TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[TCLA Community Assistant]

if you get an AC invite during one of the days of your vac scheme, is it worth calling in sick for one day to attend the AC for a final round tc? @Jessica Booker

Unless you have no desire to secure a TC with your VS firm, no, this would not be a good idea at all.

It would be better to be upfront and ask whether you could take time off to attend the other firm’s process.

But the better approach would be to ask the interviewing firm for an alternative date.

 

[trainee4u]

if you get an AC invite during one of the days of your vac scheme, is it worth calling in sick for one day to attend the AC for a final round tc? @Jessica Booker

That's fundamentally dishonest, which is a barrier to working in the law. Similar stunts have gotten people banned for life from the profession.

 

[SM2001]

Hi all, I have recently been invited to attend the Shoosmiths Assessment Centre and have never attended an AC before so I would appreciate the insight.

If possible, does anyone have any insight into the Shoosmiths AC specifically, or if anyone can offer advice generally for the following:
- Pair exercises
- Group exercises
- Presentations/client meeting
- A strengths based interview

I would also appreciate any suggested resources to help prepare. Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

That's fundamentally dishonest, which is a barrier to working in the law. Similar stunts have gotten people banned for life from the profession.

I have never heard of a vacation scheme student being reported to the SRA for something like this. A firm would just not consider the candidate for a TC if they found out.

 

[GV]

Does anyone know when Reed Smith will start to get back to people?

 

[abbietc03]

Does anyone know when Reed Smith will start to get back to people?

I got a test and VI invite from them on Friday so I think they’ve started sending them out

 

[imperial_topaz23]

I got a test and VI invite from them on Friday so I think they’ve started sending them out

Amazing!! Well done - no doubt you'll ace it. Do you mind sharing when you submitted your application?

 

[abbietc03]

Amazing!! Well done - no doubt you'll ace it. Do you mind sharing when you submitted your application?

Thank you so much!! I submitted my application on the 22nd of May, so quite early on!

 

[WeGotThis!]

I got a test and VI invite from them on Friday so I think they’ve started sending them out

Congratulations

I'm still waiting to hear from RS. I wanted to know how many questions does the VI have and also, I believe the test is a SJT?

Thank you!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Unless you have no desire to secure a TC with your VS firm, no, this would not be a good idea at all.

It would be better to be upfront and ask whether you could take time off to attend the other firm’s process.

But the better approach would be to ask the interviewing firm for an alternative date.

thank you! I was just posing it as a hypothetical as ive submitted a few apps which im due to hear back from within that timeline so I was just wondering- super helpful, thank you!

 

[abbietc03]

Congratulations

I'm still waiting to hear from RS. I wanted to know how many questions does the VI have and also, I believe the test is a SJT?

Thank you!

Thanks!! I haven’t completed the test yet as I’m on a scheme this week, but I’ll DM you! Yes, I believe it is an SJT

 

[Sunshinepink]

Hey everyone, I just did the Hogan Lovells WG practice before the real one and got: Total Score 62%, Evaluating Arguments 100%, Recognising Assumptions 50%, Drawing Conclusions 54% (for the practice) before doing some notes to see where I had gone wrong so I could do better on the real one. I have never practiced before but I am so adamant that I will get a TC in the next intake so I am really trying. Does anyone know if these scores are good and perhaps any tips for the recognising assumptions and drawing conclusions?

 

[WeGotThis!]

Thanks!! I haven’t completed the test yet as I’m on a scheme this week, but I’ll DM you! Yes, I believe it is an SJT

Thank you! And good luck with your scheme

 

[Amma Usman]

I got a test and VI invite from them on Friday so I think they’ve started sending them out

Congrats on this!

@Andrei Radu ‘s carefully crafted and detailed guide will help - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....de-for-competency-interview-preparation.9380/

 

[trainee4u]

I have never heard of a vacation scheme student being reported to the SRA for something like this. A firm would just not consider the candidate for a TC if they found out.

Here is an example of a trainee who was banned from the profession for lying about her reason for absence.

It is dishonest, which is a bar to working in the law:

Stephanie Merrill - 7008990

Control of non-qualified staff (section 43/99 order)

www.sra.org.uk

 

[cccm.]

Hey everyone! I applied to Mayer Brown for the direct training contract and made it to the second-to-last stage — the Life at Mayer Brown test. I completed and passed it around mid-May, but I’ve noticed I never received a confirmation of submission. On the portal, it still just says “Deadline Passed” instead of “Finished.” Has anyone else experienced this? Just wondering if this is normal or if there might be an issue.

 

[Amma Usman]

if you get an AC invite during one of the days of your vac scheme, is it worth calling in sick for one day to attend the AC for a final round tc? @Jessica Booker

As Jess said, unless you have no passion to secure a TC with your VS firm, then this is not advisable. I had once gotten two ACs during a VS, but turned them down because my interest in training at the firm I was doing a VS at, was greater. Ultimately, communication is key, as well as balancing your interests.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey everyone, I just did the Hogan Lovells WG practice before the real one and got: Total Score 62%, Evaluating Arguments 100%, Recognising Assumptions 50%, Drawing Conclusions 54% (for the practice) before doing some notes to see where I had gone wrong so I could do better on the real one. I have never practiced before but I am so adamant that I will get a TC in the next intake so I am really trying. Does anyone know if these scores are good and perhaps any tips for the recognising assumptions and drawing conclusions?

It’s so lovely that you’re practicing from now. There’s a course on TCLA which goes through the WG that should help.

I’ve linked below:

The Corporate Law Academy

Browse the The Corporate Law Academy product catalog to explore and discover available products.

classes.thecorporatelawacademy.com

In terms of the scores, passing thresholds differ between cycles, so it’s unlikely to say anything definitive on this.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Here is an example of a trainee who was banned from the profession for lying about her reason for absence.

It is dishonest, which is a bar to working in the law:

Stephanie Merrill - 7008990

Control of non-qualified staff (section 43/99 order)

www.sra.org.uk

It was the subsequent doubling down on lying and faking documents that banned this individual. She was also caught out on the lie because her court case was in the public domain, something that wouldn’t be available if you were interviewing.

Pretty much every lawyer who has gone for an interview whilst working would be banned if this was something that happened all the time. Everyone in a long-term job lies about why they need time off to attend an interview while working, usually citing some form of other appointment like a doctors or dentist rather than calling in sick, and makes time up outside of working hours to do these things. However, some people take annual leave, especially if they are interviewing a lot. But they still lie about why they are having the time off.

The vacation scheme dynamic is slightly different given the short period of time you are with the firm, the inability to make time up in the same way you might be able to do in a long-term job (especially if you need a full day off for an AC) and because you are trying to convert. Firms are not stupid and know it is interview season too. That’s why it’s better to be upfront about why you’d need the time off rather than lying.

Firms can decline you having time off to attend an interview if you do request it though (like they could decline any request to have time off).

 

[ashwright]

Hi guys! Hope you're all enjoying a nice sunny Monday
Just a quick question on application strategies in general. In anticipation of the upcoming cycle, I'm hoping to create an 'application strategy' for myself. The TCLA's 8-week service looks fantastic but it's a bit out of my means atm sadly, so I'm hoping to DIY it for the moment.

Does anyone have any key post/resource recommendations that can guide me in building an application strategy? I've got Andrei's fantastic "A Guide to Building a Winning Application Strategy" as my North Star but wanted to check whether there are any other similar posts I can rely upon.
Any thoughts on how many apps are sensible to make, how to decide which firm to apply to etc. are very much welcomed

Thank you in advance!
(cc'ing the Avengers: @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu)