TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jta227]

#law #trainingcontract #sqe | Chris Lee | 54 comments

A couple of law graduates have reached out to me after their training contract offers were rescinded when they failed the SQE. Most have simply received an email to communicate this and wishing them well going forwards; but one person (Amy) also received a letter immediately afterwards...

www.linkedin.com

Does anyone know which firm this could have been?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

does anybody have a successful experience with Goldman Sachs for a paralegal position? Any advice would be much appreciated!!

 

[Livelaughlove]

This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.

I was in the same situation a few years ago. I got an offer and the firm called my UK number but I was doing my year abroad so wasn’t using that number. They just emailed me immediately telling me to call them back. I doubt they’d rescind your offer if you missed 1 call.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

#law #trainingcontract #sqe | Chris Lee | 54 comments

A couple of law graduates have reached out to me after their training contract offers were rescinded when they failed the SQE. Most have simply received an email to communicate this and wishing them well going forwards; but one person (Amy) also received a letter immediately afterwards...

www.linkedin.com

Does anyone know which firm this could have been?

It says "She has lost a training contract worth income of £90k+ over two years." So, not the Magic Circle firms because I imagine 2 years of salaries exceeds 90K for them. Unlikely a silver circle too for the same reasons.

What's left of the top 20 firms? Genuinely curious to know which firm this is...

 

[legallyells]

has anyone heard anything re Hill Dickinson AC invites (besides holding email)??

 

[BillSikes]

#law #trainingcontract #sqe | Chris Lee | 54 comments

A couple of law graduates have reached out to me after their training contract offers were rescinded when they failed the SQE. Most have simply received an email to communicate this and wishing them well going forwards; but one person (Amy) also received a letter immediately afterwards...

www.linkedin.com

Does anyone know which firm this could have been?

Honestly is this even real or is the bloke just engagement farming?

Literally zero reason not to name the firm.

 

[saminoriya]

I received an offer for a vacation scheme last Thursday afternoon, and the firm asked me to reply before Monday. I replied the same day confirming my attendance, but I haven’t heard anything back since. The scheme starts on 14th April. Should I follow up today or it’s normal not to receive a response yet?

 

[Chris Brown]

It says "She has lost a training contract worth income of £90k+ over two years." So, not the Magic Circle firms because I imagine 2 years of salaries exceeds 90K for them. Unlikely a silver circle too for the same reasons.

What's left of the top 20 firms? Genuinely curious to know which firm this is...

The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔

It is unlikely to be Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing, Osborne Clarke or Pinsent Masons as they also offer around £100k+ to trainees across their training contract. All these firms are top 20 UK headquartered law firms. The only exception is if OP’s TC was for a regional office, in which case it could be Osborne Clarke or Simmons & Simmons (Reading and/or Bristol). 🙂

The only firms it could be is one of these firms: Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland or RPC. I suspect it’s probably Bird & Bird or RPC that the OP is referring to. These firms are all also in the top 20. 😮

It says the maintenance grant was in excess of 5 figures. I think this implies it was probably over £10k but below £15k, at least for the SQE grant itself. These firms have a SQE grant between that range, and/or trainee salaries above £90,000 but below £100,000 (see below):

1: Bird & Bird trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £52,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £99,000. Their SQE grant is £15,000.

2: Clyde & Co trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £97,000. Their SQE grant is around £10,000.

3: Eversheds Sutherland trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £7,000.

4: RPC trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £12,000.

Whichever firm it is, I think it’s really unfair to not give the person at least 1 chance to retake the SQE. To then demand the cost of fees back despite being such a major UK firm, is pretty surprising tbh. 🫤​

 

[BillSikes]

The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔

It is unlikely to be Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing, Osborne Clarke or Pinsent Masons as they also offer around £100k+ to trainees across their training contract. All these firms are top 20 UK law firms. 🙂

The only firms it could be is one of these firms: Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland or RPC. I suspect it’s probably Bird & Bird or RPC that the OP is referring to. These firms are all also in the top 20. 😮

It says the maintenance grant was in excess of 5 figures. I think this implies it was probably over £10k but below £15k, at least for the SQE grant itself. These firms have a SQE grant between that range, and/or trainee salaries above £90,000 but below £100,000 (see below):

1: Bird & Bird trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £52,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £99,000. Their SQE grant is £15,000.

