842
TLDR - personal schedule clash with AC dates for one of my fav firms, how to proceed?

Worrying slightly prematurely about an application and wondering if anyone ( @Jessica Booker ?) might be able to help.

It is for HCR, which is one of my top choice firms, direct TC. The ACs are held on basically the only two days I am unavailable - 3rd and 4th June. I applied to the Cheltenham office, and as a Chelt local, I want to stay in the area, so put a lot of effort into applying. Also feel like I might have been in with a chance if it weren't for the AC dates, so I am keen to do whatever I can to sort this out!

I will be in America as a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding on the 5th June, and there are no direct flights to her state so even if I did the AC on the 3rd and flew immediately after, I wouldn't make it to the wedding on the 5th. My cousin and I are as close as sisters, and flights are booked. I can't let her down by missing her wedding!

I've seen posts before about rescheduling ACs and am asking
1) would this even be a good enough reason to see if they can do anything? do I tell them the truth?
2) is it even worth applying to the firm if I know already that I can't make the AC dates?
3) if I do try to get special circumstances, when do I tell them? (I'm on round one at the moment, only just submitted application)

Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just hoping I can get an outside perspective here and tips for how to proceed. I know if I do tell the recruitment team then it would need to be as soon as possible, so that's why I'm asking so early in the application! (as well as to save myself the trouble of even applying further if it's a lost cause...!)

Thank you in advance x
  1. Yes - significant family commitments and travel that isn't straight forward to rearrange because of the timings would be considered a good enough reason - so yes, just tell them the truth
  2. Yes - I think it is worthwhile applying anyway
  3. I would tell them at the point you are invited to the stage that you cannot make.
 

yellowponytwin

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2024
22
11
  1. Yes - significant family commitments and travel that isn't straight forward to rearrange because of the timings would be considered a good enough reason - so yes, just tell them the truth
  2. Yes - I think it is worthwhile applying anyway
  3. I would tell them at the point you are invited to the stage that you cannot make.
ok, that sounds hopeful - thank you so much for your time!
 

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.