New Threads

Hi, I am thinking of doing the GDL and need some help deciding which London provider to choose plz give advice (contact hours, exam structure etc). Thks

Hi TCLA staff! I missed the amazing discussion on the Vodafone deal, I wonder if there's a recording that's accessible for people who are unable to attend due to work commitments? Thank you so much!

Hi all, I have an interview coming up. I understand the title question is quite common for global firms with 30+ offices. I understand that they're trying to test you on your knowledge of the firm, where are their offices, and what sectors they operate in, but does anyone who has come across this question have extra tips? For example, did you demonstrate specific knowledge of a country that has growing potential?

Hi

Has anyone used the premium subscription f Ziplaw (50 pounds per year)? What do you think ?

Thanks

Hi all!

I’m thinking about self funding the SQE at University of Law this year.

Just for context: I just graduated (2023) with a 2:1 in law from an RG uni and have some prior legal work experience. Unsuccessful with TCs in second year and had some difficult family issues this year which derailed my applications. Also I am in the position to self fund my SQE without going into any debt.

I’m committed to getting qualified and increasing my employability but just slightly worried about the SQE given that it is so new and the pass rate is relatively low.

I’m planning to apply for direct TCs this year and if those don’t work out I’ll apply for paralegal positions next year but I’m worried that might derail my chances of obtaining a TC given QWE. I’m wondering if it would be possible to work as a paralegal for a year without counting it towards QWE whilst trying hard to secure a TC.

My other option is to apply for paralegal positions and make TC applications this year. But I haven’t secured anything yet so worried about having gaps in my CV.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi all,

I have a conundrum, and it would be great to hear your thoughts on this. I recently started working for a legal tech company specializing in derivatives and contract automation. As a company, we normally work in investment banks and there is an opportunity for lots of exposure to their in-house legal teams. I have been there for nearly half a year and the job is going well. The role isn't a traditional paralegal role and I'm doing a lot more data entry than actual law work and am sadly not using that much in terms of legal skills. The place I work for also offers training contracts which seemed like a sweet deal at the time. and drew me in. However, I have some concerns about how it may affect later career prospects.

My concerns are as follows:

1- Will my qualifying at a boutique/ consultancy as a derivatives lawyer affect my career prospects later on? I'm aware that some leading firms ask for private practice training, which I won't have. I do wish to do some private practice work at some point during my career once I qualify and don't want to be inadvertently hamstrung due to my training at a consultancy at this point. I know that several former employees got pinched by the in-house legal teams of the banks they were seconded to, so this also could be an option later on.

2 - My job currently has hit a peak in terms of legal skills and professional development at this moment in time. I'm in effect doing a document review job with some extra work I've been set internally. There are no perks, low annual leave and the salary is low. The main draw is the training contract, to be honest, but there's been a hiring spree and only one person gets trained at a time so I'm not sure how likely it is that I would get it as there are at least 8/9 of us who are eligible at this point. Would it be worth me moving into a law firm, taking a paralegal role, and then trying to qualify internally into a private practice firm, or should I stick it out, get trained, and then see where that leaves me in 4 years' time?

I will admit, I'm in a strong position and know my CV is looking good, judging by the caliber of my colleagues and the other potential offers recruiters have thrown at me. I'm just wondering if this is the right move. If anyone has any thoughts, that would be great to hear.

Hi everyone,

I recently interviewed and received an offer from a national law firm for a contract paralegal role. The work is on a day rate basis via an Umbrella Company.

I just confirmed with HR that I would like to accept this offer. HR said I need to instruct an umbrella company myself. I haven't had any previous experience with instructing an umbrella company and I am not quite sure which company to choose and what to look out for.

I would really appreciate if anyone can share some insights/recommendations on dealing with umbrella companies.

Thanks in advance!

This is an informal thread to discuss areas where TCLA can improve

Do note: I am very grateful for this platform - if there was a single piece of advice I would give to an aspiring commercial lawyer, it would be to get a TCLA membership.

Hi everyone, how is your week going for far?

Who here can relate to this situation?:

"Your phone goes off. You know that sound - it’s an email notification. You open your inbox, and there it is. The email you’ve been waiting for for weeks. You tentatively hover over it. Ok, breathe, click… YES! The firm has invited you to an interview! After calling your friends and family, it starts to become very real. The interview is in two weeks, there’s so much to do, where do you start?"

Sound familiar? I wanted to jump into the forum today to share with you some advice to help you prepare for your interviews, whether it be for a training contract or vacation scheme.

