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Hi all,

I was just wondering whether anyone has received a response from TLT in relation to the Beyond Programme yet?

I understand the assessment centre is due to take place at the end of Jan/start of Feb and I am yet to receive a response either way.

hi has anyone done an AC for TLT or CMS 2025 as ive got one for both firms next week and im super worried, could really use the advice or tips from ppl who have done one.

I am a First Year Law student and I am looking at requirements for Vacation schemes for next year. My A-Levels didn’t go to plan due to some problems I dealt with. In short, my school life wasn’t at all great; bullying from a teacher and kids through secondary, getting SA’d by a guy in my year, my grandad getting cancer around exam period.
That’s the general gist of it. I got ABBB at alevel, the law firm needs AAA. I know there are other firms but this is more of a question out of curiousity. Would I be able to use these issues as mitigating circumstances, or would it hurt my career more so to do it?

Hey everyone.

I'm a first-year undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen. My work placements to date have been a week shadowing 2 barristers in the High Courts of London and working in a smaller but notable Highstreet Firm in Belfast specializing in Criminal law, Medical Negligence, Family law, Litigation and Conveyancing.
For some background information, I achieved relatively highly on my GCSEs (888877765) but absolutely screwed up my A Levels (BBD in Maths, Music and Biology. I dropped Chemistry after Year 12 due to it being too much work for me) as my parents wanted me to study medicine and forced me to do the related subjects (albeit Music because I have a diploma in piano etc).
I managed to scrape my way into Aberdeen through clearing and have achieved a comfortable first on all of my first-semester modules as well as just begun working at the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

My problem arises that whilst I have been consistently labelled as "eager" and "proactive," as I am navigating the many avenues that my Law Degree can take me, I already have the impression that pursuing any opportunities in Commercial and Corporate law are at a dead end due to my especially poor A level results and the University I go to (whilst my impression is based on various rankings, Aberdeen is a very prestigious University that has consistently ranked in the top 15 Law Schools in the UK and beaten numerous Russel Groups). In all honesty, I was just grateful to get into University anyway and due to how much work and tears I shed at A Level I find myself feeling more comfortable than my peers. even more so coming from a working-class background and the first in my family to go to University).

However, I feel that even though I feel like I am thriving in my higher academic position, receiving several work-experience opportunities as a first year and that A levels are not representative of my potential, I fear that many competitive and larger firms will simply ignore any valid reasons or strengths I have shown just because of my A level grades. Because of this, I'm unsure whether there is any point in me even beginning to pursue an interest at a Magic/Silver Circle or any BigLaw firm as I would simply be represented by a series of bad grades that didn't go my way due to very nuanced reasons.

That being said, I have found that my skill set lies primarily in the fact that I can work with and talk to absolutely anyone (I have been asked several times why do I not pursue a career in sales instead) and have shown this by previously having volunteered in a severely understaffed hospital ward and grown up around mostly upper-class kids (meaning I've effectively had to adapt to suit anyone's preferences).
This is why even as a first year, I excel in 'networking' and creating lasting impressions on senior Law figures and have also managed to receive a 1-week placement with Dyson's IP department and potentially a placement at Eversheds Sutherland (and also the placements mentioned at the top of my post).
Unfortunately, I feel this key strength of mine is irrelevant to any big city firm and have slowly been saddened at the prospect that I may never work for a notable firm. I have a genuine interest in global commercial affairs but I feel like this doesn't make a difference.

Is there any point in me even looking at this forum, open days or opportunities concerning Corporate Law anymore? What's the point if all of my skills are buried beneath my crap A levels.

I am not looking for any sympathy and apologize if it has come across to anyone that I am looking for it. I thought I had gotten past the pitfalls of being judged for my grades and that thriving in my Law degree would be enough but I am coming to the realization that none of that matters.

I'm in the very fortunate position of having passed ACs for both CMS and DLA Piper - happy to offer tips to anyone who's yet to go through the process (not that I'd feel especially qualified for this!)


However, the CMS offer is for a direct TC, and DLA for a Summer Internship. I really liked DLA, more so than CMS - but the option of just accepting the CMS TC and not having to worry about passing an internship is tempting. If the DLA offer were for a direct TC I'd accept that without hesitation.


Has anyone been in a similar position, or have experience working at either of these two firms? Also, does anyone know the typical % of students who end up going on to pass the DLA Summer Internship?

