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Hello, does anyone know if a tribunal clerk qualifies as QWE for the SQE?

Hello!

I've just finished my English degree at Oxford, graduating with a First. I'm taking a year off before starting the PGDL at BPP (and then eventually joining Freshfields as a trainee solicitor).

I've been living at home and working to save money for travelling, but I'd also like to prepare for the PGDL as much as possible. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you

Currently on a gap year with deferred entry to UCL, non law subject.
A*BBB in A Levels, with A* in maths achieved one year early (2024) and BBB achieved in 2025.
I am worried this will limit my future prospects in securing training contracts at magic circle firms / pupillages.
I would like to retake, do firms mind retakes?
What should I do in the meantime to strengthen my applications in the future?

How would you recommend answering this question in an interview context with a partner. Some resources recommend a narrative structure, showing a journey to get to a place of applying for the firm. However, others recommend 2-3 reasons. My caution with the latter is I could see this coming across robotic and also jumping around in time a lot, but I can see the benefits in making my answer clear. Any help would be much appreciated - have a big interview on Tuesday for a vacation scheme!

Hi all. I've just finished my SQE2 exams. I'm really keen to secure a QWE paralegal role in London beginning in January. I have 4 vac schemes on my CV and other commercial experience. The recruiters I've talked to so far haven't been that helpful. I'm flexible about the area, as long as it's QWE in London. Can anyone give me any advice, e.g. on recruiters, agencies, how to secure a role? Any advice is much appreciated, thanks!

Can someone please review my work experiences for the application. There is no word limit. Please be brutally honest!

1-As a client executive intern, I coordinated with the receptionist to manage front-desk operations. I scheduled appointments and assisted with clients’ concerns post-treatment. I maintained over 100 patient records in the clinic’s database and supported documentation for insurance claims.

My role also required a high degree of adaptability. For example, a wellness influencer came to the clinic, and she expressed concerns about pricing. I empathised with her and assured her I would discuss with my manager. After researching her online presence to understand her reach and potential value, I consulted with my manager. I successfully negotiated a 15 percent discount in exchange for three stories on her Instagram account of the clinic. This resulted in a favourable Google review about my customer service. I learned the value of tailoring communication to different client needs and enjoyed the client-facing nature of the internship as I interacted with clients from diverse backgrounds.

I also led the initiative to organise the clinic’s outreach stall at Alserkal Avenue. I introduced our services to potential clients and designed a raffle with a detox program as the prize. The raffle led to 20+ people visiting the stall, and the campaign directly resulted in a 5 percent increase in clinic sales for January.

2) I spent one month in the legal department at DP World. I assisted the team during the tender processes for three port concession projects. For example, I proofread a 70-page concession agreement within a two-day deadline, ensuring that critical terms such as exclusivity rights and liability caps were correctly defined. I developed an insight into construction and infrastructure regulations in the GCC region.

I also enjoyed reviewing DP World’s sponsorship agreement for the Dubai Sail Grand Prix. Since the other party drafted the contract, I scrutinised the agreement to identify any terms that deviated from DP World’s standard provisions. I flagged potentially onerous clauses, including one that imposed unusual obligations on the company. Highlighting this gave the team a valuable new angle for negotiations.

In addition, I researched the feasibility of initiating a civil debt litigation claim in Cyprus. I analysed the litigation process, timelines, recoverability, and the appeal process, and condensed my findings into a concise report for a senior partner. Finally, I kept the team’s internal sanctions list up to date by researching the latest OFAC and EU sanctions. I managed multiple assignments simultaneously, demonstrating my ability to prioritise and organise effectively under pressure.
3) I completed a two-week summer internship at a family office. I worked on a large-scale infrastructure deal that involved a public-private partnership in Africa.

My main task was to proofread the conservation agreement and flag potential legal risks for the investor. As this was a project aimed at generating carbon credits, I was interested in the financial and ESG regulations that impact this emerging field. Through this work, I proactively identified the long-term risk of increased costs if the project took longer than expected to generate profits. To address this, I researched mitigating measures, discovering the ‘step-in right clause’, which ensures lenders can intervene to reassign the project to protect their investment. I presented a PowerPoint to the legal team, summarising my findings from relevant precedents and legislation.

Additionally, I reviewed three operation and maintenance agreements, key documents in project financing deals, to ensure all parties’ information was accurately and consistently recorded. This required me to cross-check addresses, company registration numbers and directors’ information of the investor, the lenders, and the project operator.