Here are 5 things you can do to prepare:

1. Research the firm’s practice areas: This is a key way of showing the interviewer that you are invested in joining the firm because of the work that they do, not just to gain a training contract. You don’t need to memorise every department, focus on the practice areas that the firm specialises in, and familiarise yourself with those. Say the firm has a large Tech department, and you are interested in working in this area - focus on this!
2. Choose a commercial awareness news story: Trying to learn every detail about every commercial news story in the space of two weeks isn’t realistic. Pick one that interests you, and learn it inside out. Read every update, make notes of key details, and discuss it with someone else aloud if you can.
3. Research the firm’s current deals: You will most likely be asked a question in your interview surrounding the firm’s recent deals. You can’t be expected to know every deal that the firm is working on, but it’s important to have basic knowledge of the most relevant ones at the time of your interview. Find out what deals the firm is currently working on, note down key details, which departments are involved, and start to think about how the deal will impact the firm as a business.
4. Read over your application: When writing applications to a host of different firms, it can be difficult to remember exactly what you’ve written. Your interviewer could bring up any aspect of your application - be prepared by reading over your application ahead of time, and re-familiarise yourself with your answers. The last thing you want to happen here is to confuse your answers with an application you submitted to a different firm!
5. Practise your answers aloud: Often the way you would answer a question in written form is different to how you would actually answer it in conversation. To avoid sounding like you’re reading from a script in your interview, note down the key points you want to discuss, and practise answering them aloud to a friend or family member. If you can’t find someone to practise with, try recording yourself. Watch yourself back and see how your answers come across from the interviewer’s perspective - this may be uncomfortable at first, but it’s a great way to refine your answers, and ensure they are coming across in the way you intend.

I can hear you saying, “This is great for preparation Erin, but how do I actually answer the interview questions?” Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Our popular “How to prepare for a law firm interview and assessment centre” course has been transformed!​

The brilliant Mahesh, a former trainee at a Magic Circle firm, has compiled all of his knowledge from conducting 600+ mock interviews at TCLA, into a deep dive video series focusing on:

️Answering motivational, commercial, competency and situational judgement based questions.

Breaking down why the interviewer is asking this question, and what they are looking for in your response.

️Common pitfalls to avoid, and examples of ‘model answers’.

These videos are interactive - you will be asked the interview question, and then have time to think about how you would answer, before moving on to the ‘answer’ video, where you can listen to advice on how best to approach the question in a real interview setting.

For access to this course, sign up to TCLA Premium Gold today via this link for 15% off your first month.​

I hope you found this useful, feel free to share any interview preparation tips of your own in this thread!

Erin

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Vodafone and Three to merge. Please add to the discussion here.

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Mini Series: Business of Law Firms - The Role of Panel Solicitors. Please add to the discussion here.

Hi all, I just graduated from a RG University with a low 2.1 overall in history and politics. I worked as an estate agent during the second half of my second year and the first half of my third year. Since this February, I have been working at a top 35 firm as an admin in the commercial real estate team. My role mainly involves file openings/payment transfers/conflict checks, but I have also had quite a bit of client contact, such as hand-delivering documents to the client/calling them/assisting with completion work, such as calling the other side solicitors to date documents. Recently I've been entrusted with the client reports for our team - which involves creating a monthly report of our matters and making sure that all the details are correct before sending it to the client.

I begin my PGDL (Master) at BPP on a part-time basis so that I can work full-time at the firm. I have also done loads of virtual work experience on Forage.

I have a strong interest in two firms - Addleshaw Goddard and Pinsent Masons, so i'll be applying for the 2026 TC for both.

Just a bit of background, I got pretty average GCSEs (4s-6s), and I got A*ACC in my A-levels with a B in my EPQ; however I'm worried that my low 2.1 isn't good enough. Would my experience in real estate help me stand out as an applicant?

Thanks!

I have however a general query about the differences and benefits of Winter vs. Summer vacation schemes when it comes to securing a training contract offer. I've done some research but could use some insights from those in the know.

Specifically, I'm curious if there's an advantage to participating in summer schemes over the winter ones in terms of enhancing the likelihood of obtaining a training contract offer. I've noticed that summer schemes tend to be longer in duration and are more commonly offered across firms, which leads me to wonder if they might hold a higher priority.

I've also come across information suggesting that winter schemes are often more tailored to third-year/ older students. As a second-year student, I'm wondering if this could potentially reduce my chances of receiving an offer through a winter scheme and whether it might be wiser to aim for the summer schemes instead, especially considering the limitation of being able to apply for only one scheme.

Given these factors, as a second-year student, when applying to a firm that offers both winter and summer schemes, which one would you recommend I apply for? I apologize for bombarding you with questions, but I'm finding it a bit challenging to gather relevant information online.

Any wisdom and insights on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I am entering my third year soon. I had poor grades in my first year (with 50% grades in modules and a 40% in contract law, a 55% in Tort), with EC. This also affected the start of my second year grades, but I managed to pull it to a low 2:1 avarege. I started taking on ambassadorial roles, engaging with societies, working on strengthing my application as a result. I am on track to achieve a 2:1 for my final year, I will work hard to get a first. I am wondering if all my efforts will go to waste because of my transcript, one look at my earlier grades can ruin my application. I would love some advice, is it worth applying to magic circle firms now.

