TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

[Cherikon]

They do but only if you weren't invited to an assessment day for the vac scheme. If you were and still got rejected afterwards, you have to wait 12 months from the original date of applying.

Thank you so much!

 

[axelbeugre]

Freshfields post-AC pfo. Gutted tbh, as I've not even made it past the application stage for anywhere else and I'm in my final year of uni. My family don't have the money to self fund the SQE, my parents are retiring as well so I don't have the privilege of leeching off them for 2 years so I'm honestly really scared for the future

I am so sorry for this and I can understand how stressful this situation might be for you. What I would say is to not give up right now, as much as this rejection might be quite soul-crashing (also given the fact that it was your only assessment centre), I would say that it is important for you to ask for feedback, reflect on it and learn from it.

Additionally, I can totally relate to not being able to rely on your family financially, so what I would say is that you should still work hard for the direct training contract applications opening really soon as you might have a chance (I have many classmates in my PGDL class who managed to get their training contracts thanks to this route being their first application cycle, and some only applied to one firm only) do it is totally possible!

Moreover, I would encourage you to apply to paralegal jobs or jobs in other sectors as this will give you the chance to have different job offers for next year and you will not be struggling as much financially. I was in your same situation even if I had a vacation scheme under my belt at that point, I started applying to direct training contracts and other jobs whilst I was waiting for the results because I could not afford to not have a job or plan by September.

Additionally, I would include some tips on how to deal with rejection and how to prepare for assessment centres that I wrote some time ago hoping they will be useful to you:

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

If a partner brings up your commercial topic on your application form in an interview and you didn’t have the answers/hadn’t looked at the story again since applying 3 months ago is this a bad thing? Would this affect the outcome? @Jessica Booker @axelbeugre Any insight? :)

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-156677

I hope this is helpful and good luck with everything!

 

[aspiringtrainee2024]

Has anyone received a pfo from HL (Birmingham office) post WG?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

If we haven’t heard from HL are we to take it as a good sign? Has anyone heard any positive news from them yet?

 

[Ghassen]

Anyone hear back from Simmons & Simmons Dubai post-AC?

Hey ! I got rejection a week ago. When was yours and did you get invited for another interview after the AC ?

 

[S87]

To those who were successful with their farrer and Ashurst applications, would you be willing to have a chat with me? I would like to ask you some questions.

 

[Izzy1026]

PFO from Bristows following interview on Friday last week. Considering I did the interview with a severe jet lag and only 4 hours of sleep, I still count it a win that I even finished it.... Also the convo felt genuinely engaging and I could click with the partner, but I guess you could never really tell

 

[TCchaser24]

PFO from Bristows following interview on Friday last week. Considering I did the interview with a severe jet lag and only 4 hours of sleep, I still count it a win that I even finished it.... Also the convo felt genuinely engaging and I could click with the partner, but I guess you could never really tell

hi, sorry to hear. I did my first round interview nearly a month ago and still havent heard back! was this also the first round interviews?

 

[Izzy1026]

hi, sorry to hear. I did my first round interview nearly a month ago and still havent heard back! was this also the first round interviews?

yes it was the 1st round interview. I am also surprised to hear back so soon because the interviewer said it will usually take 1-2 weeks. I genuinely don't think I was that bad to deserve an instant no! But well one never knows haha

 

[missingh]

PFO from Bristows following interview on Friday last week. Considering I did the interview with a severe jet lag and only 4 hours of sleep, I still count it a win that I even finished it.... Also the convo felt genuinely engaging and I could click with the partner, but I guess you could never really tell

sorry to hear this tbh, the interview for bristows is so different to any other firm so i really wouldn't take it as a bad sign as the questions are genuinely so rogue! Please don't let this affect your confidence for other interviews as I am sure you interview well!!!

 

[Izzy1026]

sorry to hear this tbh, the interview for bristows is so different to any other firm so i really wouldn't take it as a bad sign as the questions are genuinely so rogue! Please don't let this affect your confidence for other interviews as I am sure you interview well!!!

Thank you for the kind words! The questions were indeed brutal, but overall I felt I did fine so was really surprised to receive such a quick no! (Interviewed on Friday, rejected Monday afternoon UK Time) I hope your second round goes well!

 

[TCchaser24]

Thank you for the kind words! The questions were indeed brutal, but overall I felt I did fine so was really surprised to receive such a quick no! (Interviewed on Friday, rejected Monday afternoon UK Time) I hope your second round goes well!

At least they got back to you, genuinely think bristows have forgotten who I am haha

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

For firms that allow you to submit for both vac schemes and TCs in the same year (and have the exact same questions for both), would you recommend changing the answers between the two applications?

Yes - I would update anything and refine anything, particularly making sure any motivational questions are more tailored to a TC vs a VS, and also as strong as they possibly can be as they are likely to be scrutinised more for a TC than a VS.

You should also try to showcase any development in knowledge or skills since your VS application, as given it was unsuccessful at some stage in the recruitment process, it will be important to show growth/development since you last applied.

 

[RonRod13]

PFO from Bristows following interview on Friday last week. Considering I did the interview with a severe jet lag and only 4 hours of sleep, I still count it a win that I even finished it.... Also the convo felt genuinely engaging and I could click with the partner, but I guess you could never really tell

Completely empathise with this, there’s nothing worse than coming out of an interview feeling like you smashed it and then getting hit with a fat PFO. It just makes you second guess yourself about future interviews too. Hopefully you get feedback though

 

[zoobla20]

Yes - I would update anything and refine anything, particularly making sure any motivational questions are more tailored to a TC vs a VS, and also as strong as they possibly can be as they are likely to be scrutinised more for a TC than a VS.

You should also try to showcase any development in knowledge or skills since your VS application, as given it was unsuccessful at some stage in the recruitment process, it will be important to show growth/development since you last applied.

Thanks Jessica!

 

[jplaw1010]

Anyone heard back from Bakers with a SJT?

 

[Izzy1026]

Completely empathise with this, there’s nothing worse than coming out of an interview feeling like you smashed it and then getting hit with a fat PFO. It just makes you second guess yourself about future interviews too. Hopefully you get feedback though

Thanks so much! Totally, I hope I can get feedback soon. My theory for the reason behind the PFO is that I did not prove to them sufficiently that I would have Bristows as my first choice. I have 1 VS coming up with a big law and they did ask for the details of that. I really don't know. But good luck to everyone else having their interviews soon, take my case as a lesson learnt haha

 

[hfbjsdhfbhf]

Received an invite to Lewis Silkin's case study and interview a few days ago. Would appreciate any tips for case studies!!

 

[evianmineral]

Did anyone apply for Macfarlanes dinner w/ senior partner? And if so, have you heard anything - positive or negative?

Edit: PFO lol

 

[Future$trainee]

Did anyone apply to Blake Morgan TC - I've received an email asking me to arrange a call to discuss my application - Is this the next stage then?

hey, do you know what the first call consists of? is it a proper interview or just a general chat? I don't know what to expect