Anyone heard back from the government legal department?
-
📅 Vacation Scheme & Open Day Applications 2025–26
Planning to apply for vacation schemes, open days or insight schemes? Join our dedicated threads for support, deadlines, and discussion:
-
2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
Includes winter, spring and summer deadlines + a handy rolling/non-rolling checklist. -
2025–26 Open Day & Insight Scheme Deadlines
Comprehensive list of open day and insight scheme application deadlines across top law firms. -
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread
Ask questions, share tips, and support each other through the application cycle.
Let’s make this your strongest application season yet 💼
Looking for personal help to secure a training contract this year? Check out the new TCLA Premium →
-
2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
- Thread starter TCLA Community Assistant
- Start date
I have a couple questions, feel free to answer either of them. (I have just graduated with 65% LLB from top RG, Non-London uni)
1. If I've received a TC offer now, but the earliest they will let me start is September 2027, would I be able to accept the TC offer, not start the SQE for a year, and carry on applying to other firms given I haven't accepted any money from the firm yet? I did a vac scheme with the firm and really enjoyed it, they pay over 100k nq, but I feel inclined to go for the 'elite' firms.
2. This was my first application cycle so I wasn't too sure what I wanted. Now I've realised I want to try my hand at applications for US firms/MC. Would a masters in Corporate Law at UCL significantly aid applications, or is it pointless?
1. If I've received a TC offer now, but the earliest they will let me start is September 2027, would I be able to accept the TC offer, not start the SQE for a year, and carry on applying to other firms given I haven't accepted any money from the firm yet? I did a vac scheme with the firm and really enjoyed it, they pay over 100k nq, but I feel inclined to go for the 'elite' firms.
2. This was my first application cycle so I wasn't too sure what I wanted. Now I've realised I want to try my hand at applications for US firms/MC. Would a masters in Corporate Law at UCL significantly aid applications, or is it pointless?
Hey, I'm so sorry you feel that way - you put so much effort into every application, so it makes sense to feel disheartened if you don't get your desired outcome. As others have already said, some people have had to go through so many application cycles to get an offer. But let me give you also my view on this.
1. Getting a training contract or not says nothing about who you are, let alone how skilled you are or how much you are worth. I don't mean to diminish the achievements of anyone who has secured a training contract in saying this, but law is simply what you do - it's not who you are. Not getting an offer doesn't mean you don't have all the skills it takes to be a great lawyer - don't forget that grad recruiters just see a snapshot of who you are, and they are human too with their own biases and beliefs. Just because they haven't seen your potential so far, doesn't mean you don't possess it. If you get rejected by a firm just say "okay, they didn't see my potential, that's their loss" and then think "is there anything I can do to better reflect my fit in future applications?"
2. I can understand what you're saying about that odd feeling when you see your juniors succeeding in the process. For context, I finished my law degree in 2023, did a masters in management, and have been working at one of the US banks ever since. I sometimes find myself in that strange feeling of "oh, I'm up against second year uni students....". It's only my first proper application cycle (have only had finance/consulting professional experience so far), but I already know that I'll have to fight these types of thoughts if I face rejections. What I'd remind you - as I'll have to remind myself - is that everyone is on their own timeline and you're not competing or trying to keep up with anyone. From the looks of things, we'll be (sadly) working till our late 60s, maybe even 70s (!!!). You're not running out of time - you're just on your own path.
3. Law isn't the only option - I'm not saying this to discourage you, and I'm not trying to implicitly tell you to give up on law. But the way I see it (admittedly as an outsider for the most part), the application process is so unnecessarily long and complicated because of the sheer volume of applications, the hours are incredibly long, and the work isn't always as important or meaningful. I always keep in mind these negatives to avoid romanticising or obsessing over becoming a lawyer - it's just a job, it's not an ideal job in any way, and if I don't get it there are so many other options. I'll sometimes tell myself "huh, am I really begging these people to give me the chance to be worked to the bone?"
Sometimes we think we want something until we do it and then realise it's not how we imagined it. Now, you might still say "okay, but I still want to be a lawyer", and that's fine - that's where I stand at the moment too. But try and avoid romanticising or idealising the legal career, and that will hopefully help you consider alternative career options and put less pressure on you to succeed in law applications. I was told by someone once that you should try and "maximise your luck surface area" (because there is inevitably some luck involved in all this, I think) - don't put all your eggs in the law basket since there's so many other options out there, and remember that the law basket isn't necessarily the best one out there. I acknowledge of course that I'm saying this from the rather privileged point of working in a well-paid finance job, and you might have different pressures to get a job.
4. You can be proud of the process even if the outcome doesn't follow - even if you don't get an offer, still have pride in the fact you put effort into an application and made it as far as you did in an application process (even if you didn't make it past the application round). Applications take time, and you put in the time to give it your best shot. So be proud of yourself for putting in the work, irrespective of what happens.
I hope some of this helps
Last edited:
beautiful messageHey, I'm so sorry you feel that way - you put so much effort into every application, so it makes sense to feel disheartened if you don't get your desired outcome. As others have already said, some people have had to go through so many application cycles to get an offer. But let me give you also my view on this.
1. Getting a training contract or not says nothing about who you are, let alone how skilled you are or how much you are worth. I don't mean to diminish the achievements of anyone who has secured a training contract in saying this, but law is simply what you do - it's not who you are. Not getting an offer doesn't mean you don't have all the skills it takes to be a great lawyer - don't forget that grad recruiters just see a snapshot of who you are, and they are human too with their own biases and beliefs. Just because they haven't seen your potential so far, doesn't mean you don't possess it. If you get rejected by a firm just say "okay, they didn't see my potential, that's their loss" and then think "is there anything I can do to better reflect my fit in future applications?"
