-
Register on Zoom →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!
-
Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow 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.
Search results
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
If its two weeks before it starts, I would expect it to be a no - onboarding processes would easily take more than two weeks. I am sorry you have experience this lack of communication - I know how frustrating it can be.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,758
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Is 60% exactly in 1st year a significant hindrance to training contract applications going into 2nd year?
I think you have to be careful of assuming regional firms will be looking for lower grades - I know some that are equally (and sometimes more so picky). However, there will be firms of all shapes, locations, and sizes who are less focused on grades - it will just be a case of tracking them down...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #5
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Is 60% exactly in 1st year a significant hindrance to training contract applications going into 2nd year?
For many of these firms they will want either stronger or more consistent grades unless there is something exceptional regarding the rest of your application or there are extenuating circumstances. It doesn’t mean you can’t apply to these firms in the future though. I would focus on getting...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #3
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
I would stress the majority of people will not secure a TC in their second year of uni. This is very normal! Your options are still the same - keep plugging away with applications and look for opportunities to continue to develop your skill set and knowledge.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,813
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Potential clash between end of vac scheme interview and another vac scheme
1) when the interviewing firm gives you the dates, if there is a clash explain you are in full time employment and won’t be able to take the time off and so ask if they have any availability to interview either at a later date or early/late in the working day (eg 6.00pm). 2) if they give you no...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
This article may be useful. It is specifically about board meeting minutes, but most of the principles apply to any meeting minutes: https://www.rocketlawyer.com/gb/en/business/run-a-private-limited-company/legal-guide/board-meeting-minutes- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,753
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
Plenty of people do it, but equally many don’t. It is not an issue either way.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,743
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
Competencies can include motivational and commercial awareness questions, so I would prepare for those too if you can.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,769
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
I would reference you have upcoming schemes somewhere in your application unless the firms are incredibly different to one another (eg niche family law firm vs big US firm that is PE/M&A focused).- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,768
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
Yes - you can just go from the last paragraph to the sign off.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,767
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
HSF Vacation Scheme Application questions - tips/advice
1) we have seen plenty of non legal topics discussed in successful applications. Pick I topic you are knowledgeable and interested in. The “explain why it interests you” is really the bit they will find interesting while how you summarise the topic and present it as if the person has no...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
-
International student/Paralegal - Ask me anything
I can't really advise on this unfortunately, although I have heard of other people experiencing similar issues and also having to be deferred. If you are certain the firm has misunderstood the rules of your student visa, then I would arrange a meeting with them and present your evidence for why...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
It is sometimes possible - firms may have people renege on their offers, want to increase their trainee intake, people may fail the SQE and lose their TC, or sometimes people ask to defer their TC to a later intake. Given it is dependent on so many factors though, there is no guarantee this...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,747
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
BPP London PGDL Deadline
They will be selling the courses in the weeks before they start. I would not worry too much about this, you’ll most likely secure places 4 weeks or so before the course starts in September.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #3
- Forum: Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) Forum
-
QWE - Citizens advice
Because you will be competing with NQs who have got more relevant work experience. I strongly recommend submitting the strongest and most relevant QWE you can unless you have an NQ role secured. If you have hoping to work in a leading commercial law firm, they won’t recognise the CAB as...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #6
- Forum: General Discussion
-
QWE - Citizens advice
I'd personally not recommend getting even part of it signed off unless the work you are doing is strongly aligned to the type of work you want to qualify into. Have you checked the SRA website for the competencies you need to demostrate and have a training log of your experiences at CAB? If...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4
If you want to apply to the firm, and it’s the only reasonable route for you, I would apply no matter what the perceived odds are. They will want to find candidates like yourself via a direct TC route - if they didn’t, they wouldn’t open applications for the opportunity.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #4,725
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
What is considered mitigating circumstances?
Being hospitalised is clearly serious enough for there to be mitigating circumstances, especially if it is over an exam period.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
QWE - Citizens advice
I would strongly recommend considering whether you want this experience signed off. If you are expecting to work in a commercial law firm or even in private client/family departments, but don’t have fee earning experience, there is a significant risk you could become over qualified but under...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Macfarlanes Mock AC
1) if it’s a mock assessment, I would expect it to just be an opportunity to practise - I don’t expect this to have the same intention as an open day or a direct way to recruit trainees. Many people may benefit from attending it indirectly though and attending may help people in terms of...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #3
- Forum: Interviews Discussion