TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
14,456
20,136
How do law firms view candidates who have been on state benefits such as JSA or universal credit?
They are unlikely to ever find this information out, unless you went out of your way to tell them. It wouldn't need to be something you disclosed in a recruitment process.
 
I am growing increasingly frustrated because I have been applying to law firms for several years and have not managed to land a training contract or paralegal position. I genuinely feel let down by the education system in order to improve my career prospects. I feel trapped because getting employment (even non-legal) is tough and I want to move out of my area.
 

A worried graduate

Legendary Member
Mar 25, 2024
165
77
I really am surprised by firms being off put from hiring someone for paralegal over commitment.

Firms always say they prefer applicants to have sat the SQE - but why would anyone put them selves through SQE to become a career paralegal?
They’re looking for internal TCs that they don’t have to fund.

SQE is even better as they can just keep them as a min wage paralegal and get an NQ
 

FRkit12

New Member
Feb 4, 2022
1
0
Still haven't heard anything from W&C post-application, do people think it's safe to assume that it's going to be a rejection given that people have been receiving VI invitations this week?
 

Thom&as

Active Member
Feb 27, 2024
13
15
Rejected by Slaughter and May for a direct TC post interview. Not ideal, especially since they are the firm that I have had the most experiences and interactions with, and this rejection essentially means they won't reinvite me to interviews on subsequent applications unless there's a significant difference in my application. Freshfields also rejected me without reaching the WG test even after I put a lot of effort into that application.

Been feeling a lot of self-doubt.

I'll probably apply to the A&O Shearman winter scheme next, does anyone know if it's a rolling application? Also would you still recommend applying when I have literally zero experiences with the firm?
 

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