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[USER=2672]@Jessica Booker[/USER] Thank you very much – your explanation of my timeline is truly helpful and valuable.

I believe aiming for September 2028 may be "safer" than February/March 2028, but I may be wrong? I am pretty new to the process, and I wonder how applicants for training contracts manage to aim for realistic start dates given that they cannot predict whether they will pass the SQE1 and/or the SQE2 first time. What if they fail the SQE1 and/or the SQE2 first time and then have to retake one of them or both? It is a kind of gamble given such uncertainty, which I believe is highly stressful and worrying as they may lose their training contracts offer(s)?

Based on my research, most firms are currently recruiting for 2026 and 2027, so it is too early in my case. Therefore, I am a bit confused about what to do and how to make the most of my time in the meantime as there are actually almost no TC applications for 2028 at the moment? However, as time flies, I believe that I should already identify law firms that would be of interest to me and then start working on their TC applications in order to be ready as much as possible when 2028 TC applications open? I have already gained some legal work experience, so it may be best for me to focus on direct TC applications only rather than vacation schemes and open days applications? However, I may also have to focus on applications for vacation schemes as well as some law firms only recruit their trainees via their vacation schemes?

[USER=2672]@Jessica Booker[/USER] Could you please let me know your thoughts on all of this?

Many thanks again for your help and your time.