My TC Diaries

[studenttolawyer]

Hi everyone!

I've been reading some TC threads on here, which inspired me to start my own! For some background, I just graduated from an RG uni with a 2:1. I've applied for vacation schemes in my second and third years but none of the applications passed the first stages. In hindsight, I was feeling very lost for the past three years: I am coming from a low socio-economic background, attended a state comprehensive school, first generation university graduate, and neither of my parents have ever stepped foot in corporate. These factors really affected my confidence, as I was surrounded by peers coming from backgrounds entirely different from my own. However, I have still largely participated in the life at university, and held some really good society positions. I also have experience in office-based roles, legal advice roles, hospitality and customer service.

Now I'm back home and preparing for the next application cycle. So far I have:

• Been working on reframing my mindset regarding my background (it's a fake it till you make it situation sometimes, but I'm working on it!).
• Created a list of prospective firms I'd like to apply to. I am re-applying to some firms and adding others to my list.
• Started conducting a more in-depth research on firms from my list.
• Re-assessed my motivations for pursuing corporate law and law in general.
• Been reading and engaging more with news in attempts to improve my commercial awareness.
• Reached out to future and current trainees from 2 firms I'm interested in.

My goals:

• Improve my commercial awareness. To do this, I keep a digital commercial awareness diary, where I record news stories that interest me, summarise them, reflect on why I find them interesting, and how do they relate to law firms. I've already been recording at least one story every day.
• Improve my application technique. To do this, I will review my previous applications and analyse where do I think I went wrong. The goal is to review 1-2 applications weekly.
• Practice Watson Glaser. This is self-explanatory.
• Create better firm profiles. I want to understand the firms I'm applying to on a deeper level. To do this, I will research firm strategy, recent deals, recent hires, clients, and learn what actually differentiates the firms I'm applying to.

On my firm criteria:

• Must have a strong presence in at least one of the sectors I'm interested in: real estate, technology (including fintech and crypto), and / or financial services.
  • I find a lot of topics interesting, but these are some that I naturally gravitate towards usually.
• Must have an international presence.
• Ideally, it will offer either a client or an international secondment.

To be honest, it is a bit difficult establishing my criteria - I haven't been successful in the past, and I feel like I don't really have the privilege of being selective here. However, I am sure that as I continue my research, I will remove some firms from my prospective list. My goal is about 15 applications.

Finally, I am considering a TCLA subscription. It's quite pricey, so I've been indecisive, but it seems to have a lot of benefits.

This is the start of my diaries. If anyone has any comments or advise, I'd love to hear it. Good luck in the next application season!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @studenttolawyer

This is a fantastic way to track your progress and keep yourself accountable as you work toward your goals. You're clearly putting a lot of thought into your approach/strategy for the upcoming cycle, and it’s great to see how much you’re already doing to strengthen your applications. If you ever have any questions along the way, feel free to post them here and tag any of the community assistants. We’ll do our best to support you however we can. Wishing you the best of luck this cycle!

 

[studenttolawyer]

Hi there! It has now been a bit over a week since I posted here last, and to keep myself accountable, I am sharing how far did I get with my goals here.

The past week has been busy as I was balancing preparation for the citizenship test, looking for jobs and preparing for the next application cycle. I have now passed the UK citizenship test and am ready to naturalise here! It's been a long journey, but I'm really glad that it's getting to a nice outcome of becoming a British citizen :')

Apart from that test, here are the updates on my VS-related goals.

Improving my commercial awareness
I've attended the past week's (free) TCLA Commercial Awareness webinar, and I've really enjoyed it! We discussed the news on Trump's comment about the UK's taxes on North Sea oil. This has never been a topic I looked into, so it was engaging to explore the oil and gas sector and how the UK's taxes reconcile with the Net Zero targets. Following up on this, I've read an article about bp's recent strategy. They're essentially moving away from green energy and into fossil fuels. bp have discovered a field in Brazil that is apparently particularly lucrative for their strategic growth. In the context of climate crisis, this approach is quite worrying, but I analysed this news with reference to opportunities this may bring to law firms within M&A, litigation and regulatory practices, among others. I'd like to look into this further by reading up on the Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy and its impact on the sector.

