Hi!
It sounds like you've already built a really solid foundation! Your placement year at a Magic Circle firm will stand out a lot, and your long-term work in the grocery store shows really great commitment and work ethic.
For context, I was in a similar position to you last cycle (although I had finished my placement and wasn't limited by working full-time) - I completed a placement year at a commercial property firm in the City (though not quite Magic Circle!) and I was actually at a Non-Russell group university, so I was trying to decide whether VS or DTC would be the best route for me. I ended up completing three VS last cycle, and securing my TC through a DTC application, so I've done a mix of it all and thought I'd share my thoughts!
For most of the firms you have listed -
Mayer Brown,
Gowling WLG,
CMS,
BCLP,
Baker McKenzie, and Fried Frank - you definitely have a realistic shot at applying directly for a training contract. Most of these firms have a health intake of direct TC offers, especially those who already have substantial legal experience or have completed a placement year. I'll link the list from last cycle
here - some of this may have changed (e.g.
Reed Smith), but it might be a useful guide!
That said, a few firms (such as
Orrick) tend to recruit the majority of their trainees through vacation schemes, so a direct TC route might be a bit more competitive there. A vacation scheme can be really valuable - it lets you experience the firm culture first-hand and decide whether the firm is the right fit for you. Still, given your background, you can make a strong case by highlighting your commercial exposure, understanding of legal work from your placement, and transferable skills from your previous jobs.
If time off is difficult, it is completely reasonable to prioritise direct TC applications! Firms tend to encourage applicants to apply for the DTC route if they are unable to complete a vacation scheme and have previous VS experience or paralegal experience - you'll likely be at an advantage with a whole year of legal experience at a MC firm compared to the few weeks of a vacation scheme! I would say that the odds are definitely not against you - it's just about how you utilise your experience and prepare for stricter AC tasks.
I hope that assists! I hope your placement year goes well and if you have any further questions, just shout
