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Hey guys,

I am delighted to have secured the TCLA scholarship and I think it’s a great idea for me to post my progress and hold myself accountable. I have recently completed the PGDL/LLM at BPP and am working in hospitality but looking for paralegal jobs (fingers crossed for that too!).

I’ve completed one VS application so far for BCLP and did the online test last week. I’ve got another four drafted and almost ready (for Willkie Farr, HSF, Mishcon De Reya and Akin Gump) and I know it’s best to submit early but I find proofreading and submitting the most difficult! Hopefully I’ll have these submitted by next week though.

One thing that has knocked my confidence is that, while I have good academics throughout university and GCSE, extenuating circumstances during sixth form meant my grades were significantly below what I was predicted. Seeing the success stories on here has been motivating though, so I hope this scholarship can give me the confidence, as well as the skills, to submit those applications and secure my dream VS/TC!

Hi all,

I have fortunately been selected to benefit from the CLA scholarship and as a recipient, I am super looking forward to using all the resources! By way of intro, I am currently in my final year at the University of Sheffield studying Law!

I did apply for Vac Schemes last year however, admittingly, the applications I submitted were of poor quality as I took a scattergun approach. This year, I have been far more selective of the firms I would like to train at (London-based, international offices/ global teams, strong in Digital/ Corporate areas, friendly culture). I have submitted 3 applications thus far and I hope to submit 7 in total! My goal is to secure at least 2 vacation schemes and hopefully progress to a TC for 1 of these!

Looking forward to tracking my progress!

Fiza

Hi everyone,

I believe setting specific, measurable goals can make a substantial difference to your progress when working towards your training contract. It means being intentional about how you spend your time and provides a framework to determine whether you are making progress.

Even the process of writing your goals down can make you more likely to achieve it. By transferring your ideas onto paper, you must clarify what exactly you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it. When goals are kept in your head, they’re easy to overwrite and it can be tempting to convince yourself you never really wanted to work towards that goal in the first place.

But even writing your goals down is not enough. Suppose you plan to submit one vacation scheme application every other week for the next 10 weeks. Writing this goal down might make you feel motivated in the moment, but the hard part of working towards a goal is consistency. What happens when life gets in the way?

This is where accountability comes in. By writing your updates in a public channel, you keep yourself accountable because you know other people are reading it. You’re forced to confront the truth about your progress each week. This is powerful because it gives you the opportunity to reflect on why you aren’t making progress on your goals week to week and you can adapt the steps you are taking in real time. Better this way than to reflect after the cycle only to wish you made small changes at the time.

With all this in mind, I’m delighted to relaunch our ‘Training Contract Journey’ forum in this vacation scheme cycle. 1 six-month subscription to TCLA Premium is up for grabs every month until January 2023 for those who participate.

To enter, please follow these simple steps:

1. Create a thread introducing yourself in the My Training Contract Journey section of the forum by 31 October 2022
2. In your thread, update us on your goals for this vacation scheme cycle and how you plan to achieve them
3. Write one update each week to keep us updated on your goals

The best part is that this is an easy way for TCLA’s Community Managers, as well as the rest of the community, to get involved in your journey and to give you more personalised support.

I look forward to seeing your posts!

Hi all,

I'm looking to apply for the Clyde & Co VS, however, their site is contradictory on eligibility. It states that it is open for penultimate law students (which I am) but also states you must be eligible to start the SQE prep course in September 2023 (only final-year law students would be able to do this?).

Does anybody know which is correct?

Many thanks!

Hi everyone,

I've been a relatively frequent user of TCLA whilst completing TC and VS applications. I'm lucky enough to have received the TCLA Scholarship which I have already found extremely useful - there is a huge host of resources which has filled me with more confidence and hope that I will be successful.

Just about myself, I am currently working in-house as a paralegal following the completion of my MA Law course last year. As I don't have access to funding, I am looking for a law firm to help me fund my SQE/LPC. For personal reasons, I am also looking around London, so a City firm is the goal!

Whilst I have made some half-hearted applications in the past, this is the first cycle of applications that I am 100% committed to. I have around 6 applications drafted for this year already, I will just make sure to polish these up with some useful TCLA feedback and techniques.

Looking forward to learning and (hopefully) becoming an application expert!

Hey all was just wondering if anyone had a rough idea how long A&O generally take to get back to you following assessment days? Had mine last Wednesday (12th October) but can’t find any consensus as to when I should stop expecting a call and just assume the worst.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! My name is Vugar, I am pretty new to TCLA, so I have been doing more background forum ghosting than posting or replying, but I am planning on becoming an active member and hopefully have something valuable to contribute. Been finding a lot of helpful answers through the forums and just wanted to thank you guys and everyone else for answering all of the questions and sharing insights.

I'm currently an LPC MSc student, got two exams to go! I've also got an undergrad LLB and have work experience as a legal administrator, secretary and paralegal. Non-legal work wise I've done pretty much everything under the sun. Some examples include science teacher to little children, head barista, cafe manager and hard landscaper. Essentially, I can review your legal documents and put your fence up.

