TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Yes I thought there had already been one, what's the thinking between two application windows for a firm with a small trainee intake?
Tbh, recruitment is evolving at the firm. It has transitioned from HR led to hiring a new graduate recruitment manager, and so is changing. I don't know what the plans are for next cycle other than basing it off last year
I am now reliably informed that applications will open Sept 1, closing Feb 16th 2024. Recruiting for March 25, March 26, September 26 and March 27 (maximum 8 TCs)
BCLP VI Invite does anyone have any advice for it and what to expect. Is it a competency based interview or another type of interview. Thank you in advance.
Jessica Booker
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It depends what the circumstances are in all honesty. Not all mitigating circumstances are the same.
Someone dealing with intense and long term chemotherapy is not the same as someone dealing with food poisoning
Someone dealing with a sudden and unexpected death of a partner or parent is not the same as dealing with the death of a distant elderly relative.
It also depends on the evidence you have got to support the mitigating circumstances. If you can show the circumstances led to a blip in performance, the circumstances are verified in a way. If you can’t show a blip, then the question is what will your true abilities be.
But in short, mitigating/extenuating circumstances are considered.
Can anyone advise on preparing for competency interviews please? How do you recall all specific situations you have been involved in when starting from scratch? For your answers following the STAR structure does it have to be about a specific situation that happened in your various roles? It is really confusing to understand
hey guys!! General question: Im entering my final year of university and when applying for direct training contacts i keep seeing starting 2026- i am genuinely confused as to what i am meant to be doing during those 2 years besides completing the SQE. Does anyone know?
A lot of people will be applying in their second year of uni so would have their final year followed by the SQE year before starting.
You could have a gap year or some firms may allow you to bring your date forward if they have a need or someone else has deferred. If you are in your final year of uni and haven’t got much experience it may be better to apply for vacation schemes - most firms offer a higher % of TCs through VS.
i followed this process when preparing for my competency interviews:
1) searched for the competencies that the law firm is looking for.
2) looked through my CV and matched up the competencies the law firm’s looking for with each of my experiences on my cv. E.g., I worked in retail, and would often serve customers. So I matched up interpersonal and communication skills with this experience.
3) on flash cards, I wrote out each experience to demonstrate the competency using the STAR method, making sure I had at least two examples for each competency.
4) I practiced using the flash cards until I know no longer needed to flash cards.
Tip - on the flash cards, you need to write in note form so that when doing the interview, you’re not reciting what you’ve written on the flash cards but rather, in the interview when asked to demonstrate X competency, you know what example you can bring up and explain to fully demonstrate that you possess the competency that they are looking for.
Hope this helps!
job test prep is quite good id say
It may not be the same for direct TCs but just as a reference I got a PFO about 2 months after submitting my app for the VS
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