Training Contract Journey

Hey everyone!

I've been a long time lurker here, and thought I'd finally make an account and my own thread. It's still early days for me, but I'm going to be making my first vac scheme applications in the coming months, of course with the end goal of a TC. Like many of you, I will be trying to update this thread regularly over the next few years to track my progress and hold myself accountable.

Background
So a little background on me. I'm going into my second year of a Biological Sciences degree, studying at a (mid tier?) russell group, think Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds. I have sub-par A-levels (ABC) but I'm not letting that deter me, will just have to work harder and target certain firms. I averaged 69.85% in first year (still peeved about that 1 mark lol), which I'm hoping will count in my favour.

Non-legal experience:
- 5 years experience working in retail and hospital
- 6 months hospital volunteering in sixth form
- and in this coming year, will be vice president of the biosci society at my uni, will also be a course mentor to first years.

Legal Experience
- A 1 day virtual workshop with a city firm
- and in this coming year, will be a Legal Cheek campus ambassador. Though this might fall more under non-legal.

Plans for the next year
From September I plan to make some vacation scheme applications. Being a penultimate year non-law student , and with my a-levels, there are a limited number of firms available to me. Though still more than enough. I aim to make a solid 5 applications, but I've got around 10 firms in mind if I have the time. The dream of course would be to get vacation scheme offers for next spring and summer, successfully complete schemes and get a TC offer. But at the very least I would like to use this year to get more practice at the application process, more commercial awareness, more legal experience. Vac schemes aside, I will continue to work at my job and I would love to join a sports society (perhaps tennis). I'm also gonna try my best to average a 1st. Of course a 2:1 would be more than great, but since my second year is worth 1/4 of my degree, I'd like to get some good grades in the bag!

Plans for the summer
Trying to relax after a stressful end of term. Will be working a few shifts a week, and on the side doing a little research on some firms, reading up a little on the application process, some watson glaser practice and forage maybe. Certainly my immediate focus is relaxation and getting back into the gym though. Having said that I am already getting bored so I'm sure I'll be diving right in soon!

This is my first post on here. I've read through some threads on here and I've been taken back by how supportive this forum is.

A brief history of me, I am 29 years old and currently a Head of subject at a secondary school. Before teaching, I did a years research after achieving a first class Chemistry degree from RG uni.

I enjoy teaching but I'm looking for a change. I've spent a while looking into different options and law has really stuck out for me. In particular, anything that can use my science background would be a big plus (like patent law).

I've begun the process and applied for 2 training contracts that have deadlines soon/just passed.
One has got back to me saying I've progressed to the graduate partner recruitment panel - I'm not sure if that is a standard thing that happens after they've ensured I have the correct grades.

I am very unsure if my lack of law knowledge will hold me back. Any advice on where I could start learning some "basic" law knowledge would be great. If by some miracle I get invited to assessment centres, I would feel massively under prepared currently.

In the applications I've done so far, in some of the questions they ask like "talk about a time in your life that's helped define who you are", I've spoken a lot about my childhood and I don't know if that is suitable. In summary, I spent a lot of my childhood in and out of the care system, homeless and was formally abandoned at 14. Despite this, I threw myself into my education and made it to University etc etc....
For me, my background defines me and is a huge part of who I am as well as highlights my resilience and self-motivation. But is this too unprofessional to mention in these application questions?

I aim to update this thread with news on this journey!

Hi all! I've been a lurker on these threads for a while, so decided to start up my own.

I think maybe I'm a little early to start one of these as I've just finished my first year at a RG uni. I was previously working a full-time job in a different sector but decided to leave it and pursue law. This will be my first cycle. In my first year I took part in some Aspiring Solicitors events, attended an open day and was lucky enough to attend a number of insight schemes. One scheme I got on was Freeths' early talent pathway, and I'm pleased to say that I have converted that into work experience in the summer of 2025.

