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

[Pearl3181]

Hi all! Hoping to get some guidance from current trainees or anyone familiar with Fieldfisher’s process.

I just submitted applications to Fieldfisher for both their Pathways to Practice insight scheme and their training contract. They replied to let me know I’m only allowed to submit one application, and I need to choose which one to keep active.

I'm really not sure which to pick. For the Pathways to Practice scheme, I focused on my diverse background (first-gen uni student, queer woman of colour) and shared some personal experiences to show how they’ve shaped my perspective and skills - since the scheme is specifically for applicants from underrepresented groups.

For the TC application, I kept the basic approach and drew on my previous professional experience to highlight the skills that would make me a strong trainee.

Given this context, which application do you think I should keep active? Any insight from trainees or people who’ve gone through the process would be hugely appreciated!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi all! Hoping to get some guidance from current trainees or anyone familiar with Fieldfisher’s process.

I just submitted applications to Fieldfisher for both their Pathways to Practice insight scheme and their training contract. They replied to let me know I’m only allowed to submit one application, and I need to choose which one to keep active.

I'm really not sure which to pick. For the Pathways to Practice scheme, I focused on my diverse background (first-gen uni student, queer woman of colour) and shared some personal experiences to show how they’ve shaped my perspective and skills - since the scheme is specifically for applicants from underrepresented groups.

For the TC application, I kept the basic approach and drew on my previous professional experience to highlight the skills that would make me a strong trainee.

Given this context, which application do you think I should keep active? Any insight from trainees or people who’ve gone through the process would be hugely appreciated!

Hi!

I'm not overly familiar with Fieldfisher's process, but thought I'd offer my thoughts! Since the Pathways to Practice insight scheme is also a route to their TC, the decision comes down to which application gives you the strongest positioning.

In relation to the Pathways to Practice scheme, given your background, this scheme is tailored to you. The selection pool is usually smaller and the process is designed to support candidates from diverse or non-traditional backgrounds. That can make your application more competitive than the main TC stream.

However, if your TC application showcases stronger examples, more concrete experience, and aligns with the competencies they value in trainees, that's still a valid route - I'd just keep in mind that the pool is much larger.

From what you have described, the Pathways application sounds like it is more personal and authentic, while the TC version sounds more traditional. Authenticity and tailored applications can carry significant weight, so I'd keep that in mind when deciding which path to choose.

As the Pathways to Practice scheme still offers opportunities to be considered for a TC and is designed for candidates with your background, choosing it could increase your chances of progressing. If both lead to the same ultimate outcome, and one is tailored to your profile and likely gives you a more supportive environment, I'd personally keep the Pathways to Practice application active. However, I think choosing either can work for you!

Hope that helps, and I wish you the best of luck with whichever route you choose

 

[random6035]

Hello, please could I have access to the premium database? Thank you!

 

[Pearl3181]

Hi trainees! (Posted in the general VS discussion thread but crossposting here as well.)

I’m working on the Farrer VS application, which asks: “In what ways have your academic studies, qualifications, and work experience equipped you for a legal career?”

I've already described my professional experiences in the work experiences section of the application (1. content redesign project at HuffPost, 2. product marketing role at a tech company, 3. communications coordinator at a literary non-profit) in standard CV point form that details my day-to-day tasks and results. For this application question, I’m unsure whether it would be better to:

1. Expand on those same roles, focusing on specific instances where I demonstrate transferrable legal skills (have it drafted and ready to go) or
2. Introduce different experiences not on my CV, such as:
   • My PGDL studies, where I managed eight subjects over eight months and achieved distinction -- hoping to demonstrate time management / resilience here
   • Founding a student start-up, EasyWaste, leading a team, developing an MVP, and pitching to investors -- this would demonstrate motivation and drive
   • My freelance content design practice in San Francisco, where I redesigned small business websites and worked closely with clients -- this would demonstrate client-facing communication skills and analytical skills.

Would it be more effective to go into legal-specific detail on my professional roles, or to bring in new experiences here?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

 

[Movingon]

Hi, I am kindly requesting access to the premium database (I have sent the request). Thank you.