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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
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It can be disheartening and I made far more applications than they generally say but at the end I got a TC offer. Not only that one at a really good firm.
There was a forum member who just got an offer on their 7th cycle!
Hang on in there.
I have no advice but feel the same way… hang in there hopefully something works out soon!!
for those who got TC offers post vacation scheme from white & case (winter and spring), how long did you wait?
Is it possible to secure a tc through a dtc route with no vacation scheme and just mini pupillage experience, or should my focus be vacation schemes. Any advice would be appreciated
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @trainee4u
If you applied for the summer vacation scheme during this cycle in February, you unfortunately won't be able to apply for the direct training contract application which closes at the end of this month (you would in effect be making two applications in the same cycle). You can make an application during the new cycle in September and your previous SJT results won't make you ineligible.
- Sep 7, 2024
- 534
- 1,175
Hiya @Hanzeeb,
Yes, it is possible to secure a training contract through the direct TC route without having done a vacation scheme. While it’s less common (many firms do recruit primarily through their schemes or expect candidates to have some vacation scheme experience), there are absolutely people who’ve succeeded this way. I've seen people on this forum secure TCs without any vacation scheme experience. Again, what matters most is your ability to draw convincingly on your experiences to date (whether that’s mini pupillage, part-time jobs, volunteering, or anything else) to show that you understand the firm you're applying to and what they do; you have strong commercial awareness; and you’ve started to develop the skills needed to be a strong trainee.
If you’re eligible, I’d still encourage you to apply for vacation schemes where possible, as they’re often the most direct route to a TC. But you can absolutely apply for a direct TC with mini pupillage experience, and you'll likely get past the initial stage if you've prepared a thoughtful and well-prepared application.
- Sep 7, 2024
- 534
- 1,175
Hiya @whywhy88
While you could resubmit the same application, I'd encourage you to try and update the statement even slightly. Most firms expect applicants to show that they’ve developed their thinking or deepened their understanding of the firm and its work since their last application. That said, you can keep your core motivations, especially if those are still genuine and well thought-through. But it’s worth refining how you express them. Think about any new experiences you’ve had since last cycle (legal or otherwise), and also take a critical look at your writing style (e.g. could anything be clearer, punchier, or more specific)? The aim isn’t to throw out a statement you’re proud of, but to build on it further. So yes, feel free to reuse the main points, but I'd encourage you to see if you develop or sharpen certain areas further. Good luck!
I'm applying for Hogan Lovells' Direct TC and finding it difficult to research information their UK-specific practices, sectors and deals. Their website tends to present their work on a global scale, often combining US and EU experience, which makes it hard to pinpoint what's actually driven from their London office.
I've looked at Chambers and Legal 500 for more UK-focused insights, but I still feel like I'm missing detail about their key practice strengths and recent matters in London.
Does anyone have tips on how best to approach this or where to find more targeted info on their UK work?
I've looked at Chambers and Legal 500 for more UK-focused insights, but I still feel like I'm missing detail about their key practice strengths and recent matters in London.
Does anyone have tips on how best to approach this or where to find more targeted info on their UK work?
Anyone heard back from the government legal department?
I have a couple questions, feel free to answer either of them. (I have just graduated with 65% LLB from top RG, Non-London uni)
1. If I've received a TC offer now, but the earliest they will let me start is September 2027, would I be able to accept the TC offer, not start the SQE for a year, and carry on applying to other firms given I haven't accepted any money from the firm yet? I did a vac scheme with the firm and really enjoyed it, they pay over 100k nq, but I feel inclined to go for the 'elite' firms.
2. This was my first application cycle so I wasn't too sure what I wanted. Now I've realised I want to try my hand at applications for US firms/MC. Would a masters in Corporate Law at UCL significantly aid applications, or is it pointless?
1. If I've received a TC offer now, but the earliest they will let me start is September 2027, would I be able to accept the TC offer, not start the SQE for a year, and carry on applying to other firms given I haven't accepted any money from the firm yet? I did a vac scheme with the firm and really enjoyed it, they pay over 100k nq, but I feel inclined to go for the 'elite' firms.
2. This was my first application cycle so I wasn't too sure what I wanted. Now I've realised I want to try my hand at applications for US firms/MC. Would a masters in Corporate Law at UCL significantly aid applications, or is it pointless?
Hey, I'm so sorry you feel that way - you put so much effort into every application, so it makes sense to feel disheartened if you don't get your desired outcome. As others have already said, some people have had to go through so many application cycles to get an offer. But let me give you also my view on this.
1. Getting a training contract or not says nothing about who you are, let alone how skilled you are or how much you are worth. I don't mean to diminish the achievements of anyone who has secured a training contract in saying this, but law is simply what you do - it's not who you are. Not getting an offer doesn't mean you don't have all the skills it takes to be a great lawyer - don't forget that grad recruiters just see a snapshot of who you are, and they are human too with their own biases and beliefs. Just because they haven't seen your potential so far, doesn't mean you don't possess it. If you get rejected by a firm just say "okay, they didn't see my potential, that's their loss" and then think "is there anything I can do to better reflect my fit in future applications?"