Commercial awareness still remains a challenge for me, so I'm awaiting the delivery of two books by Chris Stoakes which will hopefully be helpful for me to grow my business acumen further.

Firm research
I've completed three firm profiles this week. What I've noticed so far is that I have been learning more about the firms that I have previously applied to. This was both surprising and unsurprising – I believe my research previously was quite simplistic, and I'm glad that I've spotted this and can develop in this area. Some firms have been easier to research, but one of the firms I'm looking to apply for does not have a lot of information about their deals available online, so I'm going to work with whatever little information I can find!

Other
I haven't reviewed my previous applications and I have not practiced the WG yet, but this week, with less on my plate, I can dedicate more time towards this.

I've seen that some firms have already announced their application dates, so it's time to get ready for writing those applications! Good luck to everyone this application season

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Hi there! It has now been a bit over a week since I posted here last, and to keep myself accountable, I am sharing how far did I get with my goals here.

The past week has been busy as I was balancing preparation for the citizenship test, looking for jobs and preparing for the next application cycle. I have now passed the UK citizenship test and am ready to naturalise here! It's been a long journey, but I'm really glad that it's getting to a nice outcome of becoming a British citizen :')

Apart from that test, here are the updates on my VS-related goals.

Improving my commercial awareness
I've attended the past week's (free) TCLA Commercial Awareness webinar, and I've really enjoyed it! We discussed the news on Trump's comment about the UK's taxes on North Sea oil. This has never been a topic I looked into, so it was engaging to explore the oil and gas sector and how the UK's taxes reconcile with the Net Zero targets. Following up on this, I've read an article about bp's recent strategy. They're essentially moving away from green energy and into fossil fuels. bp have discovered a field in Brazil that is apparently particularly lucrative for their strategic growth. In the context of climate crisis, this approach is quite worrying, but I analysed this news with reference to opportunities this may bring to law firms within M&A, litigation and regulatory practices, among others. I'd like to look into this further by reading up on the Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy and its impact on the sector.

Commercial awareness still remains a challenge for me, so I'm awaiting the delivery of two books by Chris Stoakes which will hopefully be helpful for me to grow my business acumen further.

Firm research
I've completed three firm profiles this week. What I've noticed so far is that I have been learning more about the firms that I have previously applied to. This was both surprising and unsurprising – I believe my research previously was quite simplistic, and I'm glad that I've spotted this and can develop in this area. Some firms have been easier to research, but one of the firms I'm looking to apply for does not have a lot of information about their deals available online, so I'm going to work with whatever little information I can find!

Other
I haven't reviewed my previous applications and I have not practiced the WG yet, but this week, with less on my plate, I can dedicate more time towards this.

I've seen that some firms have already announced their application dates, so it's time to get ready for writing those applications! Good luck to everyone this application season

Great update, I look forward to following along
And congrats on your route to becoming a British citizen! That’s huge news!

 

[studenttolawyer]

Great update, I look forward to following along
And congrats on your route to becoming a British citizen! That’s huge news!

Thank you for reading and for your kind words!

 

[studenttolawyer]

Hey all! It's been a couple of weeks since my last update. I got a full time job! It's non-law and extremely casual, but it's really helpful in terms of keeping me afloat for now. The hours are a bit crazy so I'm still trying to find the routine that would work for me.

I've been keeping up with my goals, although obviously not at the same pace as when I was unemployed! Right now I'm focusing on:

• Finishing writing an application for Macfarlanes - the question is a bit funny so it took a couple of drafts to get my answer sounding more or less reasonable. I just need to edit it a couple more times and I think I'll submit it to move on to the next app.
• Commercial awareness - this is a daily thing and I'm keeping up with it.
• Practicing Watson Glaser - now that I have some disposable income, I will invest into AssessmentDay to practice the tests properly.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading

 

[tenibankoleolusina]

Hey all! It's been a couple of weeks since my last update. I got a full time job! It's non-law and extremely casual, but it's really helpful in terms of keeping me afloat for now. The hours are a bit crazy so I'm still trying to find the routine that would work for me.

