TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[👩🎓]

Does anyone have any advice on the White & Case cover letter? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Z48]

Sullivan & Cromwell DTC opens tomorrow. It seems a backup for them. The VS seems more important honestly. So not expecting anything positive really. But they are a great firm.

This has been a rough cycle. Only one TI back in February. Having multiple VSs might be detrimental. I don’t want to do more. Feeling like it’s my last cycle. Mostly just going backwards this time. I’m also turning 28 in June. I can’t be bothered applying endlessly. Why should I keep on going? Failed to convert multiple VSs (three). There's no demand for my skills. There's no demand for my experiences. At least, that's how it feels.

In terms of SullCrom, I do think they consider DTC, when I contacted them last year about whether to apply for the VS this was the response I got:

“As you are not currently in education, I would suggest you apply direct for a training contract.

Online applications open May 1, 2025, through July 11, 2025.

Please note we do not recruit all future trainees from the firm's summer vacation scheme, hence why we have a separate direct training contract application window.”

I think the last sentence gives a bit of hope

 

[Tintin06]

In terms of SullCrom, I do think they consider DTC, when I contacted them last year about whether to apply for the VS this was the response I got:

“As you are not currently in education, I would suggest you apply direct for a training contract.

Online applications open May 1, 2025, through July 11, 2025.

Please note we do not recruit all future trainees from the firm's summer vacation scheme, hence why we have a separate direct training contract application window.”

I think the last sentence gives a bit of hope

That’s great news to hear, honestly.

 

[Amma Usman]

Congratulations to all those getting VI invites. I have linked @Andrei Radu ’’s great guide here to help - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....de-for-competency-interview-preparation.9380/

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Guys has ANYONE heard from Shoosmiths post test?

 

[tomofsiobhans]

As other forum members mentioned, I do not think you will be at a particular disadvantage. That said, I do think the bar is generally higher in a DTC final interview when compared to a VS interview, as the firm will need to make a decision on whether to make a very substantial investment without any further assessment. As such, in general I believe you should expect more pushback and scrutiny about all your answers. When you prepare, I advise you to think about any and all potential follow ups to your answers and continuously look for the weak spots in your reasoning that may be further questioned.

No, not at all. While having years of experience can certainly help, it does not limit your chances in any way if you are able to leverage your own experiences effectively, whatever they may be. Firms are looking at how you present yourself just as much as what you have done.

It is also worth remembering that some candidates might have years of experience or impressive backgrounds, but still struggle in the direct TC process if they have not honed key competencies firms assess such as communication skills, commercial awareness, and structured interview preparation. So, your success does not hinge solely on the quantity of experience, but rather on how you show your potential.

In fact, the very fact that you have already secured a vacation scheme offer and have been moved to the direct TC process is clear proof that the firm sees something in you. You are already in a strong position, and it would be a good idea to reference this in your interviews as evidence of your capability and commitment.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if the firm knows you were unable to take part in the vacation scheme due to a clash with dates for a separate VS, you should be prepared to answer the question of why X firm over Y firm. Firms will already know that candidates are applying elsewhere, but this question will still likely be asked to gauge your application strategy. Maybe both firms have similar practices that are of interest to you, similar training structures, or something of that sort.

For preparation, I would recommend focusing on:

• Structuring your answers clearly using the STAR method for competency questions.
• Having two or three strong commercial stories you can reference confidently.
• Keeping your motivations for the firm razor-sharp and tailored.
• Practising case studies or written exercises if they are part of the process.

You have done so well already, and I am sure you will nail it. Best of luck with all the opportunities.

Thank you very much Andrei and Amma!

 

[hopefullyalawyersoon]

Anyone who got Ashurst’s case study comfortable with sharing the available dates for the session? Or even just the last date available?

Just want to know if I’m cooked 😔😔🙏🏼

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Guys has ANYONE heard from Shoosmiths post test?

Their email says by 6pm on 9 May so expect a 5.59 email on that date.

 

[MB17]

anyone heard back from baker mckenzie post test yet?

I haven’t even heard back from them post-app and I’m starting to panic at this point.

 

[B101]

Anyone who got Ashurst’s case study comfortable with sharing the available dates for the session? Or even just the last date available?

Just want to know if I’m cooked 😔😔🙏🏼

There were several slots on the 6th, 7th & 8th of May. Perhaps they will release some more. All the best!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Does anyone have any advice on the White & Case cover letter? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I think your White & Case cover letter should cover the same big 3 sections as any other (Why commercial law, Why firm, Why you), but writing it is complicated by two factors: (i) the other application form questions; and (ii) the high word count limit. Taken together, this makes it difficult to avoid repetition of experiences/achievements. I have two tips in this regard:

1. Be strategic with your use of experiences/achievements: think from the get-go roughly how many you will need for the cover letter and each section and determine what goes where before you actually start writing.
2. In the cover letter, should you find it difficult to talk at length about competencies and experiences, make the 'Why the firm' analysis more substantial than you normally would. This will also give you more of an opportunity to showcase the depth of your knowledge of the firm.

