-
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.
-
Register on Zoom →How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)In this interactive session, Maya Shah, Senior Early Careers Specialist at Ropes & Gray, will walk you through every stage of the firm's application process.
-
Register on Zoom →How to Stand Out in Law Firm Interviews (Willkie)3 Dec 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)Willkie’s new graduate recruiter and two trainees will break down what the firm looks for at the interview stage, common pitfalls to avoid, and how you can demonstrate confidence, clarity, and genuine motivation throughout an assessment centre.
Search results
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
If they have said they have noted it, I would just wait to hear from them rather than follow up. If you haven’t heard back within a couple of weeks, then send a brief email stating you are keen to still be considered for a TC and ask whether you need to provide any further information in...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,198
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
It’s a varied length as really the SQE is just a set of exams rather than a specific course. Sponsored firms may put you on a preferred suppliers prep course for the assessments, but are likely to tell you which SQE sitting you will need to have passed by.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,196
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Who did you speak to GR or a partner?- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,191
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
I just feel it isn't as binary as size equating to a disadvantage or advantage (or lack of either) - some may disagree with me on this though. A mid-sized trainee intake could experience the downsides/upsides of a large intake/small intake, especially regarding levels of...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #205
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
I don’t think it is that simple. Lots of factors make up the social aspect of the firm/trainee intake and from my experience, the size of the intake has little impact on that. With small intakes, people can just be more social with non-trainees. With large intakes you just have more choice of...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #203
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
Hi @futuretraineesolicitor - for the starred thread, you’ll need to create a separate thread. Unfortunately we cannot star individual posts. What I would stress is that a lot of the themes of small vs large trainee intake don’t really work in reality and so you have to tread carefully where...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #200
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
You can ask, but the firm may not be willing to convert you over. Regional firms have had decades of people trying to game the recruitment process by applying to vacancies they think are less popular, secure a TC and then ask to be moved to (what is perceived to be) a more popular office. It...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,177
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Some firms won't make decisions until their summer schemes have concluded. Its not overly common, but does happen enough. If I hadn't heard back mid part of next week (and no one else in your cohort had) I would contact the firm to ask when you will hear back. One tip for those with summer...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,166
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Amazing news - congratulations!!- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,066
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
No - wouldn’t be an issue for training contracts, and definitely wouldn’t care less for qualification processes. Just be mindful that many firms are moving to the SQE for 2023 or 2024 and may not give you the choice of a LPC TC.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #688
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Have any assessments been done between submitting the application and now? If so, applicants could be ranked by that assessment and the firm could be working their way down from the highest performers. Although I haven't heard of it in law, there are also some forms of AI that work to prioritise...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,049
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Of course - not a problem at all.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #686
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Apologies, I missed this. If you accumulate qualifying work experience and pass the SQE, you wouldn't have to do a TC again. It is just whether the Tech roles you have mentioned would give you enough and the right exposure to work that could be signed off as qualifying work experience, and...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,121
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
Unfortunately, I can't answer this clearly beyond what the firm has already told you about weighting of each exercise. There isn't one approach to assessments and so I would only be making similar assumptions to what you will. However, if it was a timed exercise, it is quite common for them to...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #5,209
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think using roughly 800 words is fine. I wouldn't go much below this though, unless you feel there is a lot being repeated in other application questions.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,038
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I would expect it to be tomorrow rather than today, but I can't guarantee it.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,114
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Social events are not assessed, and it’s not an issue if you cannot make one. Just let the graduate recruitment team or whoever is planning the event know that you cannot attend. It really won’t be an issue at all.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,112
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
I think it can be something fewer firms do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something wildly unique. It could also be something other firms do, but they just have a slightly different emphasis or focus on it compared to other firms. Also combination of factors can make something more unique...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #5,206
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
I’d pick the things that are of particular interest to you. You could pick out lots of different distinguishing factors about a firm, but your application is really about you and so highlighting the differences you feel are important I think is the route to go here.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #5,204
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Apprenticeships will never be the only path - that’s the whole point of the SQE, to provide more flexibility in the training and yet have a centralised assessment. The SRA are just suggesting that the second part of that centralised assessment is once you have accumulated work experience, and...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #683
- Forum: General Discussion