• WIN: Lunch with Willkie Trainees!
    15 Oct 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Put your knowledge of Willkie Farr & Gallagher to the test in this interactive quiz session. The winner will enjoy lunch with Willkie trainees!
    Register on Zoom →
  • Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →

Search results

  1. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Volume of one vs the other mainly. Not the best analogy but think of it a bit like dating though. Do people care about the people they don’t date as much as those they do?
  2. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    If it is an experience in the past, then yes, this would make sense. If you are still doing a role, then present tense is appropriate unless the task or responsibility is no longer happening.
  3. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It happens enough for me to suggest it - not all firms will offer this though and may just ask you to reapply at another time/recruitment window, especially if they know you are turning them down for another firm.
  4. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I have quickly reviewed your message and I cannot review application answers unfortunately. If you are still a Gold member, I would recommend booking in for a 1-2-1 call that you receive as part of your subscription.
  5. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Unfortunately I can't always respond to PMs due to the volume received. I have to prioritise PMs for mostly sensitive matters - my auto response to private messages will give an outline on what I can respond to via PM. If your message does not relate to one of those topics, then I would...
  6. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I would apply to schemes even if they clash as there is no certainty of securing both of them. Even if you did secure both , you could always ask one of the firms to either move you to a direct TC process or see if they can swap you over to a Spring/Summer programme instead.
  7. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I wouldn’t suggest this as this isn’t a set back really, it is more over committing to things and could show a lack of sensible judgement. The argument could also be if you overcame the stress of it too, you maybe didn’t take too much on as well.
  8. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Dealing with challenges/obstacles/failures is vital in a law firm so they want to see that you manage the bounce back from that or don’t let it get to you/give up. The example can be anything - academics, work experience, extra curriculars, or just general life. I’d just avoid something that...
  9. TCLA Community Assistant

    Paralegal Roles

    Usually about 4-10 weeks ahead of the role starting. Most paralegals are only on 4-8 weeks notice and so recruitment tends to be fairly immediate unlike TCs.
  10. TCLA Community Assistant

    Non-law to SQE

    No one is going to care - lots of people take periods out before their training contract and do things like travelling/voluntary projects. As I said earlier, your TC will trump everything. They probably wouldn’t even notice the gap and even if they did, they won’t care.
  11. TCLA Community Assistant

    Non-law to SQE

    if you have secured a TC, then it really won’t matter what you do with a year out. Your TC will trump everything.
  12. TCLA Community Assistant

    Non-law to SQE

    You can - there are Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships where you study for the SQE 20% of the time and work 80% of the time. You can also just study alongside working, although it is tricky if you are working full time. Your qualifying work experience (QWE) can be completed at any time, you...
  13. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I don’t think there is one approach to this. One person may need to prioritise more of the commercial law over the next candidate (for instance if they have no legal work experience). I would ensure there is a balance in the answer so that it covers both parts of the question though and not to...
  14. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    We typically see answers of around 750-900 words. Sometimes they are slightly longer, but where they are the content is still super concise/focused and meaningful content.
  15. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    The thing I would stress is that firms are not recruiting for individual teams like the patents team, they are recruiting across the firm and so they are looking for a slightly more varied skill set and motivations that just one patent lawyer will be looking for in their team. I suspect it is...
  16. TCLA Community Assistant

    Implication of A-Levels & Uni rank?

    No - you won’t struggle. You mitigating circumstances are severe and will be taken into account by any firm worthwhile applying to. Your subsequent grades and ability to secure a competitive placement year are going to be a much stronger indication of your potential too.
  17. TCLA Community Assistant

    LinkedIn Etiquette

    I think this is perfectly fine given they have encouraged people to contact them via PM about it.
  18. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Definitely - you’ve got to be in it to win it!
  19. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    See if any of the assessments can be done virtually or whether there are alternative dates.
  20. TCLA Community Assistant

    Skilled worker visa requirements

    I can’t advise on that as I am not an immigration specialist, I can only talk about the code that is generally used. I would speak to your firm about this.

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Newsletter

Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.

    Share this page

    Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2022 XenForo Ltd. | Style and add-ons by ThemeHouse | Community services from Audentio
    XenCarta 2 PRO © Jason Axelrod of 8WAYRUN
    Top Bottom