New Threads

Hi
I have recently been invited to HD’s AC for their Health TC 2027. I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on what to expect on the day.

Thanks,
Alya

Hi,
I have an AC with HD this June for their 2027 Health TC in Leeds. I was wondering if anyone here can shed some light on what to expect on the day.

*closed thread*

hi if anyone has taken this module pls can u comment / msg me thanks

I’m set to attend a open day with Dentons in London, and was just wondering if they would cover travel expenses. In the initial email it said that they would give more informations on travel closer to the time, but they haven’t given anything and it’s just over a week away. The train tickets are around £180 as I’m coming from a university up north.

Hi guys,

Has anyone heard back yet about the CC middle east vac scheme?

Hi guys,

I am a final year law student in Ireland and am considering applying for TCs with MC/US firms in London.

I applied last autumn and received 3/3 TC interviews from firms but didn't interview as I was unsure if I wanted to sign myself up for the 2-year PGDL & SQE slog. I am not worried about getting TC offers but am unsure about my requirements for the PGDL & SQE and whether its worth studying in London with little money for two years.

Due to my Irish law degree I am short a few courses for (English Land Law, English Public Law & Admin Law) and firms would most likely require me to complete the PGDL with exemptions before the SQE. I have some queries before deciding whether to fully commit to London.

(i) Are there firms which wouldn't require me to complete the few few PGDL courses and would allow me to commence straight away with the SQE? I have strong academics and amn't worried about failing the SQE because of not having 3 courses completed from the PGDL.

(ii) If not, does anyone know if firms would sponsor and allow me to complete the PGDL (with exemptions) online rather than being in London? I don't want to have to struggle to afford London living for another year just to complete a few courses.

(ii) Rather than doing the PGDL, would firms allow me to complete the SQE straight away if I removed their risk by self-funding it and completing it online and starting my TC in 2024 instead of 2025?

Thanks for your help.

Hi All

Can anyone remember the percentage of SJT, Verbal and numerical reasoning questions the Allen and Overy SJT contained?

If you were applying for an internship at a law firm (so not vac scheme or tc), would the cover letter format be different from a normal vac scheme cover letter? (Why law, why this firm, why me)

Hi,

I thought I'd start an entire thread dedicated to non-traditional, non-home applicants. Particularly as it relates to vacation schemes.

If everyone who has already applied to VS this year can share their experiences of obtaining them thus far, including names of law firms which have responded favorably as well as as any coveted firms that's due to get back in touch.

Everyone is welcome to share their perspectives and observations in regards to firms that have seemed most open-minded and appreciative of non-standard applicants throughout your trajectory, whether it relates to diversity intake, a visa-progressive policy, etc.

If you can include a short profile to contextualise your background that would be awesome too.

Look forward to hearing any other insights and experiences you'd care to share with us all on this journey

One of the questions I have on an application is why do you want to join **** and how will you make it a success? I find the latter difficult to answer when you can’t predict what area you’ll end up specialising in and how you’ll change once you’ve done the seats and training. Any thoughts?

Hey guys - I'm new to this forum and it looks like a super useful resource for building knowledge and insights as I work towards a TC. Wondering if anyone could point me to any particular threads or topics that they've found to be of particular use in the past? Thank you!

Hi, I just accepted a role as a paralegal. I don’t really have experience of working as a a paralegal. I have only got one month of legal experience. I was wondering if anyone has a tips or can share how they coped with challenges as a new paralegal.

Hi, guys I have a Video Assessment test of Clyde and Co approaching so kindly can anyone help me with tips and guidance on how to do this . Also has anyone passed this test so far ?

Hi everyone! Hope everyone's doing well.

This is going to come across as a bit of a rant but honestly, I'm feeling quite demotivated and a bit lost. To give some background info: I performed poorly in A levels (BBC), then went on to study for a non-law degree at a non RG, graduating in 2020. I worked very hard during my degree to make up for my poor a level grades and ended up scoring in the top 1% of my cohort. I then completed the GDL in 2021 with good grades (67% average), then paralegalled at a silver circle firm in 2022. I am currently doing the LLM at a top 5 law school. Up until September 2022, I didn't really take applications seriously- submitting 3 applications during GDL and 1 as a paralegal. During this application cycle, I took the process seriously and really wanted to secure a TC. I submitted 10 applications-only to those without minimum A level requirements- passing the initial screening and tests for 3 firms. I was then rejected following virtual interviews. My plan is to get a full-time paralegal position after completing my master's and keep applying for TCs but honestly, I don't know if I'm just wasting my time. One of my biggest worries is that I'm simply getting too old for this- I'm 23, approaching 24 and haven't completed the LPC/SQE...

