New Threads

Hi everyone,

Has anyone who applied for Freshfields' International Arbitration Internship in Dubai (Application deadline : March 2023) heard back or received any update on their application?

Hi everyone! My name is Jake. You might know me from the weekly commercial newsletters that TCLA circulates every Wednesday.

Moving ahead, I am going to be taking a more active role in the commercial discussion threads given how much I enjoy keeping up with commercial news.

My background

A little bit about me: I am due to start my TC in August at a UK firm known for its work in international trade, shipping, maritime, and disputes.

I am a career changer, having worked as a recruitment and management consultant in London for a few years before switching to law. I primarily worked in the investment management space with private equity and credit fund clients, focusing particularly on distressed and special situation investment strategies, which also meant I worked closely with investment bankers. In the process of applying for TCs, I also worked as a paralegal for a US firm in London in its Restructuring practice group, which overlapped considerably with my previous career. Happy to discuss this if anyone has any questions.

As an American, I was an international applicant when applying to TCs, so I am also happy to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities other international applicants often face.

My philosophy on developing commercial awareness

Regarding commercial news and building our commercial awareness — I take the view that the commercial world is best understood by staying on top of a few areas that interest you and checking in regularly. Staying engaged is important because commercial developments typically move fast. The landscape is dynamic and often unpredictable. New factors emerge that can change the news narratives, which can make perspectives and opinions quickly outdated unless we try and keep up.

A great example of this how quickly inflation in 2021 went from being "transitory" to "entrenched". If you read a couple of articles in September 2021 about inflation, you might have concluded (as many did) that inflation would ease on its own. However, by November, the evidence began to suggest otherwise and suddenly the threat of inflation became something of a crisis.

Once you immerse yourself in the areas of the commercial world that interest you, you will find that you will start to form opinions on the commercial developments and that previously unfamiliar concepts start to make more sense. This in turn will help you tremendously in interviews, because at the end of the day, sound commercial awareness in an interview context just means being comfortable enough with the landscape to form well-reasoned opinions. Rarely is there a straightforward right or wrong answer to the themes that dominate the headlines. It is more important to demonstrate that you understand the different perspectives at play and their implications for law firms.

Honing your commercial awareness for interviews

Though they go hand in hand, it is one thing to be engaged with commercial developments generally and another to ensure that you can demonstrate your commercial awareness to graduate recruitment and your interviewers.

Remember — law firms are businesses at the end of the day. If you can link back your answer to any question that touches upon commercial awareness to how the commercial development impacts law firms and their clients, you will signal to interviewers that you appreciate this dynamic.

To ensure that I am integrating commercial developments into the perspective of law firms as a business, I have developed a little mantra I use every time I tune into commercial developments:

1. What is the story about generally?
2. What sorts of law firm clients stand to be affected by this?
3. What does this mean for the law firms I am applying to?

You will see me put this mantra to use over the next few weeks.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions! Otherwise, I look forward to some spirited commercial news discussions!

Hi everyone, Has anyone been accepted on to the Paralegal Academy at Clyde & Co, or attended any Assessment Centres for this job?

When I started my law degree I was studying at a good RG law school however I didn’t enjoy the culture of the university so I moved at the end of first year to a different RG university in Scotland which has a four year law course. I was wondering whether the fact that I moved law schools will disadvantage me in applying to law firms as my first year grades will be from a different university.

Hi there,

I am wondering how easy it is to move from a Mid-Tier City law firm to a Silver Circle/Magic Circle/US Firm post-qualification.
I am hoping to receive a TC offer from a Mid-Tier City law firm. I applied due to the quality of the training in my desired department but would be looking to move post qualification due to compensation, the reputation of the firm, career opportunities etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
JP

Hi,

I am currently finishing my second year of a non-law degree at Oxbridge. However, for my first year exams I got 60, 56 and 55 in my papers (there were some extenuating circumstances).

Do I still have a shot at the good law firms?

Thanks and kind regards

Hi everyone, I'm in my second year and am currently taking my exams. I just finished my second exam today, which is comprised of two essays, and I found out that I read the question completely wrong for my second essay.

I know I'll probably get a 40 for that question at the very highest, and I'm absolutely freaking out. Even if I get high 2:1s in the rest of my exams, I'll get a very low 2:1 for second year at most. I'm so angry at myself and I don't know what to do — I feel like my second year grades are completely done for, and it's going to kill my chances of applying for VS/TCs or a master's. What should I do?


