(7 September 2026)
Hello!
I am posting here to keep myself accountable to applying to training contracts and vacation schemes this year.
For some context, I work as a paralegal in-house at a bank and have paralegal-ed for a few years now since graduating from the LPC / university. It has been a long and tough journey. I sometimes feel embarrassed because I'm a little bit older than some trainees (think mid 20s) but I've also been told that my age for getting a TC is quite normal. It is still a hard pill to swallow though when you see many of your peers getting TCs, being a trainee or even qualified now! But I dwell and I won't focus on those things because focusing on what's negative isn't going to change anything - it will only make you feel worse.
I plan on being more strategic with my applications this year. I think in the past few years I have been far too narrow minded. I wanted a big flashy commercial firm and whilst I wouldn't turn down an opportunity from one of those law firms, I will also be more open-minded. I aim for a training contract at a commercial firm whether regional, mid-size or something else and finally become a lawyer (yay!).
I graduated from a Russell Group university with a low 2:1 and have A*BB A-levels.
My applications so far:
1. Macfarlanes - Passed 1st stage. Awaiting results of 2nd stage.
Law Firms I intend on applying to
:
1. Hogan Lovells
2. Eversheds Sutherland
3. Bird & Bird
4. Howard Kennedy
5. Fox Williams
6. Dentons
I am open to advice about where to apply and AC, SJT, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning etc tips and also hearing about your journey on this thread!
This will be my last TC cycle as this is the cycle I am getting that training contract.
Hello!
I am posting here to keep myself accountable to applying to training contracts and vacation schemes this year.
For some context, I work as a paralegal in-house at a bank and have paralegal-ed for a few years now since graduating from the LPC / university. It has been a long and tough journey. I sometimes feel embarrassed because I'm a little bit older than some trainees (think mid 20s) but I've also been told that my age for getting a TC is quite normal. It is still a hard pill to swallow though when you see many of your peers getting TCs, being a trainee or even qualified now! But I dwell and I won't focus on those things because focusing on what's negative isn't going to change anything - it will only make you feel worse.
I plan on being more strategic with my applications this year. I think in the past few years I have been far too narrow minded. I wanted a big flashy commercial firm and whilst I wouldn't turn down an opportunity from one of those law firms, I will also be more open-minded. I aim for a training contract at a commercial firm whether regional, mid-size or something else and finally become a lawyer (yay!).
I graduated from a Russell Group university with a low 2:1 and have A*BB A-levels.
My applications so far:
1. Macfarlanes - Passed 1st stage. Awaiting results of 2nd stage.
Law Firms I intend on applying to
:1. Hogan Lovells
2. Eversheds Sutherland
3. Bird & Bird
4. Howard Kennedy
5. Fox Williams
6. Dentons
I am open to advice about where to apply and AC, SJT, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning etc tips and also hearing about your journey on this thread!
This will be my last TC cycle as this is the cycle I am getting that training contract.