My plans for the summer and beyond...
- Aspiring Solicitors Access Programme, which is taking place in July
- Forage virtual work experience programmes
- Stay up-to-date with the news to work on my commercial awareness
- Practice some WGs
- Use the summer to research firms.

When applications open later in the year, I'll update with stats etc to keep track of my VS applications!

Hi all,

I was hoping to get some insight into those who have either qualified, or due to qualify, namely around changing area of specialism as an NQ without having sat in the area of law.
I am due to qualify soon, about 8 months out, and want to be as open as possible. With being open, I want to explore option of applying for an NQ role in an area I have not got experience in, but have begun undertaking courses as such to supplement knowledge and gain a wider understanding.

Would this be achievable? I have read online that it is possible and have seen posts of those who have done so in the past. How would I need to navigate this?
For context, I have sat seats in Property (resi and commercial), Family, Private Client (Contentious and Non-Contentious), with my final seat to be confirmed. It is either in Clinical Negligence or a repeat seat. I am interested in Construction Law or Competition Law at the moment.

Grateful for any comments (please be nice in advance)

Hi All!

I am writing to ask for advice/people to share their experiences/ direct me to the right place for the following circumstances. A friend of mine has been offered a TC with one firm (firm A) commencing in 2025 and has been given the final contract to sign. However, this friend also has a final interview at another firm in which they are more interested in joining — which is to take place sometime next month (firm B). They are faced with a dilemma: they don't want to inform firm A that they have a final interview with firm B and ask for an extension of time to accept the offer, in case this somehow detrimentally impacts the firm's perception of their commitment etc. (which I don't think should be too much of a worry). They neither want to accept the offer with firm A, for they are unsure that they would be able to renege this acceptance if they were to get a TC offer from firm B. I, therefore, would ask for any advice/ people to share their experience of similar circumstances in response to this thread, as I am 100% sure that such dilemma is very common.

Thanks!
@Jessica Booker

Hi,

I’m a prospective Common Law student at the university of Glasgow. However, I’ve been having some doubts about the chances I have of a successful law career, mainly due to my grades.

In S5, I achieved AACCC in my Highers and haven’t gotten my results yet for the two Highers and two Advanced Highers I’m doing this year.

Though I’ve received an offer from Glasgow (I had mitigating circumstances - lived in a deprived area, worked throughout school, am a young career and did two of their wider access programmes), I’m really not confident at all about my chances of securing a training contract at a London firm. My dream firm is Clifford Chance, and while I understand they don’t have a minimum grade requirement, I’m assuming they still tend to take on applicants with reasonably good grades.

I’m hoping that I can make up for my poor secondary school grades by earning good ones at university, and/or perhaps studying a Masters degree after my undergrad, but I’m really not sure if there’s any point.

I feel under pressure because I’m a Scottish student. Studying Common Law means I’m unable to work in Scotland and I also have offers from Aberdeen and Dundee for joint Common and Scot’s Law courses. Realistically, it would be better for me to go to either of them, because it would mean I could qualify in Scotland and England at the same time. It’s just that Glasgow is easier for me to travel to and is my preferred university over all.

What’s my next step? Do I have a chance with Clifford Chance or any MC firm at all? I’m really unsure what to think or what to do, and my confidence is at an all time low. I’m struggling to think any of my personal skills will be able to aid my in my applications as well - I’m quite poor with interviews, for example.

Any advice at all?

I was able to get my QWE signed off at my old job working in local government, however, I now have concerns as to whether I should continue down the route to qualification without obtaining a TC. I am worried that my options might be limited once I am qualified and feel that I will be considerably less experienced than a regular trainee, for example, having not previously had experience with billing.

The general consensus from what I've read online is that going doing the QWE route without a TC is not well respected and might make finding work harder. For context, I am currently working in a data protection and compliance role which is a somewhat niche and competitive area to find work in as a solicitor so do not want to damage my career chances before I've even gotten started.

