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Hi all!
Apologies because this is a rather niche issue, but knowing how many international students TCLA supports, I was hoping to see if anyone else has had visa difficulties with BPP?

In order to study in the UK, a university has to issue you a CAS number (Confirmation of Acceptance of Study), which is usually issued three months prior to the start of your course. Six weeks after BPP’s visa team said they would issue the CAS, I was told that the university had run out of CAS and would have to be approved by the UK Visas and Immigration to issue more.

I submitted my visa application only half an hour after BPP finally sent my CAS number in late July. I had to pay an extra fee for expedited processing and pay to change my flights. By this date appointments to take biometrics, a requirement for this type of visa, were entirely booked until late November so the next day I drove 150 miles to the nearest processing center to try for a walk-in appointment. As part of the application process, you are also required to send away your passport which is quite nerve-wracking as I’m currently unable to travel even in emergency circumstances. Unfortunately, due to UKIV delays I am still waiting on my visa and have been for nearly a month. I have submitted a status update request through the staff of my local senator, who has jurisdiction to deal with international visas.

As a result of their policy and delay, BPP has created a situation where it is currently impossible for international students to secure visas prior to the start of course. They have also noted that visa related absences from the early sessions of the course will not be qualified as excused absences.


I really want to turn this into something positive, so was hoping that if other international students have gone through something similar, we might be able to write to BPP and request a policy change, or at least some additional guidance for those currently going through this process. Does anyone else have similar experiences with BPP? Should I write to my sponsor and request additional guidance from their visa team?

Hi everyone,

I wish to know whether AC and VS will go back to in-person in the next cycle? I saw some posts saying they had in-person VS this summer. Will law firms move AC to in-person as well?

Thanks!

Hi all,

Last year I had two VS, and this year I had another, all well-known firm. I was unable to a training contract in all 3 VS. I feel really depressed from this, I don't know If I am good enough anymore, I feel like the number of firms I can apply to is limited and this VS was my last chance.

The last few days have been pretty hard on me mentally, I just don't know what to do anymore, I really want a TC. If anyone could offer some advice on my situation that would be great and would mean a lot to me.

Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone,

Here is the master thread for all general discussions in the 2022-23 cycle. This is often best suited for discussions that do not fit into either the vacation scheme or direct training contract application queries.

Useful links to other threads:
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23 | The Corporate Law Academy Forum (for vacation scheme applicants)
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23 | The Corporate Law Academy Forum (for direct training contract applicants)
TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1) | The Corporate Law Academy Forum (last cycle's general discussion thread)

Many thanks

Jess

Hi everyone,

With a new recruitment cycle starting in the next few weeks, we thought it best to start a new master thread to discuss direct training contract applications for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

Useful Links
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23 | The Corporate Law Academy Forum (for vacation scheme applicants)
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1) | The Corporate Law Academy Forum (last cycle's direct training contract thread)

Best of luck to everyone for this upcoming cycle

Thanks,

Jess

With some firms opening their applications for winter, spring and summer schemes in the coming weeks, we thought it was time to open a new thread for a new application cycle.

Please use this master thread to discuss anything related to vacation scheme applications for the 2022-2023 application cycle. This can include everything from application and interview queries to news from particular law firms.

If you want to check last year's thread you can find it here: TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

Other useful threads can be found here:

• General discussion thread: TCLA General Discussion Thread 2022-23
• Training contract thread: TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

Wishing everyone the best of luck for the upcoming cycle.

Thanks,

Jess

Hi! I‘m starting the law foundations course at BPP in September and was wondering when they typically send out information about textbooks, timetables, modules etc.- I know that knowing when I’ll find out doesn’t really matter that much, but somehow I‘ll feel more prepared does anyone who’s done the course (or the PGDL if that what it was called last year) remember roughly when they got this information?

This might just be information I have to wait for as it may have changed since last year, but I was also wondering whether the course materials will be physical or digital

Thanks!

Hi all! Hope everything goes well.

The July 2022 SQE exams just finished. As a non-law student(actually get law degree from a civil law country), kindly asking for advices for SQE candidates on the choices of courses and textbooks!

Concerning courses, I have noticed that BPP provides self study courses for SQE 1 and SQE 2, and it's online so fits me. Can anyone provide some pass rates or information about their course quality?(such as whether the difficulties of mock exams and familiar with the real exam or so.)

About the text book, I really willing to buy some ex-used text book to start my preparation. If anyone wants to sell their text book please feel free to contract me! Advices on preparing the SQE are also welcomed. Thank you so much TCLA fellows!

Hi - as somebody 1 week out from starting their training contract (where has the time gone?!) I wondered if anyone had any advice on how to use this week effectively so that I can hit the ground running. I am planning on reading the PSC course materials in advance, having a play on Lexis to refresh my research skills, and having a look at my future department's blogging history, but would love to know if anyone has any other suggestions?

TIA!

Hi guys. I was wondering, for those of you in full time employment, how do you usually open a dialogue with your employer about taking time off to do schemes with other law firms (including direct competitors)? Also, does it come across as a bit cheeky if you want to take time off to do more than one scheme in a specific season (e.g. 2 winter vac schemes)?

