Training Contract Journey

I am a penultimate year law student from the university of Surrey who is in the process of applying for vacation schemes specifically at magic circle law firms. I aim to improve my commercial awareness and time management skills this year as this will enable me to be more able when and if I get an offer from my applications.

For the next few weeks, I have certain goals that will help me gain a vac scheme with my desired firm.
1. As a second year law student, I aim at improving my academics. I aim to achieve this by improving my critical thinking.
2. As the application season has started of, I aim at improving my commercial awareness and writing in a clear and concise way.
3. I want to improve my time management. I want to ensure that I keep a good work-life balance. This is crucial as an aspiring solicitor to ensure efficiency and professionalism.
4. I aim at increasing my pool of opportunities (quality + quantity). This is so that I can improve my skills that take me forward in my career.

I completed my situational judgement test for A&O last week and this week I have regularly listened to BBC global news, FT news briefing, Watson's daily, and Bright Network's Think Commercially podcast. All of these things are part of my goal to securing a training contract. In the upcoming I want to be preparing for an Assessment Centre.

Hi everyone, I'm Jiya.

This year I am trying to improve my commercial awareness and success at AC's as these are the areas I fell down on last year. I will achieve this by:

• Completing at least one lecture of the courses offered by TCLA each day to have a continuous top-up of general commercial knowledge.
• Finding at least one article that interests me each week and writing about why it is important to businesses and why it is important to law firms. I may post this on LinkedIn to ask my connections if they have further ideas about my thoughts, but I may do this once I feel a bit more confident about my abilities!
• Making myself a booklet for each law firm I've applied to with bullet points of answers to questions they could potentially ask, as well as a reminder of why I have chosen to apply to that firm. For example, each of the competencies they look for, why law, why the firm, and general commercial questions. I will aim to update these at least once a week and treat it almost like a revision book where the ideas I write down can be developed in an actual interview.
• Only making applications to law firms that I can genuinely see myself at, and ensuring that I have finished my applications for them at least 1 week before the deadlines to have time to properly check them.

Good luck with TC hunting everyone!

Hello everyone,

I am currently a final-year non-law student at UCL hoping to get a training contract this year. Most of the firms I am applying to are US firms or firms with opportunities for (multiple) seats in disputes, although I am throwing in some others too.

I have already started my applications, and have submitted 4, two for winter vacation schemes and two for spring/summer schemes. I managed to get to the first stage interview for one of these firms but got a PFO soon after, although I think there might have been a bit of unconscious self-sabotage in that one as I found something out about the firm after applying that made me really not want to work there!

I am hoping to submit at least 3 more applications that I have started working on already by the end of next week - Akin Gump, Debevoise & Plimpton and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Some of these have really long applications so that's a rough goal but I've got a lot of university work coming up so it would be good to get these out of the way as they are some of my top options!

I am currently a paralegal at Allen & Overy and have made an application for the training contract this year. I want to spend time preparing and reading commercial news and preparing for the assessment centre, hoping to get an assessment centre invitation.

Hi all,

I am currently a Paralegal, looking to secure a Training Contract.
I completed a Vac Scheme in 2020, but failed to convert it to a TC. After that, I took a break from applying in 2021, and used that time to really research firms and try to tackle each part of the application process.

For the 2022-2023 recruitment cycle, I have:
1) Submitted 3 Winter Vac Scheme Applications
2) 4 firms that I'm applying to for Spring Vac Schemes for and 3 firms that I'm applying to for Summer Vac Schemes.

For this cycle, if I don't manage to secure a TC, I'd at least like to get past the application stage again and make it onto an Assessment Center or secure another Vacation Scheme.

I have 4 goals over the next 7 days:
1) Submit DLA Piper Summer VS application
2) Finish Herbert Smith Freehills Spring VS application
3) Begin drafting Norton Rose Fulbright Spring VS application
4) Complete at least 50% of the TCLA Class: 'Develop your Commercial Awareness: Understand the City, the Financial Markets & More'

Looking forward to seeing what the year brings!

Just an introduction to myself, I’m currently a penultimate year law student at the University of Bristol applying for vac schemes this application cycle! I aim to apply to 5-6 law firms for vac schemes and most of the firms that I am applying to have non-rolling deadlines. The firms that I am focusing on are Magic Circle law firms, international law firms with a structured & formal training during TC as well as international law firms with sector focus in media&entertainment to explore my interests in media& entertainment!