I've been keeping up with my goals, although obviously not at the same pace as when I was unemployed! Right now I'm focusing on:

• Finishing writing an application for Macfarlanes - the question is a bit funny so it took a couple of drafts to get my answer sounding more or less reasonable. I just need to edit it a couple more times and I think I'll submit it to move on to the next app.
• Commercial awareness - this is a daily thing and I'm keeping up with it.
• Practicing Watson Glaser - now that I have some disposable income, I will invest into AssessmentDay to practice the tests properly.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading

You're doing amazing! I love that you're being methodical in how you're approaching this. Keen to continue following your journey. Keep it up!

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hey all! It's been a couple of weeks since my last update. I got a full time job! It's non-law and extremely casual, but it's really helpful in terms of keeping me afloat for now. The hours are a bit crazy so I'm still trying to find the routine that would work for me.

I've been keeping up with my goals, although obviously not at the same pace as when I was unemployed! Right now I'm focusing on:

• Finishing writing an application for Macfarlanes - the question is a bit funny so it took a couple of drafts to get my answer sounding more or less reasonable. I just need to edit it a couple more times and I think I'll submit it to move on to the next app.
• Commercial awareness - this is a daily thing and I'm keeping up with it.
• Practicing Watson Glaser - now that I have some disposable income, I will invest into AssessmentDay to practice the tests properly.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading

Hi @studenttolawyer,

Excited to follow along your journey! I love the detailed updates - making commercial awareness a part of your daily routine is a very good decision that will 100% pay off in the long term. Keep us posted on how you get on

 

[studenttolawyer]

Hi there, thank you for your kind messages!

I'm here, I'm alive - I've just been grinding. Working full time + writing applications + doing chores + finding time to rest - all of this takes so much time daily, so I've been neglecting writing an update a little bit. Also, to be completely honest, the whole application pressure was just getting a bit too much for me, so I've had to limit my social media usage, including the usage of this forum. This worked though and I'm feeling sooo much better and more confident now!

In the meantime, I've attended some virtual law fairs, and one in-person - the Legal Cheek Live in London. Now, that was an incredibly busy event, with so many people, and it really put my position into perspective. Hearing "3,000 applications per 20 places" is one thing, but seeing how many other students, graduates, and career changers are also looking for training contracts is another thing. It was a bit intimidating but I managed to meet some lovely people, both my peers and the firms' representatives, so overall it was a solid day.

Other than that, my main priority has recently been writing my applications. So far I've submitted two vacation scheme applications and one for an open day. It's been more difficult to balance everything else, such as working on my commercial awareness and practicing the Watson Glaser. Re commercial awareness, I've mostly been keeping up with the news via the FT News Briefing but haven't had much time to finish Chris Stoakes' books. Re WG, I got the Assessment Day practice tests and have been quite good at them, but I feel like most of them are so different from the actual test questions, so I don't know how effective will this be.

The good news is, soon I'm going on a not-so-little trip, meaning I will have more free time as I'm not going to be working, giving me more space to focus on the applications.

Overall, so far so good, although I appreciate the full-on crunch time will begin in October so it's best to be preparing for that! Catch up soon

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi there, thank you for your kind messages!

I'm here, I'm alive - I've just been grinding. Working full time + writing applications + doing chores + finding time to rest - all of this takes so much time daily, so I've been neglecting writing an update a little bit. Also, to be completely honest, the whole application pressure was just getting a bit too much for me, so I've had to limit my social media usage, including the usage of this forum. This worked though and I'm feeling sooo much better and more confident now!

