2028. You should look at their website where it states the 2027 TC begins in March...can anyone help, im a current pgdl student and will sit sqe1 in jan 2027, do i apply for a&o's 2027 or 2028 training contract? I've emailed but had no reply
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
More... I applied in early October and am still waiting for an outcome, just like many others... Also, some people on this forum said they waited around 7 weeks
I just completed my online assessment. Managed to do everything before the deadline. Thank you so much to all those who replied to me this morning and gave me insights!
I scored a low in numerical reasoning, high in verbal reasoning and good/excellent across other areas of the Amberjack for A&O. Is it going to be a direct rejection considering the low or is there a ray of hope?
Right, but hopefully you realise that unless you're able to sit and pass both SQE 1 and 2 by March 2027, as per their website, then you should be applying for 2028...
Definitely still hope I'd say. The rest of your scores are really good and they'll also look at your VI responses as well as grades and work experience. I doubt they'll auto-reject you based off of one tiny data point.
are there any tips on video interviews? I feel like preparing for them the same way one would approach a written application is not going to cut it. even though 2 minutes seem like a good amount of time to put your points through and one should be concise. for questions like why x firm and what are skills you consider important for success, how do I approach this? if this was written application I would give three reasons for why x firm and then go onto answering qualities in a concise manner. with VI I am struggling to do the same, I'm running out of time and I also don't want to come off as rehearsed.
Finally hit submit on my first DTC application for this cycle to Clifford Chance! That application took me about a week even though the application questions amounted to about 600 words.
Hello!
Video interviews definitely feel different from written applications, but the good news is that you don't need to overhaul everything - it's more about adapting your structure so it fits naturally into 1-2 minutes and doesn't sound scripted.
For questions such as "Why X Firm", I would try choosing two strong and specific reasons instead of the three you might write in an application. Give a sentence or two on why each reason matters to you (with reference to your past experiences or future goals), and then end with a short line linking it back to your motivations. This keeps your answer natural and stops you from sounding overly rehearsed.
For skills or qualities questions, you don't need to list everything. Pick one or two key qualities, give a very brief example, and connect it to why it matters in the role. This should be more than enough information for a VI question.
The method that really helped me was preparing bullet-point prompts rather than full scripts. When I tried to memorise whole paragraphs, I sounded robotic and would lose my place or talk too quickly. With quick prompts in the form of bullet-points, you can stay structured but it still feels conversational. I also kept a small "example bank" in mind, and before completing the VI, wrote down my main experiences and discussed what skills were displayed in each. This meant that I wasn't scrambling to think of examples under pressure, and I could pick the experience that suited the question best.
There are also a few resources on TCLA that are super useful and I would check out - you can find the video interview section of the TCLA Wiki here, and I would really recommend Andrei's post in particular!
I hope that assists!
Hey! Who is eligible for it? From the website it seems like you need to study in china? Or am I tripping. Also, are you allowed to apply to both the trainee associate and the London Asia scheme?
Hey! Just out of curiousity - would you mind sharing a bit about your background? Have you taken the SQE already? Are you non-law? I submitted on the day of the deadline too, and I think my app was pretty strong
- still waiting to hear back!Hey everyone! Sorry the spam, but I'm really confused about FF’s process. There is a work experience section + grades and then you get sent out the invite? Do you get access to the entire test or is it divided or smth? Man I'm so confused, yet to submit my app -
No, in fact it says they will sponsor visa. You can check it on Q&A. Once you clicked the app, it will show you the priority for Mandarin, Korean or Bahasa Indonesia speakers. I'm assuming they welcome Thai and Vietnamese speakers too as we all emerging markets and not using English in daily basis. Also, typically they're not allowing multiple app in one cycle. You can clarify to them on the legal cheek law fair tonight.
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Good evening everyone,
Wanted to ask you all, or whoever would like to assist, for some advice. Basically, I'm a final year law student in London, and I did not manage to secure a TC yet (did a vac scheme but couldn't convert). I obviously applied this year for vac schemes and direct TCs but I feel less hopeful about securing a TC.
Accordingly, I am really wondering whether I should pursue the LLM SQE myself next year ; or whether I should go to a national/local firm in the GCC (where my father is a partner) and just work two years there to convert that into QWE and then in Sep 2029 (so with two years of experience) do my LLM SQE and pass the SQE... Is the wait better, in terms of chances of transferring back to the UK, or would me leaving the UK be sort of an impossible way to return for grad recs in London?
I ask this because applications this year are for 2028, so if I do my LLM, I would technically be unemployed from June 2027 until Jan/March/Sep 2028 (although I could work in the local firm in the meantime)...
Also, assuming I choose the working two years abroad option, after returning and doing my LLM SQE (technically at this point I would become a solicitor), how would I even enter the UK legal market? would they want another training contract, or as an associate? would it be more difficult than me currently trying to secure a TC or slightly more relaxed? Would I need to work a few extra years abroad so I gain even more experience, so say PQ1+ or it would work without? because I really want to work in London but it's just so competitive...
Idk who to @ but I guess whoever could help that would be truly appreciated. Many thanks.
Wanted to ask you all, or whoever would like to assist, for some advice. Basically, I'm a final year law student in London, and I did not manage to secure a TC yet (did a vac scheme but couldn't convert). I obviously applied this year for vac schemes and direct TCs but I feel less hopeful about securing a TC.
Accordingly, I am really wondering whether I should pursue the LLM SQE myself next year ; or whether I should go to a national/local firm in the GCC (where my father is a partner) and just work two years there to convert that into QWE and then in Sep 2029 (so with two years of experience) do my LLM SQE and pass the SQE... Is the wait better, in terms of chances of transferring back to the UK, or would me leaving the UK be sort of an impossible way to return for grad recs in London?
I ask this because applications this year are for 2028, so if I do my LLM, I would technically be unemployed from June 2027 until Jan/March/Sep 2028 (although I could work in the local firm in the meantime)...
Also, assuming I choose the working two years abroad option, after returning and doing my LLM SQE (technically at this point I would become a solicitor), how would I even enter the UK legal market? would they want another training contract, or as an associate? would it be more difficult than me currently trying to secure a TC or slightly more relaxed? Would I need to work a few extra years abroad so I gain even more experience, so say PQ1+ or it would work without? because I really want to work in London but it's just so competitive...
Idk who to @ but I guess whoever could help that would be truly appreciated. Many thanks.
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