2. I can understand what you're saying about that odd feeling when you see your juniors succeeding in the process. For context, I finished my law degree in 2019, did a masters in management, and have been working at one of the US banks ever since. I sometimes find myself in that strange feeling of "oh, I'm up against second year uni students....". It's only my first proper application cycle (have only had finance/consulting professional experience so far), but I already know that I'll have to fight these types of thoughts if I face rejections. What I'd remind you - as I'll have to remind myself - is that everyone is on their own timeline and you're not competing or trying to keep up with anyone. From the looks of things, we'll be (sadly) working till our late 60s, maybe even 70s (!!!). You're not running out of time - you're just on your own path.
3. Law isn't the only option - I'm not saying this to discourage you, and I'm not trying to implicitly tell you to give up on law. But the way I see it (admittedly as an outsider for the most part), the application process is so unnecessarily long and complicated because of the sheer volume of applications, the hours are incredibly long, and the work isn't always as important or meaningful. I always keep in mind these negatives to avoid romanticising or obsessing over becoming a lawyer - it's just a job, it's not an ideal job in any way, and if I don't get it there are so many other options. I'll sometimes tell myself "huh, am I really begging these people to give me the chance to be worked to the bone?"
Sometimes we think we want something until we do it and then realise it's not how we imagined it. Now, you might still say "okay, but I still want to be a lawyer", and that's fine - that's where I stand at the moment too. But try and avoid romanticising or idealising the legal career, and that will hopefully help you consider alternative career options and put less pressure on you to succeed in law applications. I was told by someone once that you should try and "maximise your luck surface area" (because there is inevitably some luck involved in all this, I think) - don't put all your eggs in the law basket since there's so many other options out there, and remember that the law basket isn't necessarily the best one out there. I acknowledge of course that I'm saying this from the rather privileged point of working in a well-paid finance job, and you might have different pressures to get a job.
4. You can be proud of the process even if the outcome doesn't follow - even if you don't get an offer, still have pride in the fact you put effort into an application and made it as far as you did in an application process (even if you didn't make it past the application round). Applications take time, and you put in the time to give it your best shot. So be proud of yourself for putting in the work, irrespective of what happens.
I hope some of this helps
I received a "your VI was not good enough" PFO at 14:05 and a second "PFO some more" at 14:26 (no idea why the double).
1. you should ask questions prior to accepting the offer, but ultimately do accept the offer regardless. Try and say you want to take a gap year to go travelling or something. OTOH doing SQE now does open a small possibility they move you forward a year. If you accept money and tuition then worst case is you pay it back.
2. No it's pointless.
Hi everyone, I have an interview with Perkins Coie coming up, if anyone has done it can you dm me pls? Would be great to get some insight, thank you
Government Legal Profession AC!!!
My first law AC so would appreciate any advice from anyone, especially if you have attended the government AC before.
My first law AC so would appreciate any advice from anyone, especially if you have attended the government AC before.
Just received an AC invite for the GLP legal trainee scheme!!
Congrats 🥳
Hi, does anyone know how long it should usually take after the TC offer call to receive the formal offer letter email? I've been told over the phone that time frames are very tight; SQE course enrolment starts in August and they need me in London by September, so I'll need to find a flat before then and be settled.
Congrats! I got one too
Likewise, any advice would be appreciated!
Are there any resources or practice sites that I can use for the Watson Glaser? Additionally, what is a good score in the WG?
Plenty of practice questions (and answers) at Assessment Day
Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal | AssessmentDay
Free Watson Glaser Critical Thinking tests to practice online. Discover tips and advice for critical thinking tests.
www.assessmentday.co.uk
- Feb 17, 2018
- 4,815
- 8,971
@Ram Sabaratnam and I are working on a tool to help as we speak
Will share it here when it goes live!
- Sep 7, 2024
- 608
- 1,374
Hiya @Poppypops124
First of all, congratulations on both offers! That's no small feat!
I don’t think there’s a universally right answer here. As you've indicated yourself, both options have clear advantages. I think that if you’re considering this as a question of which firm is better, you’ll probably run into dead ends. It’s probably more useful to treat this as a question about what kind of training, lifestyle, and long-term options you want for yourself.
You’re absolutely right that training in London tends to carry weight. The complexity of the work, exposure to cross-border transactions, and the level of early responsibility found at US firms in London can be difficult to replicate elsewhere. This can potentially open up more options down the line, especially if you want to move into other international offices or later transition in-house (I've had friends train in London and then move to Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, and elsewhere). The reputation of firms in the London market is also hard to replicate from outside. That said, this definitely can come at a cost from a work-life balance standpoint, though it's difficult to make any assessment without further information about where the HSF office is located and what associates there think.
There's also the question of mobility. Having spoken to foreign-qualified friends of mine, my sense is that it’s generally easier to go from London to other jurisdictions than the other way around. Moving in the opposite direction is not impossible, but it may be more dependant on which practice areas you end up specialising in and whether London makes sense professionally later on in your career.
In terms of training, I've heard fantastic things about HSFK's offices abroad, including the possibility of getting exposure to a broad diet of work in certain offices outside London and that the training can be less siloed than the London offices of certain US firms. I'd recommend reaching out to someone you trust at both firms and have a frank discussion about what you're looking for in both the short and long-term (preferably someone who has trained and then qualified in both offices). I think they'll be in a much better position to help you make sense of the decision. But ultimately, this is going to boil down to how you want to prioritise intensity, exit options, training, and work-life balance culture. Not sure how much this helps, but good luck with the decision and congratulations again!
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Sticky
- Locked
- Locked
