Wee Intro

[DavidJC]

Hello everyone!

My name is David and I am about to begin the law conversion course at ULaw Bristol! I last applied for VS/TCs in the 2019/20 cycle without passing application stage even once (I don't consider tests to be post-app) and decided to try my hand at other things after graduating in 2020 but I've now found myself back here cos I think law is really where I belong after all! I'd never introduced myself on the forum before and simply started posting last time but I'm looking forward to being more active and getting to know people better this time!

I hold a 2:1 Scots law degree although my individual modules are actually not very consistent but I've had a huge change in mindset over the last year and am hoping to land a VS/TC this year by methodically meeting law firms, curating a shortlist of the firms I want to apply to, and going through the VS route rather than DTC (with the couple of exceptions in A&OS/Freshfields among others).

 

[Jaysen]

A big welcome to the forum David. I look forward to following you in your journey!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hello everyone!

My name is David and I am about to begin the law conversion course at ULaw Bristol! I last applied for VS/TCs in the 2019/20 cycle without passing application stage even once (I don't consider tests to be post-app) and decided to try my hand at other things after graduating in 2020 but I've now found myself back here cos I think law is really where I belong after all! I'd never introduced myself on the forum before and simply started posting last time but I'm looking forward to being more active and getting to know people better this time!

I hold a 2:1 Scots law degree although my individual modules are actually not very consistent but I've had a huge change in mindset over the last year and am hoping to land a VS/TC this year by methodically meeting law firms, curating a shortlist of the firms I want to apply to, and going through the VS route rather than DTC (with the couple of exceptions in A&OS/Freshfields among others).

A huge welcome, David, and wishing you the very best on your journey! Let us know if we can help along the way

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi David - welcome to the forum! It's great to hear that you have returned to law, and I look forward to getting to know you over this cycle! Wishing you all the best

 

[DavidJC]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask it, but I have a question that I think would help me differentiate law firms in my application strategy.

How can you tell if you have or will fare better with on-the-job training vs formal training?

I have been contemplating this for the last two days including my own past experiences working and studying and I'm struggling to lean specifically either way. I've experienced times where on-the-job was just better (I was thrown in the deep end volunteering as an admin with Citizens Advice and got used to running the busy reception quite quickly), and times where formal was better (usually in my hobbies where I can sometimes do a little reading on theoretical solutions to a challenge and it just clicks into place).

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask it, but I have a question that I think would help me differentiate law firms in my application strategy.

How can you tell if you have or will fare better with on-the-job training vs formal training?

I have been contemplating this for the last two days including my own past experiences working and studying and I'm struggling to lean specifically either way. I've experienced times where on-the-job was just better (I was thrown in the deep end volunteering as an admin with Citizens Advice and got used to running the busy reception quite quickly), and times where formal was better (usually in my hobbies where I can sometimes do a little reading on theoretical solutions to a challenge and it just clicks into place).

That's a really great question - and you're definitely not alone in feeling a bit torn between the two! I had the same dilemma when I was applying, as I knew I learnt the most when I had on-the-job-training, but I was more comfortable with the formal training. I think most of us thrive with a mix of both, and the balance often depends on the environment and the people you are learning from.

From your past experiences, it sounds like you're adaptable and can take a lot from either style. The Citizens Advice experience shows that you can rise to the challenge when thrown in the deep end, and your hobbies show that you also enjoy having space to step back and absorb structured knowledge. Both are extremely valuable traits in law - sometimes you'll need to dive right in and learn on your feet, other times it'll be about understanding the frameworks and applying them carefully.

Instead of seeing it as choosing one over the other, you might think about what balance helps you grow the most. Some firms lean heavily on structured programmes, whilst others focus on learning by doing and giving early responsibility (and a lot of firms will have a mix of both!). It might help to reflect on which approach you feel most comfortable with and where you tend to learn best, and then use that guide when comparing firms.

Talking to trainees or associates during open days or networking events is a great way to get a feel for what the training actually looks like in practice. Even looking at how firms describe their training contracts (e.g. "formal seat rotations" vs "early responsibility on client work") can give you a sense of their approach.

That fact that you are reflecting on your learning style is the important part, and it'll make it much easier to spot the environments where you'll thrive!

 

[Amma Usman]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask it, but I have a question that I think would help me differentiate law firms in my application strategy.

How can you tell if you have or will fare better with on-the-job training vs formal training?

I have been contemplating this for the last two days including my own past experiences working and studying and I'm struggling to lean specifically either way. I've experienced times where on-the-job was just better (I was thrown in the deep end volunteering as an admin with Citizens Advice and got used to running the busy reception quite quickly), and times where formal was better (usually in my hobbies where I can sometimes do a little reading on theoretical solutions to a challenge and it just clicks into place).

Lovely question.

It definitely seems you can thrive with both! In my personal opinion, I'd say this is a question to answer down the line. Of course, any individual will have preferences as to which approach better suits their working style, but in this dynamic world, there may be moments where on-the-job training may be included as a general training style for, perhaps, seats, whereas formal training is required for elements such as IT development. The point I am trying to make is that even with formal training, objectively speaking, there will be a lot of things you'll learn on the job. I'd advise focusing on applying first to firms which peak your interest more in terms of work scope, clientele, trainee size, or other factors that may be important to you.