TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[AnAnonymousDuck]

I personally wouldn’t spend too long researching interviewers, especially if you are going to have so many of them.

Your interview is about you, it’s not about them. If you find things uou are naturally interested in that the partners have worked on, then I would focus on these aspects rather than trying to understand everything they do/have done. You can then adapt your questions at the end to your natural/genuine motivations rather than trying to set up questions you think are relevant to them. The questions need to be relevant to your interests first.

I’ll bet now that at least one of the interviewers will change/no show anyway!

Thank you so much! Another question i had was relating to tailored my reasons for why this firm. During my previous interview i gave two main reasons as my interest and n the firm: their strength and excellence in a practice area which i linked back to a module i took in dispute resolution and mooting, as well as their smaller intake which i linked back to my past experience in customer service working in similar smaller groups with high responsibility. I also talked abt a conversation i had with a current trainee and linked it back to why what they said was important to me and why i liked it (again, talking abt my work experience which aligned with).

During my feedback call, grad rec mentioned that the interviewers felt i didnt quite convey my interest in the firm enough and that it was a little too general. I couldnt ask exzctly what they meant by that or what i said that conveyed this. Would you have advice on how to improve in the next stage, especially since i feel like that my reasons for why the firm were quite well linked to the firm and me?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you so much! Another question i had was relating to tailored my reasons for why this firm. During my previous interview i gave two main reasons as my interest and n the firm: their strength and excellence in a practice area which i linked back to a module i took in dispute resolution and mooting, as well as their smaller intake which i linked back to my past experience in customer service working in similar smaller groups with high responsibility. I also talked abt a conversation i had with a current trainee and linked it back to why what they said was important to me and why i liked it (again, talking abt my work experience which aligned with).

During my feedback call, grad rec mentioned that the interviewers felt i didnt quite convey my interest in the firm enough and that it was a little too general. I couldnt ask exzctly what they meant by that or what i said that conveyed this. Would you have advice on how to improve in the next stage, especially since i feel like that my reasons for why the firm were quite well linked to the firm and me?

I would try to find more unique elements of the firm. Many firms will have DR specialisms/expertise, so it isn’t really explaining why the firm specifically - you are just saying you have a preference for contentious work.

The same could be said of the small trainee intake. Is there something more specific in how they train trainees that you could leverage instead rather than the cohort size?

 

[LawInTheNorth]

I heard back, got pfo :/ Heard back on Friday and submitted VI on Sunday.

Yeah same here, annoyingly going to be another cycle :/

 

[dlc3266]

Anyone know if the Morgan Lewis and Paul Hastings TC is rolling or not?

 

[Tintin06]

Anyone know if the Morgan Lewis and Paul Hastings TC is rolling or not?

Neither of them are rolling, no.

 

[Tintin06]

Yeah same here, annoyingly going to be another cycle :/

Not necessarily, TCs are still open.

Dentons, Stephenson Harwood to name two.

How much do you want this? Not to be patronising with that. It’s what my friend asked me. It finally clicked this year ultimately. It’s worth applying to more firms.

Like with the UCAS application basically.

 

[FCL25]

Anyone heard back from Shoosmiths yet?

 

[mostlyLsrareWs]

Anyone heard back from Shoosmiths yet?

They’re going to get back tomorrow I think. Didn’t their email say 19th May?

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

@Jessica Booker @ZNadeem

Hi there, I am trying to seek advice about obtaining character reference for the application of Government Legal Profession Trainee scheme. They require 3 types of references.

Instructions below:
"Please enter details of three referees below. Please note that your references must cover the last 3 years.

1. Academic: Please provide an academic reference.

2. Employment: Please provide a maximum of six employment references covering all employment in the most recent three years.

3. Character reference: Please provide a character reference. This should be someone who has known you for the full three-year period but is not a family member."

