New Threads

I haven't seen any discussions about SQE here, so I thought it would be good to create a space where we can talk about the incoming changes to qualifying as a solicitor.

We all know that LPC costs are unreasonably high (as much as £17k in London) and act as a deterrent for many people from undertaking it in the absence of training contract offer and/or sponsorship from the firm. The changes brought by SRA intend to, at least in theory, ease a financial burden of qualifying.

Some basic information:

1. The qualifying route through SQE should be available from autumn 2021.
2. It will be still possible to qualify under the "old" route until 2032.
3. SQE estimated costs are between £3,000 - £4,500. This will be spread over the two assessments which are taken at different times. This does not,however, include any additional training.
4. According to BARBRI, one of the accredited training providers, the cost of the training itself is currently estimated to be at around £7,000 mark, therefore bringing the entire cost of qualifying to £10,000 - £11,500 (provided that one passes the two exams on the first attempt).
5. While lowering the costs seemed to be SRA's main intention, it is quite clear that it will not necessarily be the case. (note from self: if the course cannot be combined with postgraduate studies that are available for funding, it may as well even deter more students from qualifying - there is not much information currently whether the preparation training will be combined with postgraduate degree in the same fashion as LPC + LLM is).

Further information can be found under the following links:
https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/policy/sqe/solicitor-persona/
https://www.barbri-international.com/sqe/predictions/



I am one of those graduates who has not done the LPC yet, because I simply cannot afford it. I work as in-house paralegal and, if I fail to obtain a training contract, SQE offers me a promise of qualifying by recognising my up-to-date experience and, possibly, achieving that at a lesser cost. While my goal is firmly set on obtaining a TC with a firm that could sponsor my LPC, I have been wondering lately whether I should consider waiting for the SQE to roll in, should my original plan fail.


What is your take on the SQE? Are you looking into that route of qualifying or are you set on completing the LPC (if you haven't undertaken it yet)?

Hi all, I have a first stage interview with Gibson Dunn coming up, and I was wondering if anyone who has interviewed with them before has any insights/advice? It's an interview with HR and apparently is a general interview based on my application.

Thanks!!

I've had several law firms ask what I think their major opportunities for their law firm are in the next 3-5 years. What are the best ways of identifying where these opportunities are beyond their website, news and industry publications?

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts regarding this? My initial thought was to answer why it in two parts. Say why I want to be a solicitor, and why at Dechert? My only issue is, the first question was "why do clients instruct dechert?"..and I think thats already covered the why do I want to work at dechert part.

I've looked at what practices they're good at and I don't see anything that I can latch onto. Legal 500 seems to suggest they're good at energy and project finance, whereas other sources suggest they have a strong corporate side.

I met an associate from the firm a while ago (thankfully remembered their name and background!), but I didn't really get a concise answer as to what the biggest distinguisher is.

Does anyone have any experience or insight as to what really distinguishes them (I'm looking for something along the lines of a particularly strong practice area like Kirkland, a unique business model like Macfarlanes, Slaughters and Travers Smith, etc.)

Thanks!

Hi!

Has anyone done the Orrick application and know whom to address the cover letter to?

Thanks!

Hey,

Bit of a random one: I’m applying for a firm that uses FSR.CVMail and I can’t seem to add additional employers to the employment history section. Does anyone have any idea/ran into the same issue?

I will contact recruitment but I just wanted to check there wasn’t a simple reason why I might not be allowed to add more than 4 employers!

Hi all

Had a technical question relating to a private company issuing public debt (i.e. bonds). Can a private company become a public company via a bond issuance instead of an IPO?

I don’t think a private company can issue bonds to the public whilst remaining a private company so I’m just wondering whether they’d need to become public via the stock market first!

Hope that makes sense and thanks in advance!

Hi,
I recently received a TC offer and the firm (A&O) state on their welcome section that they offer £500 to TC holders who achieve a first class degree.
Am I right in assuming that this only applies to those who receive the first after getting the TC contract offer? I graduated before getting the TC and so presume I wouldn’t be eligible.
Thanks

Hello Everyone!

I have just came across TCLA (must have been living under a rock) and was wondering if anyone in the community has any advice for me based on my situation.

By way of context, I am a recent First Class Law Graduate from a Russell Group University. In the Summer of 2018, I undertook a Vacation Scheme at Norton Rose Fulbright but unfortunately did not manage to convert it into a TC. I was also NRF's Campus Ambassador. The feedback I received was positive, but my final TC interview let me down where I persisted with my point of view, as I thought I was trying to be 'caught out', yet later realised I had been mistaken. I was told at the time to re-apply, but during the final year of university, I suffered from difficult family circumstances and so chose to focus on my studies. I have recently got back in contact and asked NRF's HR if I can apply again based on my prior experience and I was advised I could apply for the Spring VC or the TC directly.