I have started tentatively looking at TC applications to apply for later this year but am well aware this will push back my qualification date by at least four years and I am not sure if I can justify waiting this long as I have started my career later than most. My existing QWE route will make qualification a lot quicker but would appreciate advise on if I should continue with this or focus on obtaining a TC.

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well. This is my first time writing so openly on this forum but lately I have been feeling really low and wanted to share my experience, and hopefully get some direction about where to go from here.

My background

I am a law graduate from RG Uni (with 1st) with masters in law. I have not completed LPC or SQE because for me it is too expensive to self-fund. It has been a while since I graduated - I am now 26 - and I have a full time job too. This is my 6th (!!!) application cycle and while some of the previous cycles might not feel as well prepared as some later ones, I am starting to lose hope on getting a TC.

My TC approach is very strategic. I have utilised TCLA for the past 5 years, I have completed almost ALL the courses (some of them 2 or 3 times), I have used the application review service and the mock interviews many times. For some of the OGs, I have been mock interviewed by Arun who has also completed the PE course. Now you can tell what type of dinosaur I am in this platform. I only apply to firms that are very special to me and match my interest, work experience and my masters. I have a very extensive CV with legal and non-legal experience and I speak 9 languages (not fluent in all of them but surely that is a bit impressive right?).

My journey

I want to share mostly the past 3 cycles of applications I have done and maybe get some insights and recommendations. For these cycles I focus on firms that are smaller, with a small trainee intake and without tests. I have taken SJTs and WG tests and honestly, despite the preparation, I have received inconsistent results from firms at the same cycle. So I narrowed down my aim to law firms that are smaller and have a straightforward app process. Some of these law firms I have applied 2 or 3 times so they can probably see my previous applications and notice improvements in my writing and in my experience as I progress. Yet, and despite using TCLA's app review service multiple times for the same application, 90% of my applications get rejected.

Don't get me wrong, I have had applications pass before - usually I do 10-15 applications per cycle and only 1-2 applications pass. It might be a numbers game but I think it is a low rate considering the effort I have put in. I have been to two assessment centres before, one was interview only and the other was an 8-hour all in assessment centre with interviews, debates etc. I did not manage to progress further than these, the feedback I received was that in my interview I sounded too rehearsed and in the assessment centre I was not very good at the written exercise. I am working towards improving both of these, but my applications still do not make it past that stage for me to even consider proving my worth.

This year I have applied to direct TCs only. I made this decision consciously because I am much older than the average candidate. So far I have applied to 6 firms and I have another 4 lined up to do, while 4 are pending. The un-success rate is about 40% so far, which is very demotivating.

In comparison to many brilliant people in this platform, I have not applied to 30 firms in one cycle, I have not done 10 ACs, I have not done ANY VSs. I have a lot of internships and work experience (legal and non legal) which I hope compensates for the lack of ACs or big law names in my CV. I know my applications are good because a) TCLA reviews them and I get feedback on where I lack and b) some have actually made it before. However, this cycle I feel very demotivated and the fact that I am older than lots of candidates is really playing in my head.

It has been really hard to see these rejections coming through considering that I do not have many options left. I have been wanted to become a lawyer since I was 12 years old and the past year is making me feel like I need to completely give up. I know that maybe my approach is not correct seeing as less applications means definitely less success rate but I have little motivation to pursue this when none of my applications go through.

If any of you are able to offer insights on how to continue or what you felt works for you when you apply, I would be really interested to hear. You are all big motivations for me but it's honestly really hard to not feel down and sorry when there is no positive news for months and months.

*Edit --> Sorry guys I changed the name of the thread. Spoiler alert I never managed to apply for Clifford Chance but I couldn't pass up the pun. Apologies to those who have been misled.*

TLDR: I got a training contract!! and just passed SQE 1!! Sat SQE 2 in July 2025.

Intro:

Hello, I'm Lilly. I joined the TCLA at the start of this round of applications and in my head, I was going to have a TC before the cycle was over. I realise now that I was a little bit delusional but I'm a law student, so it comes with the territory.

