TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Ram Sabaratnam I saw on A&O's they require candidates to have 7 GCSEs, as an international student I haven' t studied GCSE before. Can i still apply their TC?

Hi!

Yes, I'd say that you can still apply! The GCSE requirement will be aimed at UK-based applicants, and as an international student, firms like A&O will understand that you'll have studied a different qualification.

What they'll look for instead is the equivalent academic performance in your own education system. You can usually explain your grades in the application form, if there is space, and note that your qualification is the equivalent of GCSEs.

If you're still unsure, it might be worth emailing the graduate recruitment team to double-check how they interpret your specific qualification - they're usually very helpful about this and can confirm how to present it.

I hope that helps!

 

[WeGotThis!]

How do firms assess the Capp SJT? On one of them I got teamwork as a weakness but challenge myself and thrive in high-pressured situations as a strength. Considering it's the legal industry is teamwork as a weakness an automatic PFO?

 

[Bread]

How do firms assess the Capp SJT? On one of them I got teamwork as a weakness but challenge myself and thrive in high-pressured situations as a strength. Considering it's the legal industry is teamwork as a weakness an automatic PFO?

I think amberjack is more transparent when it comes to this. Capp just shows your highest and lowest ranking strengths, but it doesn’t actually tell you how well you did in those strengths, so imo it’s pointless to stress about which ones your feedback report returns

 

[lelezb1]

I’ve seen people getting TC interviews for slaughter & may, congratulations!! Is it late to apply to them this week?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

How do firms assess the Capp SJT? On one of them I got teamwork as a weakness but challenge myself and thrive in high-pressured situations as a strength. Considering it's the legal industry is teamwork as a weakness an automatic PFO?

Hi!

I can't speak much on how firms assess Capp SJT (as I don't know!), but I don't think having teamwork as a weakness is an automatic PFO. It's important to remember that just because it's the 'weakness', this doesn't necessarily mean you scored badly in that trait - it just means it was your lowest scoring trait overall. You could have still scored highly across all of them

If your score is high overall, it's unlikely that teamwork being your weakness will stop you from progressing!

 

[elliece]

I’ve seen people getting TC interviews for slaughter & may, congratulations!! Is it late to apply to them this week?

From my understanding, not at all! I spoke to grad rec at a Legal Cheek event, and they stated they interview in batches which is why the deadline is rolling, but the deadline is still over a month away (24th Nov I think), so you could get an interview in the next batch if you apply soon! I applied a few days ago after an insight afternoon, and grad rec recommended this approach to me.

 

[lelezb1]

From my understanding, not at all! I spoke to grad rec at a Legal Cheek event, and they stated they interview in batches which is why the deadline is rolling, but the deadline is still over a month away (24th Nov I think), so you could get an interview in the next batch if you apply soon! I applied a few days ago after an insight afternoon, and grad rec recommended this approach to me.

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[Deek14]

I applied to HFW in July 2025 for their direct TC 2026/2027 and got rejected in August 2028. Since this is very recent and nothing much as changed, I was wondering whether its worth it to apply again for TC 2028/2029? I am also aware that they hire on a rolling basis and since I had applied at the very last moment fpr 2026/2027, that might be the reason for my rejection.

 

[SamiyaJ]

I applied to HFW in July 2025 for their direct TC 2026/2027 and got rejected in August 2028. Since this is very recent and nothing much as changed, I was wondering whether its worth it to apply again for TC 2028/2029? I am also aware that they hire on a rolling basis and since I had applied at the very last moment fpr 2026/2027, that might be the reason for my rejection.

Hey,

It’s absolutely worth applying. I applied for the TC last November and I made it to the AC.

If you submit an application soon then it will probably be in the “early bunch of apps”, so it will definitely be considered. Just make sure your app isn’t identical to your last app and it shows some growth/deeper knowledge than before!

Best of luck x