My question is which opportunity I should apply for. On one hand I view the VC as a way of showcasing my resilience, how I have worked on my feedback and a way to demonstrate how much my commercial awareness has improved. On the other hand, perhaps I would be more likely to be given a TC interview as 'one last shot', considering I have already experienced the NRF culture and gained experience there.

I feel like I am in an unusual position and don't really know what route to take, yet feel there is nothing to loose by making one last application!

Thank you all in advance for any views you might have.

Hello everyone! I have been following The Corporate Law Academy for a few years whilst applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, and would be ever so grateful for some advice on my (potentially) final year of applications.

I have recently graduated from my law degree and LPC at a non russell group University, with first class honours. I live in the North East and I currently have a great non-legal job at a global company based in London (I work from home in the North but I travel regularly). Whilst this is perfect for the time being, I am still determined to pursue a training contract.

However, I have discovered in this cycle of applications that firms are increasingly recruiting solely from their vacation schemes, which will exclude me from applying to many firms as I will not be able to take the time off work. Which makes me wonder if this will be my last cycle of TC applications, if this is a trend that will continue in the future.

I have a bulky CV: I have completed 5 vacation schemes in the last 3 years, worked part-time for 6 years from the age of 16 a premium supermarket chain and completed a number of volunteering and fundraising projects. I also averaged a mark of 76 in my 4 years at university, my only let down on my application being my A Level grades, being ABC (300 UCAS points).

My applications to northern firms have always fallen at the final hurdle: the final interview. Every piece of feedback I have received has been largely positive, which has been frustrating- I am usually told "everyone who met you [during the VS] thought you were great and spoke highly about you and we would encourage you to apply again next year" and the only clear negative feedback I was given was regarding a lack of confidence and about my commercial awareness: e.g. "the work you did was great but just lacked the ability to communicate information to clients in the way a lawyer would. You completed the work as a law student would and you therefore need some more legal experience".

This year I am re-applying to the northern firms that I was rejected from last year. However, I was also looking to broaden my applications into London firms (having enjoyed working in the London office of my current employer),and other, larger northern firms, but I am conscious that I would be wasting my time applying to firms that would automatically filter out my application due to my ABC A-Level results, and my inability to undertake a VS. (I have never passed the online application stage to firms such as Eversheds and Irwin Mitchell for example).

Does anyone have any positive experience/knowledge of firms that I would not be wasting my time on applying to given my circumstances? (My first choice of location would be Leeds/Newcastle and I would definitely move to London if it paid enough for me to relocate).

I am currently doing an application to Travers Smith. In the work experience section it says Employer (100 characters max) and
Position (100 characters max) but the nature of work section has no word limit on it. Am I right in thinking then that the nature of work bit is not limited to 100 words?

"Our strategies are driven around our clients and our people. Both go hand in hand, and one cannot succeed without the other. Please tell us what client focus and people focus mean to you, in a successful organisation like BM. Include any personal experience you think may be relevant to these discussions. (max 500)".

I am a bit confused about what they want me to include in this response and in turn I struggle in structuring my answer. Do you think they want me to (1) show my research and spot what they do in terms of strategy to focus on their people and their clients, or (2) say what I would do to focus my work on clients and people if I worked at BM and eventually back it up with personal experience?

Some help would be very much appreciated, thank you!
Giulia

Hi all,

I’ve just submitted my Mayer Brown VS application and I was under the impression there would be online tests immediately following. However, all I’ve received is a confirmation email with no mention of tests.

Has anyone else applied? Did you receive tests immediately? Or not at all?

Thanks!

I have been rejected after completing 4 AC interviews for vacation schemes and TCs. I have honestly been quite burnt out after the rejections. It feels like I‘ve put in my 200% into everything - from grades (I managed to rank one of the highest in my year) to polishing my CV with work experiences and leadership experiences. I also prepared extensively for each AC in the midst of exams. However, it feels like I’m not getting very far.

Although I did receive good feedback from my ACs, I did not manage to get the TC/VS offer. It’s been quite demoralising and while I keep pushing myself to keep trying, I have been really exhausted. Would anyone have any tips on how to jump back from rejection and burn out?

Hello all,

I hope all us budding lawyers have had a wonderful Christmas, and perhaps a brief break from applications.

I'm working on the Lewis Silkin application and was wondering if anyone had some advice for this question.

Lewis Silkin prides itself on delivering legal advice in a commercial way. What do you think it means to deliver legal advice in a commercial way?

Any ideas/ inspiration would be massively appreciated.

Hi All,

Just a heads up, the Spring & Summer vacation scheme deadline for Shearman & Sterling is the 19th January 2020.

