TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[Chris Brown]

As long as you don't write Slaughter & May (you will be insta-slaughtered) or Paul Weiss (the paulbearers will cremate you) , it's probably too minor a detail to worry about.

I was worried the paulbearers would come after me because I may or may not have made that exact mistake in my application. I think it went unnoticed though, or it was just a minor error so they overlooked it. 😅​

 

[James Wakefield]

I was worried the paulbearers would come after me because I may or may not have made that exact mistake in my application. I think it went unnoticed though, or it was just a minor error so they overlooked it. 😅​

This makes me feel better. Thank you. 😅

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

K&S invited me for AC just now, but they run ACs on the dates when I have the vac scheme, so it looks like I will not be able to attend😭

I would contact the firm and explain you have a vacation scheme on the dates available and ask whether there is any flexibility or alternative dates.

 

[James Wakefield]

One of my 20 or so references in my Baker McKenzie app is ‘Baker Mckenzie’. Is my application doomed? 😕

@Jessica Booker can I ask your thoughts on this?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Humblebrag/mushy post alert…

Just found out I’ve secured a DTC. Incredibly excited to be getting off this carousel!

Just wanted to say thanks to this place for keeping me sane over the last few months. From sharing advice to hyping each other up, this place has been a reminder that there are still good people in the world (or on the internet at least)!

Thanks to @Jaysen for the commercial awareness course, I nailed my CA questions because of it and to @Amma Usman for helping me smash PE with your private equity guide and @Jessica Booker for general sanity checking!

That’s it for my Oscars acceptance speech. *cuts to commercials*

Many congratulations and incredibly well done!

PS - posts like this make my day (even more than the sun shining!!).

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker can I ask your thoughts on this?

One very minor mistake like this is unlikely to be an issue on its own.

 

[Andrei Radu]

'Please provide any additional information that you think is relevant.'
What type of thing do we think is actually relevant...

I think you should simply seek to discuss the points which you think would add most value to your candidate profile/application as a whole. As @trainee4u said, this will depend a lot on what other sections and questions in the application form were and how you went about answering them. For instance, if the form had no work experience section, it would make sense to describe some of your roles here. Similarly, if there are significant achievements that you did not get to mention in other answers, this would be a good place to do so. Thus, it seems to me there are at least the following options for types of information you could choose to present here:

1. Motivation-based points: you can basically explain in more detail your why law/why the firm reasoning
2. Skills/experiences/achievements-based points: you can essentially explain any of your relevant CV points that you did not get to present in other sections
3. Additional explanatory details: you can explain anything that will provide recruiter with a better understanding of your application. such as how grading worked in a foreign educational system, any mitigating circumstances.

 

[James Wakefield]

One very minor mistake like this is unlikely to be an issue on its own.

Thank you.

 

[mandamasochist]

Guessing we’re not hearing from Winckworth today?

 

[Tintin06]

Hopefully we hear from HL tomorrow. And King & Spalding too ideally. Good luck to all still waiting. Your time (and TC) will come.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Is the ashurst deadline midday

 

[thomaibal]

K&S invited me for AC just now, but they run ACs on the dates when I have the vac scheme, so it looks like I will not be able to attend😭

May I ask if this is for September 2026, March or September 2027 intake? Congratulations!

 

[YL]

Bristows final stage interview invite! (I have trauma from being rejected at the final stage though😃)

 

[Chris Brown]

Is there anybody else still working on their Baker McKenzie DTC application or who has not yet submitted it? I am still working on mine and it looks like it won’t be done until Sunday. I hope I am not on my own here. 😅​

 

[fidrrygalka]

Is there anybody else still working on their Baker McKenzie DTC application or who has not yet submitted it? I am still working on mine and it looks like it won’t be done until Sunday. I hope I am not on my own here. 😅​

i’m still considering if i want to apply or not 😅😂😂

 

[Chris Brown]

i’m still considering if i want to apply or not 😅😂😂

This is where I am right now. I have completed most of it. I just have one question left (choose a topic of interest). I am in two minds whether to send the application off once I am done. I don’t have substantial legal work experience. I might give it a shot and who knows, I could surprise myself and progress with them. 😅😂​

 

[spamelinazoid]

Ive gotten through by applying to Bakers on deadline day before. They read all applications from what I understand

Is there anybody else still working on their Baker McKenzie DTC application or who has not yet submitted it? I am still working on mine and it looks like it won’t be done until Sunday. I hope I am not on my own here. 😅​

 

[fidrrygalka]

This is where I am right now. I have completed most of it. I just have one question left (choose a topic of interest). I am in two minds whether to send the application off once I am done. I don’t have substantial legal work experience. I might give it a shot and who knows, I could surprise myself and progress with them. 😅😂​

If you wrote it then I see no reason why not to try 😀😀 fingers crossed! i’m more on the page where i’m just not sure if i want to apply for the sake of applying, because Im not that into cross-border legal….

 

[saminoriya]

May I ask if this is for September 2026, March or September 2027 intake? Congratulations!

I don't think there was an option to choose, but if there was, I chose 2026.

 

[trainee4u]

75k a year, don’t offer SQE grant and they playing up like this 💀

tbf

I am making good progress through the applications, however, due to the volume, I will now be aiming to provide an update on your application by the end of business, next Thursday.

What is meant by "end of business"?

In Lehman Bros International (Europe) v Exxonmobil Financial Services [2016] EWHC 2699, there was dispute about the definition of "close of business", which EMFS said was 7pm, and LBIE said was 5pm.

It was then determined that "close of business" might refer to the US markets and could also have different meanings in certain contexts, and there is subsequently clearly a legitimate debate about what "end of business" might mean in the context of a city law firm.

In this case, they sent out the PFOs at 00:50 on Thursday night/Friday morning. Which is a usual work time in certain seats at certain firms......

Conclusion: this PFO was a lucky escape!