Current progress:
- Drafting an application for Reed Smith
- Preparing for an AC with A&O
- I’m going to work on a cover letter/personal statement for Freshfields this weekend.
- attending events to gain deeper understanding of each firm

Ashour's Journey to a TC

I'm glad to be joining TCLA today and Kick start my plan to a TC as of today
I'll be applying to NRF, CMS and Ashurst with the latter being my first choice
I planned my application and chose deadlines to each app
NRF = 10th of NOV
CMS= 25th of NOV
Ashurst= 15th of DEC
in the coming week I'll kick off with VEs and TCLA courses and how to write a proper application....

Thanks TCLA on the encouragement to take such step!

I’m currently in my second year and applying for vacation schemes at law firms (my top 3 being HSF, Linklaters and Eversheds Sutherland).

I’ve begun drafting my application for HSF and Eversheds as of right now and hope to submit them and my Linklaters application by mid-November

Hey!

I'm Aks; here's my first post about the active steps I'm taking towards getting a TC. Hopefully this is one step closer to being more accountable with my journey!

I'm a second-year LLB student at Queen Mary, I've worked in the fintech legal space in Dubai, and I'm involved with an interesting tech project at the moment (more about me on my Linkedin: www.akskhurana.com - happy to connect with any applicants.) I'm also a Latham & Watkins Brand Ambassador, so if anyone needs any Latham application help - shout! (more about Latham's FY schemes / vac schemes / TCs are available here: http://ocply.co/lw22-qmul-_app)

Goals for October (Next two weeks)

1. Draft my "Why Commercial Law" and "Extracurriculars" answer after going through the TCLA Application course
2. Perfect my work experience section, using the whole 250 words and drawing out points clearly
3. Complete my first application after a networking meeting next week, and send it in by the end of the month

Setting my reminder to update this thread by next Friday!

Aks

Hi everyone,

As an introduction, I graduated from studying law at the University of Kent and am currently undertaking my LPC @ BPP University. As far as areas of interest, I have a preference for corporate-natured work. However, I understand that it is best to remain open-minded and not be too definite in my perceptions of my career.

I was late to the application scene. In my second year of university, I attended one open day and did not apply for any VS. However, in my third year, I was happy to participate in eight open days and go on to apply for several VS. Sadly, it didn't pan out. Nevertheless, this year will represent my second year of applying for VS and perhaps DTC, and I have faith I may go one step further than last year.

This year, I have selected my firms primarily on three criteria:
a. Friendly Culture
b. Smaller Trainee intake (10-30)
c. On the Job Training Model with some elements of workshop development

I hope to submit approximately 10 VS applications in the coming month, and I hope to progress to at least 2 VS and hopefully to a TC for one of these firms!

Regarding my weekly goals, hopefully, by next week (26/10/22), I will have achieved the following:
a. Submission of two VS applications
b. Finalise my CV
c. Draft eight 90-second-long video interview question answers

Looking forward to checking in next week!

Hey guys,

I am delighted to have secured the TCLA scholarship and I think it’s a great idea for me to post my progress and hold myself accountable. I have recently completed the PGDL/LLM at BPP and am working in hospitality but looking for paralegal jobs (fingers crossed for that too!).

I’ve completed one VS application so far for BCLP and did the online test last week. I’ve got another four drafted and almost ready (for Willkie Farr, HSF, Mishcon De Reya and Akin Gump) and I know it’s best to submit early but I find proofreading and submitting the most difficult! Hopefully I’ll have these submitted by next week though.

One thing that has knocked my confidence is that, while I have good academics throughout university and GCSE, extenuating circumstances during sixth form meant my grades were significantly below what I was predicted. Seeing the success stories on here has been motivating though, so I hope this scholarship can give me the confidence, as well as the skills, to submit those applications and secure my dream VS/TC!

Hi all,

I have fortunately been selected to benefit from the CLA scholarship and as a recipient, I am super looking forward to using all the resources! By way of intro, I am currently in my final year at the University of Sheffield studying Law!

I did apply for Vac Schemes last year however, admittingly, the applications I submitted were of poor quality as I took a scattergun approach. This year, I have been far more selective of the firms I would like to train at (London-based, international offices/ global teams, strong in Digital/ Corporate areas, friendly culture). I have submitted 3 applications thus far and I hope to submit 7 in total! My goal is to secure at least 2 vacation schemes and hopefully progress to a TC for 1 of these!

Looking forward to tracking my progress!

Fiza

Hi everyone,

I believe setting specific, measurable goals can make a substantial difference to your progress when working towards your training contract. It means being intentional about how you spend your time and provides a framework to determine whether you are making progress.

