General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Nope, no one has but they have given TCs to their vac scheme students so I would think they would start replying to direct candidates fairly soon.

some of their vac scheme students - not all of them.

 

[VSH]

Hi,
Can I ask you when did you send your app?

Hi 13th May - how about you?

 

[VSH]

When do you apply out of curiosity! And congratulations!

13th May !! Thanks

 

[W]

some of their vac scheme students - not all of them.

Yes, to be clear, not all

 

[H]

When I did it last year, it was questions about current affairs and very basic legal concepts (as far as I can remember!). Definitely wasn't a Watson Glaser or any kind of psychometric test. Good luck!

That's reassuring, thank you Penelope!

 

[S87]

Hi Guys,
What kind of format do you usually adopt when getting in touch with a firm to ask an update about your tc?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Guys,
What kind of format do you usually adopt when getting in touch with a firm to ask an update about your tc?

keep it as short as possible. Explain your name, what you have applied for and what stage you are at, and politely ask for an update.

It probably won’t be much longer than the above

 

[S87]

keep it as short as possible. Explain your name, what you have applied for and what stage you are at, and politely ask for an update.

It probably won’t be much longer than the above

Thank you Jessica

 

[Mo M]

Hi Guys
What would be the best format of writing about work experience in that part of the app form? I am confused whether to do it in bullet point format to get more in or more of a paragraph style.
Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Guys
What would be the best format of writing about work experience in that part of the app form? I am confused whether to do it in bullet point format to get more in or more of a paragraph style.
Thank you!

Generally paragraphs for an application, bullet points for a CV

 

[Mo M]

Generally paragraphs for an application, bullet points for a CV

Thank you Jess

 

[Andre]

Do you think firms will streamline their application processes due to COVID?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Do you think firms will streamline their application processes due to COVID?

unlikely - if anything they may become more stringent/thorough to either deal with volumes of potential applicants or to try and reduce application numbers

 

[W]

unlikely - if anything they may become more stringent/thorough to either deal with volumes of potential applicants or to try and reduce application numbers

Macfarlanes increased their TC intake interestingly

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Macfarlanes increased their TC intake interestingly

Yes - a good sign, although it maybe where they expect things to pick up by 2022/2023 (which undoubtedly they will).

Will also be interesting to see how firms respond to the SQE. Ultimately hiring numbers are likely to increase, just because pass rates for the SQE are going to be lower than the LPC. Very much like the accountancy firms and banks, I expect some firms will start to recruit around 20%+ more than they actually need, where 20% are likely to fail professional qualifications or not pass probationary periods (the latter of which will exist for the first time in TCs).

 

[JayB]

Yes - a good sign, although it maybe where they expect things to pick up by 2022/2023 (which undoubtedly they will).

Will also be interesting to see how firms respond to the SQE. Ultimately hiring numbers are likely to increase, just because pass rates for the SQE are going to be lower than the LPC. Very much like the accountancy firms and banks, I expect some firms will start to recruit around 20%+ more than they actually need, where 20% are likely to fail professional qualifications or not pass probationary periods (the latter of which will exist for the first time in TCs).

In what intake do you expect the SQE to be rolled out in, will it be in the next 2023 cycle?

Do you know what firms have already started to follow the SQE? Also I’m a bit confused how does the SQE work?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

In what intake do you expect the SQE to be rolled out, will it be in the next 2023 cycle?

yes - for many firms 2023 is likely as many of their non-law intake will have to take the SQE by then as the last GDL intake is in January (for Solicitors anyway).

 

[JayB]

yes - for many firms 2023 is likely as many of their non-law intake will have to take the SQE by then as the last GDL intake is in January (for Solicitors anyway).

What will the SQE consist of, as there is so much conflicting information? your thoughts are always concise and better

 

[JayB]

yes - for many firms 2023 is likely as many of their non-law intake will have to take the SQE by then as the last GDL intake is in January (for Solicitors anyway).

So for law students/graduates it will be the 2024 cycle, or will it still be the 2023 cycle for them too?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

What will the SQE consist of, as there is so much conflicting information? your thoughts are always concise and better

SQE is 4 components:

1. Stage 1 assessment
2. Stage 2 assessment
3. 2 years’ qualifying work experience
4. Meeting the SRA suitability criteria (what everyone has to complete now anyway)

As it stands (as the assessments are still being piloted)...

SQE1 includes two exams that are single best answer multiple choice (closed book). The two exams are sat together but cover different subjects.

1. Business Law and Practice; Dispute Resolution; Contract; Tort; Legal System of England and Wales; Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services
2. Property Practice; Wills and the Administration of Estates; Solicitors Accounts; Land Law; Trusts; Criminal Law and Practice.

For SQE2, you will be assessed in client interviewing with linked attendance note/legal analysis, advocacy, legal writing, legal research, legal drafting and case and matter analysis. This will be much more like a viva (like those seen in medicine) - it will be a mixture of assessed work (eg writing) but also “mock simulations” where I suspect you will meet “actor assessors” playing a role of a client.

Qualifying work experience (QWE) can be accumulated at anytime (pre or post SQE stage 1 and 2). It can be any work a qualified solicitor is willing to sign off (or a designated compliance officer). You can accumulate that QWE across 4 different organisations.