2: Clyde & Co trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £97,000. Their SQE grant is around £10,000.

3: Eversheds Sutherland trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £7,000.

3: RPC trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £12,000.

Whichever firm it is, I think it’s really unfair to not give the person at least 1 chance to retake the SQE. To then demand the cost of fees back despite being such a major UK firm, is pretty surprising tbh.​

Honestly - no big firm is gonna be rescinding TC offers

Only Mickey Mouse firms we’ve never heard of will be let’s be real

 

[Chris Brown]

Honestly - no big firm is gonna be rescinding TC offers

Only Mickey Mouse firms we’ve never heard of will be let’s be real

Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes have rescinded offers in the past. Last year, I’m sure there were people who were told that they had failed the SQE but they had actually passed. Despite that, their TC offers were rescinded. They were future trainees at big city law firms. I think it’s a policy that TC offers get rescinded, but most law firms are generally lenient about it and allow at least 1 retake. @Jessica Booker will know more about rescinding offers and whether it’s common.​

 

[BillSikes]

Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes have rescinded offers in the past. Last year, I’m sure there were people who were told that they failed SQE but they’d actually passed. Despite that, their TC offers were rescinded. They were future trainees at big firms. I think it’s a policy that offers get rescinded, but most firms are generally lenient about it and allow at least 1 retake. @Jessica Booker will know more about rescinding offers and whether it’s common.​

They were probably applicants who flunked it hard - unless we are saying these firms rescind all TC offers?

 

[BobThebIlly]

Honestly - no big firm is gonna be rescinding TC offers

Only Mickey Mouse firms we’ve never heard of will be let’s be real

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Clifford change rescind a couple TCs for those who failed the SQE?

 

[Legalstudies]

Hey did anyone apply to the summer legal internship for bbc and heard anything back after the second stage?

 

[trainee4u]

They were probably applicants who flunked it hard - unless we are saying these firms rescind all TC offers?

Yes this is the problem with anonymous posts and one-sided accounts: the firm might know that the candidate didn't bother turning up to classes (the universities provide them with this data), and decided to rescind as a result of this.

 

[aa1]

Hey did anyone apply to the summer legal internship for bbc and heard anything back after the second stage?

Hi! Not heard anything yet but was wondering what the second stage was? the HireVue interview? Thank you in advance

 

[rapunzel]

What is a commutable distance for travelling during a VS? Is there a set time that determines if you are within a commutable distance for a law firm? @Jessica Booker

 

[User5678]

What is a commutable distance for travelling during a VS? Is there a set time that determines if you are within a commutable distance for a law firm? @Jessica Booker

I used to travel 45 mins door to door (one way) that was considered to be fine in London. I stayed in Wembley Park and used to travel to Bank😭

 

[Zara.Th]

Anyone heard from sidley post-ac??

 

[jafcake]

NRF VS - are we automatically assessed for a TC on the VS or is there a TC interview after the VS?

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔

It is unlikely to be Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing, Osborne Clarke or Pinsent Masons as they also offer around £100k+ to trainees across their training contract. All these firms are top 20 UK headquartered law firms. The only exception is if OP’s TC was for a regional office, in which case it could be Osborne Clarke or Simmons & Simmons (Reading and/or Bristol). 🙂

The only firms it could be is one of these firms: Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland or RPC. I suspect it’s probably Bird & Bird or RPC that the OP is referring to. These firms are all also in the top 20. 😮

It says the maintenance grant was in excess of 5 figures. I think this implies it was probably over £10k but below £15k, at least for the SQE grant itself. These firms have a SQE grant between that range, and/or trainee salaries above £90,000 but below £100,000 (see below):

1: Bird & Bird trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £52,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £99,000. Their SQE grant is £15,000.

2: Clyde & Co trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £97,000. Their SQE grant is around £10,000.

3: Eversheds Sutherland trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £7,000.

4: RPC trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £12,000.

Whichever firm it is, I think it’s really unfair to not give the person at least 1 chance to retake the SQE. To then demand the cost of fees back despite being such a major UK firm, is pretty surprising tbh. 🫤​

Loving this analysis!