TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

[BM99]

maybe you're right. A&O PFO received around an hour ago. I'm insanely disappointed - A&O was an imp one for me :/
This is my first cycle, I'm a penultimate year international law student so it's super hard to even be qualified to apply to VS and I have legal experience so I was thinking direct TC would make sense but I don't know - it's just so hard to get back up and keep applying to others. Apologies for the rant, probably a way for me to deal with it.

Sorry to hear that. When did you apply and complete the tests?

 

[futuretrainee202X]

maybe you're right. A&O PFO received around an hour ago. I'm insanely disappointed - A&O was an imp one for me :/
This is my first cycle, I'm a penultimate year international law student so it's super hard to even be qualified to apply to VS and I have legal experience so I was thinking direct TC would make sense but I don't know - it's just so hard to get back up and keep applying to others. Apologies for the rant, probably a way for me to deal with it.

Stay strong and take your talent elsewhere. One suggestion (perhaps unsolicited on my end!) is to apply for a range of firms, not just the top ones. Any experience is good for your profile, whether or not you want to secure a TC at the end of the scheme with that particular firm. Having options during the application process also increases confidence, so don't be afraid to apply outside of MC/US (but still sponsors visas).

 

[Samridhi Jain]

Sorry to hear that. When did you apply and complete the tests?

applied on the deadline and completed the tests by Fri/ Saturday as far as I remember.

 

[BM99]

applied on the deadline and completed the tests by Fri/ Saturday as far as I remember.

I see. I am seriously suspecting that A&O is taking their time and only looking at people who submitted on the deadline now LOL

 

[Shreya Verma]

maybe you're right. A&O PFO received around an hour ago. I'm insanely disappointed - A&O was an imp one for me :/
This is my first cycle, I'm a penultimate year international law student so it's super hard to even be qualified to apply to VS and I have legal experience so I was thinking direct TC would make sense but I don't know - it's just so hard to get back up and keep applying to others. Apologies for the rant, probably a way for me to deal with it.

Apologies to hear that. Did you get the feedback and next steps email?

 

[LB24]

Anyone heard back from McDermott?

No not yet!

 

[BC2000]

One thought i had is that there could be some sort of quick run through and scoring of all applications when non-rolling, which probably results in a lot of people being caught in the middle (ie good but not automatically over the line); hence time it is taking for them to re-review and score and results coming out as a trickle…regardless it is all very frustrating!

 

[norothrow324]

One thought i had is that there could be some sort of quick run through and scoring of all applications when non-rolling, which probably results in a lot of people being caught in the middle (ie good but not automatically over the line); hence time it is taking for them to re-review and score and results coming out as a trickle…regardless it is all very frustrating!

That’s probably what it is - good to know the stress ends tomorrow for both CC and AO!

 

[BM99]

That’s probably what it is - good to know the stress ends tomorrow for both CC and AO!

Did A&O say we will all hear back within this week? Or just we will start to hear back this week?

 

[norothrow324]

Did A&O say we will all hear back within this week? Or just we will start to hear back this week?

“expect to hear from us in the week commencing the 4th December 2023”

Wording makes it sound as though it would be through the week 🤔

 

[BM99]

“expect to hear from us in the week commencing the 4th December 2023”

Wording makes it sound as though it would be through the week 🤔

Where did you get this? Is it from their website?

 

[stacy2523]

I haven't applied yet but is it no longer separate WE entries?

There is still a separate WE section unfortunately.

 

[norothrow324]

Where did you get this? Is it from their website?

Yeah from the application portal

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker @axelbeugre or anyone,

What is the best structure for a cover letter? I am writing my application for Freshfields and i find that every time I do a Cover letter i never pass application stage.

Just to stress Freshfields is not a cover letter, it’s a personal statement and so will have a slightly different approach than a cover letter.

 

[SemperParatus]

still nothing from a&o, not sure if this is good/bad news lol

 

[amrita6399]

Does anyone have suggestions for IP and technology laws, strong firms besides Bird & Bird and Bristows?

 

[AB]

Does anyone have suggestions for IP and technology laws, strong firms besides Bird & Bird and Bristows?

I would use these two sites for guidance - https://chambers.com/legal-rankings/intellectual-property-london-firms-1:34:11814:1 and https://www.legal500.com/c/london/t...al-property-trade-marks-copyright-and-design/

 

[amrita6399]

I would use these two sites for guidance - https://chambers.com/legal-rankings/intellectual-property-london-firms-1:34:11814:1 and https://www.legal500.com/c/london/t...al-property-trade-marks-copyright-and-design/

Thank you!

 

[Legalstalker]

Just to stress Freshfields is not a cover letter, it’s a personal statement and so will have a slightly different approach than a cover letter.

Thank you, I have got some great advice soo far but just wanted to clarify should i still follow the why law, why them and why me approach? or tackle it a different way.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you, I have got some great advice soo far but just wanted to clarify should i still follow the why law, why them and why me approach? or tackle it a different way.

You can take that approach, but you don’t have to. The great thing about the personal statement is that it’s really up to you to focus on what you need to showcase.

Also be mindful of how the statement fits into your wider application, as you are providing a lot of other detail elsewhere in your application.