Even the process of writing your goals down can make you more likely to achieve it. By transferring your ideas onto paper, you must clarify what exactly you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it. When goals are kept in your head, they’re easy to overwrite and it can be tempting to convince yourself you never really wanted to work towards that goal in the first place.

But even writing your goals down is not enough. Suppose you plan to submit one vacation scheme application every other week for the next 10 weeks. Writing this goal down might make you feel motivated in the moment, but the hard part of working towards a goal is consistency. What happens when life gets in the way?

This is where accountability comes in. By writing your updates in a public channel, you keep yourself accountable because you know other people are reading it. You’re forced to confront the truth about your progress each week. This is powerful because it gives you the opportunity to reflect on why you aren’t making progress on your goals week to week and you can adapt the steps you are taking in real time. Better this way than to reflect after the cycle only to wish you made small changes at the time.

With all this in mind, I’m delighted to relaunch our ‘Training Contract Journey’ forum in this vacation scheme cycle. 1 six-month subscription to TCLA Premium is up for grabs every month until January 2023 for those who participate.

To enter, please follow these simple steps:

1. Create a thread introducing yourself in the My Training Contract Journey section of the forum by 31 October 2022
2. In your thread, update us on your goals for this vacation scheme cycle and how you plan to achieve them
3. Write one update each week to keep us updated on your goals

The best part is that this is an easy way for TCLA’s Community Managers, as well as the rest of the community, to get involved in your journey and to give you more personalised support.

I look forward to seeing your posts!

Hi everyone,

I've been a relatively frequent user of TCLA whilst completing TC and VS applications. I'm lucky enough to have received the TCLA Scholarship which I have already found extremely useful - there is a huge host of resources which has filled me with more confidence and hope that I will be successful.

Just about myself, I am currently working in-house as a paralegal following the completion of my MA Law course last year. As I don't have access to funding, I am looking for a law firm to help me fund my SQE/LPC. For personal reasons, I am also looking around London, so a City firm is the goal!

Whilst I have made some half-hearted applications in the past, this is the first cycle of applications that I am 100% committed to. I have around 6 applications drafted for this year already, I will just make sure to polish these up with some useful TCLA feedback and techniques.

Looking forward to learning and (hopefully) becoming an application expert!

I have just written my first draft for an open day application and I was hoping to get some feedback on it.

Please use this space to outline why you would like to attend an Open Day with Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP. (250)



Meeting Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) at The Legal Cheek Law Fair, I was interested to hear that the firm’s London office was not seen as just a satellite office. To me, this appears to set Shearman apart from many other US firms, since it indicates trainees have the opportunity work on deals won by the London office in its own right. It is important to me to train at a US firm which recognises the value of its London office as highly as its US counterparts, and attending an Open Day with Shearman would offer the opportunity to hear more how the London office operates within the wider infrastructure of the firm.



I am also keen to attend an Open Day with Shearman to discover more about trainees’ experience within a small cohort of only 15. I am an individual who learns best through exposure and enjoys taking initiative with my work. Currently, my understanding is that the small trainee intake means trainees are trusted with greater responsibility early on. Attending an Open Day would offer the opportunity to ask questions about how this small intake translates into trainees’ day-to-day work.



Finally, I wish to attend Shearman’s Open Day to gain a deeper understanding of its practice areas before applying. Shearman’s expertise is Finance and M&A is clear. However, after independently reaching out to a trainee on LinkedIn, I was interested to learn about her enjoyable experience in the firm’s impressive infrastructure practice. Shearman’s Open Day would offer greater insight into the firm’s full-service offering.

Hi everyone,

I appreciate this is an enviable position to be in, but I received offers from both my dream firms - Mishcon de Reya and Macfarlanes - and I'm really struggling to decide.

I have until Thursday (27th May) to let Mishcon de Reya know my decision, but I feel really stuck. They're both incredible firms and I don't think I can go wrong with either - but that's part of the problem.

Some background info:
I did VSs at both, but the Macfarlanes one was two weeks and the MdR just two days. Obviously, I got much more insight into the culture and work of Macfarlanes than MdR via their schemes. I loved the people at Macfarlanes, the general vibe and the work I heard about/did was interesting, but I am very drawn to MdR's work, especially their Art Law and Private Client seats.

