TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! I have received a TC offer but have been waiting to hear back after a Kirkland AC last Monday. Is it worth asking for an expedited decision or could this have a negative impact on the AC outcome?

As it has been 8 working days since your AC, I would ask as to when you will hear back so you can manage a conversation with your existing offer.

This is then not asking for the process to be expedited but is making clear you have another offer.

And you can then manage the existing offer too by knowing when you will hear back.

 

[andrecsaa]

I need some advice.

I am an EU national but have a British partner with whom I live in the EU (my boyfriend is from England). I have a very strong CV, multiple years of legal experience, a lot of transactional work, good uni grades, very strong extra curriculars (founded two of the larger student clubs in my uni) and have an LLB and an LLM. I still somehow can’t get past the application stage. I have tweaked, peer reviewed, refined, you name it, but nothing.

This leads me to think that the visa could be the main issue? SO my question is, most law firms ask whether I have the right to work in the UK without restriction, which I currently don’t. My partner is able to sponsor me through the partner visa, if I say yes to the Q, that’s technically not true as we’d only apply for the partner visa and initiate the move to the UK contingent on me getting a TC offer. But if I say no the Q, then oftentimes I have no way of letting them know I could go the route of them not sponsoring me. What would you do?

I’m really sorry to hear about all the rejections, it’s a tough process, and I know it can be frustrating.

I’m not sure which firms you’re applying to, but every year, many candidates who require visa sponsorship secure training contracts, so I don’t think the visa is a major issue. MC / SC always select international applicants who require visa.

That said, it’s a highly competitive process, many trainees go through 4–5 cycles before receiving a TC offer.

I don’t know your specific circumstances, but if you’re not getting past the application stage and your drafting skills are strong, the issue might be your LLB grades (since an LLM doesn’t carry much weight for TC applications) or your performance on the WG/SJT tests. It could also be that the firms you’re applying to have limited capacity, so applying to more firms might help.

 

[bluescarf]

Has anyone done field fishers assessment - any advice what is it

Got rejected following test this morning so not going to give any advice on how - as to what, it's quite a bizarre test, clicking buttons based on instinctive answers about your working style / firm culture etc.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I need some advice.

I am an EU national but have a British partner with whom I live in the EU (my boyfriend is from England). I have a very strong CV, multiple years of legal experience, a lot of transactional work, good uni grades, very strong extra curriculars (founded two of the larger student clubs in my uni) and have an LLB and an LLM. I still somehow can’t get past the application stage. I have tweaked, peer reviewed, refined, you name it, but nothing.

This leads me to think that the visa could be the main issue? SO my question is, most law firms ask whether I have the right to work in the UK without restriction, which I currently don’t. My partner is able to sponsor me through the partner visa, if I say yes to the Q, that’s technically not true as we’d only apply for the partner visa and initiate the move to the UK contingent on me getting a TC offer. But if I say no the Q, then oftentimes I have no way of letting them know I could go the route of them not sponsoring me. What would you do?

I would make clear in your application form that you would apply for a spousal visa.

For the drop down menus, I would choose that you have the right to work as you would have it at the point you start the role, not right now.

 

[TC129129]

When did you receive invite if you don’t mind me asking? I still haven’t heard anything, wondering if that is just a PFO..

last week

 

[trainee4u]

Received Slaughters PFO @ 2pm.

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

Received Slaughters PFO @ 2pm.

I’m very sorry to hear that May I ask if this was post app or post interview ?

 

[trainee4u]

I’m very sorry to hear that May I ask if this was post app or post interview ?

post-app

 

[Mug Fan]

it appears they send them out about 48h after completing

Got mine. 2x average, 2x above, 1x below… not looking great! 😕

 

[norothrow324]

Got mine. 2x average, 2x above, 1x below… not looking great! 😕

yeah not sure how to interpret mine, 4 average, 1 above. the strengths seemed good tho but then again what do I know lol considering they have no app questions its a darts throw haha

 

[SamiyaJ]

Almost been 6 weeks since I did the VI for Goodwin.. I can’t wait anymore just PFO me already 😭😭😭😭

 

[norothrow324]

Email from NRF:

We wanted to take a moment to update you on our current recruitment plans. After careful consideration, we have decided not to open our direct training contract window this year. We appreciate your understanding and continued interest in our firm. Please keep an eye on our website for updates about our 2025/2026 application windows.

 

[Raspberry44]

Guys, really sad news but apparently NRF

Email from NRF:

We wanted to take a moment to update you on our current recruitment plans. After careful consideration, we have decided not to open our direct training contract window this year. We appreciate your understanding and continued interest in our firm. Please keep an eye on our website for updates about our 2025/2026 application windows.

I can’t describe how gutting that feels. It was up on the website?

 

[Chris Brown]

Guys, really sad news but apparently NRF

I can’t describe how gutting that feels. It was up on the website?

It might be that they recruited heavily from the WVS and will do the same from the upcoming SVS. After SVS they will have probably filled up almost all their TC spaces and so don’t feel it is necessary to have a DTC route this year. 😞​

 

[SamiyaJ]

How long does it take to complete the Mayer Brown assessment?

 

[trainee4u]

How long does it take to complete the Mayer Brown assessment?

about one hour.

 

[SamiyaJ]

about one hour.

Thank you!

 

[Zaidoz10]

Almost been 6 weeks since I did the VI for Goodwin.. I can’t wait anymore just PFO me already 😭😭😭😭

Submitted the app two months ago and still haven’t heard back. Love it here.

 

[Raspberry44]

It might be that they recruited heavily from the WVS and SVS and filled up almost all the spaces and so didn’t feel it was necessary to have a DTC route this year. 😞​

Yes I am sure they had their reasons. I think its a shame that grad recruitment still had the dates up and never responded to both of my emails.

This is the sort of stuff that reminds me how cutthroat- and to be frank, humbling it is to apply for TCs. I mean here we are working like dogs day and night trying to achieve this one thing with a high chance that your interests, your concerns, your drive, your ability...might never be acknowledged? You can put your whole soul into this thing but at the end of the day there is no guarantee you'll get it. Heck there's no guarantee you might get a response from a query.

Nonetheless, there are still other applications open, and of course NRF is still there next year but - I just wanted to bring light on how disappointing these news were.

Stay strong to all the aspiring solicitors out there, and just know we're all gonna be a bunch of strong characters after this!

 

[Joey green]

My friend told me he received a PFO from PW less than 10 minutes ago so I suspect there are more to follow soon