City Training Contract prior to starting GDL?

In my housemates GDL class of 40 there were only 6 people with TCs, mine had about 15. So yeah basically if you don't have one when you are about to start the GDL then don't panic. If don't have one before starting the LPC, DO panic

I lived with two LPCers and one GDL student, none of them got TCs this year despite applying/having regular interviews etc. One went to Warwick, one to Durham and the other to Kent. 2.1s all round, decent A Levels. Just as a warning it really isn't as easy as it seems, as www.traineesolicitor.co.uk will testify.

how are all these people paying for their course fees?!

the GDL fee (in london) is around £7,000. the LPC costs around £10,000.

very scary. i suppose that in this light, all one can do is prepare their arse off so that when it comes to applying for training contracts, they're good enough for at least one out of the twenty plus firms they apply to and get that vital sponsorship.

the GDL fee (in london) is around £7,000. the LPC costs around £10,000.

very scary. i suppose that in this light, all one can do is prepare their arse off so that when it comes to applying for training contracts, they're good enough for at least one out of the twenty plus firms they apply to and get that vital sponsorship.

Now I see why people should be worried if they dont have a TC before starting the LPC. I definitely wouldnt be bothered about funding both of those my courses myself if I was guaranteed a training contract but the reality is that's not the case.

I dont really want to start a new thread for this so just a quick question if everyone doesnt mind me asking, but speaking from experience what would you say are the best ways for a non-law student to keep in touch with the legal world at uni? Any good societies to join especially or any vital ECs? Thanks in advance

Well, that depends on when you get your TC: if its early in the year, then yes, you know you've got your TC before you decide where to go, but if you are still having interviews in July/August then no.

However, if you get your TC during your GDL, (like moi) then your firm is very likely to refund you your GDL fees.

on a sidenote - but perhaps relevant - i'm slightly confused about the dates of training contracts; as in, when do they start, relative to studying the LPC?

i will graduate in july 08, finish the GDL in july 09 and the LPC in july 10 (i presume). when would I then start the actual training contract? during the summer? or at the same time that academic terms run, in september or so? and around what time do applications for it start?

When you say results, are the GDL and LPC done in a simple pass/fail method of marking?

Also, thanks for the advice on ECs Silence

Applications deadlines for the big firms mostly seem to be 31 July two years in advance, but I'm not sure when applications open - I guess it varies from firm to firm. Again, smaller firms have a very different procedure.

so if you were to start the training contract upon finishing the LPC in 2010 (say september time), you'd apply before the 31st july deadline in 2008?

as a sidenote... on the CMS cameron mckenna site - http://gradrec.law-now.com/application/default.aspx - it seems that they are taking TC applications for 2011. when actually going through the online system, i think march '10 is the latest you can select, but i've emailed them asking about it as it does seem qutie a curious thing to say.

Applications for the first GDL round have to be in by the end of January so you apply for your GDL first. Remember only around 20%, sometimes less, of GDL-ers start the course with a TC. Firms really don't care where you do the GDL but some will pay the same maintenance grant wherever you so it can be sensible to choose somewhere like Nottingham or Cardiff, if you want to live well.