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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.
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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.
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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
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
The SQE apprenticeships could incorporate the GDL (which is expected in time), then that issue is not a problem. The GDL could be delivered as an apprenticeship too if firms and training providers wanted to. The SQE prep course is not a requirement though, it’s just passing the exams that are...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #681
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
For those who can’t afford to do the GDL/SQE and they want to qualify as early as possible (an apprenticeship route is likely to lead to an earlier qualification), then the route will be attractive. It won’t be for everyone, but given firms concerns on social mobility diversity, I can see this...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #679
- Forum: General Discussion
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Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
To me this suggests if they do not find the talent they need from the earlier application deadline or through converting from their summer vacation schemes, they may reopen applications. However, there is no guarantee of this, so probably best to apply now if you can.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #5,201
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I hope so, but apprenticeship training providers aren’t great (due to funding being capped and the intensity of training - it’s much more hands on with dedicated coaches/mentors from the training providers perspective than a degree course), and many employers both inside and outside of law just...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #676
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I look at it slightly differently as it definitely gives more people a chance to shine than it would without I was very anti video interviews back in 2013/14 when they first started to come in. However, I started a project for a law firm and they needed to improve the diversity of their...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,101
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Did you know U.K. employers effectively pay an apprenticeship tax of 0.5% of their total U.K. payroll (called the apprenticeship levy)? They can get that “tax” back by drawing it back to pay for apprenticeship training. So a firm could pay £15k to BPP/UoL to train someone the traditional way...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #674
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Apprenticeships work at all levels, including postgraduate. With an apprenticeship you just shouldn’t have a qualification of the same level or higher in the same subject. For instance, you couldn’t do a graduate level law apprenticeship if you had done a law degree. What you have stated is...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #673
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
No - not every extra curricular has to be a position of responsibility. Extra curriculars can show other qualities that doesn’t come with “responsibility”. For instance, the chess can show analytical thinking and if time was dedicated to it, then either commitment or time management. However...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,025
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I would only apply for one. I suspect if you applied for both, you'd just be pushed to the general one anyway, but to check, I would email the Grad Rec team to ask what their stance on this is.- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,023
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
1) New law is generally a term to describe roles within law firms that are not solicitors but that are fundamental to providing client services. So it can be anything from strategy roles, tech roles etc. Consider it as a consulting role within a law firm. 2) It will be a mixture of the ways you...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #197
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Wellbeing Check-In: How's Everyone Doing?
My well-being is a continuous rollercoaster and has been for some time. A combination of a very stressful house move (selling and buying property is so stressful, especially on your own but mine has had various challenges!) and trying to work out what I want to do work-wise longer term has...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #3
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss - I have experience both sides of the table with salary negotiation, albeit not with contract team roles. Salary offers can vary quite significantly from candidate to candidate even within the same role. I have made offers to people to work in my team...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #671
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
It will make no difference to your future career whether you do the module or not. The only factor to consider are those already raised (impact of student finance, visa implications, and making sure it wouldn't be a "failed" module, just a change in course).- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #669
- Forum: General Discussion
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Unsure where I stand. LPC or SQE?
I suspect you will need clarity from the SRA on this, but I would assume you would have to take the SQE where you did not start the GDL before 31 December 2021. However, at the same time there is wording that suggests if you committed to a TC before 1 September 2021 you could still do the...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Just listened to this podcast from two of my ex-colleagues from Freshfields. Highly recommend having a listen to it if you are worried about "fitting in" at a law firm My Realisation: realise transformational change | Podcast on Spotify- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #663
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Posts like this make my day! Congratulations - it is fantastic news and I am delighted for you. Perseverance is such an important quality to have in a legal career and it's clear you have bucket loads of it. I always play down how much luck factors in to this process - I reckon people make a...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,058
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
They can exist. Ultimately you could be doing a vacation scheme with one firm one week on one side of the deal and then work for another firm the other side of the same deal the next week. Many law firms will generally ask you to complete some form of conflicts check. For those that don't, you...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,053
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
They don't do things like this if they didn't feel like you couldn't potentially perform to a stronger standard. The vacation scheme offer is just your opportunity to demonstrate that stronger performance. They can't offer you if you don't meet the necessary standards (especially across two...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #2,005
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
There is no set etiquette - some people do it, some people don't I don't think it really matters either way, to be honest. If you have easy access to an email address to say thank you, then fine. If you have to stalk an email address down, then in my view, don't bother (but that is just my...- TCLA Community Assistant
- Post #18,026
- Forum: Applications Discussion