TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[TCLA Community Assistant]

At what point of the recruitment process will GR contact your references? And what happens if one reference doesn't respond to them?

This varies from firm to firm, but most likely about 6-8 weeks before you onboard as a trainee, but some will do it before you onboard to law school. Some ask for academic references before they make offers or even before final interview stage though.

If they don’t respond, they will suggest whether alternative information can be presented. For instance, I had a recruitment agency I worked through refuse to confirm I had worked via them, and so I provided bank statements to show they had paid me regularly for the time I had on my application, and sent them emails that showed by original offer/contract.

 

[illegallyblonde]

Anyone doing the Trowers test - how are you practicing for the MMAT? Have you found any good free platforms with practices that you could share, or any purchasable ones that are actually good value for money?

 

[BillSikes]

Third cycle here we go.

 

[A worried paralegal]

Any non-South firms worth applying for in the next few weeks.

I have BBBC A-Levels and looking to get into comm lit or corporate

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Any non-South firms worth applying for in the next few weeks.

I have BBBC A-Levels and looking to get into comm lit or corporate

You can find some remaining deadlines here: https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/TrainingContractDeadlines

 

[Eeeazyyy8]

Hi, around when will the next cycle begin?

 

[A worried paralegal]

You can find some remaining deadlines here: https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/TrainingContractDeadlines

I just looked at EMW and would like to give them the badge of shame.

SEVEN questions despite being a pretty small firm with no description of salary or funding with their “testimonials” coming from IT helpdesk staff

 

[give.me.a.tc]

Am I the only one who didn't feel Trowers & Hamlins' MMAT was up to 50 questions?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I just looked at EMW and would like to give them the badge of shame.

SEVEN questions despite being a pretty small firm with no description of salary or funding with their “testimonials” coming from IT helpdesk staff

They offer solicitor graduate apprenticeships so you wouldn’t need funding as you would be studying alongside your TC.

Smaller or boutique firms can often have a more intense application/recruitment process to ensure they are getting the right candidates. They tend to not want to encourage lots of applicants with an easy form as they don’t have the same type of technology or resource to be able to screen than the larger firms have.

 

[A worried paralegal]

They offer solicitor graduate apprenticeships so you wouldn’t need funding as you would be studying alongside your TC.

Smaller or boutique firms can often have a more intense application/recruitment process to ensure they are getting the right candidates. They tend to not want to encourage lots of applicants with an easy form as they don’t have the same type of technology or resource to be able to screen than the larger firms have.

The GSA sadly does not appear to be open yet unless it’s a separate site.

Do smaller firms try to target those with experience or just those with some sort of specific passion for the firm?

 

[Zaidoz10]

Am I the only one who didn't feel Trowers & Hamlins' MMAT was up to 50 questions?

What do you mean?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

The GSA sadly does not appear to be open yet unless it’s a separate site.

Do smaller firms try to target those with experience or just those with some sort of specific passion for the firm?

I suspect the GSA is the Training Contract opportunity.

Like all firms they will be looking for a clear alignment to them. They know they won’t be most candidates first choice, and so they tend to look closely at motivations, and ultimately a difficult or time intensive recruitment process will remove those not truly motivated.

 

[A worried paralegal]

I suspect the GSA is the Training Contract opportunity.

Like all firms they will be looking for a clear alignment to them. They know they won’t be most candidates first choice, and so they tend to look closely at motivations, and ultimately a difficult or time intensive recruitment process will remove those not truly motivated.

Does that mean I shouldn’t apply if it’s not my first choice by a long stretch

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does that mean I shouldn’t apply if it’s not my first choice by a long stretch

You can apply - there’s nothing stopping you, but if ultimately you got an offer and you know you’d be disappointed that you took this TC, I don’t think you should apply.

 

[give.me.a.tc]

What do you mean?

Have you taken the test?

 

[Zaidoz10]

Have you taken the test?

No not yet

 

[give.me.a.tc]

No not yet

When you do, let me know if you think the number of questions were up to 50.

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

White & Case video interview.
Received today, applied about an hour before the deadline for all those waiting.

 

[Deleted member 31571]

White & Case video interview.
Received today, applied about before the deadline.

Congrats is there anyone that also applied right before deadline or on the deadline and got PFO or haven’t heard back yet?

 

[Zaidoz10]

When you do, let me know if you think the number of questions were up to 50.

Ohh you mean it’s not numbered? I got you