New Threads

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of reassurance/advice regarding my current role. I have been working in audit and tax for the last 15 months and hoping to gain a TC as a career changer. However, im really struggling with the role and it's starting to impact my mental well-being so I'm unsure whether to stick it out for the sake of TC/VS applications. How detrimental would quitting be to future applications but moreover what alternative roles would be good for TC applications in the meantime if not paralegal work. P.S. I ventured down the accounting route as I failed to secure a paralegal role.

Thanks

This may be a broad question but I am narrowing down the criteria which makes clients select certain law firms over others.

Using this analogy I am looking to understand what makes law firms different from each other.

My current criteria includes:

- Global presence: Is the firm operation in jurisdictions of interest to the client?

- Practice area strength: Can the firm provide legal and commercial advice to match the complexity of a clients needs

- Multi-practice area strength: (similar as above) Depending on the nature of client needs, where a deal/ project includes multiple practice areas, can the firm provide high calibre advice on those?

- Awards/ Chambers rankings: Do clients select law firms primarily based on how high firms rank?

- D&I: Significant number of clients are expecting to see diversity represented in their legal panels

- Regulator/ Industry body involvement: (Mostly US firms) I see lawyer profiles pointing out experiences of lawyers working directly for regulators

Are there any other criteria you seek out when looking to understand what truly makes a firm unique compared to any other?

Let me know below!

Poor SJT Decisions: I know there is no real practice for SJT tests, but I got feedback from a test prep provider saying I made poor SJT decisions. Are there guiding principles or practice that would help me make better decisions?
(The feedback also said I should get more work experience, but I think my previous traumatic experience is why my decision-making compass is malfunctioning. Again, I know I should not read into the question too much, but I think more or less it does affect my judgement.)

Poor math and verbal skills: I received feedback from a test I attempted for an app that my math and verbal skills need improvement - which upset me a bit because I had always been confident at math. I would be most grateful if anyone has any tips or practice for law firm tests that are not WG tests. I find the Graduate First and Law Firm tests a bit too generic to be helpful.

Thank you very much in advance!

Hey! I just wanted to post a quick message reassuring those of you applying for vac schemes / TCs that you can certainly achieve your goal. I also wanted to offer some assistance. I achieved BCC at A-Level, attended a non-Russell group university and graduated with a 2:1. I applied for TCs in my first and third years and received zero offers. I then began the LPC LLM and have just secured a TC at Osborne Clarke. I went from zero offers to being able to pass multiple stages of assessment and secure a TC at a top firm by learning everything I possibly could about the process.

If anyone is looking to apply to OC or wants help with vac scheme / TC applications more generally, please just send me a message. It took me a lot of time, research and conversations to learn how to pass all of the stages successfully, so if you think I may be able to help just let me know.

Have training contracts from both - have just under two weeks to choose between. Am honestly not sure what to pick.

I saw someone else post about CC only having the SQE with CC people whereas S&M mixes with other firms - is this a positive or a negative? I agree that it would be nice to know lawyers from other firms rather than studying and training with the same people - does anyone have any experience at either firm with this?

Additionally, I know that S&M has no billable hours target whereas CC does. However, I'm interested in antitrust/litigation, two areas I know which tend to have pretty heavy hours regardless of the firm, so I'm not sure if CC's target will necessarily mean much more gruelling hours than the equivalent in the S&M department, but I'm not sure.

Also, I've heard that S&M's work is more "academic" and varied with the multispecialism - but does this multispecialism mean much when you're actually fully qualified? And does going to CC necessarily mean you'll be stuck doing the same thing forever (as opposed to, I guess, multispecialism)?

I would welcome any advice from anyone who has been at either firm/has chosen one over the other!

Thanks!

Hi. I've recently received a TC offer from somewhere which I would like to accept, however, that means that I would to renege on a previous TC offer that I have received from another firm. What would be the best way to do it via an email and how do you recommend that I phrase that I can no longer commence a TC at that firm.

Hello everyone,

Certain firms offer training contract offers only to those who have completed vacation schemes at that firm (often in the same cycle). I thought it would be helpful to list these firms below.

The confirmed source where I have found this information can be found through the hyperlink for particular firms in the second column.

As always, please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas to make this thread even better.

Good luck to all!

Hi all,

You can use this thread to discuss the steps you are taking to develop your commercial awareness this cycle.

Thanks,

Jaysen

Hello TCLA members,

I finally decided to introduce myself after being here for sometime now.
I am Annie, a career changer. Also returning to professional work after a little over 8 years career break.
My first degree was Banking & Finance, MBA in Finance both from oversees. Graduated this year from City law school after completing the GDL.
Why law? Most of my professors in business school were lawyers too and I admired the wealth of knowledge and the varied opportunities studying law offers. Returning to work I wanted a new challenge and variety. I know law firms will not believe me however though the GDL was tough I found it interesting and fascinating. Honestly still figuring out a compelling answer but on here, this is the honest truth. My interest is commercial law and international trade ultimately, having done the trade finance course with the London institute of banking earlier.
I know I have a massive glass ceiling to smash. Among other things, being an immigrant and having zero legal connections here in the UK. After research, I have narrowed down to about five firms who have strong trade finance practices. I hope I am doing the right thing.
Good luck to us all this cycle and let’s support and cheer each other on! Yes we can!

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Hogan Lovells TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Cleary TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Latham TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Weil TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Stephenson Harwood TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Paul Hastings TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the HFW TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Addleshaw Goddard TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Macfarlanes TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Sullivan & Cromwell TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Morgan Lewis TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the WFW TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Kirkland & Ellis TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Withers TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Vinson & Elkins TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks

Hello all!

Hope everyone is progressing well with their Training Contract (TC) processes.

I have set up this forum to allow applicants to keep track of updates specifically related to the Fried Frank TC applications for the 2025 programme.

Please share your current status, i.e., whether you have not yet applied, or have submitted the application and are either awaiting a response or have heard back etc.

Looking forward to speaking with you all

Thanks