TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[PQ]

Have you heard back from them?

I did their VI in 2023. Turnaround was actually quite quick. Not much notice for the AC. That caught me off guard honestly.

Yes I have. It’s been almost 2 weeks now since I completed the VI tho.

 

[Tintin06]

Yes I have. It’s been almost 2 weeks now since I completed the VI tho.

Good to hear you got it. Maybe they’ll wait for more VIs. Then the next stage can start. That’s my experience with other firms. Willkie does something similar to this. VIs are on a rolling basis. Next stage is a set date.

 

[PQ]

Good to hear you got it. Maybe they’ll wait for more VIs. Then the next stage can start. That’s my experience with other firms.

Thanks a lot! Maybe that’s it.

 

[wannabe_solicitor]

anyone know if TLT does TCs in London?

 

[mostlyLsrareWs]

Just got an email from PMC saying that they’ll get back with an update by the end of July.

 

[legallyells]

Hill Dickinson Insight Day and Final TC Interview 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

 

[Law queries]

Just got an email from PMC saying that they’ll get back with an update by the end of July.

Same

 

[👩🎓]

I am really sorry about the PFOs. They are a natural part of the journey, and please do not let it keep you down. The paralegal market is really competitive, but nothing you can’t handle. Keep applying, keep refining your approach. Ask yourself… are there any gaps in my application strategy and/or knowledge, and how can I fill in these gaps? This is a question I had frequently asked myself. For example, whether it’s tailoring your cover letter to the specific notes in the job description, speaking very concisely in written formats, or even backing up your points with vivid examples from your past work experiences. The specificity needed to succeed in written applications/cover letters should not be underestimated. For me, I found that saying things such as ”As noted in the job description, typical tasks include X. Whilst I have not done this specifically, I have done Y, which is quite similar in Z respects. In that capacity, I did ABC, which demonstrated my ability to EFG - a key skill needed for success in this role“.

I also recommend applying beyond private practice for these paralegal roles. My main reason for saying this is that you will be able to sit on the business/client‘s side and see how thing operate, ultimately helping you craft better applications. For example, in-house roles, Legal Assistant roles, ALSPs, and so on. Even if the role is not paralegal, and you intern at, say, a private equity firm, you can tie that experience to wanting to train at a transactional focused law firm, when applying for TCs. Now, on the other side of the spectrum, say you find from that experience you want to go into disputes. You can say that through working at X PE firm, you saw transactional matters first hand. But, through taking part in X (disputes related matters), you found that you want to explore this more. The point being here is that any experience you get can help you show demonstrated interest - any experience at all. So, please, do not let the PFOs from the paralegal roles keep you down. You are doing an amazing job.

@Amma Usman, thank you for your help and advice

 

[BillSikes]

Just got an email from PMC saying that they’ll get back with an update by the end of July.

July!!!

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

Does anyone know how many TC’s Baker McKenzie offers thru direct TC route. Legal cheek says 40 total but they run two vac schemes. Anyone have any insight?

 

[Chris Brown]

Does anyone know how many TC’s Baker McKenzie offers thru direct TC route. Legal cheek says 40 total but they run two vac schemes. Anyone have any insight?

I imagine most TCs would go to VS candidates. In terms of %, I think they have 30 slots for both Spring and Summer VS (60 total). I think c50% of VS’ers (30/60) get a TC offer. 🙂

That is around 75-80% of TCs (30/40). Based on this, I think there are around 10/40 TCs available on the Direct TC route (c25%). There is a post that discuss VS:TC ratios:
​

Hi folks!

To help you develop a well-rounded application strategy, we’ve put together the following thread highlighting where firms typically recruit from—whether it's through vacation schemes or direct training contract routes. We've organised firms into four categories:

1. Firms which recruit a significant portion of their trainees through the direct training contract route
2. Firms that recruit primarily through vacation schemes, but have a healthy direct trainee intake
3. Firms that recruit from vacation schemes in the first instance
4. Firms that recruit only through their vacation schemes

50%-100% from direct TC applications

Brown Rudnick
Charles Russell Speechlys
Clifford Chance
CMS
Cripps
Curtis
Farrer & Co
Fieldfisher
Freshfields
Fried Frank
Greenberg Traurig
Harbottle & Lewis
Hill Dickinson
King & Spalding
Kingsley Napley
Macfarlanes
McDermott, Will & Emery
Paul Hastings
Slaughter and May
Stephenson Harwood
Winckworth Sherwood

Mostly from Vacation Scheme but with a consistently healthy direct TC intake

These firms recruit predominantly from their vacation schemes, but they have frequently made more than one direct TC offer every year in recent years – a direct TC app to these firms will almost certainly be read and considered seriously for a TC.

Ashurst
Baker McKenzie
Bird & Bird
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Burges Salmon
Goodwin
HFW
Hogan Lovells
Irwin Mitchell
K&L Gates
Linklaters
Mayer Brown
Morgan Lewis
Trowers & Hamlins
Watson Farley & Williams
White & Case

From Vacation Scheme in the first instance

These firms recruit primarily through vacation schemes. Although direct TC routes exist at these firms, they are typically only used by firms when they don't find enough future trainees on their vacation schemes.

Arnold & Porter
Eversheds Sutherland
Gibson Dunn
Orrick
Osborne Clarke
Sullivan & Cromwell
Travers Smith
*Womble Bond Dickinson

*There is only one option which is to apply for their placement scheme - after the AC they offer candidates who cannot complete the placement scheme a chance to complete a direct TC interview day instead.

Only from Vacation Scheme

Akin
Cleary Gottlieb
Clyde & Co
Cooley
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dechert
DLA Piper
Herbert Smith Freehills
Jones Day
Katten
*Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Milbank
Mills & Reeve
Mishcon de Reya
Morrison Foerster
Paul, Weiss
Reed Smith
Ropes & Gray
Sidley Austin
Simmons & Simmons
Skadden
Squire Patton Boggs
Taylor Wessing
Vinson & Elkins
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Winston & Strawn

*They have historically advertised a direct TC route, but in previous years they have cancelled their vacation schemes and awarded direct training contracts solely from their vacation scheme interviews.

This list is based mainly on information from Chambers UK and firm websites. However, please note that it’s a dynamic list, and we’ll keep updating it as we get more reliable information. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve this thread, we’d love to hear from you!

We hope this list helpful to you! Best of luck with your applications, and keep us posted on your progress!