TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Miss Chocolate

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Nov 27, 2023
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If you have enough time before your TC starting then part time might be an option where firms do not have bespoke SQE prep courses.

I would expect those firms who use BARBRI would be flexible particularly with location as it’s effectively an online course.

I’d also say the higher the maintenance grant, the more likely there won’t be flexibility with location as that grant is calculated on the basis of you living in the location of their preferred supplier.

Firms may consider personal circumstances on a case by case basis - but I think it would need to be something more substantial than just wanting to be out of the U.K. (and that could raise a bit of a red flag to them too).
Ooooh thank you for this. I think more than a part-time arrangement, what I would ideally like is something remote. Very useful to know BARBRI is a remote online course. I suppose if I get enrolled onto a course, I could always check with the firm closer to time
 

TCLA Community Assistant

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Aug 1, 2019
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Hi @Jessica Booker really appreciate this, thanks for the insight.

On point 2 - That makes sense from the firm's perspective, they wouldn't want their TC undermined in that sense. What if for instance, you don't submit previous experiences as QWE to avoid the firm's being put off by you and to therefore become more attractive to them? Most firms I have spoken to said they would just disregard the previous experiences I had as the 2-year TC programme is what they would use to sign off the QWE on their end. I guess most of what I'm saying, though, is in relation to how I would be viewed as a candidate regarding this, rather than the mechanics of how QWE actually works/what the firm's sign off as QWE.

On point 3 - So in that sense would that be a negative of the SQE, generally speaking, if you don't secure a TC and decide to qualify via previous experiences for QWE? Would it not be a struggle to get your foot in the NQ market as a fresh SQE graduate with little experience of the same level, complexity, standard and variety as other people I'll be competing with (people with NQ-level type experience and people like myself) no?
Point 2: The issue is QWE is that you can get it signed off and submitted to the SQE at any time, so what you say you would do and what you actually might do could be two different things. But generally, there will be some benefits of not getting QWE signed off before starting a TC - the main one is you will be seen as less of a flight risk. It is feasible that someone could do 12 months of a TC, use another 12 months experience elsewhere and then leave half way through the TC if they have secured an NQ role elsewhere. That is less likely to happen when someone is not qualified, although not impossible now people can move from firm to firm as a trainee too.

Point 3: In my opinion it is one of the downsides of the SQE qualification route. It will lead to more people qualifying who are not set up for the NQ job market. However, it is a double edged sword - we are seeing some people outside of TCs qualify with great QWE get into NQ roles because they have equivalent work experience or even higher quality work experience than trainees. It really does depend on the quality of the QWE people submit rather than it being TC vs a non-TC qualification route preference.
 


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