TCLA Scholarship Fund 2023/24 – with BDB Pitmans

Applications are now OPEN for the 2023/24 fund.

Providing talented students and graduates the support they would otherwise not have access to

The goal of TCLA’s Scholarship Fund is to ensure that your background, circumstances or location does not prevent you from succeeding in the legal world.

The Fund is awarded to 100 talented students and graduates who do not have access to the same level of support in their journey to securing a training contract.

You get access to our direct support, live classes and skills training to secure a training contract at your dream law firm and excel as a trainee commercial lawyer.

The Fund runs from 1 November 2023 to 1 April 2024.

 

A special thanks to BDB Pitmans

This year, we dedicate a special thanks to our partner BDB Pitmans for partnering with us to launch a larger, more impactful Fund. All scholarship attendees will receive access to an exclusive event with the leading UK law firm.

For more information about BDB Pitmans’ commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to apply for the Summer Placement, you can learn more here.

What is the Scholarship Fund?

The goal of the Fund is to help you to secure a training contract at your dream law firm. You will receive:

  • Financial Markets Training: Live classes, twice a month, to teach you about the financial markets, mergers and acquisitions, and law firms as a business. No matter your stage right now, we put you in a position to answer any commercial question in an interview.
  • Personal Support: Receive 1-2-1 direct access to the TCLA team to map out your strategy and keep you accountable, including live chat support throughout the duration of the programme. We are your sounding board over the next six months.
  • Application Strategy: Map out your strategy using our applications tracker, learn from over 400 successful applications to law firms, and receive 1-2-1 support on your law firm application to teach you how to communicate your motivations and sell your experiences.
  • Interviews Training: Access unlimited, permanent access to our online training platform to practise case studies, written assessments and the Watson Glaser test ahead of the real thing.
  • Law Firm Events: Join an exclusive, virtual event with BDB Pitmans and receive early access to our law firm events.



How to Apply

Please fill out the form below. The information you provide will be kept confidential.

We receive a substantial number of applications every year, so we encourage you to add as much detail as you are able to.

In particular, we’d be interested in hearing more about any circumstances that may have limited your opportunities to access professional legal networks. This could include (but is not limited to):

  • If you were the first generation in your family to attend university
  • If you worked more than 16 hours per week during term-time for at least two terms at college or university
  • If you were eligible for free-school meals
  • Your parents’ occupation when you were a teenager
  • Any other major personal commitments, such as acting as a carer for a family member
  • You have received other forms of government financial support such as disability allowances, asylum support etc.
  • Any means-tested bursaries or scholarships you have received throughout your education

How is the scholarship awarded?

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of any of the following factors:

  • Financial circumstances
  • Being from an underrepresented group
  • Where a scholarship will make a substantial impact to your application journey

When to apply?

The deadline to apply is Monday 23 October 2023. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Tuesday 31 October 2023.

Kindly note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we will be unable to provide specific feedback for unsuccessful applicants.

Apply To Our Class of 2023/24

Hear From Our Past Scholars

My name is Sharaf and I graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2019 with a 2.1 degree in Law. I am Syrian-born and came to this country as a refugee and have grown up in a single-parent household.

I found the TCLA scholarship through LinkedIn and decided to apply as I had plans to dedicate my spare time towards vacation scheme/training contract application. Immediately, I found my applications improved, especially with my first application resulting in a vacation scheme offer from a US firm! The resources available to me have helped me understand the ins and outs of what is required for a strong application. For example the past applications on the forums have offered me an insight into what graduate recruitment at firms are looking for specifically. Beyond this, I have received support for upcoming interviews directly from Jaysen which inevitably led to my early success.

The courses that are available with the TCLA scholarship have developed my understanding of the practicalities of different strands of commercial/corporate law. For example, I have only just started learning about private equity and what this entails. Having no faith in my knowledge of the world of finance, this has strengthened my confidence in more ways than one. I would urge anyone who is looking to gain the upper hand in applications to apply for the TCLA scholarship!