Hi everyone,

I just graduated from a London RG university with a mid-2.1 overall. I have a 2.2 in my final year so I am really concerned with how this will look in my application. Are there any firms notoriously harsh on grades that I should avoid? I understand academic results are not considered in isolation but I do hope to get some heads-up before starting to write applications.

I have done some searches on this forum and many mentioned US firms and MC firms. Are there any exceptions within these two groups? Any other firms that are harsh on academics?

Thanks!

I'm a UK student and would like to work in Singapore or Dubai, which I know many firms have offices located at. Do I simply apply for vacation schemes in these locations and, if successful, this is where I would receive a training contract for? Are these more competitive than TC's in London?

Edit: Also, would I receive any additional financial support for flights? (Im sure this varies firm to firm, but generally speaking)

Hi everyone!

I really need some advice…

I’m a career changer who has done the GDL.

I (now I think naively) applied to two firms in this cycle, being certain of the firms I thought I wanted.

My application for one of the firms was successful, for which I am really grateful, considering how hard and stressful it is to get a TC.

However, I didn’t have a great Vac Scheme in the office and felt like I didn’t quite fit in.

Furthermore, they don’t offer the two sectors I would really like to explore (a fact I was willing to be flexible on when I was convinced of the firm).

It’s a well known firm, and I know I’d get great training but I don’t know if it’s for me. I’m worried i’d be making a big mistake by turning this down.

Maybe I didn’t engage in the application cycle enough to appreciate how lucky I am to have faced just one rejection. Maybe I won’t get another training contract offer next year or the year after.

I don’t think I can accept and apply for other firms (they clearly prohibit this in the contract) and I have a few more weeks to decide.

Any advice is welcome and would really be appreciated!

Hi all,

I think I will have to undergo a pre-employment background check.

I have all things ready but what bugs me is the 2 years volunteer work that I have participated in.

I have been cleaning and reassembling computers that will be sent to schools overseas. I left no documents since it was very informal.

And what I hate is that the volunteering organisation I worked for has gone down…

But I do have some photos of the computers and messages I made which do certainly contain discussion on the works I did.

So my question is:
1. Do background check companies tend to check for volunteering work as well?
2. Would there be some advice on this situation?

It would be sad to lose a job for this.

I have recently been offered a 2023 TC from a firm that does not currently sponsor either route and so I will have to self fund. I am leaning more towards the LPC as after calculating the costs of SQE prep course + exam fees, they are roughly the same as a full LPC course. My firm is giving us the option to do either but they have said I would only require passing SQE1 to be eligible to start the TC with them. I am leaning more towards doing the LPC as the style of assessment is more suited to me and the SQE high-pressured MCQ situation makes me a little anxious, especially considering I will be self-funding the entire thing.

The only benefit I can see of doing the SQE for me, is that I have seen some online courses that are cheaper than doing the LPC by about, say £3-4k. However, I do have some concerns on whether these courses would be appropriate/competent and therefore whether the difference in cost would be worth it.

Would appreciate any thoughts - thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’ve quickly checked that this has not been asked before, but do direct me to a thread where it has been if that’s the case.

I’m considering self-funding the SQE foundation course at ULaw. Is there anyone here who has already taken it? I’d love to have a chat if so!

How much of the pre-work is really needed? Hundreds of pages of pre-module reading, 3 lectures per unit. Surely not all of it is required or will be examined on? Also, would people recommend getting the law answered book - does that have everything we need for the course? It seems like the lectures/reading are much more detailed than the law answered book.

Hi everyone!

I am excited to announce our next Premium Academy Webinar, "How to sell experiences: learnings of a non-law career-changer with 2+ years experience across consulting, research and legal tech" with the amazing Aishwarya!

It will commence at the usual time of 5:30pm BST on Thursday 4th August 2022.

Selling Experiences​

If you’re anything like me, you probably find it uncomfortable to talk about yourself. It feels arrogant - as if you are showing off. So you downplay your achievements, you caveat your successes, you default to making it sound like you haven’t achieved that much.

But if you don’t show a law firm how impressive you are in your applications, no-one else will do it for you. And if you don’t do it, a law firm will be forced to choose someone else because you aren’t telling them why you deserve this.

This webinar will focus on how to sell your experiences in your applications.

In this weeks session for the premium academy, join Aishwarya!

Aishwarya is a law graduate from King’s College London. She completed a master’s in Economics from the University of Warwick. Her experience ranges across legal research, consulting, legal technology and pro bono.

Aishwarya began her time at TCLA within the Application Review team, having reviewed over 50 applications. She now works with Jaysen on building TCLA as Interim Chief of Staff.

You will learn...​

• How to sell yourself as the trainee the firm is looking for
• The difference between simply putting down your experience and actually using your experiences to sell yourself
• How to use your non-law experiences to make a case for yourself
• Top tips on understanding what graduate recruitment wants to see in your applications
  

How to sign up?​

Simply register here and you will receive your Zoom link.

I have a question about applications...​

Ask them in this thread! We'll make sure we pass them onto Aishwarya to discuss in the session.

We really look forward to seeing you on Thursday at 5:30pm!

Hi everyone. When completing an activity history for a new employer's background check, do voluntary positions held at university societies come under the 'volunteer work' sections?