TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[TortillaTC]

Has anyone sent in their application for Reed Smith's Direct Training Contract and heard anything from them?
Also, is this the first time that RS has opened a Direct TC route?

What have people heard back from Reed Smith? Are they likely to progress applicants well ahead of the deadline?

 

[Waystar_Royc0]

Hi! Has anyone had problems to submit their Haynes Boone application?

 

[amrita6399]

What have people heard back from Reed Smith? Are they likely to progress applicants well ahead of the deadline?

I read on their website that they recruit on a rolling basis and Candidates will be assessed and may be moved on to our online assessment stage and invited to an Assessment Centre whilst applications are still being accepted.
Link: https://www.reedsmith.com/en/careers/general/uk-faqs

 

[lapapapapo]

Fried Frank interview invite post WG! 😅​

Congratulations mate! Can anyone confirm if we didn't receive an invite its an FF rejection? Thanks.

 

[Tintin06]

Has anyone sent in their application for Reed Smith's Direct Training Contract and heard anything from them?
Also, is this the first time that RS has opened a Direct TC route?

Nothing yet and yes it is. They only opened two weeks ago. Most apps will go in later. Interested to see how many though. Since it’s their first direct TC. I’m hoping for less competition honestly!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker, if you don't mind me piggybacking off from this enquiry. I am in a similar situation. Both of my offers (TC and VS) do not have terms that prohibit me from doing the VS. I very much would prefer the firm I am doing the VS with, and it is financially difficult to drop out since they have sponsored a lot of my costs already. I do not think I will be financially tied to the firm that offered me the TC, since I have completed my SQE.

The acceptance deadline is this Friday, and my VS starts two weeks later. I don't think there is any way I could drag my deadline out. Could I accept the TC, do the VS, and renege on the TC if I get a return offer from the VS? Is this standard practice and acceptable (e.g., no SRA code of conduct issues)? I can't help but feel really anxious about this.

Many thanks in advance!

If there are no terms in either offer, then yes, you can.

The SRA has no code of conduct concerning this.

 

[yk123489]

Hi!

While I'm finishing up applications to a few remaining firms, I’d love to make good use of the summertime to strengthen my finance knowledge. I'm really interested in transactional law, and while I feel quite confident with M&A contracts, I’d like to deepen my understanding of basic finance concepts to better grasp the commercial side of deals.

Does anyone have a book (or two) they’d recommend for building a solid foundation in finance, ideally something approachable for someone with a legal background?

Thanks a lot

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi!

While I'm finishing up applications to a few remaining firms, I’d love to make good use of the summertime to strengthen my finance knowledge. I'm really interested in transactional law, and while I feel quite confident with M&A contracts, I’d like to deepen my understanding of basic finance concepts to better grasp the commercial side of deals.

Does anyone have a book (or two) they’d recommend for building a solid foundation in finance, ideally something approachable for someone with a legal background?

Thanks a lot

Hi @yk123489 I would recommend the TCLA book for Finance (which you can find here) and the associated finance and capital markets course (which you can access here).

 

[sameers1603]

Fried Frank interview invite post WG! 😅​

What a turnaround! Will your interview be on the 10th?

 

[yuk0n]

Interviews take place between the 10th and 23rd of June. Mine won’t be on the 10th, that’s way too soon for me lmao. I think a few people heard from Fried Frank today post WG. 🙂

To my knowledge, they are inviting 35 people to the first stage interview. I suspect there were around 700 applicants, 70 got a WG invite and the top scoring 35 got invited to interview. 🥲​

Out of curiosity, how do you know about the 70 people getting a WG/top scoring 35 getting an interview?

 

[legal18]

Out of curiosity, how do you know about the 70 people getting a WG/top scoring 35 getting an interview?

I think they were just speculating with the numbers 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[yuk0n]

I think they were just speculating with the numbers 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ohh fair enough, just wondering haha.

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi everyone, what’s the best practice on paralegal applications submitted via online forms - is it recommended to attach a cover letter too if it’s optional or just a cv can suffice? Many firms require a cv but leave a separate box for cover letters too. I want to submit quality applications but I find it very time-consuming to write whole letters per firm just for a paralegal job on top of TC apps😭

 

[mcqueens]

hi, has anyone applied to the TLT DTC or have any insight into the process? I know they also had vac schemes so not sure if theyre really even recruiting for the direct route.

 

[James Wakefield]

Fried Frank Interview! 😅

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi everyone, what’s the best practice on paralegal applications submitted via online forms - is it recommended to attach a cover letter too if it’s optional or just a cv can suffice? Many firms require a cv but leave a separate box for cover letters too. I want to submit quality applications but I find it very time-consuming to write whole letters per firm just for a paralegal job on top of TC apps😭

If you have a strong profile that aligns with the job (e.g. you have strong Real Estate experience and you are applying for a Real Estate paralegal role), you can probably afford to aim off on the cover letters as your CV will do the heavy lifting.

However, if you have no experience or alignment with the department/area of law then a cover letter would be useful.

I would be selective and draft cover letters for the opportunities you are most interested in - prioritise them and put effort into them. For those that are less of a priority, maybe spend less time on your cover letters or don't submit one at all.

 

[LoveAspireLAW]

Does anyone know what is meant by 'commercial exercise with two associates' for the Fried Frank 1st stage interview?

 

[Tintin06]

Does anyone know what is meant by 'commercial exercise with two associates' for the Fried Frank 1st stage interview?

Typically they are M&A exercises, IIRC. I'd suggest Chris Stoakes' 'Commercial Awareness'. That book helped me no end. Lots of guidance on YouTube too. Idin's channel is very helpful here. Getting their interview is very impressive.

 

[B101]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst post-first stage interview?

 

[yuk0n]

Fried Frank Interview! 😅

Does anyone know what is meant by 'commercial exercise with two associates' for the Fried Frank 1st stage interview?

Do you guys mind me asking if you heard back today or yesterday? Just wondering if I'm screwed haha😅