4)-I spent two weeks as a summer intern in the Asset Finance team, working on a high-value aircraft sale and purchase agreement. My work involved reviewing the sale and purchase agreement, letters of credit, and security documents. I ensured that all client and firm details were accurately recorded, flagging inconsistencies across the documents. Additionally, I took detailed minutes of meetings between associates and helped a trainee update the conditions precedent checklist.

I also contributed to a senior partner’s article on hedge fund regulation in the UAE financial free zones. I researched UAE federal laws regarding mainland and economic free trade zones and synthesised numerical data from over 10 financial reports of companies. Moreover, I effectively absorbed large amounts of legal and numerical information from 20-page year-end reports and condensed it into a one-page summary with visual charts for the senior partner.

Furthermore, as part of a legal tech pilot, I used AI tools, like Luminance and LawGeex, to review an archive of over 20 historic aircraft purchase agreements. I extracted and analysed key standard clauses, successfully identifying minor misalignments that the team used to strengthen the risk review process for the live transaction.

5) I worked as a part-time student, two days a week, at a fintech, where I handled vendor onboarding and due diligence. I conducted due diligence on over 50 vendors using specialised platforms like World-Check and Refinitiv, assessing financial, regulatory and criminal risks. I learnt how a detailed legal review of a vendor’s risk profile is critical to partner with new vendors.

When the team encountered critical errors in our vendor contract data during migration to a new procurement software, I took personal responsibility to resolve the issue. Using my initiative, I created a centralised contract archive that tracked the status of all agreements and established a clear hierarchy of master and subordinate agreements.

Over three months, I meticulously built this archive, extracting key information like renewal terms, expirations, and the nature of each agreement from over 700 legal contracts, which strengthened my attention to detail. This involved me collaborating with the data privacy and compliance teams to obtain information about data processing agreements. This archive streamlined the contract management process and reduced contract handling time by 20 percent. My focus on efficiency and technology integration makes me eager to explore Vario at Pinsent Masons.
Would love your thoughts!

What firm had the most interesting approach to organising an open day, in your experience?

...a unique structure, interactive workshops that felt like real work experience, or perhaps the managing partners turned up to say hello!

One that sticks in my mind is Skadden. The firm organised a speed networking session where small groups of visitors had 10 mins with one or two firm employees, from graduate recruitment staff to partners. After 10 mins, someone blew a whistle (really!) and everyone changed places. Visitors were guaranteed a chance to speak to everyone, every department, every practice area representative. No one left feeling like they had missed out on an opportunity.

Hey, guys.

I’ve just found out I’ve got an assessment centre at Deloitte Legal next week, and if I got an offer it would mean training in-house with them. From my understanding it’s not traditional “in-house” as you do work for some of their clients.


The problem is I’m worried that if I get the Deloitte Training Contract, I might pigeonhole myself too soon, and be stuck in house. If I get and accept the Deloitte role, how much harder would be to move post qualification. I’m not too fussed about magic circle/US firms I think I would be aiming more for national firms etc. Is that realistic if I train in-house?


Just trying to work out how sensible it is to hold out for firm-based TCs when we’re only in November, and whether Deloitte would narrow my options long-term.

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice and also just want a chance to ramble/vent.

I sat and passed the SQE1 in July 2024 sitting. I was meant to sit my SQE2 this year, but had a massive breakdown and decided nope, not doing this. Took a year off, basically just worked and chilled and restored my mental health.

I am hoping to the SQE2 in October next year (basically the last date I can sit it according to my scholarship provider).

There are two issues at hand:
1. I have basically forgotten EVERYTHING. All the FLK1 & FLK2 has been squeezed out of my brain like water from a sponge. Possibly because of the breakdown and so shunned that knowledge from my entire being. Also makes you wonder the effectiveness of the exams cause like realistically, what is the purpose of memorising that much when no one is actually going to remember it in the long run?
2. I got lucky. When I passed the SQE1. Because let me tell you, my Business Law and Criminal Practice knowledge was horrid. And no, I'm not being harsh on myself, it simply was horrid. I think I studied one week for both subjects before deciding that I am going to chance it and not study for either of them, and that God will be on my side. He was, there were BARELY any questions for business and criminal, and the ones that were there, I am certain I got wrong. But my other subjects defo covered me and lifted me up. But honestly, divine intervention helped me passed. Relating back to the problem, now for the SQE2 - I need to essentially learn business and crim (because clearly I didn't do it the first time).

