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Hi All,

Newbie to TCLA here and not able to see if this topic has been discussed here before.

I have a question relating to suspension of the LPC. I currently work as a paralegal (in-house) for a FTSE250 company. At times, my work days are quite extensive and I do not always have time to study for the LPC after work. Yesterday, I took my I&A exam and completely buckled under pressure halfway through it (the tutor was reading the scenario so quickly that I got really confused when taking down notes). I find it really difficult that you cannot interrupt your tutor when they are basically reciting the scenario at a very fast pace - this would not be the case in real life with a real client but oh well.

I would like to suspend the LPC in the next week or so and restart my studies again in February just to get into a better state of mind and perhaps use some time until February to catch up on some of my modules.

Alternatively, I am also exploring the possibility of switching to the SQE route.

What are your thoughts on this? Has anyone suspended their studies and found it difficult getting a TC? Were you questioned extensively on it by law firms as to why you have suspended your studies?

Thank you

Note: 2:2 in undergrad from non RG university (MCs health issues+working full time while studying).

Hi all!

I have just completed my final-year law exams at one of the London universities and have a vacation scheme at a Silver Circle firm scheduled for next month. However, the scheme will be at the firm's Hong Kong, rather than London, office. I applied to vacation schemes in both locations, but I only received an offer for Hong Kong, my hometown. My preference is to qualify as a solicitor in London.

My questions are:

1. In the case where I do receive a TC offer from the Hong Kong office after the vacation scheme, would it be possible to negotiate for a TC in the London office instead? My interview/AC (along with all preparatory communications) for the Hong Kong vacation scheme was carried out by the London office Graduate Recruitment Team, therefore I'm assuming recruitment for Hong Kong is also handled by the London office. Would this render transferring office a much easier task?

2. In the event that I fail to receive a TC offer after the scheme, could I ask to be considered for a London TC (or VS) instead?

3. If a fail to receive a TC offer, how valuable would it be to have a vacation scheme at a Silver Circle firm, albeit in a non-London office, on my CV when applying to future TCs in London?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I have a vacation scheme with Macfarlanes coming up and I would love for any insight/experiences/advice of anyone who has any experience with the firm? It is my first and only vacation scheme as a non-law student, and would value any advice in preparation for the scheme or general tips and tricks!

Thanks

What does it REALLY mean to do well as as NQ/senior associate?

And what are the factors to determine success when being a lawyer? I'm thinking expertise in a specific area, amount of successful deals...

I have my Vac scheme on Monday and we’ve been given an itinerary and so I’m trying to think of some Questions to ask different people, such as the office’s managing partner who we have a talk with. I want to ask questions that can show off my knowledge but at the same time I don’t want to ask questions that area too overly specific? Does anyone have any advice for typical questions to ask?

Hi! I have just finished the LPC and I have several heavy binders and lots of textbooks. I’m starting my TC in a couple of months (hopefully!) and I was unsure whether to keep any of my hard copy notes or whether this is unnecessary. I have heard conflicting things. Thanks!

(ofc planning to keep any notes where results are pending)

Hi, did my advocacy assessment today.

I think I made decent and relevant submissions but I feel as thought I stuttered or stumbled a lot especially when answering the judges question. Nerves.

I also think I spoke a lot- judge said I spoke within the time limits and said I should finish. I suppose it’s better to have more points and deeply in depth rather than being way too short and not saying much(my mock feedback was the latter, so I tried to substantially increase the persuasive element of my submissions)

I also know I got the grounds right at least(CPR 24.2 rules etc, Defendant has no real prospect etc). Not sure if there are marks for that or if that would even count as a legal analysis/application to case facts.

Basically feel like it went badly or not as good as I prepared.
I have reassurance that because I passed the mock, hopefully I do so here too. But was just really nerve racking, especially having to speak formal and what not.

Any reassurances will be helpful! Thanks

IK it is best to move on, look forward to my next exams, but if anyone had been in a similar situation re Adv, and passed it, I'd appreciate it.

Hi all,

I am planning to apply for vac schemes in September and I just finished the year two of my bachelor degree. My grades this year are not good (I'm expecting low 2:1) but its largely because I got COVID twice during my revision and exam period. Both times I had really disruptive symptoms. However, I do not have a doctor's note or whatever because I tested using the home test-kit and my GP told me to take paracetamol and don't go to the practice. My symptoms weren't severe enough to get hospitalized so I stayed at home and didn't ask for any medical help according to NHS advice.

