Training contracts 2018

Huge congrats! If you don't mind me asking, what happened on the failed vac scheme?

Hi! Can anyone clarify when the Linklaters 2018 TC deadline is?
On their website it first has the option 'Training Contract 2018 (final-year undergraduates, postgraduate students and graduates)' = deadline 4th Jan 2016.
Below is 'Training Contract 2018 (penultimate-year law undergraduates, final year students, postgraduate students and graduates)' = deadline 30th June 2016.
As a graduate, can I apply for either? My application will be stronger by the summer so I'm hoping to apply for the later wave of applications, if I am indeed right in thinking there are two.

How long have people waited for a response from Clifford Chance re their Watson Glaser results?

Hey! Is anyone applying for Olswang VS this year? I applied pretty early on and apparently they reply on a rolling basis for first stage - has anyone had a response?

Your 2.2 grades in your first year will hold you back more than your a-levels grades.


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Yes - there's a chance.

All they have to do is prove they advertised widely in the UK and that the non-EU applicant has performed to a higher level than the EU applicants. It's fairly easy to do.

There's never a shortage of applicants, but there is a shortage of exceptionally good applicants.


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Most firms will want to see you in person for a TC assessment. It is also a way of assessing your commitment to the UK if you are willing to come over (a lot of firms will say to arrange all your interviews for the same time for instance).

But you can ask, and there is nothing wrong with doing so. You might not be able to do it via a VC/Skype - you might have to go to a local office (New York for instance if they have one there). Ultimately if you have any other assessments apart from an interview then it is likely you will need to visit an office to be assessed. If it is something like a group assessment, you will need to go to the office you are applying to.

A reasonable adjustment might be that you have the interview part or an additional interview first via Skype/VC, see how you get on and if you do well then you're asked to come in for the remainder of the assessments to the office you are applying to.


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Most firms will reimburse some costs for an interview. Most I have heard of is £300 if you are travelling from outside of the EU. This is why they advise organising multiple interviews for your trip, as you can then get part reimbursements from each firm. If that is not feasible and you cannot afford the flights/accommodation, it is likely they will have a shorter telephone or VC interview first, check whether you meet some of their requirements, and then invite you to the full interview/assessment centre if you do.

It is unlikely you will be able to secure the right to work for a vacation scheme. The firm could apply for a tier 5 visa for you, but it isn't that common for them to do this and there is a fee. Many firms just can't be bothered with the hassle or extra cost for something that is so short. Tier 5s are usually for longer internship programmes - although I did bring a couple of Aussies across on Tier 5s a few years ago for a 3 week vac scheme.

You won't be able to work on a visitor's visa - no firm in their right mind would allow you to do this, unless they wanted to risk of a hefty fine. You may see it as a prolonged interview but it is a job - you are working (whether you are paid or not) and this is against the terms of your visa.

They can't stop you from applying but they will probably want you to have secured the visa before you do apply, or to at least have made/started the application.

Are you qualified in Canada? If not, you are unlikely to be able to act as a liaison for deals that involve both countries - and even if you were, it is far more likely that the colleagues in Canada would be dealing with their side of the deal and you will just deal with them, especially as a junior lawyer.

The challenge you have is explaining why you will commit to England as a jurisdiction. Recruiters know all too well it is a quicker (and often cheaper) route to qualify in the UK and then transfer to another jurisdiction and usually earn more money in the long term. They therefore get a lot of international applicants who apply with little motivation beyond it helping them speed up a process, or knowing it will help with their international career. With international firms, although they are open to people moving about from country to country, English offices invest a fortune into training their lawyers, and so want to ensure they get a return on that investment.

Firms like Links have established vac schemes for students who are studying law in India, so I'm sure there must be some way they get them visas? You could perhaps email Links, as a potential applicant, explain your situation and ask what to do. I imagine they could help.

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