Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

[tjeya26]

Hi, I hope everyone is well.

Does anyone have any specific advice on how I can approach applying for paralegal roles to fill the gap between finishing uni and beginning the SQE/starting a training contract. (Especially how to approach firms, where to look and if it is best to target firms I have applied to for VS and TCs). I would also appreciate your view on this to @Jessica Booker.

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi, I hope everyone is well.

Does anyone have any specific advice on how I can approach applying for paralegal roles to fill the gap between finishing uni and beginning the SQE/starting a training contract. (Especially how to approach firms, where to look and if it is best to target firms I have applied to for VS and TCs). I would also appreciate your view on this to @Jessica Booker.

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

I am looking for the same advice. I have two months before I start SQE prep. Would love advice on how I can get temporary work.

 

[w_x0808]

@Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu Hi TCLA Team! I purchased the TCLA Bronze membership but have not had my request to access the Premium forum approved yet. In particular I would like access to the premium database as I really realllyyyy need it for tomorrow. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know asap

 

[member8868]

Hi @Andrei Radu, I have a Slaughter and May TC interview coming up and am especially worried about the article discussion - in your experience do they usually give very technical articles such as interest rates, financial deregulation etc. or more likely on broader current trends? Thank you!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu, I have a Slaughter and May TC interview coming up and am especially worried about the article discussion - in your experience do they usually give very technical articles such as interest rates, financial deregulation etc. or more likely on broader current trends? Thank you!

From my experience and the anecdotal experience of others it seems like most articles are on broader themes around current issues. Sometimes they can include more technical details, but those are generally either (i) explained in simple enough terms for a reasonably commercially aware applicant to understand them; or (ii) end up not being very relevant during the interview.

 

[member8868]

From my experience and the anecdotal experience of others it seems like most articles are on broader themes around current issues. Sometimes they can include more technical details, but those are generally either (i) explained in simple enough terms for a reasonably commercially aware applicant to understand them; or (ii) end up not being very relevant during the interview.

Thanks very much! that's good to hear

 

[lawyerdreams]

Hiya! Does anyone know how to go about applying to work or volunteer at a law clinic/pro bono centre? Where are some good places to look for that sort of experience?

 

[Amma Usman]

Hiya! Does anyone know how to go about applying to work or volunteer at a law clinic/pro bono centre? Where are some good places to look for that sort of experience?

Hey,

• Most universities have legal advice clinics. They are usually really open to having volunteers.
• Most local magistrates courts and other courts as well enable you to gain experience. You could check the websites of local courts close to you, send people messages on LinkedIn, etc. Alternatively, you could really just also enter into a court proceeding - often times members of the public are allowed to view certain proceedings. You sit and digest what is going on - this, in itself, is great legal work experience!
• Bringing back LinkedIn again, make the best use of your network! Most times people are really willing to help and if they can’t…guide you to where can.

Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any more questions!

 

[iklawapps]

Hi! I requested access to the application database a couple of days ago, and I would love if I could please get access as soon as possible - thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! I requested access to the application database a couple of days ago, and I would love if I could please get access as soon as possible - thank you!

Hi there - if you private message me proof of purchase I can action this for you.

 

[solicitorinmaking]

Hi! I signed up for TCLA premium, could I get access to the questions database? I put my request through but it would really be helpful if this got approved soon as my AC is on Thursday. Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! I signed up for TCLA premium, could I get access to the questions database? I put my request through but it would really be helpful if this got approved soon as my AC is on Thursday. Thank you!

Hi there - I have now changed your settings so you have access to the premium database and other content on the forums.

 

[hmevey]

Hey guys, how would you answe the following question - whats a recent legal devellopment you've been keeping up to date with and why does it interest you (500 words.) I mainly just listen to the FT news briefing for commercial awareness and i don't really think theres a story im folloiwng.


What example scenarios can i use here and how can i find topics to follow so that i have things to answer this question with?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys, how would you answe the following question - whats a recent legal devellopment you've been keeping up to date with and why does it interest you (500 words.) I mainly just listen to the FT news briefing for commercial awareness and i don't really think theres a story im folloiwng.


What example scenarios can i use here and how can i find topics to follow so that i have things to answer this question with?

I think a good example of a recent legal development which is also relevant for commercial law firms is the FCA's new Listing Rules. Essentially, they have been implemented to help revitalize the City's equity capital markets: in the last few years, not only has the LSE seen a consistent decrease in listing activity, but a number of huge UK companies (such as Arm) have actually either delisted or have transferred their primary listings to the US (which normally enables them to access a wider pool of capital). In this context, the FCA has sought to make the listing regime more business-friendly by reducing compliance costs and simplifying regulations. Among the significant changes, the new Listing Rules introduced:

1. Less onerous disclosure requirements for listings, which should make the IPO process less costly and administratively burdensome; and
2. Changed to a disclosure-based regime, removing the requirement to obtain prior shareholder approval and to publish an FCA-approved circular prior to entering into a 'significant transaction' (high-value transactions, as measured in reference to the size of the business). This should make many important business decisions easier to implement, from financing of important projects to strategic M&A - thus, showing London as a more attractive place to do business in.

If you want to read a more detailed explanation of the changes under the new regime, Akin Gump published an in depth legal update on it (which you can access here). If you decide to write on this topic, it may be worthwhile to also search the Web more widely about updates as to capital markets activity in London, to assess whether the changes have actually had the desired effect.

As for your question as to how you can find legal topics to follow, I do not think there is only one source you should rely on. Rather, I would try to check several from time to time:

• The legal press: see The Lawyer, Legal Business, Law.com, Bloomberg Law etc
• Newsletters with legal updates: offered by the legal press, but also services like TCLA (I think @Jaysen has actually written an update some time ago on the topic of the new listing regime)
• LinkedIn: particularly if you follow law firms and legal press pages, just by scrolling you will learn about many important news in the industry
• General web searches on your own: if you cannot find a topic, or if you did but you want to follow up and keep up to date on it, you can make use of more pinpointed searches and look through multiple sources.

 

[Asmi.choudhary]

Hello!!

Could someone kindly provide me with the members access to the applications database - I have just purchased the gold membership

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hello!!

Could someone kindly provide me with the members access to the applications database - I have just purchased the gold membership

Hi there - I have just changed your settings, and so you should now have access to the forum's premium content.

 

[Toomanypfo]

Could someone approve my request for the access to the applications database? Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Could someone approve my request for the access to the applications database? Thanks!

Hi there - I have just changed your settings so you now have access to the forum's premium content.

 

[EvanForLaw]

Hi there, can I ask how long it takes for membership to get approved？The interview is coming up soon...

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi there, can I ask how long it takes for membership to get approved？The interview is coming up soon...

I will private message you about this as you will need to provide some further information.

 

[emay7]

Could someone approve my request to access the applications database? Thanks!