I realise that it is rather late in the day to be posting this, but idk I didn't feel like I had anything to post about until now and have decided to share my story in case people ever feel like they aren't going to get anything either. Also, I am slacking on my applications at the moment and need something to get me back on track. I do not think for a moment I'm going to be the next legal influencer of the decade but here's to hoping.

Plans for the thread.

• I think I also want to use this thread to share some of the tricks I have learnt. I know my strengths and my weaknesses.
• All the feedback I have ever gotten has said that I interview well, I think it is often why after the app stage I can make it to the final rounds when I fall at the written tasks.
• I have developed a few hacks throughout my time for this which I thought I would share.
• Throughout this journey, I know that I need to develop my written skills. My downfall has always been the written tests. I'm a slow writer and I like to redraft things or else they are riddled with errors. My feedback confirms it.
• So I hope to share any tips I learn along the way as well.

A bit about me (sans some pesky details).

• I studied law for my undergrad and got ok grades. It's nothing special but what can you do about it?
• Did a masters because I thought why not and got a distinction which was nice.
• I wanted to go to The Bar up until the end of my third year when I failed to get any mini-pupillages.
• I made two applications at the end of my third year for training contracts. Got offered one and made it to the AC stage for another.
• I ultimately couldn't accept the TC offer. I know thimaster'ss sounds awful but it didn't have a department in the area I was interested in, it was a small firm which would have required me to self-fund the SQE which I couldn't afford. It also wouldn't let me defer a year. I have wrestled with this decision over the last few months, thinking about whether this was the right one. I think it was, especially after the mess that happened with the SQE 1 this year but at the same time I really want a job.
• This year I have fully committed to the solicitor route and have picked out a few firms I like the look of.
• I try and only apply to firms where I know they have done at least one famous case in the area of law I am interested in.

Applications: (As of July 2024)
I have so far made 10? applications
A mix of TC and Vac Scheme. It appears that once I get past the written application I make it to the end and I have more success on the direct TC route where the firm does not have a VS.

I have decided that some of these firms are very niche and it would be very easy to discover who I am from them. So I have assigned them aliases from Suits and The Goodwife in italics.

1. Russel Cooke Direct TC - PFO
2. Wakefield Cady TC - PFO post-final stage.
3. Boodle Hatfield VS and TC - PFO
4. PMC VS - PFO
5. Bratten Gould TC - PFO post-final interview.
6. Farrer and Co VS - PFO
7. Mills and Reeve VS - PFO
8. Irwin Mitchell - VS - OFFER TRAINING CONTRACT OFFER
9. Rand Caldor Zane TC - PFO
10. Pearson Hardman VS - First Interview Invite VS OFFER. TRAINING CONTRACT OFFER
11. Wedlake Bell TC: PFO
12. Withers: Test done. PFO

Hello everyone!

I'm an international student, who will graduate this September from a university outside the UK. I have studied an LLB and Master's degree in law from a top University in France. I have significant experience in common law, having completing a 2 year Diploma on the topic during my undergrad where I studied Contract, Property and Tort Law. As well as having spent my first year of Master in University College London (UCL) for an exchange program, where I studied Commercial Law, Conflict of Law and Company Law. Through my studies I also have a good knowledge of comparative law (encompassing both civil and common law jurisdictions), european law, and international law.

My long term goal is to qualify as a solicitor in London.

However, I understand the challenges I face as an international student (and more and more any student) in securing a Training Contract. As such, I am applying to Training contracts and Graduate apprenticeships, as well as Paralegal and Legal Assistant roles. I would like to know if there is any feasibility in the path I want to take, as I'm aware that my chances might be limited due to my background and difficulty to secure sponsorship, considering the current visa requirements.

I'm keen to explore all possible avenues to work in the UK and would greatly appreciate any advice or insights you might have. What alternative options exist if securing a training contract, apprenticeship, paralegal or legal assistant role doesn't work out? It is important to know that I cannot fund the SQE by myself or with the help of my family, as I have already took out a loan previously for my studies.

