TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[BillSikes]

I see some firms have now opened their vacation scheme apps. I have graduated uni in June and started paralleling that month.

I would prefer direct TC app as there are less hurdles, do not have to worry about my annual leave allowance and because VS dates are longer they are more likely to clash than TC interview dates.

I am wanting to apply to direct TC for firms that hire a large percentage of people through that route - and VS for firms that favour the VS route - but I don't want to do this if I'll be disadvantaged through lack of legal experience.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

 

[sammm10101]

Just thought people might find this helpful- Crowell and Moring are recruiting for direct TC's with a 2025 and 2026 entry date, and they are doing an online event on AllAboutLaw this afternoon.

 

[jmak]

Does anyone know any good resources for finding in house legal roles?

flexlegL

Which firms take in the most trainees from direct TC?

Clifford chance

 

[VMS]

Clifford chance

Not so much anymore by the looks of things! Legal Cheek has reported they're only taking on 63 trainees now rather than 110.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Just thought people might find this helpful- Crowell and Moring are recruiting for direct TC's with a 2025 and 2026 entry date, and they are doing an online event on AllAboutLaw this afternoon.

don't you have to have already done the LPC/SQE?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Not so much anymore by the looks of things! Legal Cheek has reported they're only taking on 63 trainees now rather than 110.

This is insane and I can't believe it isn't being talked about more

 

[sammm10101]

don't you have to have already done the LPC/SQE?

They said they would help fund the SQE2, but yeah

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Anyone heard from SH, PH or k&l Gates?

 

[BillSikes]

How did you find a paralegal role? I graduated last year and I haven’t been able to get any roles. No calls from recruiters either

I applied direct from the firm website. Had several interviews through direct app. I never signed up for agency. Just my experience though.

 

[BillSikes]

Anyone heard from SH, PH or k&l Gates?

Nothing from KL yet, no.

 

[elektrajenkov]

Which firms take in the most trainees from direct TC?

I don't personally know that info but it was talked about on the 2023-24 thread so might be worth a look there. I think there was also a thread elsewhere on TCLA about it

 

[hmevey]

Hey guys, I am one year post grad- took a gap year and have been paralegalling for about 2 months now. i am looking to apply for straight TC's as I can't get enough days off my job to attend vac schemes. Not sure if I will be disadvantaging myself doing this as I know alot of firms hire through vac schemes. Applying for around 5 firms and doing about 2-3 hours of research per firm before drafting my application. Does this sound like a good plan of action? Intrigued on peoples thoughts!

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi @Jessica Booker, hope you are well. What are your views on batching multiple legal internships where the responsibilities were largely the same (researching, proof reading etc.)? Will I be shooting myself in the foot here because on their own, these experiences can form 5-6 entries but by batching them, am I giving the impression that throughout these internships I didn't do much (which is why I am writing them together)?

The issue is, if I write them separately, they might look very similar and boring, plus I won't be able to write 200-300 words for each entry.

 

[lawbear123]

are there any TC apps still open?

 

[lawbear123]

has anyone heard from PH, K&L Gates yet?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

has anyone heard from PH, K&L Gates yet?

Doesn't seem like it.
K&L Gates I'm anticipating we will probably hear this week as they said by mid-Sept. PH who knows honestly but I would be really surprised if they'd been giving out interviews and no-one on this forum had got one, especially considering they don't give out offers from their vac scheme and make them reapply through this route.

Edit: Did a forum stalk. PH took roughly a month and a half to invite people to interview for the VS and gave out offers about a month after that. Assuming the time frame is similar, we can probably expect to hear in the next couple of weeks.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Anyone hear anything from Stephenson Harwood or best to assume PFO?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Hi, @Jessica Booker. I have recently completed my LLM SQE. For the LLM part, I've taken all the exams but won't get my results until December. In what part of my application, if at all, should I include the LLM portion and the modules I did? Would it be in the postgraduate section?

 

[👩🎓]

Hi @Jessica Booker, how long would you recommend spending on an application/how long should one application realistically take - I know it depends on the number of questions etc but lets say it is a firm with 2/3 application questions?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker, hope you are well. What are your views on batching multiple legal internships where the responsibilities were largely the same (researching, proof reading etc.)? Will I be shooting myself in the foot here because on their own, these experiences can form 5-6 entries but by batching them, am I giving the impression that throughout these internships I didn't do much (which is why I am writing them together)?

The issue is, if I write them separately, they might look very similar and boring, plus I won't be able to write 200-300 words for each entry.

I’d keep in person internships separate. Rather than the responsibilities being the same, maybe focus on the differences in each experiences rather than repeating the same type of details. You are likely to have worked in different practice areas or with different types of clients or different types of legal processes/documents, or different topics for tasks like research, so focus on those details rather than generic responsibilities ( eg drafting, attending meetings etc).