New Threads

Hi everyone! With the start of the new month, I wanted to open up a community discussion in which you can all talk about your interests, achievements, passions, leisure activities, hobbies, or anything at all...except for law firm applications! I know that our wonderful community of aspiring lawyers has an amazing array of unrelated interests and I hope that this can serve as a relaxed place for you to discuss what you do outside of your studies and your applications to law firms. Whether it is playing a sport or watching a certain TV show, you can add anything that you feel reflects a little bit of your non-professional side!

I have already mentioned in the new community managers' AMA thread that I love music and have committed a large amount of time to playing piano over my life! Here I wanted to add some hobbies that I've developed over the last few years, namely playing pool/snooker and chess! I got really into pool after a friend started taking me to a local club to play. What I love about it is that it's one of those activities where you can be of a very different level to your opponent and both can still have a great time. With chess, I played a bit when I was young, but over lockdown some of my friends started playing online regularly and I rediscovered it as an excellent pastime! I even started following a couple of chess YouTube channels and was of course thrilled when the Queen's Gambit came out on Netflix!

Please chime in with your own passions/interests/hobbies etc

Hi,

I'm interested in the energy sector, and can potentially shape my entire TC around energy by completing seats in energy-focused practice areas such as Energy Finance, Corporate Energy, Energy Disputes, and a secondment at an energy client. I assume that by the end of the TC, I should become a decent specialist in that particular sector.

What do you think the pros and cons of this approach are? Also, how beneficial will my TC experience be if I decide to move in-house at some point in the future or make a lateral move to an energy-oriented law firm (e.g. V&E or Baker Botts)?

An alternative may be to complete one energy seat and see if I like other practice areas which are less sector-specific, such as Banking, General Commercial Disputes, General Corporate M&A, Employment, Tax, etc.

On the one hand, I'm worried that if I decide to do an energy-focused TC and by the middle/end of it I lose my interest in that sector, I may end up qualifying in a practice area I don't like anymore. On the other hand, if I try different sectors and end up liking energy, I will have missed the opportunities to gain deeper understanding of the industry.

Will greatly appreciate your opinions on this!

Not usually one to post but am hoping by starting this thread I can gain a little reassurance in myself and anyone else who may be in a similar situation!

I recently applied for the HSF innovation open day and got a rejection through today. All rejections knock confidence but this one has scared me a bit more. If I can’t get accepted onto an open day, how am I meant to secure a VC?

I think I’d just like to hear a few success stories from people with similar situations just to give me that motivation to continue applying!

Hi All,

Wondering if any former ULaw GDL students could comment on how exams actually function. What software does the uni use? I feel I've made some decent notes and put everything in my own words and given its an open book exam I was wondering how easy it would be to copy and paste the occasional Actus Reus from my notes onto my exam paper (given I'll just be copying them verbatim regardless)? Also, does anyone know if the exams are particularly time-pressured.

Thanks so much!

I was recently pinged by a recruiter who found me on LinkedIn and have been offered an interview for an entry-level paralegal position in a midsized firm, X, next week. They know I am a future trainee solicitor at another midsized firm, Y, and what my start date is going to be. Coincidentally, I was also offered a training contract at firm X but decided to turn them down for firm Y as it offered a more convenient (sooner) start date.

What kind of questions am I likely to be asked at interview? Will they be competency based? Because I applied through a recruiter and had no idea who firm X were until the interview was offered, could that affect their line of questioning?

The job is going to be in a field of law that I have only studied as part of an elective module on the LPC. Would it be likely for firm X to ask questions about it?

Hey All,

We'll be writing a short piece on today's budget in our newsletter, but I would recommend keeping an eye on this in the news. We've seen this come up in interviews in the past.

Here is our summary of the budget in March 2021.

Feel free to also use this thread should you wish to share your thoughts or discuss the budget with one another.

Best,
Jaysen

So I am going about my usual weekday routine at university - wake up, brush my teeth blah blah blah - then I read this article:

https://www.legalcheek.com/2021/10/...g-hours-of-big-paying-us-law-firms-in-london/

What concerns me is not the article itself, but the comments section. I know from the statistics out there that working at a US law firm is hard work. There is no doubt about that! However, some of the comments from those who have suggested they are a trainee or associate at a US law firm overwhelms me quite a bit, and I have applied to some US firms already this cycle and intend to apply to some more. For example:


This, therefore, leaves me with some questions:

(1) Are the people writing these comments actually working at a US law firm? I would love to hear the perspective of someone from the TCLA community who is working at a US law firm (trainee or associate) @Jaysen @Jessica Booker is there anyone I can speak to for an honest perspective?

(2) Is this increase in working hours simply due to WFH and the influx of PE & M&A deal making (hence increase in support finance work too, such as leveraged finance)? Basically, was it always that bad (pre-covid)?