Additionally, I'm very interested in hearing from or about international students who, without prior studies in the UK, managed to secure a training contract. It would be especially encouraging to learn about those who have succeeded in this endeavor.

Thank you so much for your time and any guidance you can offer!

so guess its time for me to use this tcla forum as my actual accountability tracker. still v lost atm but optimistic

background:
- third year llb, studying in london
- applied in 2nd year, v scattergram approach, got thru to an interview w slaughters (rightfully rejected because I knew nothing but also v grateful I was)
- 3rd year: ive gotten thru VIs with w&c, v&e and got to an ac w CC for direct tc which I consider a massive win
- atp im waiting on apps for travers and macfarlanes, I dont have much hope left for vac schemes if im honest and I might send off a few more TC apps before the cycle concludes but im kind of hoping I get a job as a paralegal/ LA post uni so I can figure out law as a career itself and get some actual experience under my belt.

currently:
- idk if ive reached my point of delulu but im optimistic going forward becasuse I know my apps are strong enough to get thru the first stage and the rest I can try and work on. im hoping to get a bit more legal work experience. I was devastated after I got rejected post AC for CC but I like to find the silver lining in things and maybe im jus not ready yet, but theres no rush, we'll get there when the time is right

lovely to meet u all

Hi ppl,

I saw others using this to stay accountable and just post anything uni/law related and Im doing the same (nothing too crazy as digital footprint is real) , quite late though lol as I'm in my final year and the vs cycle is nearly closing with only a few left open.

Oh well patience, im going to force my self to find the will to complete applications and if all else fails find a backup plan coz sqe prices are crazy, law is actually such a gatekeeped career yet they want inclusivity .... side eye fr

So heres some background:
- i set myself up in first year not knowing much about law, didn't know there was schemes, went to one open-day and was put off MC firms
- second year had some better knowledge of schemes etc, had poor technique, did like one app fluked that, got onto one open day
- now we're onto third year

Applications
-i applied to 9 VS so far
- rejected from 5, normally after WG tests (hate her so much)
- waiting to hear back from: Travers, Shoosmiths (TC, VS rejected), Stephenson Harwood, Russell Cooke, Browne Jacobson (SJT to complete)

Interests
- my interests in law: ip, tech, litigation, contracts, immigration
(its so difficult to say what i actually like because im so open-minded, this is just based on modules i took and enjoyed at uni.... how do they expect me to have a dedicated interest when im being gatekeeped from the career

NA

Hey!

This is my first 'real' application cycle, as last year I only applied to Eversheds Sutherland after an impromptu attendance at one of their Insight evenings.

Applications this cycle (2023-2024) - Vacation Schemes only
Baker McKenzie
Latham & Watkins
Covington
Mayer Brown
Dechert
Gowling WLG
Linklaters

Yet to apply to
Norton Rose Fulbright
Shoosmiths

Top choice firms that I did not have the confidence to apply to (maybe next year!)
Allen & Overy
Hogan Lovells
DLA Piper

Hi - I am resuming my TCLA premium membership having been a member a year ago and wondered if someone can answer my questions as follows:-

1. Is there a deadline when my law degree and LPC will no longer be considered/accepted when applying for a training contract? I graduated from studying my law degree in 2011 and for the LPC in 2021.
2. I am limited to what law firms I can apply to on salary and looking for law firms not heavily focused on corporate and banking. I can't take a drop in salary due to having financial commitments. Will law firms accept me reapplying to them the following year if I am not success first time round? Also, what do they tend to look for in those that reapply?
3. I am a mature candidate with lot of legal work experience being a legal PA. Do firms not favour legal PAs applying for a TC? I have heard mixed feedback on this that they are only looking for fresh graduates. I cannot see this to be the case when law firms are open to career changers with transferable skills from other industries. I can only see that I am at an advantage with lots of knowledge of how law firms operate, etc. The firm I work currently at have graduates working as admin assistants to gain legal experience too.

