TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[ilovegardening1111]

Hi all, would you say it’s a good idea to train in-house at a financial/insurance firm? And there’s a chance you will undertake one seat (litigation) in private practice during your time there at a reputable commercial law firm. Could I go back to private practice? Even though I’ve only done one seat in it

 

[Ali2020]

I did it yesterday, went terribly! 😅 Had 1 motivational and 3 competency based questions

oh wow, best of luck...hoping you smashed it!! Thank you for the tips on what to expect I was scared it might be something on commercial news 😫

 

[Ali2020]

Has anyone heard back from Sky after completing the MCQs...I ran out of time and missed 1 questions eurgh

 

[Ali2020]

Hi everyone,

Did anyone hear anything from Howard Kennedy after the contextual recruitment survey? Thank you so much!

Hey I completed it 24 March and haven't heard anything still either....

 

[legallyells]

For those of you lucky folk who’ve got a response from Hill Dickinson, which seat did you get put into?

For context I put mine as shipping but haven’t heard back yet!

business services in london was mine!

 

[confusedbird]

did anyone receive an email post completing the SJT for Ashurst?
Haven't received anything and wondering if it even got recorded (i went till the end and it said the assessment was over but just overthinking it)

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thoughts on the graduate apprenticeship route? Running out of TC applications here. Are they much harder to get? Just started thinking about this option.

Also anything from Hogan Lovells today? Would also like to manage expectations. What are my chances with HL? A few VSs and work experiences. A-Level grades: AAA; GCSEs were: ABBBBCCC. Mitigating circumstances were for GCSEs. Degree: 62.5% (History and Politics - Oxford).

I often get imposter syndrome honestly. So none of this = humble brag.

To me, graduate apprenticeships are no different to training contracts - you just do your SQE training alongside working rather than ahead of the TC. Otherwise they are the same opportunity.

 

[norothrow324]

did anyone receive an email post completing the SJT for Ashurst?
Haven't received anything and wondering if it even got recorded (i went till the end and it said the assessment was over but just overthinking it)

I got my feedback report (if you can really cal it that, quite short and pretty boiler plate). Nothing else before though so you should be fine so long as you clicked submit. Took a day to get the report

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all, would you say it’s a good idea to train in-house at a financial/insurance firm? And there’s a chance you will undertake one seat (litigation) in private practice during your time there at a reputable commercial law firm. Could I go back to private practice? Even though I’ve only done one seat in it

I think its good if you want to work in-house long term, and especially if you have an interest in financial services or the insurance industry.

Moving to private practice is not going to be straight forward if your experience is mainly in-house, even with a six-month secondment to a private practice firm. You will be competing in a job market where people have mainly worked in private practice. Those people will have worked with a broader range of clients, have gained work experience across practice areas and got used to more private practice process knowledge like business development, time recording etc.

It is not to say it will be impossible, it just will be more difficult than if you have trained in private practice. It may be more possible for firms that have a financial services/insurance sector focus, because your sector knowledge may be in more demand.

People may think it might be easy to impress on a six month secondment to the private practice firm and potentially be hired by them, but sometimes there are terms in secondment agreements that restrict firms/in-house teams from nabbing talent from one another.

 

[Lawstudent2038]

After the initial application, is it just the AC for Howard Kennedy?

 

[yoyo33]

Does the Ashurst online assessment have a video interview at the end, or is it just a combo of case study, SJT, etc? Thanks!

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Does the Ashurst online assessment have a video interview at the end, or is it just a combo of case study, SJT, etc? Thanks!

no vi

 

[Ali2020]

After the initial application, is it just the AC for Howard Kennedy?

I think it might also be an online test...not sure still waiting to hear back

 

[User5678]

After the initial application, is it just the AC for Howard Kennedy?

I think there is a Watson Glaser test and a video interview before the AC. I saw it on the allaboutlaw website and on the forum as this was the process for 2024, maybe allaboutlaw is not updated for this year so not too sure

PS: It would be amazing if it’s just an ac after the app😭

 

[Laur2cj]

Anybody have any insight into 1-1 discussions for AC would be grateful

 

[gazdgazd11]

Hill Dickinson AC being 7.5h long and not even the Last stage is mad

 

[ilovegardening1111]

I think its good if you want to work in-house long term, and especially if you have an interest in financial services or the insurance industry.

Moving to private practice is not going to be straight forward if your experience is mainly in-house, even with a six-month secondment to a private practice firm. You will be competing in a job market where people have mainly worked in private practice. Those people will have worked with a broader range of clients, have gained work experience across practice areas and got used to more private practice process knowledge like business development, time recording etc.

It is not to say it will be impossible, it just will be more difficult than if you have trained in private practice. It may be more possible for firms that have a financial services/insurance sector focus, because your sector knowledge may be in more demand.

People may think it might be easy to impress on a six month secondment to the private practice firm and potentially be hired by them, but sometimes there are terms in secondment agreements that restrict firms/in-house teams from nabbing talent from one another.

Thank you Jessica for your response. If I were keen to qualify into litigation in private practice - would you say this would be more feasible?

 

[fairbourne]

Does anyone have any insights into the Payne Hicks Beach TC AC? Thanks very much in advance!

 

[legallyells]

Hill Dickinson AC being 7.5h long and not even the Last stage is mad

am i right in thinking it’s the assessment day 24th april, then if successful we get invited to insight day and training contract final interview mid june??? the wording of the emails is confusing me!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica for your response. If I were keen to qualify into litigation in private practice - would you say this would be more feasible?

I would say this would actually be quite difficult. In-house roles tend to be much more corporate/commercial based, with general advisory work (eg regulations) rather than having a litigation focus. There might be some in-house roles that are more litigation specific and in those cases it could be okay. But ultimately if you want to work in private practice and especially in litigation, I would recommend training in private practice rather than in-house.