TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker, just to confirm if you havent started any onboarding process with a Firm, it will still be possible to renege?

You can renege at any point really.

It’s just you really want to do this before you are taking any form of support from the firm, including the onboarding processes for a GDL/SQE course.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

weird question but what do applicants carry for an AC? i know that no laptop/water bottles/stationery is needed but turning up without a backpack kinda makes it look like we're not really keen on the opportunity haha. as you can tell by the question, clearly it's my first ac

Hiya @futuretraineesolicitor

Great job on getting to your first AC! There’s definitely nothing wrong with not bringing anything to the assessment centre if you haven’t been asked to. In my experience, almost everything you’ll need will be provided on the day (e.g. notepads, pens, water, and anything required for specific exercises). The key thing is to follow any instructions given to you. No one will think you’re any less keen if you turn up without a backpack or bag. Best of luck with the AC!

 

[floleaf]

Has anyone heard back from Orrick?

 

[trainee4u]

Anyone heard from Arnold & Porter or Simkins?

received simkins PFO today.

 

[jy1041405]

I have a question and if anyone knows please give me a piece of advice!

I have been struggling to find a paralegal job and finally I’ve recently interviewed for a paralegal role at a small local criminal defence law firm.

One of the questions was how serious I am about getting into criminal law and although it is definitely one of my interests, it is not IT for me, just yet. I have interests in other areas of law - and ideally, I would like to work in a city law firm eventually.

Which makes me think that how helpful is this experience gonna be for me to get into a city law firm (as a paralegal or TC)?
Would this make me look a bit indecisive as I have a career in a different industry and then a criminal law paralegal and then a city law firm?

I don’t want to waste their time and money to train me up as a criminal law paralegal… I feel like I am overthinking this (without a job offer from them lol) but please share your insight on this! I am not young so I would like to make smart choices 😭

 

[kokoprep]

the worst part about this cycle has been getting to 3 ACs but not being able to attend 2 of them because they wouldnt give a virtual alternative to the AC even if I lived in a different country :/

hey would you mind sharing the name of the firms, just to keep in mind while applying as a person living outside of the UK

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

hey would you mind sharing the name of the firms, just to keep in mind while applying as a person living outside of the UK

in my experience, bakers is one of them, i requested for a remote ac but they refused (direct tc)

 

[legallady123]

received simkins PFO today.

I have a question and if anyone knows please give me a piece of advice!

I have been struggling to find a paralegal job and finally I’ve recently interviewed for a paralegal role at a small local criminal defence law firm.

One of the questions was how serious I am about getting into criminal law and although it is definitely one of my interests, it is not IT for me, just yet. I have interests in other areas of law - and ideally, I would like to work in a city law firm eventually.

Which makes me think that how helpful is this experience gonna be for me to get into a city law firm (as a paralegal or TC)?
Would this make me look a bit indecisive as I have a career in a different industry and then a criminal law paralegal and then a city law firm?

I don’t want to waste their time and money to train me up as a criminal law paralegal… I feel like I am overthinking this (without a job offer from them lol) but please share your insight on this! I am not young so I would like to make smart choices 😭

First of all, congrats on your interview!

I received a TC offer at a large commercial firm only with previous public inquiry and immigration paralegal experience. I work in medical law now and for various reasons I am now applying to other TCs, and am struggling with sounding commercially focused in any of my answers.

I think you will gain transferable skills you can definitely write about in applications which helps, and law firms often recruit career changers. However, I personally think I may have had better luck this year with applications if I had recently worked in more commercially focused areas as a paralegal. I also graduated in 2021, so feel like I can’t really write about being in the commercial law society etc at university as part of my motivation now.

I think any legal experience is good experience, but I just wanted to offer my perspective as someone in a fairly similar position 😊

 

[kokoprep]

in my experience, bakers is one of them, i requested for a remote ac but they refused (direct tc)

In your experience which firms have offered you a virtual Acs?

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

In your experience which firms have offered you a virtual Acs?

ive only gotten one - bakers.

 

[Tintin06]

Six recruiters view your Linked profile
Three people at White & Case view it.
I didn’t say her name but Molly Hill popped into your head, didn’t she?

 

[wantatc]

Wiggin and Simkin PFO!

 

[User5678]

Has anyone heard back from Sharpe Pritchard post WGT?

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

has anyone heard from king & spalding post-panel interview yet? or knows anyone that has?

 

[lelezb1]

Has anyone heard back from Sharpe Pritchard post WGT?

I heard back yesterday with an invitation for an interview and a short written test.
I would appreciate any insights, as this is my first ever AC invite, and I do not have much time to prepare for it.
@Jessica Booker

 

[jy1041405]

First of all, congrats on your interview!

I received a TC offer at a large commercial firm only with previous public inquiry and immigration paralegal experience. I work in medical law now and for various reasons I am now applying to other TCs, and am struggling with sounding commercially focused in any of my answers.

I think you will gain transferable skills you can definitely write about in applications which helps, and law firms often recruit career changers. However, I personally think I may have had better luck this year with applications if I had recently worked in more commercially focused areas as a paralegal. I also graduated in 2021, so feel like I can’t really write about being in the commercial law society etc at university as part of my motivation now.

I think any legal experience is good experience, but I just wanted to offer my perspective as someone in a fairly similar position 😊

Thank you for your insight! Really appreciate it

@Jessica Booker could you share your thoughts on this or could I pm you to ask some questions? I don’t really have anyone who works in the industry so any advice is so much appreciated! Thank you xx

 

[TortillaTC]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith for the direct TC post written application?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you for your insight! Really appreciate it

@Jessica Booker could you share your thoughts on this or could I pm you to ask some questions? I don’t really have anyone who works in the industry so any advice is so much appreciated! Thank you xx

I personally wouldn't worry too much about an employer having to train you up for a paralegal role. Companies consider attrition rates when hiring, especially for positions like Paralegal, which tend to have higher turnover.

If the role is something right for you in terms of the opportunity right now (compared to other options you have), you should go for it. It is not an issue if the role is in another area of law. It is likely to develop some transferable skills and knowledge. If you receive the job offer, just about how you can show your interest in a business-focused career through activities like events, virtual work experiences, and extracurriculars.

That said, if you feel the role is not right for you and you would prefer to wait until you find something more suited to your interests, that is fine too. But generally any employment will bring something to your application and so I think you just have to weigh it up alongside the other job opportunities you are in the mix for/considering.

 

[James Wakefield]

Life at Mayer Brown test invite! 😅

They kept me waiting!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker I was wondering, do firms typically offer more than the number of TCs on offer as some candidates may reject them. Typically how much would this be by as well (as a percentage). I’ve got a direct TC AC coming up and there’s supposed to be rough 10 spots available

There is no set approach to this.

Some firms will only offer the number of people they have positions for and then wait to see if they get any declined offers. Then they will reassess whether they need to make other offers. Some might not make enough offers initially, especially if they feel they lack suitable candidates.

Sometimes firms with larger intake numbers might over-offer knowing that it's more likely some people will decline. However, if there are only ten roles, I would generally expect a firm to only make ten offers and then reassess as needed. The exception would be if the firm has always had a high decline percentage.

As its going to be impossible to know (and really it could change even based on how their ACs pan out), I'd try not to worry or think about this.