God, I feel so so stupid.

Hi!

I am currently a first-year law student and have been actively involved in my extracurriculars. I’m an Editor at my law society’s legal publication, a committee member (Commercial Affairs Co-ordinator) of the Commercial Awareness Society, a Peer Mentor for the university, and a Student Advisor at the university’s Law Clinic. I’ve also been to several Open Days and attended a First Year Scheme. However, as a First-Year, I’ve joined many of these extracurriculars to seek out my interests and passions and haven’t given much thought to how they can go towards building up my CV or contributing to my applications.

I’ve noticed that many students in my year have been running for Executive Committee positions (of which my only committee position is a Wider Committee position and will not have such a big role to play). I was wondering if I would be at a disadvantage for pursuing a lower level Committee position as compared to someone with an EC position? I was also thinking of working with a pro-bono consulting organisation at university next year and joining my university’s radio society out of interest, but was wondering if these would have any value on my CV or applications?

Thank you!

Out of the SC firms which are the most prestigious/well known?

I obviously don't mean directly- but is it somewhat indicative that I shouldn't bother with vacation schemes?

Hi everyone, I’ve been lurking on these forums for a while but have only made an account today.
I’ve struggled a lot in life with mental health and I have a chronic issue (diagnosed). I will graduate with a BA Law degree in July from literally one of the bottom 10 uni’s in the UK and I won’t even mention my grades prior to uni lol. I have years of legal experience (voluntary and paid) and an upcoming legal internship at a F500 UK company.
I’ve not even bothered to apply for VS or TC because all I have learnt is that if you don’t go to RG uni there is no point. I want to apply for paralegal jobs after but I am just quite scared as I feel my academics really drag me down. I was wondering if working as a paralegal in a firm can help with getting a training contract?

Heya! I thought I would jump on the bandwagon as I'm looking to secure a TC by the end of my final year of university (yep - given myself an imaginary deadline haha). I just finished my first application cycle and realised that I really underestimated the value of submitting applications early to firms with rolling deadlines.

But, as the saying goes - once you've hit rock bottom, the only way left to go is up!

I am targeting firms that have direct TC vacancies in the summer; the ones on my list right now are:

• BCLP
• Slaughter & May
• AG
• Freshfields
• Hogan Lovells

Non-exhaustive, of course.

Any and all suggestions are welcome! If anyone else is trying to squeeze the life out of this application cycle too (before August - yikes!) feel free to pop up and we can keep each other motivated

TO-DO:

1. Draft answers for BCLP application form
2. Draft answers for AG application form
3. Research other firms and create a table
4. Create a repository of competencies alongside relevant experience for competency interviews

Hello. I have recently finished my first year and I'm awaiting for my final grade(s) after having finished my coursework. The coursework has a 75% weightage and our MCQs have the remaining 25% weightage. I am satisfied with my coursework and have scored excellent in all my MCQs except contract law. I don't really know what went wrong there. However, after completing the MCQs I was diagnosed with moderately severe hearing loss. Consequently, I now wear a hearing aid.

I had completed my first year without being able to hear properly in lectures and seminars. Could I use my hearing loss as a mitigating circumstance to expand on the reason as to why I had scored bad on my contract MCQ? I'm not sure if it'll be considered since my MCQ grade is only poor in contract and not the other remaining modules.

Additionally, if it can be considered as a mitigating circumstance, then should I inform my university first so that it can be kept in their records? I'm not really sure how this works. Any insight and information would be helpful. Thanks!

Please excuse any grammatical mistakes. English is not my first language.

Hi guys. I have a dilemma and I would greatly appreciate any advice at all. I graduated in July 2022 with a 2:1 law degree. After much deliberation, I decided against self funding the LPC as I was determined to secure a TC. However, we are now in May and I have been unsuccessful in doing so. I hold my hands up and say that I could have put in a a lot more work into my applications but you live and you learn. Aside from securing a TC, I have been trying to secure a paralegal role with ZERO luck. I believe that gaining some paralegal experience will help me achieve my long-term goals. I do not have any formal paralegal experience, however, I completed a 2 month internship as an in-house intern which I hoped will further my prospects in securing a role. I have tried every recruiter you could think of: Flex Legal, Ryder Reid and many more, yet, I have not been able to secure anything. At this point, I am filled with self-doubt because we are now in May and i am yet to make any progress in my legal career. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can secure a paralegal role as someone with little experience?. Any advice would be amazing!. I do feel like I am at my wits end :/.