In the meantime, I've attended some virtual law fairs, and one in-person - the Legal Cheek Live in London. Now, that was an incredibly busy event, with so many people, and it really put my position into perspective. Hearing "3,000 applications per 20 places" is one thing, but seeing how many other students, graduates, and career changers are also looking for training contracts is another thing. It was a bit intimidating but I managed to meet some lovely people, both my peers and the firms' representatives, so overall it was a solid day.

Other than that, my main priority has recently been writing my applications. So far I've submitted two vacation scheme applications and one for an open day. It's been more difficult to balance everything else, such as working on my commercial awareness and practicing the Watson Glaser. Re commercial awareness, I've mostly been keeping up with the news via the FT News Briefing but haven't had much time to finish Chris Stoakes' books. Re WG, I got the Assessment Day practice tests and have been quite good at them, but I feel like most of them are so different from the actual test questions, so I don't know how effective will this be.

The good news is, soon I'm going on a not-so-little trip, meaning I will have more free time as I'm not going to be working, giving me more space to focus on the applications.

Overall, so far so good, although I appreciate the full-on crunch time will begin in October so it's best to be preparing for that! Catch up soon

Hello!

Thank you for the update, and it’s great to hear that you are taking care of yourself despite everything going on! Balancing full-time work, applications, and life admin is really tough, so well done for managing that and recognising when you need to step back.

Attending law fairs and meeting firm representatives is fantastic experience, and you’re right - seeing the competition firsthand can be super daunting. I will always remember walking into my first assessment centre with 20+ people and feeling like a fish out of water!

I know applications can feel overwhelming, especially on top of everything else, but submitting those applications is a huge achievement! Plus, your approach to commercial awareness and the Watson Glaser shows that you are building solid skills

It’s also great that you’ve found ways to focus, and that you’re feeling more confident now. That mindset will be so beneficial as you head into the busy months ahead!

Enjoy your trip and good luck with the applications - you’re doing really well! Keep us posted!!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi there, thank you for your kind messages!

I'm here, I'm alive - I've just been grinding. Working full time + writing applications + doing chores + finding time to rest - all of this takes so much time daily, so I've been neglecting writing an update a little bit. Also, to be completely honest, the whole application pressure was just getting a bit too much for me, so I've had to limit my social media usage, including the usage of this forum. This worked though and I'm feeling sooo much better and more confident now!

In the meantime, I've attended some virtual law fairs, and one in-person - the Legal Cheek Live in London. Now, that was an incredibly busy event, with so many people, and it really put my position into perspective. Hearing "3,000 applications per 20 places" is one thing, but seeing how many other students, graduates, and career changers are also looking for training contracts is another thing. It was a bit intimidating but I managed to meet some lovely people, both my peers and the firms' representatives, so overall it was a solid day.

Other than that, my main priority has recently been writing my applications. So far I've submitted two vacation scheme applications and one for an open day. It's been more difficult to balance everything else, such as working on my commercial awareness and practicing the Watson Glaser. Re commercial awareness, I've mostly been keeping up with the news via the FT News Briefing but haven't had much time to finish Chris Stoakes' books. Re WG, I got the Assessment Day practice tests and have been quite good at them, but I feel like most of them are so different from the actual test questions, so I don't know how effective will this be.

The good news is, soon I'm going on a not-so-little trip, meaning I will have more free time as I'm not going to be working, giving me more space to focus on the applications.

Overall, so far so good, although I appreciate the full-on crunch time will begin in October so it's best to be preparing for that! Catch up soon

Hi! Thanks for sharing this update—it sounds like you’ve been managing a lot on your plate between full-time work, applications, and everything else. It’s good to hear that limiting social media helped you reset and regain confidence—I had to delete LinkedIn myself during my cycle.

It’s great that you got to attend the Legal Cheek event too. I completely agree that those big events can feel overwhelming, but the fact you still made meaningful connections with peers and firm reps shows you’re handling it well!

Submitting three applications already is a huge achievement given your schedule! It’s natural for things like commercial awareness prep or WG practice to feel squeezed, but remember—it’s all about steady, consistent progress, not perfection. You’re clearly laying a strong foundation.

Have a great trip!