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Message: <blockquote data-quote="W5690" data-source="post: 209057" data-attributes="member: 3642">[USER=2672]@Jessica Booker[/USER] Hello,Apologies for writing again, but I was wondering whether you had had the opportunity to look at the below. Many thanks for your help and your time.As far as the start date of my training contract is concerned, I think September 2028 seems like the most reasonable and sensible route for me as a "safety margin" rather than February/March 2028 (as you explained, except if I am being sponsored by a firm and I may not then get to choose the timeframes. They and the course provider are likely to choose this for me unless I needed to defer, as you explained as well), according to the roughly timeline you mentioned:Finish GDL - November 2026Start SQE prep course - anytime between November 2026 and January 2027Sit SQE 1 - July 2027Sit SQE2 - October/November 2027 or January 2028Do you agree with my thoughts on a September 2028 start date or would you recommend submitting applications for a TC which start date would be February/March 2028 because a start date in February/March 2028 should not be ruled out? In any case, I am fully aware of the fact that I will have to be extremely mindful of each law firm's requirements (SQE1 and SQE2 to be passed before starting a training contract or SQE1 and SQE2 to be done alongside a training contract; eligibility requirements, etc).Also, as I have already gained some legal work experience, you mentioned that this will put me in a stronger position for direct TC applications. Therefore, my understanding is that I should then apply for direct TC applications rather than VS applications at law firms that recruit both ways - does that make sense? However, my legal work experience is solid but not very recent, so I have time now to work on boosting my experiences such as formal and informal legal work experiences, legal volunteering, legal pro bono, court visits. I can also do some networking. What do you think of all of these options to be able to remain competitive when applications for 2028 re-open in the Autumn 2025? What would your recommendations be about how best to spend my time between now and the re-opening in the Autumn 2025 of applications for 2028? Given that my legal work experience is solid but not very recent, I am wondering whether this would then put me in a less strong position for direct training contract applications - what do you think? As for law firms that recruit extensively from their VS, should I even apply for a direct TC or eventually for a VS? How can I maximise my chances? How to make the "right" choice between direct TC and VS in light of a solid but not very recent legal work experience?Furthermore, I have recently secured a legal work experience placement at a law firm in an area of practice that is completely different from the areas of practice that I have experienced so far. I am indeed highly interested in getting an exposure to this area of practice. I am planning to apply to law firms which clients are businesses exclusively and to law firms which clients are both businesses and individuals. Therefore, I am wondering how law firms that do not have expertise in this area of practice may regard this legal work experience placement - would they be turned off by this? Would I have to remove this legal work experience placement from my CV? On the one hand, this legal work experience placement will contribute to boosting my experiences, but on the other hand, it will not match the areas of practice of some law firms and I then fear that this is detrimental to my applications to those law firms. Given that securing a training contract is highly competitive and challenging, I completely understand and agree that it is wiser to adopt a strong strategic approach and therefore capitalise on my previous legal work experience (solid, but not very recent) and prioritise law firms which areas of practice match my previous legal work experience rather than applying to too many law firms which areas of practice are different from the areas of practice that I have experienced so far - what do you think? I believe a mix of applications would make sense as long as most of my applications are submitted to law firms which areas of practice match my previous legal work experience as a smarter way to get a foot in the door and increase my chances to land a training contract. How to find the right balance between strategy and new interests? I still enjoy the practice areas that I have experienced so far, but I would be keen to broaden my horizons and then get an exposure to areas of practice where the people element is at the core of such practice areas and more in line with my personality and current aspirations.</blockquote>

Verification: Our company is called, "The Corporate ___ Academy". What is the missing word here?

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