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Aspiring Lawyers - Applications & General Advice
Applications Discussion
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
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<blockquote data-quote="LawBrah" data-source="post: 174675" data-attributes="member: 28051"><p>I think most TC (and VS) applicants have only a somewhat realistic appreciation for just how competitive the training contract pipeline is. Try to visualise what a 2% chance (at application stage) truly is: picture 100 people, or some number where you have a good reference of, perhaps 150 if that was your school year. Only 2 or 3 of those will be successful, the other 98/147 will not, and the person who just missed out gained the exact same as the person who came last. </p><p></p><p>It is an acutely brutal game, and London law especially so as you are competing with the cream of the world's graduates, not just domestic ones. Compound this with an at best uncertain economic environment, pressures for firms to recruit trainees with characteristics that you may not have (no value judgement), and crucially that anyone with any 2.1 degree can apply; law is not like engineering or medicine where you need the requisite degrees - graduates from all disciplines see the law salaries and pile in. </p><p></p><p>I think your reaction constitutes your expectation gap on this fact closing, which is crucial - you now "get it" and can adjust accordingly. </p><p></p><p>My advice, for what it is worth, is that you place opportunities for qualification above all else. Commercial law is essentially a bottleneck; its chronically tight at the start, but there is more space further down the pipeline. It will be much easier for you to get into the firms you had ACs at if you interview as a qualified solicitor from a regional/high-street/any firm; its an infinitely easier sell and you will compete with a much shallower pool of candidates. If you can qualify at the firm that you are at now, I advise you do that and bypass the initial TC bottleneck. </p><p></p><p>Outside your current firm, if you can do another cycle, cast a wider net. Still apply to London firms as getting 12 ACs means you are a strong candidate and you obviously have a good chance, but I would urge you to hedge with firms in other areas. Outside London is a lot less competitive - personally I've found joy in Guildford and Bristol getting VSs there, there's a thriving legal scene in Newcastle, Leeds, Scotland etc. Leeds law in particular is growing rapidly. Again, you can skip the London TC bottleneck and move to London after much easier. </p><p></p><p>Good luck. DMs open as well to all <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="LawBrah, post: 174675, member: 28051"] I think most TC (and VS) applicants have only a somewhat realistic appreciation for just how competitive the training contract pipeline is. Try to visualise what a 2% chance (at application stage) truly is: picture 100 people, or some number where you have a good reference of, perhaps 150 if that was your school year. Only 2 or 3 of those will be successful, the other 98/147 will not, and the person who just missed out gained the exact same as the person who came last. It is an acutely brutal game, and London law especially so as you are competing with the cream of the world's graduates, not just domestic ones. Compound this with an at best uncertain economic environment, pressures for firms to recruit trainees with characteristics that you may not have (no value judgement), and crucially that anyone with any 2.1 degree can apply; law is not like engineering or medicine where you need the requisite degrees - graduates from all disciplines see the law salaries and pile in. I think your reaction constitutes your expectation gap on this fact closing, which is crucial - you now "get it" and can adjust accordingly. My advice, for what it is worth, is that you place opportunities for qualification above all else. Commercial law is essentially a bottleneck; its chronically tight at the start, but there is more space further down the pipeline. It will be much easier for you to get into the firms you had ACs at if you interview as a qualified solicitor from a regional/high-street/any firm; its an infinitely easier sell and you will compete with a much shallower pool of candidates. If you can qualify at the firm that you are at now, I advise you do that and bypass the initial TC bottleneck. Outside your current firm, if you can do another cycle, cast a wider net. Still apply to London firms as getting 12 ACs means you are a strong candidate and you obviously have a good chance, but I would urge you to hedge with firms in other areas. Outside London is a lot less competitive - personally I've found joy in Guildford and Bristol getting VSs there, there's a thriving legal scene in Newcastle, Leeds, Scotland etc. Leeds law in particular is growing rapidly. Again, you can skip the London TC bottleneck and move to London after much easier. Good luck. DMs open as well to all :) [/QUOTE]
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
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