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi, has anyone heard back from Travers Smith regarding their summer vacation scheme?

Hello everyone!

I am a non-law undergraduate in my final year of study - I am due to graduate this June.

I have been in conversation with a law firm who have suggested that I do a conversion course and SQE1 within one year, despite all other law firms leaving two years for conversion and SQE1/2, and start a TC in September 2024.

The proposed route is:

1. ULaw PGDL + SQE1 Prep course
   • This would allow me to complete the 35 week conversion course, as well as the SQE1 prep and SQE1 exam before September 2024
   • However, there is a 2.5month overlap between the end of the conversion course and the SQE1 prep
2. ULaw MA Law (Conversion) + SQE1 Prep course
   • This is essentially the same as option 1. but this route allows for postgraduate funding
   • However, along with the 2.5month overlap, I would also be completing the MA Dissertation module alongside the end of SQE1 prep and the SQE1 exam

If anyone has any advice or suggestions on this situation, especially those who have experience both the ULaw PGDL and SQE1, then I would be extremely grateful.

I personally love the idea, as it means I am able to start my TC a year earlier than originally thought. However, as this is not proposed by any other law firms I am hesitant as I assume the downside must be the workload of taking the SQE1 prep course before finishing the conversion course.

All the best!

Hey everyone,

On Thursday, 6 April 2023, we are running an in-person event. This event is completely free and open to everyone - if you are reading this, you are invited!

I'll be delivering a presentation on "What you need to know about finance for your interviews." I'm planning for it now, but it's basically the presentation I wish I had when I was going through the process. I'll break down equity (private and public), debt (bonds and loans), and cover other important concepts I think you should know.

Really, I'd love to meet as many of you as I can and see how we can support you in your application journey. You'll also get to meet other members of the TCLA community.

Here are the details:

• When? Thursday, 6 April between 6pm - 8pm.
• Where? Shearman & Sterling, 9 Appold St, London, EC2A 2AP - @Paul - Shearman & Sterling has kindly offered to host our event
• Will we see you there? Please let us know if you are attending by sending us an RSVP via this form! You must fill this out if you're coming so we can send an attendee list!

On the day, just let reception know you are here for the TCLA event at Shearman & Sterling and they will direct you to our room.

PS: Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone. Many people will be in the same boat and this will be a comfortable space for us to provide you with support.

I have been looking into the SQE route as an alternative to TC route due to my circumstances and wondered if anyone had details on the requirements to get overseas QWE signed off?

I’ve read on the SRA website that QWE can be attained overseas providing that it conforms to their criteria and that it is signed off on by a solicitor of England & Wales.

Does anyone know if the Solicitor needs to be currently practicing in England & Wales, or of any other specific requirements?

Thanks!

Hey all,

This is a bit of an experiment. Much of my time has been recently focused on building TCLA and I'm now 'getting back into' staying on top of current business affairs.

I'll use this thread for accountability/reflect on what I'm doing and what is/isn't working for me.

You are very welcome to use this thread to do the same, share things you're reading about and ask any questions - and we can do it together.

Hi everyone, I am currently a penultimate student studying law but has had an unsuccessful application cycle, and is starting a thread here to keep myself accountable and improve for next year's. I am also seeking advice on how to stay motivated throughout this summer while people around me go off on their vacation schemes.

Things to improve on:

• Applications
  • Go to more open day/insight events to get a better idea of a firm's inner workings
  • Make sure I am relating my answers back to the firm when appropriate
• Interviews
  • Be more confident! Don't feel like an imposter! You have made it this far - you are studying at a top RG university and doing okay despite a difficult year in your personal life
• AC
  • Improve your commercial awareness, read more FT articles and think about how it relates to a law firm's work
  • Practice practice practice case studies!

Additionally:

• What shall I do this summer to keep myself occupied? I would like to continue building up some soft skills which are transferable - I think it would be helpful regardless if it is non-law related just to build up my confidence
  • Part-time job? Volunteering work? Any ideas?
    

If anyone else has any advice, motivational quotes or even just to rant, feel free to reply to this thread! )