TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[Jessica Booker]

Looking for advice: I've got a place on a summer vac scheme at a firm this summer. However, not sure if I will get a TC out of it. What is the best way to articulate to firms that recurit direct TCs that you have secured a spot to show your value in the market?

You just need to include it in your application form. If you can add a future work experience entry you can add it in there with a description of which department you will be sat in (if you know). But alternatively a brief reference in a motivational question or in an extra information section is usually a better way to do this.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it worth re-applying to a firm that offered you a Vac Scheme place you didn't accept (this was in 2019)?

If you were successful last time, there is a decent chance that you would be successful again. However, if you turned them down for other firms they may want to see a clear reason why you are applying to them again/have changed your mind.

However, there is a decent chance they don’t even remember you, especially if it was nearly four years ago (they probably aren’t holding an records/data of your previous application). That may even be more so the case if the recruitment team have changed since you applied.

 

[Momo]

Hello everyone I d like to ask a question, when answering the "why this law firm?" question. Is it a good idea to state your interest in one of the niche areas of law the firm is known for, however it is not their core practice area or practice area which generates the most revenue for them?

In my case, I have a strong interest in public international law due to past experiences in university but I find that it is simply a niche for most firms even though they are well-known for it. Furthermore, public international law is seen to be less commercial since it is dealing with mainly countries and organisations rather than businesses. Would appreciate an insight on this from anyone including @Jessica Booker. Thanks a lot!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello everyone I d like to ask a question, when answering the "why this law firm?" question. Is it a good idea to state your interest in one of the niche areas of law the firm is known for, however it is not their core practice area or practice area which generates the most revenue for them?

In my case, I have a strong interest in public international law due to past experiences in university but I find that it is simply a niche for most firms even though they are well-known for it. Furthermore, public international law is seen to be less commercial since it is dealing with mainly countries and organisations rather than businesses. Would appreciate an insight on this from anyone including @Jessica Booker. Thanks a lot!

It’s is fine to state this interest, but I would try to balance it out with other areas the firm is better known for/where you are more likely to do TC seats.

 

[Aspiring Lawyer]

I am a career changer, no legal background/work experience. I've applied for Mayer Brown TC and Bird & Bird VS, haven't heard back yet. My only question is, for non law degree/no legal work experience candidates, to demonstrate a commitment to a career in law, is it imperative to start the PGDL? Would I be at a disadvantage if I try to capitalise on my current strengths/work experiences/transferable skills etc...? For various reasons, self funding the PGDL is not an option. @Jessica Booker Thanks!

 

[Momo]

It’s is fine to state this interest, but I would try to balance it out with other areas the firm is better known for/where you are more likely to do TC seats.

I see, thank you very much for the response!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I am a career changer, no legal background/work experience. I've applied for Mayer Brown TC and Bird & Bird VS, haven't heard back yet. My only question is, for non law degree/no legal work experience candidates, to demonstrate a commitment to a career in law, is it imperative to start the PGDL? Would I be at a disadvantage if I try to capitalise on my current strengths/work experiences/transferable skills etc...? For various reasons, self funding the PGDL is not an option. @Jessica Booker Thanks!

No - it’s not imperative, especially for vacation schemes. The GDL can show a commitment to pursue a legal career, but there are other ways you can evidence that in an application.

As you don’t need to do the PGDL (some firms will put prospective trainees through it, but it is no longer a regulatory requirement), another option could be to sit SQE1 of your own accord, although that too has time and cost considerations (albeit quicker and cheaper that the PGDL).

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

I am a career changer, no legal background/work experience. I've applied for Mayer Brown TC and Bird & Bird VS, haven't heard back yet. My only question is, for non law degree/no legal work experience candidates, to demonstrate a commitment to a career in law, is it imperative to start the PGDL? Would I be at a disadvantage if I try to capitalise on my current strengths/work experiences/transferable skills etc...? For various reasons, self funding the PGDL is not an option. @Jessica Booker Thanks!

Hi! I was in a similar position last year - non-law (STEM, so actually really far from law!), no legal work experience, and no PGDL (also with self-funding not an option). I managed to reach three assessment centres, and completed a vacation scheme so you can definitely do this! Best of luck!

 

[j.s.cox]

I'm looking for a bit of advice @Jessica Booker

I'm in the privileged position to have been offered a TC at my dream firm and I intend to accept the offer when they send the paperwork later this week. I have also just been sent an interview invite for Slaughter and May's direct TC. From where I am now (without any experience of what S&M is like to work at), even if I were to get a TC offer from S&M, I would not accept it over the TC offer I already have. I am, however, curious about what the firm is like in person and whether I have the ability to secure a TC from a magic circle firm.