I am getting very worried if I am unable to obtain a TC in the next year or so on the basis of my law degree getting dated now. I am also worried in terms of the limited firms not accepting me reapplying to them. I aim to apply to as many firms as I can this year with TCLA's help. However, I am wondering if I am the ONLY one with an old degree still applying and will my qualifications not be considered fresh/new compared to new graduates applying.

I have been successful in getting to the 2nd stage by one law firm after I attended that firm's open day. I was hoping attending law firm's open days would be my way into getting through the stages of other law firms. However, most only offer insight schemes to first year or second year graduates studying. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thank you very much

Hi all

I thought I would give in a create a thread to post little updates on my search for a training contract mostly to be accountable, but also because I want people to tell! I am going through this process pretty incognito (only my partner knows) and I need a place to let it all out sometimes.

Background
For background, I'm someone who graduated a few years ago. In my penultimate year, I made 2 applications for TCs (didn't even know about VSs at the time) and was interviewed for 1 which I completely bombed. By that point I had already decided that if it was a rejection then I would be going down a different path.

A few years later, I'm ready to get back into it all and pursue the dream goal. I live in Scotland and so only applying to firms with offices here (in Glasgow or Edinburgh). I also haven't yet completed the Diploma (DPLP) but plan to apply this year to start part-time in September, so I can still work part-time alongside it.

I made the firm decision to make applications and pursue this at the end of November and so I have been rushed since then to get applications in and hopefully get somewhere with it. I tried to apply for a wide range of firms that I could see myself working at, but because it's my first proper round of applications I also fired off some apps I really don't think I'd get a place for, but used the application as a way to practice and, if any further steps come around, can use those as much needed practice too.

I'll post the firms, application date/deadline and ongoing updates in this thread!

Hi everyone

The anxiety from VS apps kept me up so I decided to open this thread! I thought about creating this thread in November but it would be too embarrassed cuz i didn't submit any apps back then lol.

I am an LLB graduate currently working as a paralegal. It's my second year on the graduate visa so the clock is ticking! If any fellow international students has questions re graduate visa/paralegal works feel free to dm me! More than happy to help : )

This is my fourth cycle applying to VS/TC and I'm really hoping to land something this year. Here are the ones I have so far.

Gowling - VI invite
PwC - VI invite
Taylor Wessing - WG invite
CMS - PFO
Eversheds - VI invite
Simmons - Submitted
Fieldfisher - Submitted

and a few more to come

Some Firms I decided to apply for Direct TC

Ashurst (not the biggest fan of their orange logo pls bring the old one back )
Addleshaw
TLT
Dentons
Shoosmiths
Farrer & Co

Wish everyone best of luck with their applications this cycle!

Hello! My name is Jasmine I am currently a paralegal hoping to secure a training contract!

I have been a long time lurker of TCLA’s threads but now I decided to make this thread to finally hold myself accountable and keep track of my applications.

Submitted application:

A&O direct Training contract —> to do SJT and VI

Applications drafts made and to be reviewed:

White & Case - draft nearly done

Latham & Watkins - draft to be reviewed and amended.

Applications not started yet

Linklaters - spring vacation scheme

Weil - vacation scheme

Shearman & Sterling - open day and vacation scheme

Baker McKenzie - vacation scheme

Hogan Lovells - direct TC

Skadden - vacation scheme

Best of luck to everyone going through the application cycle. Hope we will all be successful!!!

Hello My journey to a TC and hope 6 is the lucky number for me. I am in my 6th cycle and have made applications to so many law firms over the years from US firms to MC firms to SC firms. I have never passed the application stage for applications and hope this year is my year. Will update on my application journey here. Hope I get a VS/TC this year.

Hi everyone!

I have seen a few of these threads and decided to create my own since I noticed that I struggle with holding myself accountable for putting as much work into my training contract journey as possible.