2. I can understand what you're saying about that odd feeling when you see your juniors succeeding in the process. For context, I finished my law degree in 2023, did a masters in management, and have been working at one of the US banks ever since. I sometimes find myself in that strange feeling of "oh, I'm up against second year uni students....". It's only my first proper application cycle (have only had finance/consulting professional experience so far), but I already know that I'll have to fight these types of thoughts if I face rejections. What I'd remind you - as I'll have to remind myself - is that everyone is on their own timeline and you're not competing or trying to keep up with anyone. From the looks of things, we'll be (sadly) working till our late 60s, maybe even 70s (!!!). You're not running out of time - you're just on your own path.
3. Law isn't the only option - I'm not saying this to discourage you, and I'm not trying to implicitly tell you to give up on law. But the way I see it (admittedly as an outsider for the most part), the application process is so unnecessarily long and complicated because of the sheer volume of applications, the hours are incredibly long, and the work isn't always as important or meaningful. I always keep in mind these negatives to avoid romanticising or obsessing over becoming a lawyer - it's just a job, it's not an ideal job in any way, and if I don't get it there are so many other options. I'll sometimes tell myself "huh, am I really begging these people to give me the chance to be worked to the bone?"
Sometimes we think we want something until we do it and then realise it's not how we imagined it. Now, you might still say "okay, but I still want to be a lawyer", and that's fine - that's where I stand at the moment too. But try and avoid romanticising or idealising the legal career, and that will hopefully help you consider alternative career options and put less pressure on you to succeed in law applications. I was told by someone once that you should try and "maximise your luck surface area" (because there is inevitably some luck involved in all this, I think) - don't put all your eggs in the law basket since there's so many other options out there, and remember that the law basket isn't necessarily the best one out there. I acknowledge of course that I'm saying this from the rather privileged point of working in a well-paid finance job, and you might have different pressures to get a job.
4. You can be proud of the process even if the outcome doesn't follow - even if you don't get an offer, still have pride in the fact you put effort into an application and made it as far as you did in an application process (even if you didn't make it past the application round). Applications take time, and you put in the time to give it your best shot. So be proud of yourself for putting in the work, irrespective of what happens.
I hope some of this helps
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beautiful messageHey, I'm so sorry you feel that way - you put so much effort into every application, so it makes sense to feel disheartened if you don't get your desired outcome. As others have already said, some people have had to go through so many application cycles to get an offer. But let me give you also my view on this.
1. Getting a training contract or not says nothing about who you are, let alone how skilled you are or how much you are worth. I don't mean to diminish the achievements of anyone who has secured a training contract in saying this, but law is simply what you do - it's not who you are. Not getting an offer doesn't mean you don't have all the skills it takes to be a great lawyer - don't forget that grad recruiters just see a snapshot of who you are, and they are human too with their own biases and beliefs. Just because they haven't seen your potential so far, doesn't mean you don't possess it. If you get rejected by a firm just say "okay, they didn't see my potential, that's their loss" and then think "is there anything I can do to better reflect my fit in future applications?"
2. I can understand what you're saying about that odd feeling when you see your juniors succeeding in the process. For context, I finished my law degree in 2019, did a masters in management, and have been working at one of the US banks ever since. I sometimes find myself in that strange feeling of "oh, I'm up against second year uni students....". It's only my first proper application cycle (have only had finance/consulting professional experience so far), but I already know that I'll have to fight these types of thoughts if I face rejections. What I'd remind you - as I'll have to remind myself - is that everyone is on their own timeline and you're not competing or trying to keep up with anyone. From the looks of things, we'll be (sadly) working till our late 60s, maybe even 70s (!!!). You're not running out of time - you're just on your own path.
3. Law isn't the only option - I'm not saying this to discourage you, and I'm not trying to implicitly tell you to give up on law. But the way I see it (admittedly as an outsider for the most part), the application process is so unnecessarily long and complicated because of the sheer volume of applications, the hours are incredibly long, and the work isn't always as important or meaningful. I always keep in mind these negatives to avoid romanticising or obsessing over becoming a lawyer - it's just a job, it's not an ideal job in any way, and if I don't get it there are so many other options. I'll sometimes tell myself "huh, am I really begging these people to give me the chance to be worked to the bone?"
Sometimes we think we want something until we do it and then realise it's not how we imagined it. Now, you might still say "okay, but I still want to be a lawyer", and that's fine - that's where I stand at the moment too. But try and avoid romanticising or idealising the legal career, and that will hopefully help you consider alternative career options and put less pressure on you to succeed in law applications. I was told by someone once that you should try and "maximise your luck surface area" (because there is inevitably some luck involved in all this, I think) - don't put all your eggs in the law basket since there's so many other options out there, and remember that the law basket isn't necessarily the best one out there. I acknowledge of course that I'm saying this from the rather privileged point of working in a well-paid finance job, and you might have different pressures to get a job.
4. You can be proud of the process even if the outcome doesn't follow - even if you don't get an offer, still have pride in the fact you put effort into an application and made it as far as you did in an application process (even if you didn't make it past the application round). Applications take time, and you put in the time to give it your best shot. So be proud of yourself for putting in the work, irrespective of what happens.
I hope some of this helps
I received a "your VI was not good enough" PFO at 14:05 and a second "PFO some more" at 14:26 (no idea why the double).
1. you should ask questions prior to accepting the offer, but ultimately do accept the offer regardless. Try and say you want to take a gap year to go travelling or something. OTOH doing SQE now does open a small possibility they move you forward a year. If you accept money and tuition then worst case is you pay it back.
2. No it's pointless.
Hi everyone, I have an interview with Perkins Coie coming up, if anyone has done it can you dm me pls? Would be great to get some insight, thank you
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