Hi there,

I have an AC tomorrow for SM. It only involves a written assessment and a group project.

I believe the group project will involve 'factors that will impact the profession in the future'.

No idea about the written assessment - will it involve drafting legal documents? I don't have paralegal experience so I'm worried it will.

Please, please, please bombard me with tips/anecdotes/advice.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently been invited to complete the pre-assessment centre written task for the BBC. However, I’ve received very little information about what to expect. All I know is that I’ll have 5 hours to complete the task via HireVue, but I’m unsure of how to approach it.

Should I treat it like a case study, as one might in a typical assessment centre, or take a different approach? I've also been unable to find much information about this specific task online.

If anyone has experience with this or any tips, I’d greatly appreciate your insights. Thank you!!

Hi! I've been invited to a Macfarlanes assessment centre next month. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or had any recent experiences at the firm that they could share

Hi everyone, how can I best prepare for a situational judgement test? for law firms in general

Hi All, In writing a letter during TC assessment centre, do you include the firm's address on the top right side of the letter or insert letterhead manually?

Keeping this as a sort of diary! I just graduated from a top 10 British uni with a non-law 2:1 this year. No GDL (hoping to find a firm to sponsor me!). This is my first ever attempt at securing a TC.

NB any incorrect punctuation in firm names is deliberate so it is harder to track my postings - an attempt to stay anonymous here so any GR remain unbiased

Interested in SouthWest firms, and a couple in Cambridge. Definitely not London. Hoping for more of a PrivateClient base, and particularly hoping to qualify into Family. (I know this is TCLA but hopefully this is still ok to post - I have had so much help from this forum already just from lurking and perhaps my posts might help someone else.)

Applying to:
- Charles.Russell.Speechlys
- Michel.mores
- Foot.Anstey
- TLT-LLP
- Burges.Salmon
- Ashford.s
- RWK.Good.man
- V.W.V.
- Harrison.Clark.Rickerbys
- Mills.&.Reeve

CURRENT STATUS
- Missed deadline for Irwin.Mitchell (gutted. thought it was in Jan, not Dec)
- PFO from Mills.&.Reeve after psychometric test and personal statement :/
- Applications in progress for Michel.mores and Foot.Anstey.
- First application to C.R.S. sent off, crossing fingers for second round! Feel quite positive about this one. I researched a lot and think it was tailored to me and the firm well. We'll just have to see what they think.

Feeling:
- slightly down from M&R rejection so soon into the cycle, and the stupidity of missing IM applications altogether!!!
- trying to remain hopeful and keep pushing on - determined to not let it affect my other apps
- favourite firm is Michel.mores, with C.R.S. close second. After that, I am not too picky. But if C.R.S. reject me at this stage, I will be gutted

Fingers crossed for everyone. Will update as emails come in / I send off applications. I also work full time so it is taking me up to each deadline to get it done... But we'll all get there in the end!

Hi,

I have an interview upcoming with Slaughter and May, and I know they tend to quiz you on why certain grades were lower than others. My second year grades were lower than my first year grades, but still were not bad. Is it worth mentioning that the cohort as a whole scored poorly because of a changed exam format and I stil ranked comfortably in the top 20% of students, if so how would I do this without seeming like I am not accepting responsibiltiy for getting lower grades?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to self-fund the SQE2 this year and would love to hear from those who have already taken it, particularly if you went through the exemption route (I completed the LPC in 2022) and have enrolled in a prep course (or not). I am a paralegal, working full-time and will have obtained 100% of my QWE early 2026.

I'm interested to know more about the following:

• Preparation: How did you prepare for the exam? Which provider did you go with, and would you recommend them? Did you find their resources comprehensive and helpful? How many months did you spend revising, and how did you balance your study schedule if you were working or had other commitments? As someone who completed their LPC a while back, how should I go about revising FLK?
• Advice: If you could go back, what would you do differently in your preparation? Are there any tips, resources, or strategies that you found particularly helpful for passing?

I’d really appreciate any insights or advice as I decide on my study and exam approach. Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences!

Hi all,

Looking for recommendations for the better prep courses or alternatives for SQE2.
I did my GDL and SQE1 through COLP, and am in no hurry to return to them!

Has anyone heard of or used the course on In House W? Or what about the Revise SQE2 books?

