Documenting my TC Journey (Escaping the trenches)

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

I thought I would join everyone else in documenting my training contract journey. I guess this is more of a place for me to rant and keep myself accountable especially since the last few years of law school and trying to get into a legal career has been painful.

I can't say that I feel like a particularly standout candidate and I don't really know where to go from here. I have fairly average grades, 2:1 standard but nothing special or exceptional. I I've filled my life at uni with extra-curriculars and I have tried my hardest to make a standout application to firms but have been rather unsuccessful. I completed 1 vacation scheme secured as part of a mentoring scheme but didn't manage to turn that into a TC. I also had two vacation scheme interviews but didn't make it through to the next stage. Technically, this is my 3rd application cycle but the first and second time around, I only applied to a few firms and I cant say they were particularly tailored applications.

My difficulty is, is that from first year onwards I set myself up for the Bar, so I have done a fair amount of mini-pupillages and my extra curriculars are very mooting and Bar soc centred. I am now graduating this year, and feel completely lost. I don't feel like I'm good enough for the Bar academically but I also don't feel like I'm good enough to get a TC either because I don't have many vacation schemes. I have worked since I was 16 so I have a fair bit of work experience especially more recently in corporate environments.

Anyway enough of the sob story- these are the firms I am hoping to apply to for direct TCs in the remaining time I have.

• BCLP
• Dentons
• Haynes Boone
• Reed Smith
• Burges Salmon
• Watson Farley & Williams
• Morgan Lewis
• Paul Hastings
• Sullivan and Cromwell (Maybe)
• Macfarlanes
• White & Case
• HFW
• Stephenson Harwood

Applied already to

• Kingsley Napley - PFO post-second stage
• GLD - PFO
• Wedlake Bell - Waiting for a response,

 

[Andrei Radu]

I thought I would join everyone else in documenting my training contract journey. I guess this is more of a place for me to rant and keep myself accountable especially since the last few years of law school and trying to get into a legal career has been painful.

I can't say that I feel like a particularly standout candidate and I don't really know where to go from here. I have fairly average grades, 2:1 standard but nothing special or exceptional. I I've filled my life at uni with extra-curriculars and I have tried my hardest to make a standout application to firms but have been rather unsuccessful. I completed 1 vacation scheme secured as part of a mentoring scheme but didn't manage to turn that into a TC. I also had two vacation scheme interviews but didn't make it through to the next stage. Technically, this is my 3rd application cycle but the first and second time around, I only applied to a few firms and I cant say they were particularly tailored applications.

My difficulty is, is that from first year onwards I set myself up for the Bar, so I have done a fair amount of mini-pupillages and my extra curriculars are very mooting and Bar soc centred. I am now graduating this year, and feel completely lost. I don't feel like I'm good enough for the Bar academically but I also don't feel like I'm good enough to get a TC either because I don't have many vacation schemes. I have worked since I was 16 so I have a fair bit of work experience especially more recently in corporate environments.

Anyway enough of the sob story- these are the firms I am hoping to apply to for direct TCs in the remaining time I have.

• BCLP
• Dentons
• Haynes Boone
• Reed Smith
• Burges Salmon
• Watson Farley & Williams
• Morgan Lewis
• Paul Hastings
• Sullivan and Cromwell (Maybe)
• Macfarlanes
• White & Case
• HFW
• Stephenson Harwood

Applied already to

• Kingsley Napley - PFO post-second stage
• GLD - PFO
• Wedlake Bell - Waiting for a response,

Hi @Gottagetthroughthis101 it is great to hear you will begin documenting your journey here - I think these posts add a lot to the community and help many people who are facing similar challenges. One point I wanted to comment on concerns your worries that you don't have enough VSs to get a TC. I know a number of people who secured direct TCs in their final year during summer break having completed no prior vacation schemes. Having already completed one, you will be in a great position when applying. There is definitely no expectation to have done more, so there is no reason to think you are "not good enough".

One other thing I will mention on that is that, considering the fact you have not applied to many firms/not ensured the applications are tailored, 1 VS and 2 VS interviews is an excellent application track record - many people have to chase such achievements for years. This shows you have all the skills you need to succeed if you give it your best shot. With a clear focus on TC applications now, I am sure you will do very well. Also, I would be surprised if your Bar-focused experiences were to hold you back in any way. If anything, they show you as a well-rounded candidate who has taken time to explore professional opportunities before deciding on a career in a big law firm.

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Hi @Gottagetthroughthis101 it is great to hear you will begin documenting your journey here - I think these posts add a lot to the community and help many people who are facing similar challenges. One point I wanted to comment on concerns your worries that you don't have enough VSs to get a TC. I know a number of people who secured direct TCs in their final year during summer break having completed no prior vacation schemes. Having already completed one, you will be in a great position when applying. There is definitely no expectation to have done more, so there is no reason to think you are "not good enough".

One other thing I will mention on that is that, considering the fact you have not applied to many firms/not ensured the applications are tailored, 1 VS and 2 VS interviews is an excellent application track record - many people have to chase such achievements for years. This shows you have all the skills you need to succeed if you give it your best shot. With a clear focus on TC applications now, I am sure you will do very well. Also, I would be surprised if your Bar-focused experiences were to hold you back in any way. If anything, they show you as a well-rounded candidate who has taken time to explore professional opportunities before deciding on a career in a big law firm.

Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it and it is really reassuring to hear that my experience (or lack thereof) shouldn't be a barrier to me getting a TC. I think it might be that I need to focus more on preparing for the latter stages of the application process more. It's almost as if I'm so doubtful that I will get through to the next stage that I don't spend time preparing for the subsequent stages before I know if I had gotten through or not🤣

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

BCLP application submitted- fingers crossed 🤞