Now, as for the overall timeline of my life, I've started the SQE Plus part of my degree, and hoping to sit SQE2 in October 2026. Has anyone done the SQE Plus? I thrive on course work, and so I think I'll be fine, but just wanted to reach out and check with others who've done the course and can advice on how difficult it is? My main reason for asking is because the SQE Plus finishes around March/April 2026. And from there on, I need to get back on the SQE2 horse. Issue is, in my mind, from April to October, its not enough time for me (personally) to study for the SQ2 - given I need to learn business/crim, re-learn everything else and also learn how to deal with each exam style. The (undiagnosed, but we're changing that) ADHD in me also gets distracted like hell, so to a neuro-typical person yes that MIGHT be plenty of time, but for me like girl it's not enough. And for some reason this silly exam doesn't allow me to rely on my superpowers of procrastination and cramming everything in the last minute (like I did for o and a levels).

So - if you're still here, what should I do? Start studying for the SQE2 now? Like, start making notes for business law/crim, and alongside do course work so when that April mark comes, at least business/crim are done?

I dont know - help, anyone?

Sincerely,
Someone who is fed up and considering the CLC

Hi All,

Thought I would sign up here for a bit of accountability and to share some ideas with likeminded people.

I am a 36 year old father of three, currently looking to make a career change from policing to commercial law.

Background

Didn't do particularly well throughout my academic career, 1 A, 3 B's and the rest C's at GCSE. Similar story at A-Level, finishing with ABC. Ended up making a last minute change from a Nursing degree and ended up going through clearing and studying Law at Nottingham Trent University. Lacklustre performance continued and I ended up graduating in 2011 with a low 2.1 (61). Like many before (and after) me I thought I could make up for this overall lack of dedication by doing an LLM, so I opted for a Masters in International Commercial and Business Law at the University of East Anglia. I really applied myself to this and came away with a Distinction (73) and the award for the top student. I managed to secure a role as a paralegal at Mills & Reeve but suffered massively from imposter syndrome and a general lack of confidence, I genuinely thought I would never be good enough to get a TC and so ended up joining the Metropolitan Police Service as a Police Officer.

Current Situation

I have now served in the police service for over 12 years, the last 6 being as an Armed Response Officer, and I genuinely think I have developed some strong transferable skills for a career in commercial law. Specifically teamwork, communication, resilience and decision-making under pressure. So it is now with a renewed sense of direction that I am trying again to secure a TC at a commercial law firm. I know it is going to be an incredibly difficult process given my academic background and if I ever make it to an interview there will be some questions around my career path and commitment to law so I will have to make sure I'm prepared.

Applications

So far I have been focusing my applications based on firms that I like the sound of and that don't focus on academic requirements. I have also focused on ones with upcoming deadlines so I can get an early indication on how my applications are being viewed. Also, while salary isn't the biggest priority, I can't afford to be taking too much of a pay cut at this stage in my life...

As it stands I have applied for:

• Addleshaw Goddard
• Taylor Wessing
• Gowling WLG
• Kennedys
• Mishcon de Reya
• Clifford Chance
• Freshfields
• Linklaters
• Davis Polk
• Norton Rose Fulbright

I have completed online assessments for Addleshaw Goddard, Taylor Wessing, Gowling WLG, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters and Norton Rose Fulbright. I had an email saying I passed the Clifford Chance Watson Glaser so just waiting on an application review from them.

Got rejected pretty quickly from Freshfields which was understandable given my academics and probably a good indication that MC firms are a pipe dream.

So yeh, that's me in a nutshell. If anyone else is in a similar boat or has any wisdom to share then please get in touch!

Currently on a gap year with deferred entry to UCL, non law subject.
Was ill during A-Levels, though I am not sure if it is severe enough to count as mitigating circumstances.
Got 10A* in gcse, 4A in AS Levels and A*BBB in A Levels, with A* in maths achieved one year early (2024) and BBB achieved in 2025.
I am worried this will limit my future prospects in securing training contracts at magic circle firms / pupillages.
I would like to retake, do firms mind retakes?

Hi all,

There is very little information online regarding what the actual online assessment entails for Baker McKenzie. I don't want to submit my application form yet without preparing for their assessment.

If anyone could tell me what the test actually is (e.g., Watson Glaser, Verbal/Numerical Reasoning, Arctic Shores etc), I'd be very grateful.

Thank you!