I am a postgraduate student studying my LLM Intellectual Property Law. I previously graduated with a LLB Law degree. Outside my studies, I am committed to working pro bono with two legal advice providers as a student volunteer (admin tasks, helpline,..) and enjoy being involved backstage with stage crew for performances at my university or taking lessons with my university's fencing club. I started getting serious about applications last year, but because I suddenly struggled with medical issues (which required surgical intervention in the summer), my efforts were pretty much shut down. Nevertheless, I managed to get a vacation scheme and completed it! I try to take this as a motivation that I can do it, no matter what a disaster the last six months have been for me personally.

My goal for this year is plain and simple: get a training contract through vacation schemes! To get there, I want to complete one application and one TCLA course per week, as well as dedicate 30 minutes each day to practising critical thinking tests + commercial awareness, respectively.

To hold myself accountable for actually completing the work that I set myself to do, I will update the thread with an update every week.

Win!:
Baker McKenzie Open Day - accepted

Currently I have the following applications pending:
Taylor Wessing
Bird & Bird
Bristows
Hogan Lovells
Mishcon de Reya
Reed Smith

I have heard back from:
Linklaters Open Day - Rejected
A&O Vacation Scheme - Rejected
HL Lift Off - Rejected

Thank you so much for checking on my thread Feel free to stay around!

Hi guys!

Inspired by everyone’s posts, I’ve decided to document my journey to getting a training contract to track my progress and ultimately to hold myself accountable in achieving this goal.

A little about me, I am a recent law graduate working as a legal assistant at a private practice firm and am focussing on submitting applications to the spring and summer VS/ TCs this cycle. After being rejected from every scheme I applied to in my first year, I felt completely deflated and burnt out. And so I decided to prioritise my mental health by focussing the rest of my time at university enjoying studying law, volunteering at my university’s legal advice clinic and taking up new interests and hobbies to boost my extracurriculars.

To meet my goal, I hope to complete one application per week, complete a TCLA course per week, spend at least 20 minutes a day reading a news story and create a daily news summary to build my commercial awareness over time.

To ensure I stay on track, I will post updates every week outlining my goals for the upcoming week and reporting my accomplishments from the previous week

This week’s goal:
- Complete application to DLA Pipers Summer Internship
- Start my research for Clifford Chance
- Complete TCLAs Watson Glaser Course
- Create daily news summaries for this week

-

Hey, I'm Cassius. I am a second year international student reading law at University of Liverpool. I plan to increase my commercial awareness through courses by TCLA.

I also applied to several firms for the current vacation scheme cycle. Hence this thread will also serve as a record of my progression through this cycle. It is my first time applying for vacation scheme opportunities as I just arrived in the UK on a student visa in Sept.

(1) HSF - met benchmark & under review
(2) DLA Piper - VI stage
(3) Goodwin Procter - submitted application
(4) Milbank - submitted application

I am a recent non-law grad from a Russell Group university. My final degree classification has not been confirmed due to the strikes, but I will receive either a high 2.1 or a first

I have been applying to paralegal roles since I graduated at the start of summer. I have not found any success - maybe due to the fact I do not have any law qualifications...?

I am considering self-funding the PGDL, starting in January, and applying to TCs from now, onwards. I have never applied to TCs before, as I previously wanted to pursue the bar.

I would really appreciate some advice. I am not sure if I am good enough to be trying for a TC. Scared about self-funding the PGDL - what if I don't get any offers!

Anyone in a similar position or have any advice? Would appreciate it so much.

Hi I will be creating a thread here to post daily updates to keep myself accountable. With this, I hope to motivate fellow applicants as daily commitments takes a lot of resilience. Plus, you may be able to benefit on the information I post here as I intend to focus on two aspects on this thread:

1. Technical knowledge
e.g. what is indemnities/warranties/practice areas etc

2. Commercial Awareness
My focus is on energy and technology sectors (for now)

My post may not be necessarily perfect or correct, which is the purpose of creating this thread so more senior members can jump in to comment too