TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[Untilwinter]

Do Weil recruit meaningfully through the direct TC route? Is it still worth applying?

 

[Fd321]

Hi @Fd321 ,

I had filled my laptop screen with hundreds of mini sticky notes before my first-ever vacation scheme interview... which was a big mistake. I think part of the reason I didn't succeed in that interview was that I had rehearsed all of my answers (partly out of anxiety but also because I thought that was expected of me). This was a really bad idea on my part - I was basically acting my own words out and sounded like a robot!

The best advice I have received on VS interviews (TC interviews may be slightly different and I'll explain in a second) to help me come out of my self-confined shell is that you want to prove to your interviewer that you'd be a great person to go for a drink with (alcoholic or non-alcoholic!). Of course, you want to be enthusiastic about your chosen career path, but not at the cost of being genuine as an individual. Law firms are made up of teams of individuals who, just like you and me, enjoy socialising (especially given how client-facing the role is). You want to be someone who can contribute to that dynamic in a positive way.

Unconsciously or not, grad rec will be trying to fit you into their law firm dynamic. The funniest thing I ever realised when I was doing the LPC (and most of my cohort also observed the same) was that there truly was a law firm 'personality' you could assign to each group of future trainees. I realised that beyond academics and your achievements, part of the application process is character based (you can't properly observe it until later in the game).

Demonstrating 'the right character' is obviously the trouble. I am not trying to be cynical and say they are judging you for 'being you' (that's actually not the case, it is 99.9% competency), so don't stop practising interviews and your commercial awareness. I am trying to say the opposite. There really is no other way than to be yourself. It sounds cheesy and clichè, but it is in your favour. If you aren't yourself, you are putting yourself at a disservice ie you want to be offered a role somewhere that accepts you for being yourself.

It is all at the end of the day a mind battle - being nervous and shy is part of the interview 'territory' and finding coping mechanisms is very personal (I like to online shop before any exam or interview because it somehow turns my mind off enough to forget the anxiety which is telling me to be someone I'm not). To aid that battle, I like to remember it's a conversation with a potential future colleague. Someone you might be having a quick coffee with within a few years! Of course, the VS interview is not a coffee chat so I caveat that by saying please do remember to be duly respectful, but thinking of it in that way should take some of the pressure off. I'd love to hear how everyone helps to take the pressure off them before interviews - does anyone do anything whimsical like me?

It depends on the firm, but TC interviews are a different creature entirely. You will be pushed further on your opinions considerably. Of course, I am not saying to act like a robot, but you will need to be on your 'A game' slightly more. Paradoxically, given these interviews are typically harder content-wise, you are thinking less about how you act and more about how to answer.

Hope that helps in some way!

@Jessica Booker - any more insights?

Thank you so much!

 

[HendyBabyFutureLawyer]

Truly excellent advice - @Jake Rickman I wish I'd had your articles when I was applying! You can find them in the Commercial Awareness Forum/Section on the left hand side

@Jake Rickman. "Edit: Forgot to add that TCLA published last week a premium article that looks at the way you can approach "primary sources" like investor circulars and company accounts to boost your commercial awareness." My apologies Jake I am interested in the article, but I can't seem to find it. Is it included in the premium newsletter? Thank you!

 

[NJS]

Anyone applied to the Paul Hastings insight day/heard back?

 

[Jake Rickman]

Anyone applied to the Paul Hastings insight day/heard back?

I do not want to knock any firm, but I made it on to Paul Hasting's insight day and then did the vac scheme application back in 2020. Never heard back from graduate recruitment whatsoever.

 

[Jake Rickman]

@Jake Rickman. "Edit: Forgot to add that TCLA published last week a premium article that looks at the way you can approach "primary sources" like investor circulars and company accounts to boost your commercial awareness." My apologies Jake I am interested in the article, but I can't seem to find it. Is it included in the premium newsletter? Thank you!

Hi there,

Yes it was circulated last week to premium subscribers in the premium newsletter.

 

[BM09C]

I have my first ever TC assessment centre soon- anyone have any must know tips! Especially for group exercises/written tasks. Thanks!

 

[legallybrunette22]

I'm in the process of completing the Eversheds Sutherland TC application. The application form has a question asking candidates to detail all positions of responsibility in 500 words, and also has a separate 'work experience' section.

Should there be overlap between the two? And if not, what is the difference between 'positions of responsibility' (i.e. a volunteering role) vs work experience? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated as I am rather stuck on this! Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

I'm in the process of completing the Eversheds Sutherland TC application. The application form has a question asking candidates to detail all positions of responsibility in 500 words, and also has a separate 'work experience' section.

Should there be overlap between the two? And if not, what is the difference between 'positions of responsibility' (i.e. a volunteering role) vs work experience? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated as I am rather stuck on this! Thanks

I don’t think there should be overlap. Work experience should be the jobs you have been paid or volunteered to do. Positions of responsibility should be extracurricular activities.

You can do extracurricular activities in the workplace though - for instance, you might have been part of a fundraising group or have been on an employee network group - to me this falls into PoR rather than work experience where it is outside of your contracted responsibilities as an employee

 

[born&raised]

I'm in the process of completing the Eversheds Sutherland TC application. The application form has a question asking candidates to detail all positions of responsibility in 500 words, and also has a separate 'work experience' section.

Should there be overlap between the two? And if not, what is the difference between 'positions of responsibility' (i.e. a volunteering role) vs work experience? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated as I am rather stuck on this! Thanks

Hi! Unrelated to the query that you posted - but I think Eversheds has (for the past two years) filled their TC spots entirely from the Vac Scheme candidates. I remember candidates receiving communication from the firm last year about how there aren't any TC spots left. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it might be worthwhile to get in touch with the firm or confirm this!

 

[WAL007]

Hi guys, I am currently making a app for slaughter and may. I have two questions I want to ask and would be grateful if someone here can please guide me to the right direction. Firstly, will the grad team accept a cover letter and cv with 10 font size. Further to this, does the firm still have a lockstep model?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, I am currently making a app for slaughter and may. I have two questions I want to ask and would be grateful if someone here can please guide me to the right direction. Firstly, will the grad team accept a cover letter and cv with 10 font size. Further to this, does the firm still have a lockstep model?

Font size 10 is ok but make sure the cover letter is not just squished all together. The combinations of font size 10, narrow margins, narrow line spacing or long paragraphs is not going to make your cover letter easy or appealing to read.

From their website:

 

[SaMi222]

Hi, has anyone heard back from Goodwins direct TC route? Thanks!

 

[latte23]

aspiring solicitors harbottle and lewis pfo

 

[legallybrunette22]

Hi! Unrelated to the query that you posted - but I think Eversheds has (for the past two years) filled their TC spots entirely from the Vac Scheme candidates. I remember candidates receiving communication from the firm last year about how there aren't any TC spots left. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it might be worthwhile to get in touch with the firm or confirm this!

This is so helpful thank you! Makes sense not to waste much time on the application if this is the case!

 

[WAL007]

This is so helpful thank you! Makes sense not to waste much time on the application if this is the case!

I agree with this. I received a email from the last cycle that they ran out of spaces as they covered them all from the vcs

 

[O]

Any bakers PFO? Seems to have gone quiet

 

[LceoH]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst post-AC?

 

[Untilwinter]

Any bakers PFO? Seems to have gone quiet

Wish they would just let us know. Even if there are more offers on its way, the majority is going to be PFO and it would save people a lot of energy

 

[corplawperson23]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst post-AC?

Nope still waiting