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone have entered the next stage. I have completed the watson glaser test and in the candidate review stage for a long time. Besides, I was quite anxious about how to actually get past the interview stage of the Linklaters TC application. I haven't tried the interview, and I was just wondering how anyone even gets past this stage!

Hello,

I have just applied for the 2026 VS (2028 TC).

I have completed the registration form and the critical thinking test.

I was wondering if anyone knew, on average, how long after the critical thinking test applicants find out whether they have been successful for the ‘voice interview’?

Thanks in advance, and good luck to anyone applying.

Hi everyone,

I'm delighted to welcome Katherine Sharp, Talent Acquisition and Diversity Manager at Withers, to the TCLA forum.

This is an excellent chance to learn more about the firm directly from someone who leads on early talent. Whether you’re curious about the application process, what makes a strong candidate, or what it’s like to work at Withers, feel free to ask your questions below.

Thank you and best of luck!

Jaysen

---

And here are the upcoming Withers Deadlines

Vacation Schemes

Apply by 9 January 2026

Training Contract

Apply by 27 February 2026

.

Does anyone know an estimate of the salary for a paralegal position at Osborne Clarke / and Burges Salmon? For Bristol office

Hi everyone,

Applications to the Ropes & Gray Vacation Scheme are now open!

You can use this thread to chat about your applications to the firm. The deadline to apply is the 31st January 2026. Please note that applications are not reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply here.

Wishing you all the best of luck!

Jaysen

Please note that this thread is kindly sponsored by Ropes & Gray.

Hi all, has anyone done the Weil SJT this year? How did you find the interview questions.

Is anyone able to offer any insight to it.

Thanks

Hi!
I am applying to Pinsent masons tc. The application has no questions and only work experience and a blended assessment.

The work experience section has no word count. Could you please review this and let me know what you think ? I’m so scared about the length with no word count-what length should I aim for?

Sorry for the hassle, I would love to hear your thoughts before I send my application. I would also love to hear anyone else’s feedback. Here are few examples of my experiences:

1) Legal intern, firm, Dubai- August- September 2024

I spent one month in the legal department at firm, where I supported infrastructure and logistics-related projects across the Middle East and Europe.

I assisted the team during the tender processes for three port concession projects. For example, I proofread a 70-page concession agreement within a two-day deadline, ensuring all critical terms were defined under Clause 1. This task deepened my interest in construction and infrastructure law as I learnt how provisions such as exclusivity rights and liability caps shape public–private partnerships.



I also reviewed firm’s sponsorship agreement for the Dubai Sail Grand Prix. Since the contract had been drafted by the other party, I scrutinised the terms to identify any terms that deviated from DP World’s standard provisions. I flagged potentially onerous clauses, including one that imposed unusual obligations on the company. Highlighting this gave the team a valuable new angle for negotiations and helped secure a more balanced outcome.

In addition, I researched the feasibility of initiating a civil debt litigation claim in Cyprus. I analysed the litigation process, including jurisdictional considerations, timelines, recoverability, and the appeal process, and condensed my findings into a concise report for a senior partner. To ensure accessibility for non-legal colleagues, I created a PowerPoint presentation summarising the key points.

Finally, I kept the team’s internal sanctions list up to date by researching the latest OFAC and EU sanctions. Managing multiple assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines taught me to prioritise and organise effectively.

2) Asset Finance Intern, firm- July 2023

I spent two weeks supporting the Asset Finance team as a summer scheme on an aircraft sale purchase agreement.

I reviewed the sale and purchase agreement, letters of credit, and security agreements for a high-value aircraft purchase, flagging inconsistencies and ensuring client and firm details were accurately recorded. I took detailed minutes of meetings between partners and associates to update the conditions precedent checklist, coordinating regulatory and commercial milestones across multiple parties to ensure the deal progressed smoothly.

I also contributed to a senior partner’s article on hedge fund regulation in the UAE financial free zones. I analysed UAE laws on free zones and synthesised data from over ten company financial reports into a single document that supported the drafting of the article, helping me understand how to present complex information in a way that contributes to clear and concise client advice as a trainee solicitor.

As part of a legal tech pilot, I was tasked with reviewing the firm’s archive of over 20 historic aircraft purchase agreements to compare their standard clauses with those in the current transaction. Using AI tools, including Luminance and LawGeex, I extracted and analysed provisions such as indemnities, force majeure, and governing law. My review identified minor misalignments, which the team used to strengthen the risk review process for the live deal.