I want to accept the interview to appease my curiosity, but I don't want to have stolen an interview space from someone else when I don't intend to accept any TC offer from S&M. I realise this is being extremely presumptuous about my ability to secure a TC at S&M, but I want to know if I should give up the interview so that someone else gets a chance, or if it would be okay to do the interview for my own curiosity?

Again, I realise I'm in a very fortunate position. Also for those wondering I applied to S&M on 17/11/22 and got a reply today 03/01/23.

 

[Aspiring Lawyer]

Hi! I was in a similar position last year - non-law (STEM, so actually really far from law!), no legal work experience, and no PGDL (also with self-funding not an option). I managed to reach three assessment centres, and completed a vacation scheme so you can definitely do this! Best of luck!

Hello! Thanks for your reply, it's really encouraging, but I must add that it feels like I'm at the bottom of a gigantic hill! Well done on your achievements! If you don't mind sharing, were any of the ACs you've attended for a TC?

 

[Jessica Booker]

I'm looking for a bit of advice @Jessica Booker

I'm in the privileged position to have been offered a TC at my dream firm and I intend to accept the offer when they send the paperwork later this week. I have also just been sent an interview invite for Slaughter and May's direct TC. From where I am now (without any experience of what S&M is like to work at), even if I were to get a TC offer from S&M, I would not accept it over the TC offer I already have. I am, however, curious about what the firm is like in person and whether I have the ability to secure a TC from a magic circle firm.

I want to accept the interview to appease my curiosity, but I don't want to have stolen an interview space from someone else when I don't intend to accept any TC offer from S&M. I realise this is being extremely presumptuous about my ability to secure a TC at S&M, but I want to know if I should give up the interview so that someone else gets a chance, or if it would be okay to do the interview for my own curiosity?

Again, I realise I'm in a very fortunate position. Also for those wondering I applied to S&M on 17/11/22 and got a reply today 03/01/23.

Personally, I would suggest not attending the interview. You are clearly going to accept your current offer and there seems no chance you would accept Slaughters.

You are effectively wasting Slaughters' time and that opportunity could go to someone else. There is a risk that by taking that interview slot up, someone else doesn't get interviewed, and that they never "top up" that interview slot. And there is a chance the firm recruits one less trainee because of that.

Doing things like this contributes to around 1-3% of training contracts not being filled each year (there are other factors that contribute to this as well). That doesn't seem a lot, but that is around 55-160 training contracts a year. And even if we did argue that the firm could top up their recruitment the following year, you could be taking that opportunity from someone else in the short term. That could be the difference between someone not having to self-fund their GDL/LPC/SQE studies or between someone taking an offer elsewhere and missing out on their dream firm.

I understand the feeling of "wanting to know" whether you would have secured a TC with a firm, but I would encourage you to take the mentality of "well Slaughters never turned me down" if you need the affirmation. And even if Slaughters did turn you down now, doesn't mean you couldn't work for them in the future. If you did go for the interview, no matter what the outcome, it doesn't impact your career - that effectively changes all over again as a qualified lawyer anyway.

There is potentially someone on this forum waiting to hear back from Slaughters right now who is screaming for the opportunity to be interviewed but hasn't heard back because the firm only has so many interview slots. And Slaughters might be their dream firm. Imagine if this was you with the dream firm you have secured a TC with.

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Hello! Thanks for your reply, it's really encouraging, but I must add that it feels like I'm at the bottom of a gigantic hill! Well done on your achievements! If you don't mind sharing, were any of the ACs you've attended for a TC?

They were all for vacation schemes. I only applied for one direct TC last year - I reached video interview stage, and then messed that up for reasons out of my control. However, I fully believe that my lack of legal experience did not hinder me with that application - I passed the application review stage (I know many people were rejected post-app), which means the firm must have believed that I was a potential candidate for a direct TC offer.

Also, if you have not already, I recommend going to events (Legal Cheek have some good ones), and also contacting trainees on linkedin. They can give a genuine insight into the firm from a simple 10-15 minute chat, and it also shows that you're being proactive + are serious about a career change to law!

 

[LegalC]

One of the questions in a training contract application I’m applying for asks: ‘what areas of law that our firm specialises in are of particular interest to you?’

