TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[Andysandys]

Freshfields Spring 2024 AC invite!! Would be grateful for any tips!

 

[B A]

Also received a Freshfields Spring 2024 AC and would really appreciate any advice! Have been told there will be two virtual interviews and a 60 min written exercise.

 

[sxw517]

Any tips for the Freshfields written exercise/interviews would be greatly appreciated!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Great to see so many of our TCLA community get Freshfields interviews - well done everyone.

 

[B A]

Hi @Jessica Booker I applied for the Freshfields Spring 2024 TC and completed the WG over the weekend. They just sent me a rare recruitment form to fill out my a-level grades and socioeconomic background (they said this was sent late due to tech issues). Due to this delay will this put me at a disadvantage for securing a AC?

Thank you!

I got the form just now as well but received an AC invite earlier today, so it seems like everyone received it late. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[B A]

Did you receive the form prior to the AC invite or after? Thanks!

After

 

[hellohello12345678]

After

thanks!

 

[corplawperson23]

Any tips for the Freshfields written exercise/interviews would be greatly appreciated!

Amazing! How long did you hear back after doing the Watson Glaser?

 

[sxw517]

Amazing! How long did you hear back after doing the Watson Glaser?

Hey, 2 business days, good luck!

 

[divaination]

for CC's TC application, should i mention any incoming vacation schemes? would it be advantageous / disadvantageous?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

for CC's TC application, should i mention any incoming vacation schemes? would it be advantageous / disadvantageous?

I would include a short reference if you can - I can't see why it would be a disadvantage unless the work was completely different (e.g. in human rights law)

 

[divaination]

I would include a short reference if you can - I can't see why it would be a disadvantage unless the work was completely different (e.g. in human rights law)

it's weird that they specifically ask if I had completed a vacation scheme before and if they offered me a TC, i am not sure whether disclosing it is good or not

 

[keepmewherethelightis]

Hey!

I did the CC WG yesterday, and a couple of things did not go as per what the WG invite mail says:

The mail says- "To start the test please log into the Clifford Chance application centre, via the link below, with the username and password used to submit your application. Please ensure you use the same email address that you used to submit your application otherwise we will not receive your result." I did not have to put my login credentials, and the test started straightaway.

Also, the mail says- "At the end of the test, once the timer has finished there will be some equal opportunity questions. You do not need to answer these, but you do have to go through this section and then click submit or your test score will not register. You will not receive a notification or email confirming the test has been submitted. There will be a pop up on the web browser saying, 'thank you for your response' and you should take this as confirmation of your test submission." I did not receive any equal opportunity questions. However, I directly got the "thank you for your response" web page.

I haven't received the test report from CC until now. If I open the link again, it says that the form is already submitted. I'm p sure I'm overthinking - but I do I need to email gradrec about these things not going the way mentioned in the email?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

it's weird that they specifically ask if I had completed a vacation scheme before and if they offered me a TC, i am not sure whether disclosing it is good or not

That is only for schemes you have completed though rather than upcoming schemes. You should disclose any internships/vacation schemes completed - it is better to have them on your application than not, even if you didn’t convert them to a TC.

 

[edenA]

Hi just after a little bit of advice.

This is my first round of applications and I’m coming from a non law uni background - so my focus has been on vac schemes.

Alongside this I also applied to law firms for assistant/paralegal roles, which I’ve now secured so I am now also considering applying for direct TCs with firms that I’ve either missed their VS deadline or ones that have a slightly later deadline, so I can apply after my round of VS applications.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of a comment or forum that lists what firms recruit a decent amount from the direct TC and also ones that have a later deadline (most of my vs applications are due during jan so ideally after then).

Thank you so much!

 

[gw9]

Hi just after a little bit of advice.

This is my first round of applications and I’m coming from a non law uni background - so my focus has been on vac schemes.

Alongside this I also applied to law firms for assistant/paralegal roles, which I’ve now secured so I am now also considering applying for direct TCs with firms that I’ve either missed their VS deadline or ones that have a slightly later deadline, so I can apply after my round of VS applications.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of a comment or forum that lists what firms recruit a decent amount from the direct TC and also ones that have a later deadline (most of my vs applications are due during jan so ideally after then).

Thank you so much!

These threads might help!

Law Firm Application Deadlines 2022-2023

Hi everyone! As law firms continue to announce their deadlines for the upcoming cycle, the list below will be updated :) Always check the time that the application is due on the website - if the firm's website does not mention a specific time (especially if the firm uses apply4law) then it...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2022-2023

Hi everyone! I hope that this can be useful in planning out where you will apply for vacation schemes and where you will apply directly for training contracts. You can decide when to apply to each firm by looking at my compilation of law firm deadlines as well as my thread about which firms...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[traineesolicitor123]

SLAUGHTER AND MAY INTERVIEW INVITE! A huge thank you to Jessica and the entire TCLA community for all your help

Please DM if you have attended the Slaughter and May AC in the past and have any tips. Thank you!

I also had a few questions about the process -

1) Slaughter and May is currently taking interviews too. Since my interview is scheduled for March and offers are rolling, will that put me at a disadvantage? [March was the earliest slot I could pick]

2) I was planning to submit 6-7 more applications until February. However, Slaughter and May is one of my top choice firms, so I do not want the application writing to hamper my interview preparation. How many applications would you recommend writing? And would you recommend focusing on just the interview or continuing to write applications too?

 

[AB141]

Freshfields Spring 2024 AC invite!! Would be grateful for any tips!

Hey, congratulations, and good luck!! I was wondering whether the WG invite was an automatic step upon submission of the application, or whether it was the next stage. I know usually it is the latter, but I saw some conflicting info on this on here and was hoping you could confirm, please?

 

[Andysandys]

Hey, congratulations, and good luck!! I was wondering whether the WG invite was an automatic step upon submission of the application, or whether it was the next stage. I know usually it is the latter, but I saw some conflicting info on this on here and was hoping you could confirm, please?

Thank you so much! I don’t know unfortunately, the wording of the WG invite made me think that it was an automatic email but I’m not sure..

 

[The Lincoln Lawyer_66]

Hey!

I did the CC WG yesterday, and a couple of things did not go as per what the WG invite mail says:

The mail says- "To start the test please log into the Clifford Chance application centre, via the link below, with the username and password used to submit your application. Please ensure you use the same email address that you used to submit your application otherwise we will not receive your result." I did not have to put my login credentials, and the test started straightaway.

Also, the mail says- "At the end of the test, once the timer has finished there will be some equal opportunity questions. You do not need to answer these, but you do have to go through this section and then click submit or your test score will not register. You will not receive a notification or email confirming the test has been submitted. There will be a pop up on the web browser saying, 'thank you for your response' and you should take this as confirmation of your test submission." I did not receive any equal opportunity questions. However, I directly got the "thank you for your response" web page.

I haven't received the test report from CC until now. If I open the link again, it says that the form is already submitted. I'm p sure I'm overthinking - but I do I need to email gradrec about these things not going the way mentioned in the email?

Hi, Yes, I received the same message on completion today. I assume its been safely received. The email containing the WG link states that "You will receive confirmation from us as to whether you have progressed to the next stage, application review, within three working days".

Based on that I would wait for their response as per the above and if no response is received within 3 working days then follow up.