I know Macfarlanes is better pay, but I'm trying not to let that come into things - I'm lucky enough to afford the choice, so I want to go somewhere I'll get solid training and really enjoy what I do. However, I am also aware that Macfarlanes' retention rate is higher and they have a reputation for outstanding training (I'm not too sure about MdR's rep on this one).

Basically, if anyone had any insight they could share, or any general views on/perceptions of each firm, I'd really appreciate it. I feel like I've read and watched everything I can, but I still can't seem to make up my mind!

Hi, if anyone else is taking the LLB-PARALEGAL-TC route, your input and experiences would be really helpful. One thing I really want to know is whether an international student with a UK LLB would find it hard to find a job as a paralegal in the UK or is working in my home city (Dubai) while applying for TC's a better route? Thank you so much!

'If you couldn't work in law, what do you think you would do and why?' (300 words) (Russell-Cooke application question)

I'm having a little trouble answering this question, I'm not sure if you should relate the career path to qualities that the firm wants? Or should you just do something completely different and out of the ordinary? I used to want to be an expert in wine tasting (I know, weird), and took courses for it before I wanted to go into law...but is this too random?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

Thank you TCLA team for my one-month bronze Scholarship. I'm extremely glad that I can utilise the courses available to me. I am in my first round of applications and in my final year of university. I have been rejected by most of the firms I applied to for a VS. I did not apply to many as I focused on quality, not quantity. I know an area that I need to build upon is understanding commercial concepts. I am currently trying to make myself the best candidate, so that I can answer "why commercial law?." I hope to use whatever is available to me to become a better candidate for the next round of applications.

Hello!

I've been selected for the Silver Scholarship this year and TCLA has been invaluable in my understanding of commercial law. Having never studied Economics or Business, this website has been integral in developing my commercial awareness.

I'm a 2020 graduate of a humanities subject from a RG university. My academic record was solid until university where I graduated with a 64, and low 60s throughout university apart from my third year where I studied abroad in a different continent. I was very disappointed by my academic performance at university but I had some mitigating circumstances, suffering from mental health difficulties.

I was also recently diagnosed with ADHD so I'd been struggling with an undiagnosed learning difficulty - if you suspect the same, please get diagnosed especially whilst you have the support of your university! My diagnosis has allowed me to get extra time in ACs and tests.

For some time, I agonised over whether or not to self-fund the law conversion and eventually decided to do it (using the postgraduate loan to complete a law conversion "masters"). This was especially motivated by the fact if you enrol onto a GDL before 31 August, you can still take the usual route to qualifying with a LPC. I was a bit unsure about being one of the first to undertake the SQE.

For anyone else who isn't sure, I would advise you to be very cautious. Have you got good work experience? Are your academics sufficient? Do you understand commercial law? Have you attended open days and special events? Many of these providers are very willing to take your money regardless of whether you are likely to land a TC and it might be more worth it to take a gap year and apply for work experience.

For me, I would say the investment has been generally worth it as it has solidified my decision to pursue law so I have been able to really throw myself into my applications and self-development. I also knew that I could at least paralegal after gaining this qualification, which would make my applications stronger. Furthermore, I'm doing the course at BPP which is very commercially-focussed (I also got two scholarships which reduced my fees greatly).

I recently received a VS offer for an international law firm and am waiting to hear back from quite a few of the other law firms to which I applied! I really hope to secure a TC by the end of the year

Hi,

My Name is Fahima. I am currently a 2nd-year Undergraduate studying Law at The University of Law. I currently work part-time in Retail as well as being a full-time University student.

I have a keen interest in Commercial Law and I hope to secure a Vacation Scheme or a Training Contract until I graduate in a Commercial Firm.

I am delighted to have been selected to gain a 1 month Bronze Scholarship with The Corporate Law Academy. I am very excited to see where my journey takes me.

Hi everyone

My name is Charlotte. I am a law graduate currently studying my Masters in International Business Law.

Having been awarded one of the TCLA Bronze Subscriptions, I am so excited to use these amazing resources to secure a Training Contract this year.

I have an upcoming Vacation Scheme with an International Law firm in June, and would love to hear some tips on how to convert your VS into a TC!

I encountered intermittent delay when trying to upload my Skadden application on the day of the deadline and I really worked hard on this application. I never foresaw this issue and it really ruined my New years day. I was feeling down but I am taking this as a lesson to never submit or leave things till the last minute.

But I am more than pleased to have received great news from the TCLA team that I have received the silver scholarship. This has truly brightened up my mood and I more than motivated to work hard to secure a training contract with the help of the resources I have access to.


Thank you, team and I look forward to sharing my journey on here!