From the firm's recruitment page:

Our vacation schemes are the perfect way to gain an insight into life at Shearman & Sterling. The scheme will see you experience two diverse practice groups (one each week), with your personal preferences catered to. The scheme aims to mirror the Training Contract in that everyone will experience at least one of our core transactional groups (M&A, Finance and Project Development & Finance) as well as being allocated a mentor and supervisor to provide advice and support, answer any questions and most importantly – provide you with some work!

You can apply now over here: https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/opportunities/vacation-schemes/.

Kindly note, this is a sponsored post.

Hello

I would appreciate any feedback at all on my Jones Day Cover letter. The word limit is 300 words and am really not sure if I should focus on why law/why jones day/both so would appreciate any insight!

Also, I know they assess apps on a rolling basis - if I was to submit towards the end of December do you think most places will have been filled up?

Thanks in advance.


I was first exposed to Jones Day at a discussion regarding delivering justice through Pro Bono which explored the importance of corporate responsibility. I was fascinated to hear Muireann Dennehy, Senior Associate in Global Disputes, share how at Jones Day she was given the opportunity to work at the Moira Refugee Camp in Lesvos, Greece. Furthermore I learnt from associates present that Jones Day encourage trainees to share their own ideas for charities or projects where they want to offer legal support fostering an independent yet supportive working environment. I have previously volunteered with the asylum seekers with the Bail Observation Project and North London Synagogue and would really value the opportunity to continue such work from a more legal standpoint during my training contract and beyond.

Furthermore, the non-rotational seat system is something I have previous experience with as it was integrated into my ten week summer internship at Lloyds Banking Group. I was placed in the legal department but rather than being put in a specific division I was encouraged to go around the different departments which specifically interested me and become exposed to a wider range of work. To give an example, at one point in my internship I had worked on a project involving supporting gambling addicts with the Legal Transformation team while simultaneously working with the Data Legal Team on GDPR concerns. I found working in this manner allowed me to take initiative and constantly challenged me ensuring I got the most out of my internship. I value the way Jones Day have their seat system and would use it as an opportunity to engage with a diverse number of individuals and areas as well as it being advantageous to exposing me to a wider variety of sectors and clients.

I am currently working on the Walker Morris application. I'm just a little unsure about how to approach the below question:

Tell us the achievement you are most proud of and why.

I was planning on writing about how I secured two internships abroad through my own initiative while being on a family trip as I was curious to know more about the commercial law in that jurisdiction. I'm not sure if this can be classified as an achievement but is definitely something that makes me proud.

Would appreciate some thoughts on this

Hi guys,

I am a third-year History student (I'm currently on a year abroad so not final year) and I want to apply for vacation schemes, however, I feel a bit out of my depth here. I realised that I wanted to be a commercial lawyer later on this year so I have not been to any open days, insight days or even networked. I'm even struggling to answer the questions asked in the vacation scheme applications and the deadlines are coming up soon. Should I still attempt to apply?

thanks in advance

It’s hard to put into words how incredible this year has been.

I plan to start writing these reviews at the end of each year to take stock of what we’ve achieved so far and map out where we’re hoping to go in the future. Hopefully, it'll also give you guys an insight into TCLA on a more personal level.

Before I get to what I’ve learned this year, I want to touch on the first year of starting TCLA because I’ve never really talked about that in much detail.

I started TCLA in February 2018. Prior to that, you guys probably know by now that I was a trainee - for a few months - at the US-based law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges.

Sometimes when people see where we’re at right now, it can seem like starting a company is easy. I can tell that you that it isn't. Leaving Weil and starting TCLA was a rollercoaster of emotions, and that first year, in particular, was very tough. At the time, I had no idea if it was going to work, how I was going to turn my ideas into a viable business, and how I'd differentiate TCLA from the well-established legal careers platforms in this space.

To put things into perspective, by August 2018, I was regularly working 80 hours a week on TCLA and had invested the vast majority of my savings into the company. That was definitely on the extreme end: looking back on it, I'm sure I was compensating for having left behind a career at a law firm, wanting to make something of myself, and having convinced myself that I didn't want to work for someone else.

2019 Highlights

There was no set date when I woke up one day and things were suddenly working out. It was more a case of putting in a lot of blind effort, day after day, and slowly realising that I didn’t have to worry about whether TCLA was going to make enough money to continue.

Things have changed a lot this year. In November 2019, we reached our biggest revenue milestone: when monthly revenue from our premium subscription surpassed five figures for the first time. Our recent month on month growth has been incredible, but I’d also note that that’s likely to be substantially influenced by the application season (e.g. monthly subscription revenue rose by 60% in September 2019 compared to August 2019). I'm eager to see the extent to which we can keep this going after January.

In terms of overall website traffic, we reached a record 19,000 unique visitors in November 2019. Within the forum, we have just surpassed 4,000 forum registrations (compared to 1,000 in November 2018) and over 16,300 posts.