Hello

I am due to start my TC in September 2023. The actual contract states my offer is subject to successfully completing the LPC. However, I deferred some exams due to health problems and the next sit for these is August 2023, will results released in October 2023.

I am therefore unsure if I will be able to start my TC in September as I will not know by then if I have passed the LPC. I contacted my LPC provider first. They suggested I contact my firm to ask if I can provide my results at the later date or if they absolutely need to have them by September. I wanted to know how flexible firms are with this before I contact them.

A few points: I was originally meant to start my TC in Sept 2024 but they had a place for 2023 which I took. I am also self funding the LPC.

Ideally, I want to ask my firm if I can start my TC after the results are released, so ideally around November 2023. The reason for this is that my last LPC exam will be a day before I am due to start my TC and I would really like a breather before I start. Do you think I am in a position to ask for this or should I just ask if I can start my TC in September without my results?

Hoping @Jessica Booker could advise on this but appreciate advice from anyone!

Thank you

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on my current situation.

I was fortunate enough to get two vacation scheme placements (one spring and one summer). I have completed my spring scheme and recently found out that I was successful and was offered a training contract. I am absolutely delighted and really grateful, I really enjoyed my scheme and can envision myself working at this firm. However, they have sent me a contract to sign within a stipulated time period that is before my summer scheme. I don't currently have a strong preference between the two firms but I feel that without going to the summer scheme, experiencing the firm and familiarising myself with the culture, I won't know which would be better suited for me to train at. I obviously don't want the 1st firm to think that I am just waiting out for a better option, but similarly I think I will regret not going to the summer scheme in case it is a better fit for me.

Note: I have checked my contract and there is nothing that specifically says that I cannot attend vacation schemes with other firms.

What are my options? Should I accept this offer and just not say anything? Will they be able to do anything if I decide to turn it down later? Alternatively, is it better to be honest and ask them if I could let them know after my other scheme?

Thanks!

.

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Credit Suisse AT1 bondholders file suit against Swiss regulators. Please add to the discussion here.

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Mini Series: Business of Law Firms - SRA in-house counsel report raises eyebrows. Please add to the discussion here.

Has anyone done the former and received favorable responses from law firms, or been told to do the former instead of the PGDL?

Curious as to whether they really are seen interchangeably.

Does anyone know what the difference between the Watson Glaser III and the Watson Glaser II test is? Is the only difference the time limit (40 questions in 30 minutes)? Or is it a different format/different types of questions?

Thanks!!

Hi,

Have any of you enrolled in the part-time or the full-time online MA Law (SQE1) with the University of Law? If so, in general terms, what are your thoughts on the course?

Would you have any general and/or specific recommendations to provide in terms of studying for the MA Law (SQE1) and preparing for the exams?

Could you please let me know about the balance between the teaching of the English legal system and constitutional law (including retained EU law), contract law, tort law, etc and the preparation for the SQE1? Are those really balanced or is the priority given to the foundational legal knowledge in-depth (English legal system and constitutional law (including retained EU law), contract law, tort law, etc) over the preparation for the SQE1?

Furthermore, I am planning to do some pre-course reading – would you recommend doing so? I noticed that the University of Law's website states that "The English Legal System & Constitutional Law (including Retained EU Law) module requires 25 hours of pre-course study, through guided units with all materials provided online."

I would like to add that I am aware of the fact that completing a qualifying law degree or a conversion law course is no longer a regulatory requirement by the SRA. However, some firms still expect trainees to have completed a qualifying law degree or a law conversion course prior to taking the SQE.

Thank you.

Would anyone who is doing or has done an online/distance conversion course (whether the PGDL or MA+SQE) comment on your course provider, content structure and assessment style?

Are you pleased with how the course is being run or are there considerations you wish you'd thought of in advance?

Additionally, could you speak on the teaching style and differences in assessment protocol with regards to ULaw vs BPP.

Thank you!

Hi,

Has anyone applied to either Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe or Watson Farley & Williams? I'm applying for their direct TC route and want to know, for those who applied, how you found the application questions and their direct TC route? How far did you get - were there any tricks you found helped with your process/
Thank you in advance!