TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Zaidoz10]

Anything from CRS DTC route?

They said end of February/beginning of March so will be another couple of weeks minimum.

 

[chlawstudent]

Anyone here heard from Cripps?

What stage are you at? I completed the video task and have not heard anything since. But they said they would get in touch with us about whether or not we are invited to AC by the 21st of February so we should hear tomorrow!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

I wouldn’t say it is common but enough people do it. I don’t really agree with doing it from a moral standpoint as it will limit and reduce the number of TCs available to people, but at the same time I understand people have to have a level of being selfish when it comes to their future career too.

The biggest thing to point out os when they do they only do so up to the point they haven’t received any financial support from the firm nor started the onboarding process for the GDL/LPC/SQE.

I have only heard of a handful of people who took this approach after some form of support was given and for all of them it got exceptionally messy. When you do it at that stage, you are effectively planning to have to pay for whatever you have committed to with the firm yourself. You will most likely have to pay back the original firm and your new firm may not be able to reimburse you for that expense.

I do not plan on reneging the TC after receiving any financial support. I'm just trying to gauge if the firm will/can pursue a claim against me or anything of that sort. Do you reckon they still can?

 

[Jessica Booker]

I do not plan on reneging the TC after receiving any financial support. I'm just trying to gauge if the firm will/can pursue a claim against me or anything of that sort. Do you reckon they still can?

They technically can but no one does for entry level roles.

It would be ridiculous to try and pursue a claim when trainees are easily replaceable. You only would pursue costs if there was substantial costs incurred through the breach of contract - there isn’t really any major costs until the training kicks in. The legal costs of pursuing any action would far outweigh any potential costs recovered.

 

[bellini]

Hey, has anyone heard from Freshfields post-AC?

 

[sl0712]

Hi! I was wondering if someone could explain how the use of ChatGPT in applications might be viewed. I’ve used ChatGPT to improve the logic and structure of my sentences, paraphrase, check grammar, and cut my answers into fewer words. All the facts in my application were real and truthful. I'm not sure if my application was rejected because of that, but could the use of AI impact my future prospects in any way? For example, they mentioned that the firm could report to the SRA. (Sorry if my question sounds silly, I’m just really worried)

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi! I was wondering if someone could explain how the use of ChatGPT in applications might be viewed. I’ve used ChatGPT to improve the logic and structure of my sentences, paraphrase, check grammar, and cut my answers into fewer words. All the facts in my application were real and truthful. I'm not sure if my application was rejected because of that, but could the use of AI impact my future prospects in any way? For example, they mentioned that the firm could report to the SRA. (Sorry if my question sounds silly, I’m just really worried)

Who mentioned that the firm would report people to the SRA?

 

[sl0712]

Who mentioned that the firm would report people to the SRA?

There was a statement at the end of the application forms saying that the firm is regulated by the SRA and expects honesty and integrity. Essentially, it was the same text on each application sent through Vantage, stating that using ChatGPT was prohibited, even though the firm’s website said it was allowed

 

[Jessica Booker]

There was a statement at the end of the application forms saying that the firm is regulated by the SRA and expects honesty and integrity. Essentially, it was the same text on each application sent through Vantage, stating that using ChatGPT was prohibited, even though the firm’s website said it was allowed

Saying they are regulated by the SRA is very different to saying they would report you. If the firm’s website says it’s okay to use it, this is just a default on Vantage that they haven’t been able to switch off and it can be ignored.

 

[sl0712]

Saying they are regulated by the SRA is very different to saying they would report you. If the firm’s website says it’s okay to use it, this is just a default on Vantage that they haven’t been able to switch off and it can be ignored.

Thank you so much for your explanation!

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

I am looking to get an opinion on which firms I should apply to after this- I do not want to spend more time working on applications for firms that do not consider them since they hire from their vacation schemes predominantly. if anybody can guide me on this, I would be grateful

 

[yk1906]

Heard back today and I had my AC last week Thursday

With an offer?

 

[efm99]

Hi everyone, does anyone know what the general timeline for Harbottle & Lewis is after the first interview?

I see on their website they have a 20 minute cognitive test as the next stage after the interview (maybe this is new because I can't find anything about it from older threads) and then an AC.

 

[elsx]

Hi everyone, does anyone know what the general timeline for Harbottle & Lewis is after the first interview?

I see on their website they have a 20 minute cognitive test as the next stage after the interview (maybe this is new because I can't find anything about it from older threads) and then an AC.

Hi did you receive an interview invite?

 

[efm99]

Hi did you receive an interview invite?

Yes, I did on Tuesday

 

[elsx]

Yes, I did on Tuesday

Oh congrats! When did you apply if you don't mind sharing?

 

[efm99]

Oh congrats! When did you apply if you don't mind sharing?

Thank you! No problem, I applied on the day of the deadline so the 31st.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I have a follow-up question here: If we start a new job after obtaining a TC, surely the law firm won't contact the newest employer, right? since they would have our employment details only until we made the TC application.

Hiya @futuretraineesolicitor

This will depend on the firm, but in my experience, most firms I've secured a training contract/vacation scheme with have required a background screening process after the offer was made. Depending on who they use for these checks, they may ask for details about any employment you've had since you first applied (this was the case for me at every US firm I'd applied to). If there were any gaps where I wasn’t in education or employment during the screening process, I was asked to account for them. It was pretty clear that they were trying to contact every organisation that I'd mentioned working for during this screening process.

Nothing to be worried about, but just to clarify that you may, in some cases, be asked to account for any employment you've had since initially making your application.

 

[MaryAra299]

Last year it was around 15 i believe

I saw somewhere that they're offering like around 40 TCs

 

[norothrow324]

I saw somewhere that they're offering like around 40 TCs

Indeed. The Q was about apps from the direct route.