TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[O]

How did everyone submit their Freshfields application? It says to attach the personal statement. Should I just have it on a word doc with the word count and not include the question? Not sure on format - in previous years we would have the template.

 

[isaacngzw]

Did mine last Thursday and still waiting!

oh me too! all the best

 

[AvniD]

How did everyone submit their Freshfields application? It says to attach the personal statement. Should I just have it on a word doc with the word count and not include the question? Not sure on format - in previous years we would have the template.

Your approach of attaching it as a word doc should work fine! If you're really unsure, you could even confirm with grad rec if there's a particular manner in which you need to be submitting the personal statement.

 

[AvniD]

Hi everyone (@Jessica Booker) (@AvniD) - I have benefitted from many helpful posts here but posting myself for the first time and would appreciate any insight/advice on the following.

I'm currently doing the LPC and am sponsored by a City law firm with whom I have a London TC starting March '24. Doing the LPC has informed me that I want to do Restructuring and Private Equity but my firm does not specialise in these areas. A US firm that does specialise in these areas is recruiting for the same intake as me (direct TC) and I was wondering what the repercussions could be if I were to apply to this firm. I appreciate that I would have to pay back GDL/LPC fees including any grants to my current firm but I could do that from the retrospective pay I receive from the new firm if I was to be successful. Do you think I can be honest with the new firm and explain my situation / is there a right way of navigating this?

Thanks in advance guys. I appreciate that having a TC is a privileged position but this has been bothering me for a while now so would really appreciate any input. Have a great day/evening!

Hi @manifestingbiglaw, I think @Jessica Booker has given you a sound perspective on what it might take to make this switch and you may need to mentally prepare for it to not be easy. I'd also stress that the LPC isn't the best representation of what working in certain practice areas is actually like and so I'd encourage you to speak to people working in the areas of your interest before making a decision to switch firms.

Wishing you all the best- I know this can't be easy but I'm hoping you have found more clarity than you had before making your post!

 

[IT7]

How long does it usually take Slaughter and May to get back to candidates?

 

[sxw517]

Hi, Clifford Chance has a column for additional documents that says can upload CV, cover letter etc? If we are uploading a cover letter, how many words should it be at maximum?

Hi, I am wondering the same thing, having trawled through previous forums it would seem that the answer in 2020/21 was, as below:
p.s. I wonder if @Jessica Booker may be able to shed some light on what they expect - thanks in advance

Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have had a look and couldn't find any thread/question about this. For Clifford Chance, it there any point in submitting your CV and cover letter for the training contract, seeing as they quite explicitly say they don't look it for any grad applications?
and secondly, is there any way to weave 'why Clifford Chance' into any part of the application? the only q is the 600word one on extra curricular activities, unless I'm missing something!

Nope they won't look at it so no point doing it.
All they look at is your WE, grades, and the 600 word question - and yes it is solely about extra-curricular and other achievements.

 

[edpx8]

Hi guys, I applied direct TC to A&O on 12th Sept (passed SJT a day later) - since it's been two months should I send them a quick email just to check there's no issues with my application?

 

[rose888]

Hi, does anyone know how many work experiences Linklaters application is supposed to allow? It says to add all work experience (legal/non-legal), but the form is only letting me submit 3 work experiences?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, does anyone know how many work experiences Linklaters application is supposed to allow? It says to add all work experience (legal/non-legal), but the form is only letting me submit 3 work experiences?

I think that when they say all, I think it is just to encourage people to put “any” work experience into these limited sections rather than just assuming they need to be legal work experience, but that you are limited to these number of entries.

 

[k3086]

How strong is Clifford chances preference for second year law/ final year non law students? I’m a finalist and scored in the 99th percentile on the WG and am trying to work out my AC chances

 

[machingkiubrian1234]

How strong is Clifford chances preference for second year law/ final year non law students? I’m a finalist and scored in the 99th percentile on the WG and am trying to work out my AC chances

Hi I went to their AC last year. Personally I don’t feel there are any significant preferences towards which year you are in? For the WG as long as you meet the benchmark then you’re fine, it’s the application review that matters, especially when there are two more questions this year.

 

[okital42]

Has anyone applied to Hogan for direct TCs? I applied for the direct TC and was sent the WGT a few days after, I completed it yesterday and am wondering how long they usually take to reply?

 

[Khadeeja Iqbal]

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to approach this question: "Tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to your academic or work environment".
My understanding was to use an achievement completely unrelated to work and explain how that helped me at work. E.g. starting a side hustle, how it added value to my work i.e. encouraged me to take initiative to learn bts of business at my part time job

I came across a similar question and someone recommended the following:

For the "working environment" you could give a directly related example i.e. you may have devised a new system at your workplace that allowed them to track something better which resulted in your promotion/bonus, etc.

Or, for the "working environment", it could be that you give the example of an extra-curricular that helped strengthen a skill that you now use in your work/academic life.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to approach this question: "Tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to your academic or work environment".
My understanding was to use an achievement completely unrelated to work and explain how that helped me at work. E.g. starting a side hustle, how it added value to my work i.e. encouraged me to take initiative to learn bts of business at my part time job

I came across a similar question and someone recommended the following:

For the "working environment" you could give a directly related example i.e. you may have devised a new system at your workplace that allowed them to track something better which resulted in your promotion/bonus, etc.

Or, for the "working environment", it could be that you give the example of an extra-curricular that helped strengthen a skill that you now use in your work/academic life.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

It can be any of those examples - they are all fine. I would focus on the "outstanding personal achievement" element though - that is the key part of the answer. You then just need to explain how it has helped other aspects in your life.

 

[Khadeeja Iqbal]

It can be any of those examples - they are all fine. I would focus on the "outstanding personal achievement" element though - that is the key part of the answer. You then just need to explain how it has helped other aspects in your life.

Thank you Jessica

 

[AvniD]

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to approach this question: "Tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to your academic or work environment".
My understanding was to use an achievement completely unrelated to work and explain how that helped me at work. E.g. starting a side hustle, how it added value to my work i.e. encouraged me to take initiative to learn bts of business at my part time job

I came across a similar question and someone recommended the following:

For the "working environment" you could give a directly related example i.e. you may have devised a new system at your workplace that allowed them to track something better which resulted in your promotion/bonus, etc.

Or, for the "working environment", it could be that you give the example of an extra-curricular that helped strengthen a skill that you now use in your work/academic life.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

As Jessica said, you really can use any personal achievement but the focus must be on the link between how and why the outstanding personal achievement added value to your academic or work environment.

I think the need for the achievement to be 'outstanding' may already narrow your focus in terms of which achievements you need to be looking at- I think either of the examples you have mentioned should work just well. Just remember to really walk through the reader/interviewer through the process behind this achievement becoming an outstanding one for you and how this positively contributed to your academics/work.

 

[refy]

Does anyone know how long Slaughters take to respond post interview?

 

[B A]

Does anyone know how long Slaughters take to respond post interview?

Hi, would you mind sharing when you applied, when they got back to you and when your interview was?

 

[refy]

Hi, would you mind sharing when you applied, when they got back to you and when your interview was?

Sure I applied for the non-law intake on Oct 7th, they got back to me on the 12th and I interviewed last week!

 

[B A]

Sure I applied for the non-law intake on Oct 7th, they got back to me on the 12th and I interviewed last week!

Thank you! I applied on 10 Nov so hopefully I'll hear back soon then. Best of luck!