Beyond the stats, looking back on the year, here’s a selection of things I am most proud of:

• The strength of our community (it's incredible seeing the motivation and support you guys give each other in the forums)
• The launch of TCLA Premium 2.0 and over 10 courses
• Reaching episode 25 in our podcast Trainee Talk
• Running our first event, TCLA’s Crash Course, and meeting many of you in person during our university presentations
• Seeing many of our longstanding members secure training contracts
• Hiring brand ambassadors for the first time this year

Personal takeaways from 2019:

• Circle of competence: I saw a huge difference when I started focusing on activities that I was best suited for/where I could add the most value, and hiring people to do the rest. Warren Buffet calls this the circle of competence. I’ve realised that I can’t micromanage everything, and this year, I’ve become better at stepping back from most areas. Eventually, I’d love to hire people for all aspects of the business and just focus on working on launching new ideas, securing sponsorship or marketing.
• Ending projects and people management: In the past, I used to allow projects to drag on because I didn’t want to disappoint people, or because of the amount of time I’d invested in them (see sunk cost fallacy). I became better at closing projects and making U-turns this year. I still feel guilty when it happens, but I’ve realised, sometimes you have to do these things for the sake of the business. On a similar level, I’ve learned a lot about hiring people and bringing people onto our team. This year, we’ve had 5-10 people working for TCLA on either a freelance or part time basis at any one time. I’ve still got a lot to learn in this area, but one thing that has stood out is to value enthusiasm and genuine interest over how impressive a CV is. Likewise, I’ve learned that whenever I’ve had doubts about working with someone from the beginning, I’ve usually turned out to be right later on.
• The effectiveness of marketing: Until this year, I never really realised how much of a difference marketing could make. In particular, I've learned about the power of social media marketing - provided platforms are treated separately - and how LinkedIn is an incredible (and massively underutilised) platform for marketing. I now spend a substantial proportion of my time on marketing. Ironically, while I love the creativity aspect, I actually find public marketing to be quite uncomfortable (probably because I’m actually a huge introvert, believe it or not), but I’ve become better at quietening that voice because it’s so great for the business.
• So much of TCLA’s success is down to luck: As much as I’d like to tell people that hard work will lead to a successful business, I don’t think that’s true. I was lucky in so many ways, from the time in which I entered the market, to the relationships that were developed from pure coincidence. That said, I would say there are a few things that can increase the amount of luck you have: being persistent, delivering exceptional value and constantly experimenting with ideas (in particular, throwing things at a wall, and then doubling down on the things that stick).

Plans for 2020

This year I’ve realised that it’s very hard to predict the future, so rather than setting fixed targets, here’s a broad outline of the direction I’d like to take TCLA and a few areas I hope to work on.

The long term goal – which some of you may have seen me mention before – is to turn TCLA into an online law school. That means having qualified teachers to provide online training that’ll better prepare aspiring lawyers (from students to trainee solicitors) for a career in commercial law.

With that in mind, next year I hope to:

• Continue to raise awareness of TCLA across more UK and international universities
• Hire teachers (ideally, lawyers and other experts) to teach a broader range of subjects
• Tidy up the existing content we have both within the forum and via our premium subscription
• Invest more time in our newsletter and making our emails more personalised

On a personal level, I also hope to:

• Get better at tracking my monthly progress by writing a personal blog
• Get better at taking breaks (I need to remind myself this is a marathon, not a sprint)
• Get better at managing email/messaging flow (I'm constantly feeling guilty about this, but I just can't keep up the volume at the moment)

Thank You

Finally, before I close this Year in Review, it’s important to note that TCLA wouldn’t have reached the stage it has today without some of the amazing people behind it.

Particular shout outs go to @Jessica Booker for her continued efforts within our forums; @Alice G and @Daniel Boden for their roles within the community; and @Yee Rou Quah for helping to launch our podcast Trainee Talk.

Likewise, thank you to all of YOU for your continued engagement and support. I feel very lucky to have such an amazing community of members and readers, and it makes waking up and doing this each day a pleasure. I really hope each of you secure what you want to in 2020.

Feel free to comment below. It would be amazing to hear some of your own goals for the new year .

PS: Unhelpfully, my phone has decided to die today. My phone is also the TCLA phone, so if anyone needs to contact us urgently, please email [email protected] for the time being.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jaysen

So I have heard that some firms offer a summer TC application window. I have heard that Freshfields and (possibly) Hogan Lovells do this, along with the Government Legal Service. Does anybody know which other firms/organisations do this? I am exhausted with trying to juggle writing quality applications that I get constantly rejected from and trying to maintain good grades and would like to just put applications to one side for now and focus on them when I have more time.

Dear community,

Does anyone know what type of critical thinking assessment does Akin Gump use? Is it WGT? Thanks in advance

Does anyone have some general tips for Verbal Reasoning Tests?

A particularly difficulty I’m having is when to choose between false and cannot say.

Any comments/tips will be appreciated!