Don't get me wrong, I want to work hard and strive for success. However, having no time for dinner - I mean that is just simply ludicrous. Also, this is just from my perspective now (i.e. no relationship/family). I am therefore left wondering if my drive for working at such law firms solely stems from (1) the salary; and (2) let's face it - the toxic LLB culture.

What does everyone think?

Hey everyone!

With our new Community Managers now working in the forum and the new application cycle in full swing, we are restarting our giveaway for a free month of TCLA Premium (Bronze) every week. You will also receive a new badge titled 'Forum Winner'.

If you are already a future trainee, you can instead opt in to receive a £5 Amazon Gift Card instead of the free subscription to TCLA Premium.

Why do we do this?

We want to celebrate those of you who give back to the forum on a day-to-day basis. It's our opportunity to show you that the help you provide doesn't go unnoticed because people like you keep our community a supportive and friendly place.

What do I do if I win?

The Community Managers will be in contact with your reward for a free subscription to TCLA Premium. If you are a future trainee, please let them know and you will be issued a gift card instead.

Award this week:

To kick us off this week, I would like to award the first prize to @33c. Over the past few months, I have seen such a variety of helpful posts from you from reassurance to guidance on motivations. You clearly know your stuff and it's a pleasure to see you give back to others in such a kind and supportive manner, especially as a future trainee.

Thank you!

@Dheepa @Jessica Booker @George Maxwell @AvniD @James Carrabino

Hi everyone,

We're very happy to announce a new webinar this Thursday 28 October at 6pm! It’s completely free to attend.

Brought to you by former litigator Claire Williamson, this session equips incoming trainees with the core skills needed to work constructively with their supervisor and colleagues and to thrive within a team.

It's an interactive webinar that will incorporate strategies for developing communication skills, responding to feedback, maintaining a positive psychology, navigating change and handling conflict.

In the process, Claire reflects on her own experiences as a trainee solicitor at a magic circle law firm.

SIGN UP HERE

Hi,

I am trying to apply to the Pinsent Masons vacation placement in London. However, I can’t seem to find the link to the applications page on their website. Has anyone else had this issue? It says on the vacation placement tab that applications are open, so I’m confused why I can’t see a link.

I would really appreciate any guidance on this issue.

Thank you in advance.

Will

Good afternoon everyone, I am very excited to introduce myself as one of your new Community Managers, along with @AvniD and @George Maxwell - it is an honour to be in this role! I will also be providing reviews of your applications as part of TCLA's application review service for premium members.

A year ago I had never heard of a Training Contract and was just starting my master’s degree in piano performance at the Royal College of Music. Previously I studied for my undergraduate degree in the United States and so the UK law firm application process was not at all on my radar.

TCLA was absolutely formative to my journey – one year and dozens of applications later I have come to understand a vast amount (and am incredibly enthusiastic to learn a vast amount more) about the London/UK legal market; I have secured a 2023 Training Contract offer and am now fully immersed in my legal journey, studying for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law.

I certainly don't claim to have too unusual of a background to become a solicitor as I know how diverse all of your interests and experiences are... what is more, I have already come across other future lawyers with the same passion for playing piano that I have! Nevertheless, I hope my experiences can inform candidates on the forum who are wondering how they can 'sell' their non-law and international educational pursuits. I am joining TCLA because it presents me with an opportunity to give back to a community that was instrumental in my application journey. I plan to offer advice and encouragement to everyone who does not fit the penultimate-year law or final-year non-law mould and who feels that they lack adequate work experience to apply for vacation schemes and training contracts… and I am also here to advise those of you who feel like you fit this mould too much and are struggling to stand out from the crowd! Through my additional role as an application reviewer, I have already begun helping candidates to really sell their individual experiences to law firms and I am excited to begin sharing my advice on this with the wider TCLA community.

I will go into more specifics in an upcoming thread about what I learnt after each application I made, but I’ll try to leave you with one particular word of advice for this stage in the year; don’t just apply to firms you know a lot about already – conduct research into a broad array of firms, knowing that you may not have yet encountered ‘the one’. TCLA is here to help you with the research process and to offer insight into which firms may best fit your unique experiences. For me, music/piano is something that I simply love doing and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend the last year of my life doing it - some law firms understood that wholeheartedly and were excited to let me know about opportunities to get involved with pro bono projects supporting musicians, whilst others informed me candidly that I would not be able to play much piano when I start working 15 hours a day. And that’s okay, because there are so many firms to choose from and enough applicants who would be a great fit for each one. You just have to find the right firm for you and the best way to do this is through your research prior to applying!

I won’t use up more space at the moment as it is time to let you meet your other wonderful Community Managers, but look out for future posts on a range of topics that I hope will be of benefit to you all. If there is anything private that you would like to discuss, then please DM me and I will reply swiftly with regard to confidential issues. If I receive messages on here or on LinkedIn that I believe will be of general use to the wider TCLA community, then I may not reply directly but will make sure to answer them in one of my posts!

