• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • From AI to Energy Deals: Inside a Full-Service Law Firm with Osborne Clarke
    8 Dec 2025 · 6pm (UK) Zoom · Registration Required
    You want to write a strong Osborne Clarke application — but what really makes the firm different, and how do trainees experience the work day-to-day? In this session, you’ll hear directly from current trainees and Recruitment Advisor Patrick Fermin Ryan, so you can speak with clarity and specificity in your applications and interviews.
    Register →

TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Deleted member 17013

Guest
Is it worth me applying for a Freshfields and White and Case Direct TC if I have never done a vacation scheme and have no prior work experience in law.
I received a 1st class at university and I have a lot of work experience having worked full time whilst studying but I just feel like even though they say experience in law is not required it is not necessarily the case.
FF yes W&C no imo. FF has a much healthier direct TC intake and explicitly state on their website that no legal work experience is required to apply
 

norothrow324

Legendary Member
Apr 11, 2023
228
205
FF yes W&C no imo. FF has a much healthier direct TC intake and explicitly state on their website that no legal work experience is required to apply
What does the WC direct intake look like? Is the majority from VS? I work full time as a legal counsel abroad and due to visas / no time I cant do a VS so was planning on taking the direct TC route
 

desperateTCseeker1998

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jan 1, 2023
443
515
What does the WC direct intake look like? Is the majority from VS? I work full time as a legal counsel abroad and due to visas / no time I cant do a VS so was planning on taking the direct TC route
According to their website, direct TC is roughly 20% of their intake but people on here have said that's not been the case recently..
 

hfbjsdhfbhf

Esteemed Member
Dec 11, 2023
75
149
Any general advice for an AC? I have my first one coming up soon and would appreciate both general/practical tips for the day, eg quick resources on building commercial awareness. Also super random question but are we allowed to bring notebooks into interviews?
 

tc_hopeful

Distinguished Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Nov 18, 2020
74
162
Does anyone know if Withers’ deadline is at 23:59 on 31 May? Or at 00:00 on 31 May? I’m working full time and it’s not looking as though I’ll have time to finalise my application by tonight 😵‍💫
 

TCLA Community Assistant

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,526
21,763
Does anyone know if Withers’ deadline is at 23:59 on 31 May? Or at 00:00 on 31 May? I’m working full time and it’s not looking as though I’ll have time to finalise my application by tonight 😵‍💫
I would expect it to be 23.59 on the 31st - deadlines typically include the date they reference.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.