Hi

Apologies in advance for sounding naive and stupid.

From a penultimate year law student's perspective, I find the whole industry and forums ( chat forums, portals like chambers/legal cheek etc/uni career fair) dominated with tips to secure TC/VS in commercial law firms. While I am extremely grateful by the quality and quantity of advice available , I wonder why there is very little discussion or information about in house VS/TC opportunities , specially with big 4 entering this space . Do these in house VS/TC opportunities exist ? If yes, where to look for them and how to apply? Or is that market simply disorganized and one has to look at multiple sources ? Or is that market too tiny to bother putting in time and effort, both of which are limited for us students. I am asking from the perspective of penultimate year Russel group law student looking to apply for VS/TC

Thanks.

Hi
I am trying to understand what further visa options exist for undergraduate students who are in UK on student visa after LLB completion.

1. If my student visa expires in June 2025 (when I graduate with LLB degree), assuming I secure a TC before graduation, will the firm sponsor my SQE study preparation visa (for the 1 year study) and then separate visa for 2 year actual training contract ? What visa categories are those ? I assume it is 1 year student visa followed by Tier 2 work visa ?

2. If I don't secure a TC and switch over to Post study graduate visa, I assume that is sufficient to work as a para legal/pro bono while continuing to apply for TC in the next cycle ?

3. If I self fund my SQE (1&2) prep and pass it and THEN find a TC, do the firms straightaway put you on the 2 year TC with corresponding Tier 2 work visa (do they recognize the self funded SQE and force you not to repeat it?)

Sorry if above sounds confusing.

Thanks

Hi, I am an international student and I completed my master's degree in the UK last summer (I am still in the UK holding a Graduate Visa and doing SQE). My questions are basically threefold:

Firstly, do most law firms allow people who have already graduated to apply for vacation schemes? I believe it should be the case, but I was a bit confused by the term "graduates" in the eligibility requirements on the websites. Does it mean "graduate students" or "those who already left the uni for good"?

Secondly, do law firms generally prefer offering current students VS places? Will graduates be at a bit of a disadvantage?

Thirdly, if I were to succeed in the VS and be offered a training contract, will law firms usually sponsor a visa for me to remain in the UK until the TC commences? Will international students holding a Graduate Visa be at a bit of a disadvantage in the eyes of the firms?

I hope the questions make sense. Thanks a lot!!

Hi, I was recently invited to complete a video interview with Watson Farley. I've never done a video interview before so I'd appreciate any tips. I'm aware about eye contact, enthusiasm etc. I am quite concern with the type of questions they will ask. Are you tested on commercial awareness and firm knowledge?

Hi,
I did not convert one Vacation Scheme and am waiting to hear back from another. If I was to self-fund the SQE, I wondered whether the advice would be to do the SQE1 and SQE2 preparation course, or the LLM Legal practice course which includes the additional preparation for practice modules? Do firms tend to have a preference?

.

Hi all,

We're hiring to join the TCLA team .

Future trainee? We want to hear from you.

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• Work directly with the team in person. You’ll learn fast and be given ownership and responsibility quickly.
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• Be surrounded by kind people who are the best at what they do. We care about self development and we care each other.
• Be directly involved in shaping the future of TCLA. We have a flat structure at TCLA and your ideas will be heard.

Salary is £25,500. Start date is 1 September 2023. End date is flexible. Part time and full time roles are available.

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Hi guys, I have been invited to AC for a Direct TC at Watson Farley Williams (WFW) today and the only available slot is tomorrow!

This means I only have tonight to prepare, if anyone has experience of doing an AC at WFW I would be grateful for any tips and advice!!

[FOR VACATION SCHEME DEADLINES, CLICK HERE]

Hello everyone!

With the application season for Training Contracts upon us, I have created this thread to track the deadlines for different law firms.

Below, you will find a list of firms currently open or opening soon, including their closing date.

Keep in mind that this list will be updated regularly and I am making sure we have a verified source for each firm.

May 2023​

July 2023​

September 2023​

October 2023​

December 2023​

January 2023​

February 2023​

March 2023​

Please feel free to drop any queries or suggestions to best utilise this thread. All the best!

Are there any part-time roles that are open (especially for future-trainees) at TCLA? If not, are there any means of being notified if an opening arises?

Hi

I have looked at dates for Vacation Schemes and 100% of the winter schemes fall in term time making me ineligible. Thankfully all spring and summer VS are out of term time so I can participate. What should my strategy towards Winter scheme application be ?
a) Just let it pass, not worth it and focus on spring/summer
b) Engage the graduate recruitment and ask if I can apply for winter, with understanding that if successful, it will be deferred to spring/summer/direct TC ?
Thanks.