Thanks,
Amy

Answered

For those that have completed the LPC and the SQE 2, how did you find it and the SQE 2 exams, especially with the FLK and how did you study for it? As someone that has completed the LPC a few years back, sitting the SQE 2 now seems to be about re-memorising all the FLK/black letter law. Some people have said FLK comes up a lot while others noted it makes up only a small part of the SQE 2 exams.

Just submitted a VI , but I got cut off just as I was wrapping up my answer for the final question. Not too sure how much made it through. Anyone hear been in a similar position, and did you get progressed?

Hi all.
I am a third year non-law undergrad and have only begun my law journey within the last year. I applied for a couple of vacation schemes but wasn't successful, so I am wondering what to do next. I will be moving back home to Nottingham in the summer, and have been considering enrolling on the University of Nottingham Law LLM, or a law conversion course at the local ULaw campus (I can't afford to self fund so I would need to do a course that has government/sfe funding available). However, I also think I could spend a year applying for vac schemes for Winter 25-Summer 26, hoping to secure a TC through these. If I did this and did not sit a conversion course, I would try to find some sort of legal work – maybe secretarial or something that wouldn't require law experience – obviously this may be rather hard given the current jobs market nationally, and the commercial law market in Nottingham.
I am looking for advice as to what my next steps should be. I understand that a law conversion course is not strictly required in order to secure a TC, but would it help my application at all, over the second option? My main worry is that I am unable to find legal work and have less on my CV to show my interest in commercial law.
Thank you all for your help, I look forward to hearing back.

Hi all,

I'm applying to the Trower & Hamlins Vac Scheme and feel torn between London and Manchester.

I like the idea of life in Manchester, but I also want to experience the 'London Trainee Lifestyle'!

Does anyone have any knowledge about the key differences between the 2 offices?


Thank YOU!!

Hello all,

I have a plagiarism case from uni 4 years ago and since then I have worked for 2 years at a law firm and I am due to start my TC end of this year after completing my SQE masters. I am able to provide a strong reference from my previous employer about my character as well as a few really positive reviews from past clients (hopefully another reference from new employer). I was wondering whether the SRA would be likely to refuse admission based on that previous academic misconduct case? It would have been 6 years by the time I apply and I know I would have to provide evidence of rehabilitation. I have learnt a lot from the situation and since then have been walking a tight rope and obsessed with being better. Has anyone been admitted after being found for plagiarism previously and am I in a really bad position?

Would appreciate any thoughts on this as I am really worried all the hard work will go down the drain!

Thanks guys

Hi all, I am struggling with the SJT. On multiple occasions, I received my feedback report saying I did just ok on every indicator, and that I would have had to answer "quite differently" to hit the mark. Let me give one example, I constantly get a 4/10 for innovative mindset (technology). Say for example, a question tells you there's this amazing technology that no one at the firm has used before. I would choose to raise this with someone above and see if they agree it's of good use, instead of just blindly applying it to my work. This has always been my approach to anything technology-wise. If it's all new and I'm not sure, I bring it up to someone to suggest using it first. Is that wrong? Would I have to choose the option of just using it without asking anybody for me to score highly?

@Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu

I was applying to MoFo and was wondering if you have any advice on approaching - 'please include any other information that you consider to be relevant to your application'. This question has no word limit and the application doesn't either. I do think somehow this question provides an opportunity to write anything broadly and including specific information here could help me get to the interview stage.

For context, there is already a 'why MoFo' question, 'commercial news story' question and question on personal achievements, interests and responsibilities {'why you'}. I assume most applicants would include anything from their hobbies or extracurricular activities to other motivations for why MoFo.

Do you have any suggestions as to what I should include to make my application more compelling?

I am a non law graduate currently working as a nurse and have been for 13 years. I am looking at career change. Any tips or advice? I've been looking at the graduate conversion MA course to do before the SQE1 and 2.

-

Does anyone have any recommendations for resources to understand a law firm's restructuring practice eg Weil, Milbank?

Would it be accurate to say that these larger firms with high fees are typically only brought in 1. closer in time to avoid formal insolvency by improving liquidity or 2. in preparation for formal insolvency proceedings once it becomes clear a company will go insolvent? As an extension, I heard that debt buybacks, equity cures, PIK interests, are transactions that take place earlier when a company is yet to be in major financial difficulties. If the answer to my initial question is yes, would this mean firms like Weil or Milbank wouldn't be as involved in those transactions?

Thank you