I was wondering, in this case, can I write COVID in my mitigating circumstance to explain my bad grades to the commercial law firms? will they ask for medical proof (that I will not be able to provide)? and are big commercial firms actually considerate of these types of mitigating circumstances?

I am struggling to creatively come up with an answer for this in a commercial context, please could someone help? Thank you

Hi all! I was wondering if there were any international students who recently applied for their student visas? I will be doing the accelerated LPC in August with BPP and I applied for my visa about a month ago from Malaysia. Currently there is a severe delay with the processing times and I am trying to arrange my travel plans and have no way of being sure when I could expect to receive my visa.

Has anyone applied for their visa recently and gotten it? How long was the wait time for you? Thank you!

Hello

I’ve got the C & Co video assessment due on Sunday. Instructions from Cappfinity(assessment intermediary), haven’t revealed much in the way of instruction, other than 2 practice assessments that were very easy and thus surely not an accurate reflection of what will come up. Any advice, past experiences &/or sources for practice would be greatly appreciated, thanks so much

Best

J

Hello! This is my first post

Some advice would be greatly appreciated - just be honest. That's all I'm looking for.

So currently I'm in Year 13 and have a couple of exams left. I was predicted A*A*A - my mental health hasn't been too great this year. I've been so burnt out since January that I barely got around to revision. So I genuinely think I'll come out with ABC.

I was thinking of going into a gap year and resitting at least two A-levels but the thought is honestly so aggravating. I'll be turning 19 soon, I technically have already done a gap year. Switched courses, changed subjects so have already done another year.

I'll be two years behind my cohort and that doesn't bother me per se, I just want to get to university as soon as I can and move on. However, if I get anything less than ABC- I will resit. I'm just wondering if its worth resitting maybe a C and taking a gap year? I really want to get to university.

I have offers from RGs which I know I will miss but hopefully will mosey around in clearing. What is the likelihood of getting vac schemes with ABC with any MC/SC/US Firms? Not very high is it?

My GCSEs are 9977765444. I went to private for secondary, now I'm at a college I've heard recruitment may involve factors such as private/state being involved - so putting that out there.

My confidence has really shot down since January, I've just being going through stuff personally and grades were the last thing on my mind, but tbh, I only really have myself to blame gah!

Thanks for reading if you have

Hi there,

In September I shall begin the SQE as part of the City Consortium at BPP, so I already have a training contract secured. We have the option to convert the SQE into an LLM by undertaking a professsional project. It requires around 600 hours of work which we must complete during our training contract. I was wondering if anyone knew what (if any) realistic benefits this might confer someone who already has a training contract? Or will I just be burdening myself for no real reward at a time when I shall already be working very hard?

Thank you!

HEYY,
I want to apply for the solicitor apprenticeship in the future.
currently, I'm in year 12 and want to apply in my gap year.
the entry requirements for GCSEs are all 6
however, I got all 5s apart from English lit in which I got a 7
I couldn't sit my GCSEs because of covid 19 and exams were canceled
so is this considered an extenuating circumstance and does it all really matter?
I mean if I have work experience and good A-level grades wouldn't it overshadow...

hello, i have got an interview with osborne clarke for banking paralegal position, if anyone can give me their experiences or advice to prepare for their interview especially if you interview for their paralegal position.

thanks

Hey guys,

I hope you're all doing well.

I have a bit of a dilemma. There are several firms that I would be interested in applying for, but I am unsure about the recruitment process. Namely, all the firms nominally offer a direct TC route, but I am unclear as to whether they open up that route purely if they haven't found enough trainees from their VC, or whether it exists as a viable alternative option. The firms in question are:

- Vinson and Elkins
- Cleary Gottlieb
- Latham and Watkins
- Milbank
- Akin Gump

I am asking this simply to see whether it's worth applying and going through the process of writing the application.

Thanks a lot.

Hello everyone,
I am resitting my criminal and contract law exams in August time, as during the year I suffered very bad mental health.

I wanted to score as highly as possible (1st class worthy) however I feel as though I have no system for such resits. Half my notes are handwritting, and some are typed up.

I have scored 62% in one exam, 68% in another, and 52% in the last. I feel as though I am not fulfilling my potential and I am not sure what I am doing wrong?

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on what strategies to use, to practice solving problem questions and essay technique? Even how to work effectively, have good time management and keep up productivity / motivation? I feel as though I have spent a lot of time researching how to study law effectively, but am still very confused.

My university has past exam questions, but no markscheme so I am not sure how to know what a good problem question response is like either?

I would really appreciate any resources, feedback or even a schedule you think I should follow.
Feeling quite anxious as I have little notes and not much time!

Thank you.