Sharaf ShiekhaMagic Circle Trainee - Class of 2020, TCLA Scholarship

Honestly, the scholarship been such a massive help to me in making applications- I actually got two magic circle interview offers from the back of the help I received from the TCLA scholarship!

The TCLA 2019 scholarship programme was invaluable when it came to helping me apply for vacation schemes and training contracts. Through utilising the courses offered by the programme, such as the “Legal Technology Crash Course” and the “M&A Crash Course”, I now feel much more comfortable with legal topics I had previously been unsure about. TCLA’s law firm insights have helped me make tailored applications to firms, and have helped me increase the number of interviews I am being invited to. Their video interview simulator was also incredibly insightful. By using the simulator prior to an interview, I calmed my nerves down regarding the process while also receiving helpful feedback that helped me improve my video interviewing technique. Overall, the TCLA Scholarship has been a wonderful aid in helping me navigate the difficult process of applying for training contracts.

Syeda Rubab ZahraTrainee Solicitor, International Law Firm, Class of 2020, TCLA Scholarship

The Corporate Law Academy Scholarship is a positive step towards diversifying and opening up the legal profession to those individuals who require additional support or assistance to begin their career in the competitive field of law. I was so excited and grateful to have been offered the TCLA scholarship in 2019 as it gave me the reassurance I needed to begin making training contract applications. The scholarship has been a great resource in helping me thoroughly research firms but also provides an excellent legal community atmosphere through the TCLA forum where any question, idea or worry can easily be answered! The additional application review option is another great highlight of TCLA and Jaysen and his team always strive to provide thorough and useful application insight and advice.

Laura KeaneTrainee Solicitor, Class of 2020, TCLA Scholarship

I have found the TCLA Premium Scholarship an invaluable resource throughout this application cycle and truly believe it helped me to secure my training contract.

The aspects of the scholarship that I used the most were the law firm insights and the courses. I used the insights to narrow down which firms to apply for, and revisited them when preparing for interview to help tackle questions about a firm’s competitors and how it distinguishes itself. The courses were an immense help when preparing and performing in case study interviews, I particularly enjoyed the Introduction to the City, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity courses and felt that they gave me the knowledge and confidence to discuss commercial options and concepts at interview. The courses also helped me complete some of the tasks on my vacation scheme, again the M&A course in particular!

I’m really grateful to Jaysen and the TCLA team for the opportunity and I genuinely enjoyed making the most of my Scholarship!

Olivia SulemanMagic Circle Associate, Class of 2020, TCLA Scholarship

Both my parents are refugees from Afghanistan who settled in North London, where I was born and raised. I’m a proud Londoner and Arsenal fan who studies LLB Law with Politics at the University of Essex.

Since being awarded the TCLA Scholarship I have found the team at TCLA to be incredibly supportive in terms of applications, advice but more importantly personal development. The resources offered on the programme have benefited me in so many ways. Having access to the commercial awareness courses, introduction to the city course and premium forum has really benefited me in terms of becoming a more well-rounded law student and future vac scheme applicant. The team’s review of my application also made it easier for me to understand my (many!) mistakes and offered advice that was both supportive and critical. I have to say that without the scholarship and having the assistance from TCLA I would not have progressed as much as I have in my development as an aspiring commercial solicitor. If you meet the criteria, I would highly encourage you to apply!

Yusuf PanahClass of 2020, TCLA Scholarship

The tools on TCLA are second to none. They have allowed me to understand not just what knowledge is required of me during this process but has also given me the information needed. Jaysen is dedicated to keeping the courses up to date with current topics and the video presentations have been a great help.

All in all, TCLA has introduced me to a world I didn’t know existed. There is such great support available on the forum via people’s experiences and updates through the process which is held together by the foundation that Jaysen provides through the courses and application reviews.

Couldn’t recommend more!

Samar AlamTrainee Solicitor, Class of 2020, TCLA Scholarship
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