TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[CC03]

Morning guys - has anyone heard back from Allen & Overy (direct TC) yet?

Not yet.

 

[CC03]

Does anyone know how long it takes for the temporary lock to come off for the A&O portal?

 

[LegalG]

Hi! I'm a final year law student and was wondering when I should start looking/applying for graduate roles i.e. legal assistant/paralegal roles?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! I'm a final year law student and was wondering when I should start looking/applying for graduate roles i.e. legal assistant/paralegal roles?

I would recommend to start applying for roles about 8 weeks before you are ready to start a job.

 

[Simba281]

Does anyone know the average salary of an in house trainee in London?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone know the average salary of an in house trainee in London?

Unfortunately it will vary a lot by organisation - an asset manager/investment bank is likely to be paying much higher than a public sector organisation. Glassdoor might be best the way to try and find out based on the sector that TC is based in.

 

[Zaidoz10]

Hey has anyone heard back from Clifford Chance Middle East training contract?

 

[TCApp2021]

Would appreciate any thoughts on the following- I've missed some of the deadlines for VCs so was going to apply for direct TCs for some firms. A partner at a US firm (from a mentoring scheme I'm on) has mentioned that it might be best to hold off until Sep 2022 and apply to VCs then rather than direct TC now, given that the intake is a lot lower. They suggested that it might be detrimental to apply both now for a direct TC and then a VC in next window as reapplying
to firms lowers chances of progressing.

Thanks!

 

[djqb]

Would appreciate any thoughts on the following- I've missed some of the deadlines for VCs so was going to apply for direct TCs for some firms. A partner at a US firm (from a mentoring scheme I'm on) has mentioned that it might be best to hold off until Sep 2022 and apply to VCs then rather than direct TC now, given that the intake is a lot lower. They suggested that it might be detrimental to apply both now for a direct TC and then a VC in next window as reapplying
to firms lowers chances of progressing.

Thanks!

If you are allowed to submit a vacation scheme application in the next cycle (commencing September 2022) after going through the direct TC process this cycle (should you be unsuccessful), there's no harm in applying for a direct TC this cycle, even if there's a smaller intake. You would otherwise be missing out on an application opportunity.

 

[TCApp2021]

If you are allowed to submit a vacation scheme application in the next cycle (commencing September 2022) after going through the direct TC process this cycle (should you be unsuccessful), there's no harm in applying for a direct TC this cycle, even if there's a smaller intake. You would otherwise be missing out on an application opportunity.

Thank you!

 

[JD]

Does anyone know how to make it so there are spaces for the Travers Smith cover letter? Every time I make spaces, it just puts in one big block of text.

 

[djqb]

Does anyone know how to make it so there are spaces for the Travers Smith cover letter? Every time I make spaces, it just puts in one big block of text.

I wrote down my cover letter in notepad first and then copied it to the application portal - it was all fine

Just don't use word since it causes formatting errors

 

[TCApp2021]

Hi everyone, would appreciate your thoughts on the following Q:

Please outline the reasons why you wish to pursue a career in commercial law at Osborne Clarke. Within your answer you should also include details of how you have developed your interest in the profession through your non-academic experiences. (300 words)

Would the best approach for this be to say why OC, and then link this reason to why commercial law? Or can we answer these questions separately?

Thanks!

 

[TCApp2021]

The OC and White & Case app deadlines are 15 Jan- does this mean Saturday 15 Jan 23:59 ... or basically Friday?

 

[AvniD]

Hi everyone, would appreciate your thoughts on the following Q:

Please outline the reasons why you wish to pursue a career in commercial law at Osborne Clarke. Within your answer you should also include details of how you have developed your interest in the profession through your non-academic experiences. (300 words)

Would the best approach for this be to say why OC, and then link this reason to why commercial law? Or can we answer these questions separately?

Thanks!

There's no need to link as such- your interest in the profession can be distinct from OC. However, if you feel inclined to link the two, the way I'd suggest you do this is by using a broader, core reason for your interest in the profession and fitting a narrower, interlinked reason for being interested in OC within it. Does that make sense?

 

[TCApp2021]

There's no need to link as such- your interest in the profession can be distinct from OC. However, if you feel inclined to link the two, the way I'd suggest you do this is by using a broader, core reason for your interest in the profession and fitting a narrower, interlinked reason for being interested in OC within it. Does that make sense?

Thank you- so essentially only link them if it comes naturally.

 

[TCApp2021]

@AvniD

Could you help me with the following aswell pls (White & Case app):

Please give details of any interests and extra-curricular activities, including any positions of responsibility or achievements.

- Is it okay to bullet-point for this?
- There is no word count- how much would be too much for this (my answer is quite long given the q asks about quite alot)?
- Is it okay to separate into sections using headings- i.e. 1)Interests and extra-curricular activities; 2)positions of responsibility; 3)achievements

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

The OC and White & Case app deadlines are 15 Jan- does this mean Saturday 15 Jan 23:59 ... or basically Friday?

It will mean you can still apply on Saturday 15 January.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@AvniD

Could you help me with the following aswell pls (White & Case app):

Please give details of any interests and extra-curricular activities, including any positions of responsibility or achievements.

- Is it okay to bullet-point for this?
- There is no word count- how much would be too much for this (my answer is quite long given the q asks about quite alot)?
- Is it okay to separate into sections using headings- i.e. 1)Interests and extra-curricular activities; 2)positions of responsibility; 3)achievements

I’d personally avoid bullet points and write more in prose.

I’d probably aim for no more than 500 words for the entirety of this section.

You can use headings, but be mindful that you might not be able to format them as such (eg you might not be able to bold or underline the text). The headings might not be necessary either, and might help you with your word count.

 

[TCApp2021]

@Jessica Booker
Thank you!