2) Working student, third-party risk management, fintech - December 2022- June 2023

I worked as a part-time student in the third-party risk management team at a leading fintech unicorn, where I handled vendor onboarding and due diligence.

I was the sole student on a team of seven. I filed legal documents and conducted due diligence on over 50 vendors before onboarding. Using platforms like World-Check and Refinitiv, I assessed a wide range of risks, from financial and regulatory to criminal. This process gave me direct insight into how a detailed legal review of a vendor's risk profile is critical in enabling a business to partner with new vendors.

When the team encountered critical errors in our vendor contract data during a migration to new procurement software, I took personal responsibility to resolve the issue. Using my initiative, I created a centralised contract archive that tracked the status of all agreements and established a clear hierarchy of master and subordinate agreements.

Over three months, I meticulously built this archive, extracting key information like renewal terms, expirations, and the nature of each agreement from over 700 legal contracts. This involved me reaching out to the data privacy and compliance teams and delegating tasks. This archive streamlined the contract management process and reduced contract handling time by 20%. My focus on efficiency and tech integration makes me eager to explore Vario at Pinsent Masons.

Worried about the word count- I rewrote the first experience:
I completed a one-month internship supporting infrastructure and logistics projects across the Middle East and Europe within firm's legal department. I assisted the team during the tender processes for three port concession projects. This included meticulously proofreading a 70-page concession agreement within a two-day deadline, ensuring that critical terms such as exclusivity rights and liability caps were correctly defined for the public–private partnership structure.

I also reviewed the sponsorship agreement for the Dubai Sail Grand Prix. As the contract was drafted by the other party, I scrutinised the terms against firm’s standard provisions. I flagged potentially onerous clauses that imposed unusual obligations, which gave the team a valuable new angle for negotiations and helped secure a more balanced outcome. My diverse duties also included researching the feasibility of initiating a civil debt litigation claim in Cyprus. I condensed my analysis of jurisdictional considerations, timelines, and appeals into a concise report and made an accessible PowerPoint for non-legal colleagues. Finally, I maintained the internal sanctions list by researching the latest OFAC and EU updates. Managing these multiple high-stakes assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines reinforced my ability to prioritise and organise effectively.

Let me know what you think. What word count should I aim for ?

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Hi All,

I have a question about structuring mitigating circumstances on VS applications. I have generally good grades and graduated with a 1st but got a low 2:2 in law of trusts. I know a few firms want a 2:1 across all modules but will take account of mitigating circumstances. Would the following be an okay structure or do I need to go into more detail?

"In the final year of my undergraduate degree, my ... immediately prior to the summer examination period. This had a material and adverse effect on my focus, mental health and final results."

I did get an EC when this happened so only really had Law of Trusts affected as it was my first exam. I did generally well on all my other modules so would that weaken my credibility at all?

I am feeling very low. I’ve made the same mistake twice at work. I’m not a careless person and I double-check my work, but I struggle with one of my responsibilities. I didn’t have prior experience with responsibility in my previous role, and I thought I would get formal training at the start of this role.

The first time I made the mistake, I was fairly new in the role. I didn’t question the accuracy of the work because my boss said to send it, and I relied on her review. At the time, I was a bit lost and trying to watch and learn as my boss led the task. It was obviously still my fault for not checking the content of the document.

The second time it happened was months ago due to my oversight, and I only spotted it now. I did double-check that piece of work but didn’t use the correct technique. My boss admitted she might not have reviewed the document and said she will double-check from now on. I’m now receiving formal training because the mistake was serious.

I have a feeling I may have made the same mistake elsewhere, since I used the same incorrect technique. If I have then I will need report it immediately because of the serious consequences. I do well in the other tasks in my role, but I feel like quitting law. I feel like I’m making more mistakes in this role compared to my previous one. I’ve been in this role for a while now, and it has impacted my mental health. I’ve done pretty well in my previous roles, and I’m surprised I haven’t been fired yet. I don’t even have the confidence to apply for legal roles because of this. I feel incompetent and feel like I will keep mistakes. If I apply for a new job, I cannot say I have experience with that task because I am not great at it. I am considering quitting law but I have no clue what other role I would enjoy. What shall I do? Am I incompetent in my role? Will this ruin my track record and affect my future prospects?

I think I don’t work well under pressure, and I’m slow at writing. It feels like my brain doesn’t process quickly when I write, so it takes me a long time to draft anything. My grammer is pretty bad too. Does anyone else have the same problem?