How would I go about answering this in terms of structure and how many areas should I list? I was thinking 2 or maybe 3, but I don’t want it to sound ‘wishy washy’ in that they have a good reputation in these areas etc - any help would be hugely appreciated 😊

 

[j.s.cox]

Personally, I would suggest not attending the interview. You are clearly going to accept your current offer and there seems no chance you would accept Slaughters.

You are effectively wasting Slaughters' time and that opportunity could go to someone else. There is a risk that by taking that interview slot up, someone else doesn't get interviewed, and that they never "top up" that interview slot. And there is a chance the firm recruits one less trainee because of that.

Doing things like this contributes to around 1-3% of training contracts not being filled each year (there are other factors that contribute to this as well). That doesn't seem a lot, but that is around 55-160 training contracts a year. And even if we did argue that the firm could top up their recruitment the following year, you could be taking that opportunity from someone else in the short term. That could be the difference between someone not having to self-fund their GDL/LPC/SQE studies or between someone taking an offer elsewhere and missing out on their dream firm.

I understand the feeling of "wanting to know" whether you would have secured a TC with a firm, but I would encourage you to take the mentality of "well Slaughters never turned me down" if you need the affirmation. And even if Slaughters did turn you down now, doesn't mean you couldn't work for them in the future. If you did go for the interview, no matter what the outcome, it doesn't impact your career - that effectively changes all over again as a qualified lawyer anyway.

There is potentially someone on this forum waiting to hear back from Slaughters right now who is screaming for the opportunity to be interviewed but hasn't heard back because the firm only has so many interview slots. And Slaughters might be their dream firm. Imagine if this was you with the dream firm you have secured a TC with.

Thank you for your thorough response and good advice!

That was definitely my fear with accepting the interview. I wouldn't want to take the opportunity away from someone else, so I'll turn it down. Good luck to everyone who has an interview there!

 

[Jessica Booker]

One of the questions in a training contract application I’m applying for asks: ‘what areas of law that our firm specialises in are of particular interest to you?’

How would I go about answering this in terms of structure and how many areas should I list? I was thinking 2 or maybe 3, but I don’t want it to sound ‘wishy washy’ in that they have a good reputation in these areas etc - any help would be hugely appreciated 😊

How many you list is up to you and down to your clear motivations. If you only had one clear area of interest, you could just detail that and provide more context/detail.

There won't be a set structure but I would ensure you clearly identify the area (make sure you use the same terminology as the firm), explain why you are interested in it (e.g. look forward and explain why that type of work appeals to you) and use any evidence to show where this interest stems from (e.g. your past experiences).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you for your thorough response and good advice!

That was definitely my fear with accepting the interview. I wouldn't want to take the opportunity away from someone else, so I'll turn it down. Good luck to everyone who has an interview there!

And congratulations on the dream firm offer! That is fantastic news.

You have the best outcome you could possibly wish for here so I wouldn't worry about what may have been with other firms - you have the best offer for you right now and it doesn't get any better than that!

 

[LegalC]

How many you list is up to you and down to your clear motivations. If you only had one clear area of interest, you could just detail that and provide more context/detail.

There won't be a set structure but I would ensure you clearly identify the area (make sure you use the same terminology as the firm), explain why you are interested in it (e.g. look forward and explain why that type of work appeals to you) and use any evidence to show where this interest stems from (e.g. your past experiences).

Thank you Jessica, that’s super helpful!

 

[BeGrateful.101]

Skadden PFO

 

[BM99]

Hi @Jessica Booker , I just found out that I accidentally forgot to include my secondary school grades in my Freshfields application form. ALthough I have included them in my CV and the voluntary disclosure questionnaire (diversity), will that significantly impact my application? Should I email the graduate recruitment and tell them that I want to add the information?

 

[Aspiring Lawyer]

@Jessica Booker - Thank you so much for your time and attention in helping us all!! When it comes to the cover letters for TC, I'm thinking a possible strategy would be to state the key traits the firm is looking for, and then state how I meet these/give examples, in the following format:

Dear so and so,

-Why commercial law, why this firm, why I am the ideal candidate

(sentence linking last paragraph with below)

Resilience: (explain how I meet this trait/give examples)

Team work: (explain how I meet this trait/give examples)

etc...

-Conclusion


I feel using the above would cut down on 'unnecessary words', and avoid turning the cover letter into a story, if that makes sense? For each trait identified, I would give a specific example, probably follow the STAR framework.

Please let me know what you think, if it's rubbish do tell me! I haven't written a cover letter in a while! thanks