TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[lawelmo]

Weightmans PFO

 

[hopefulforatc]

I want to change the location of my training contract to London. What could be a good reason?

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

I want to change the location of my training contract to London. What could be a good reason?

It is unlikely that a firm can accommodate this. They very much frown upon people applying to a regional office believing it to be an easier application route to try to switch to London once an offer is through.

 

[radssss]

I want to change the location of my training contract to London. What could be a good reason?

I don’t think firms will accommodate this whatever may be the reason . It is usually looked down upon so I recommend sticking to the regional office

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I want to change the location of my training contract to London. What could be a good reason?

Feel free to PM me about this. I'd stress most won't move you, either because it is a standard policy not too (too many people have tried this before) or because they won't have a vacancy for you to move into.

Ultimately you will need very legitimate reasons for requesting the change, and even then, be prepared for the firm to say no.

 

[Tintin06]

Anyone heard from K&S?

“Assessment centres are planned to run in March/April 2025, with final panel interviews planned for April/May 2025.” We should hear from them soon.

 

[DarrenB]

I don’t think they’ll tell you. It could change last minute too. So probably not worth telling people.

Thank you!

 

[RS Sanjanaa]

has anybody heard back from CRS post VI for the direct TC yet? I received a mail yest from them saying they are reviewing the vi now for dtc

 

[gazdgazd11]

has anybody heard back from CRS post VI for the direct TC yet? I received a mail yest from them saying they are reviewing the vi now for dtc

They said a couple
Weeks

 

[Law queries]

Has CRS sent all the VI invites for London office? I still havent heard from them - rejection or acceptance

 

[A worried paralegal]

It is unlikely that a firm can accommodate this. They very much frown upon people applying to a regional office believing it to be an easier application route to try to switch to London once an offer is through.

Funnily enough it tends to be the opposite, such as for example with Hogan Lovells' 40 TC places, 38 go to London and 2 to Birmingham

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Funnily enough it tends to be the opposite, such as for example with Hogan Lovells' 40 TC places, 38 go to London and 2 to Birmingham

I think you have missed my point. Those London places will have always been London places.

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

I am unsure why a wow face has been given to my comment . For the avoidance of any confusion I meant that usually if you apply for a regional place they aren't able to switch to London and indeed it is generally discouraged. Firms do not like people applying to regional offices in the hope they can change to London. The example that the poster gave didn't address a switch merely that HL have 38 London spaces but only 2 Birmingham spaces. This does not indicate that switches were made after offers of TCs were made and most likely is indicative of the spaces they had available for each office.

 

[Legallyunobliged]

Completed Hogan Lovells WG Feb 13 - still no feedback! Anyone else?

 

[A worried paralegal]

I think you have missed my point. Those London places will have always been London places.

I don't think HL London gets 19 times more applicants though.

I meant the opposite with regards to it being harder not easier to go for regional offices.

 

[BillSikes]

Anything from Winckworth Sherwood?

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

I don't think HL London gets 19 times more applicants though.

I meant the opposite with regards to it being harder not easier to go for regional offices.

Yes I think candidates mistakenly think it may be easier and on occasion it may be because there may indeed be fewer better candidates applying depending which office. Also I know some regional firms look for ties to that region as part of their criteria when assessing applications. This is because they dont want people to train with them and then go off elsewhere as soon as they qualify having invested heavily in them. This was explained to me by a partner at a regional firm I did an insight week at. So having been accepted because of having ties to the region then asking to be switched after TC offer to London which would have different salary, and maintenance grants etc it would not be considered by that firm and he said by most firms.

Also they will have assessed the regional applicants against each other and it may be that there were better London applicants who didn't get offers because they were judged against other London applicants so it would not be fair.

 

[Anissa]

Has anyone heard back from Curtis at all ?

 

[A worried paralegal]

Yes I think candidates mistakenly think it may be easier and on occasion it may be because there may indeed be fewer better candidates applying depending which office. Also I know some regional firms look for ties to that region as part of their criteria when assessing applications. This is because they dont want people to train with them and then go off elsewhere as soon as they qualify having invested heavily in them. This was explained to me by a partner at a regional firm I did an insight week at. So having been accepted because of having ties to the region then asking to be switched after TC offer to London which would have different salary, and maintenance grants etc it would not be considered by that firm and he said by most firms.

Also they will have assessed the regional applicants against each other and it may be that there were better London applicants who didn't get offers because they were judged against other London applicants so it would not be fair.

On the reverse side, does this mean that as someone based in the regions, I will have a higher chance of succeeding if I go for firms HQed near where I am as opposed to London offices or regional firms based elsewhere?

 

[radssss]

On the reverse side, does this mean that as someone based in the regions, I will have a higher chance of succeeding if I go for firms HQed near where I am as opposed to London offices or regional firms based elsewhere?

Tbh, it’s my first tc cycle so I’m trying to only concentrate and only applying to firms’ london offices as I would see myself there long term but @3000to1shoteverytime is right, I had done a one year placement at an international law firm in my third year and was told the same by the emerging talent team.

If I am unsuccessful in this cycle I would apply to a mix of regional and london offices of firms (linking would be the difficult part for me as I’m an international and the only link I can show is that I went to warwick uni which is very close to Birmingham and I like the city/spend a lot of time in the city but nothing else😂)because london may be more competitive and there may be stronger and a lot more candidates applying to the london office which can make a candidate unsuccessful for the london office but may get an offer from a regional office with that same application/ ac performance. Also worth noting that for some firms, regional office may be more competitive or as competitive as the london office so I’d try to manage my applications accordingly, i.e., in such cases apply to the london office and where I think competition may be a bit less for a regional office, I’d try to apply for the regional office tc. This is ofc subjective to each person (Again, these are just my thoughts in relation to what I am writing in the second half)