My goal is to qualify as a solicitor, and I'm aiming to secure a training contract with a US law firm; I find the "culture" fits me better as a person, or at least the ones I've researched. I believe the main barrier I face in my career progression is my undergrad degree classification, as I did very poorly due to mitigating circumstances (severe health issues). Having said that, I only did Vac Scheme and TC applications last year, which were not very good looking back at them now. However, this year I'm very serious about my applications, and I'm putting all my focus on them. If I can get even one vacation scheme placement, that's a win!

After the application season, I plan on applying for paralegal positions, aiming for the same US firms I made Vac/TC applications for. In the slight hope that they will offer me a TC. I will also try to find paralegal positions in other firms I think I'd like to do my TC with or firms that do (international) commercial work, so I have new things to mention in the next application cycle.

Hi - are Jones Day and Kennedys (I think!) the only firms that do non-rotational TCs?
How should one approach a training contract with having an interest in doing advisory instead of transactional seats? I know we need to explore both as our skills could develop more in both however, having worked in transactional practice areas at law firms, I know for certain that transactional is not for me.

Thank you.

Invited to a JD VI. it involves a discussion w a trainee and then an interview with two lawyers. Does anyone have any tips or insights? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Hey all,

Doing some application research profiles and having a bit of trouble with the Legal500 website. I can't access any firm pages, and when I do they are blank (i.e., not showing the bands each firm ranks in for their work).

If I go to the practice area tab all the firms are greyed out and non-clickable as well. I've attached an image to better describe it.

Anyone had this issue and know a fix?

Hi everyone!
I'm a non law finalist and I was wondering whether I should be applying to training contracts or vac schemes?
I have started some vac scheme applications but I realised if I require funding for the GDL (which I hope to start next academic yr after graduating), I will need to have secured a tc (hopefully through a vac scheme). However, if I haven't managed to secure any vac schemes this academic year then I dont think there will be time (within my desired timeline), to secure a TC, it will be too late?

Any insight at all would be great help!

Is anyone awaiting their lpc results for oct 20 from uni of law?

Hi there -

I am looking to change to a career in law after a successful career in corporate communications, and have two questions:

1) Do any law firms offer Vacation Schemes to mature lawyers?
2) Is there a preference for mature students to do an MA or a PGDL?

Kindest,
Madeleine

Filling out the TW VS form and the WE section states to include three skills & how they'll be useful, as well as not going over 150 words for detailing responsibilities/nature of work.

Am I correct in assuming that I should try keep to under 250 overall, and that the 150 cap doesn't extend to the three skills as it isn't detailing the nature of work carried out?

Thanks

Hi guys,

Created this thread for HSF AC 2022/23. Does anyone have upcoming AC at HSF for their winter scheme?

Hi everyone,

I just got a paralegal role at an international law firm and I am thinking about applying for vacation schemes this cycle. I am wondering if anyone on the forum has been in a similar position as me. Would I need to use my annual leave to attend ACs and VS? I have also heard about situations where the law firm one's working as a paralegal does not allow one to attend vacation schemes while on the job. Does this mean I will need to quit to attend VS?

Also, I wish to ask when would be a good time to raise this with my employer. I am not applying for Winter VS but will do Spring & Summer. I've only just received the job offer so I'm a bit scared to raise this with them now.

Thanks!

Hello All,

My firm are running a Virtual Insight event on the 25th October that I think a lot of you would be interested in.

This is not firm specific but geared towards anyone thinking of a legal career either in-house, Chambers or at a firm. It is very much not just another online careers event but something designed to bring together the entire legal profession.

This is for you if you are interested in obtaining a training contract, pupillage, solicitor apprenticeship or in-house role and is designed to give insight and careers advice on all aspects of the law.

I have attached a document with details below and all you have to do is register through the link.

Hope this helps guys!

hi all, I just wanted some advice re BPP LPC mocks. I've heard that they always tend to be significantly harder than the actual exams in January. Does anyone have any tips/advice on how to prep best for these and also why people feel they're harder? Thank you

@AvniD I wondered if you also had any advice as I always find your insights insightful! thanks

Hi All - has anyone interviewed at Maples? Thanks

Hello, everyone. I hope you all are doing well. I was just browsing through the forum and reading about how it's best to apply to firms that have a CV Blind process if you have bad grades. Could anyone please list all the firms that recruit through this method? Or, is there any list of this sort on the forum? I could not find it but I'd be grateful if anyone could share any links.

Q2. Also, are there any general tips for applying if you have bad grades? Applying to CV blind firm is a strategy that I just did not know about so I'm assuming there are hopefully more secrets like this.

Thanks in advance.

Hi I was wondering what usually happens on the last day of a vacation scheme -
for those that last one week, two, or three. I understand firms will have different programmes but was wondering if there’s a general consensus for that final day.
Does the last day tend to be reserved for the TC interview?
does the TC interview ever happen before the last day?

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