My question focuses on character reference? Is it okay to put a long time friend who is a practising barrister? I appreciate a friend is not the best but because the deadline is less than 24 hours away I dont have time to ask and I dont really have close mentors. Also not sure about how important references are if anyone has any insights into the GLP scheme?

Another related question is do you think it's mostly fine if I provide more employment and character references post-application / when I reach latter stages?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker @ZNadeem

Hi there, I am trying to seek advice about obtaining character reference for the application of Government Legal Profession Trainee scheme. They require 3 types of references.

Instructions below:
"Please enter details of three referees below. Please note that your references must cover the last 3 years.

1. Academic: Please provide an academic reference.

2. Employment: Please provide a maximum of six employment references covering all employment in the most recent three years.

3. Character reference: Please provide a character reference. This should be someone who has known you for the full three-year period but is not a family member."

My question focuses on character reference? Is it okay to put a long time friend who is a practising barrister? I appreciate a friend is not the best but because the deadline is less than 24 hours away I dont have time to ask and I dont really have close mentors. Also not sure about how important references are if anyone has any insights into the GLP scheme?

Another related question is do you think it's mostly fine if I provide more employment and character references post-application / when I reach latter stages?

Yes, a friend can be used for your character reference. They should be someone who knows you well and for a good period of time (they say minimum of three years, but I think it is better if you can find someone who has known you for longer) and who is in a respected profession, so a barrister would be that.

You will need to provide all details for them to obtain employment references for the last three years as per the instructions at this stage. You may find you don’t have to provide anything more than this if you secured the role as they may only want references from the last three years. If they needed a longer period, they would inform you of this during the onboarding processes - but I just wouldn’t worry about this now.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Yes, a friend can be used for your character reference. They should be someone who knows you well and for a good period of time (they say minimum of three years, but I think it is better if you can find someone who has known you for longer) and who is in a respected profession, so a barrister would be that.

You will need to provide all details for them to obtain employment references for the last three years as per the instructions at this stage. You may find you don’t have to provide anything more than this if you secured the role as they may only want references from the last three years. If they needed a longer period, they would inform you of this during the onboarding processes - but I just wouldn’t worry about this now.

Thank you Jessica, that's helpful!

 

[Babablacksheep]

Does anybody have any tips on how to prepare for the role-play exercise?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anybody have any tips on how to prepare for the role-play exercise?

I don’t think you can prepare properly in all honesty. The exercise is going to be designed for you to think on your feet and respond to information as you have been given it.

You can consider what a trainer’s role is though and consider the realistic expectations that will be set of a trainee. It is hard to say what the scenario you will face will be but it’s likely to be either interacting with a client or a colleague.

In these instances, it’s going to be rare for you to be expected to “advise” them on the spot - it is more likely that it is more how you engage with them, and how you gather information from them by asking relevant questions.

One common role play is that a client has arrived at the office and you have to meet them as the partner who they are due to meet is running late. In these instances, a trainee would not be expected to start the meeting, they would generally be expected to just engage the client until the partner is there - it’s much more about engaging in small talk and keeping the client occupied rather than starting to engage with them in legal advice.

 

[sunshine101]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst who applied on the deadline?

 

[amrita6399]

Has anyone heard from Orrick, post submission of Direct TC application?

 

[Eajob]

Anyone still waiting on Bristows post final interview?

 

[johnnn821]

Anyone heard back from Hill Dickinson post AC?

 

[futuretrainee417]

Hi all,

Has anybody had any movement from Shoosmiths today? I've not heard anything and there's an hour to go.

 

[trainee4u]

Does anyone have any tips for my Withers TC interview?

Your first interview will be 50 minutes talking to a partner and member of the HR team. If you do well at interview, you’ll be invited back to the second stage of the process.

 

[James Wakefield]

Does anyone have any tips for my Withers TC interview?

Your first interview will be 50 minutes talking to a partner and member of the HR team. If you do well at interview, you’ll be invited back to the second stage of the process.

Congrats! Happy to dm you.