 

[👩🎓]

I think your White & Case cover letter should cover the same big 3 sections as any other (Why commercial law, Why firm, Why you), but writing it is complicated by two factors: (i) the other application form questions; and (ii) the high word count limit. Taken together, this makes it difficult to avoid repetition of experiences/achievements. I have two tips in this regard:

1. Be strategic with your use of experiences/achievements: think from the get-go roughly how many you will need for the cover letter and each section and determine what goes where before you actually start writing.
2. In the cover letter, should you find it difficult to talk at length about competencies and experiences, make the 'Why the firm' analysis more substantial than you normally would. This will also give you more of an opportunity to showcase the depth of your knowledge of the firm.

Thank you so much!

 

[norothrow324]

Do you think ashurst releases in batches or is it a PFO if we haven’t heard?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you, Andrei.

Do you have any advice for a fact-finding exercise with an associate? From what I can gather the context is you're provided with a commercial backdrop and have to ask questions and come up with advice for a client. Posing questions to the Associate.

I have never completed a fact-finding exercise in an AC before, but I have some tips based on my experience with it in a client interviewing competition:

1. Determine the scope of your inquiry: essentially, you want to find out early on what information you are looking to get and why, as this can help you ascertain what further questions will actually be relevant. As such, after hearing/reading the brief, ask yourself: what are the commercial/legal issues we are dealing with, what is the client's interest, and what do I need to help them achieve it?
2. Organize your questions: if you can see early on that your questions can be split between a few different areas, you should make a mental plan to go through each area one at a time.
3. Ask open-ended questions: this is crucial to prompt the associate to give you more information you may not even be aware you should be looking for yet. If you ask closed-ended questions like 'Did this particular thing happen?', this simply does not give the respondent much to work on.
4. Spot strategic ambiguity: in my client interviewing competition, interviewees received a specific set of instructions as to how and when to give out information, and at some points, they would have to be intentionally ambiguous. This was to assess if you can spot that and know how to follow up more on the issue until you get the information you need. I would suspect the same will hold in your case, as the firm is looking for ways exercises that can differentiate between candidates' skills. Thus, I think you should constantly be on the lookout for insufficiently specific responses.
5. Be an active and inquisitive listener: probably the most important line of advice here is this - you need to have a genuinely inquisitive mindset, to actively want to get to the bottom of the issue. This is what enables you to naturally seek the facts that are kept hidden from you. One method that worked for me in this regard was to try to imagine myself in the shoes of the client as I was picturing their story, which prompted me to ask the right questions as to how I got into a given situation.

 

[JustwantaTC]

Really unsure what i should do. I received a paralegal offer but it is in a high street firm rather than commercial. I was previously in hospitality and started applying to any paralegal role that came up but now i am thinking if i commit to a non-commercial practice area i will look unserious as i graduated a few years ago. I was initially willing to accept as it is local to me and thought it would be better to manage with the application cycle rather than commuting two hours a day to a city firm. Would you guys take it or keep applying to commercial paralegal roles?

 

[Z48]

Does anyone have any advice for a Mayer Brown assessment centre/partner interview? It would be very much appreciated!

Hey, I can see Andrei has responded but feel free to pm me, I did an AC for their VS last year

 

[User5678]

I have received an online test invite for Howard Kennedy an hour back for whoever is still waiting

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Really unsure what i should do. I received a paralegal offer but it is in a high street firm rather than commercial. I was previously in hospitality and started applying to any paralegal role that came up but now i am thinking if i commit to a non-commercial practice area i will look unserious as i graduated a few years ago. I was initially willing to accept as it is local to me and thought it would be better to manage with the application cycle rather than commuting two hours a day to a city firm. Would you guys take it or keep applying to commercial paralegal roles?

You can accept but keep looking and applying for other roles. If you then secure something more commercially focused, you can decide whether it is better to move.

There are going to be a lot of positives of accepting this role, including gaining a lot of transferable skills and by the sounds of it giving you some flexibility with timings to then commit to other applications.

 

[legal_student2024]

I have received an online test invite for Howard Kennedy an hour back for whoever is still waiting

Has anyone else heard back? Assume a PFO as I've heard nothing

 

[Traineeoneday]

Has anyone heard anything from Foot Anstey following VI?