Feel free to ask us anything and everything throughout the forum threads – we are here to help

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Hi!

So I accepted a TC offer last August and started the LPC at the end of August this year. I’m finding the LPC (pretty much every aspect of it) incredibly dull, and it’s causing me to have significant doubts about whether I want to finish the course, do the TC, and become a solicitor.

If the LPC and the TC are substantively similar, then given how dull I’m finding the LPC, I can’t help but feel I’d be wasting my time (and my firm’s) by finishing the LPC and starting the TC, to only then drop out of the TC mid-way through after realising that the TC/practice is just as dull as the LPC.

I’ve always had doubts about being a solicitor, and feel like maybe I got swept up in the whole LLB culture of ‘apply apply apply’ without taking enough time to consider all of my options.

To drop out of the LPC, renege on a TC offer and potentially embark on a career outside of the law is obviously a very significant decision, so I’d really appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, everyone. Could you please send me the link to Freshfields' latest annual report/letter? I cannot seem to find it.

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I've been lucky enough to have a Winter Vac Scheme coming up with HSF soon - it's my first ever Vac Scheme and I'm quite anxious to impress! If anyone around here has done one with HSF recently I would be quite keen to hear about your experiences (whether or not you were successful with conversion) !

(Deleted)

Hi! I just wanted to know whether it was easier to get into winter vac schemes rather than summer ones in general?

I have the impression that more people apply for the summer (and spring) ones given that winter deadlines are really early into the year - so in terms of numbers, wouldn’t it be more difficult to stand out for the summer apps?

Would appreciate some help with this question on the Burges Salmon vac scheme: "As an independent UK firm what do you think are the main challenges and opportunities that Burges Salmon could face over the next five years?"

Would it be valid to discuss the challenges of keeping up with City/international firms while maintaining the identity that differentiates Burges? For example, they have a very collaborative/collegiate culture as almost all its lawyers work from its Bristol base; opening up more offices may make it easier to compete but may have effects on culture, and vice versa.

But then discuss the opportunities the firm's identity affords; its independence is a differentiating factor that clients value. Maintaining client relations is arguably more important than ever in the post-pandemic world and the firm excels on this front. WIth its workers situated mainly in the Bristol office the firm can also focus more on community-based pro bono work, and do it in a collaborative way which involves the whole firm; this will attract clients of the future who are paying more and more attention to ESG issues. Remote working will also help the firm remain flexible and may downplay its lack of physical offices, as will the firm's involvement in international networks.

Does all this sound fine?

Hi-I've been asked to do an 'online interview' for the Dechert Winter VS scheme and was wondering if anyone had any tips please? How long it lasts, what kinds of questions etc would all be very much appreciated! Thanks

I'm a current trainee at the London office of a mid-sized UK firm (think Kingsley Napley, Irwin Mitchell etc) and I'd like some advice...

I'm enjoying my TC but I'm worried about my options as an NQ.

I turned down larger, more corporate firms as I didn't like the idea of potentially spending most of my time tied up with stuff like M&A/PE.

After my TC I think I'd like to move to a bigger firm - not MC/US but somewhere I could get more exposure to bigger/international work (somewhere like DLA Piper or Dentons). I'm now slightly worried as my firm doesn't have international offices and looking at what other people tend to do it tends to be bigger firms>smaller firms and not the other way around.

Help! I'm worried I've cut off my options before I've even qualified.

Hi all, would appreciate some insights in the matter.

I have previously completed some vacation schemes at international law firms, but did not convert them into any training contract. I am quite sure in the coming HR and/or graduate recruitment panel interviews, the interviewers will be quite interested in why.

What do you think is the best way to approach the issue? I have been thinking about putting the focus on how I have improved and how I am as a candidate today (with experiences to support), but does it sound like I'm not answering the question of "why did you get rejected"?

Also, wouldn't a full discussion of the negative feedback show that I am an unsuitable candidate for the upcoming firms instead?

Thank you all and I'd love to hear what you think!

This question in the CMS Academy application form is bothering me:

In your own words, explain one key strategy that CMS is implementing to become the leading relationship law firm. (200 words)

I do feel like it's being deliberately vague, and there's various different things it could be alluding to...

• Partnerships with clients
• Sector and practice specialisms within CMS legacy firms (e.g. Nabarro)
• Collaborative ways of working

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts. I think the reason I find this so worrying is that 'relationship law firm' seems like a defined term - yet I can't find any mention of it in CMS' website or publications.

I'm trying to figure out what "ACTUALLY" makes a good Diversity & Inclusion Program for our law firm. What is the difference between the two: 1) Diversity 2) Inclusion

We have approximately 22 lawyers within the firm...only 3 are African-American and 2 Hispanic but I feel that we should work in adding this for the First quarter of 2022. But any guidance would be appreciated in understanding the benefits and features of a good actionable Diversity & Inclusion Program.