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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Harvey Specter

Legendary Member
Jul 4, 2024
689
2,602
Yea, I heard they lost so many great candidates last year who didn't accept their TC 2027 offer after VS. One I know secured a TC with Hogan, she rejected Weil TC offer too. What a GOAT she isn't?
It’s odd though because Legal Cheek is advertising a second DTC window for 2028/29, closing in mid Jan, but it’s not on Travers’ website. Only seeing the Summer VS. In any case, it’s quite telling that most candidates turned their TC offer down. 🤷🏾‍♂️​
 

Amgrad

Legendary Member
Oct 2, 2025
192
232
It’s odd though because Legal Cheek is advertising a second DTC window for 2028/29, closing in mid Jan, but it’s not on Travers’ website. Only seeing the Summer VS. In any case, it’s quite telling that most candidates turned their TC offer down. 🤷🏾‍♂️​
Maybe, just my assumptions they will take as many as candidates now from VS and hopefully they will open 2028 TC later in Summer like Reed Smith.
 

Trophy

Distinguished Member
Oct 29, 2025
61
95
Yea, I heard they lost so many great candidates last year who didn't accept their TC 2027 offer after VS. One I know secured a TC with Hogan, she rejected Weil TC offer too. What a GOAT she isn't?
With the 2027 TC didn’t it say March 2027 would they then expect those successful to start SQE post Christmas? As I did wonder this when applying very fast turnaround.
 
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maylawwww

Active Member
Oct 5, 2024
15
35
Hi all, I hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering if anyone else has applied to the BBC L7 Solicitor Apprenticeship? If so, has anyone who completed their assessment received a feedback report or heard back? Thanks :)
Hello! Yes, I received a feedback report just after I took the test-- but it was just a standard Cappfinity report (couple of strengths, 1 weakness) but heard nothing yet about outcomes. I think last year people heard in December at the earliest :)
 

Liz_awa

New Member
Dec 1, 2025
1
0
They give 7 calendar days to complete regardless of the app submission deadline
They give 7 calendar days to complete regardless of the app submission deadline
Were the questions for IM mainly motivational? Were there any competencies? Did you have much time to show research of the firm and your experience or was it mainly how you'd react in a situation. Were there any watson-glaser type questions because I know some firms do have those types of questions e.g. 'conclsuion follows', even though they say they don't do WG. Any insights would be really appreciated :)
 

Trophy

Distinguished Member
Oct 29, 2025
61
95
Yeah probably likely it’s March 2026 start SQE, March 2027 start TC. I was thinking of applying but decided to opt for the VS instead.​
I guess it’s ideal if you’ve just graduated without a TC, travelling or between jobs!

I reckon they’re prioritising those who applied for that intake for ACs rather than those who did 2028 applications.

Good luck on the VS application 😄
 
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Rads

Standard Member
Sep 1, 2025
8
4
Hi @Rads Slaughter and May has never had a reputation for caring a lot about how early an application was submitted. If anything, the firm is know to look for a particular type of academics-focused applicants and to often depart from common recruitment practices when targeting them. As such, if the firm sees you as having a desirable candidate profile with a strong written application, I doubt they would not seriously consider your application you simply because you have not submitted your application earlier. As for your second question about the firm's recruitment timeline, in my experience they normally start making AC invitations around late December and host ACs in late January-early February.
Thank you Andrei, this is really helpful! Hopefully I will hear back from them :)
 
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ellewoods26

New Member
Premium Member
Nov 7, 2025
3
4
Hi @Abbie Whitlock, @Ram Sabaratnam and @Andrei Radu, I had a quick question about Linklaters if you don't mind me asking! I've applied for the Winter Vac Scheme and got rejected after the first stage. I was wondering if I would have any luck with the Direct TC option if the only significant improvement to my application (bearing in mind that they only ask one question about extracurriculars) is that I've gotten a place on a US firm's WVS? I'm of two minds because as their direct TC options in other offices are attractive (and I've been told by grad rec, less competitive) but I'm quite set on working in London.
 
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Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
980
1,716
Hi @Abbie Whitlock, @Ram Sabaratnam and @Andrei Radu, I had a quick question about Linklaters if you don't mind me asking! I've applied for the Winter Vac Scheme and got rejected after the first stage. I was wondering if I would have any luck with the Direct TC option if the only significant improvement to my application (bearing in mind that they only ask one question about extracurriculars) is that I've gotten a place on a US firm's WVS? I'm of two minds because as their direct TC options in other offices are attractive (and I've been told by grad rec, less competitive) but I'm quite set on working in London.
In my view, having a VS without a peer firm is one of the (if not the most) impactful experience you can add to your candidate profile in terms of improving your progression chances. This is because it demonstrates that a competent recruiter in another firm identified you as being among the very best from a very large pool of talented candidates, which instantly grants you a lot of credibility and will make any grad rec think a lot harder about not progressing your application. Based on anecdotal evidence, some top firms even have a policy of automatically fast tracking candidates to a TC interview if they get a TC offer from a competitor. If I were in your position, I would therefore likely consider the WVS adds enough value to my candidate profile to warrant a reapplication.
 
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Trophy

Distinguished Member
Oct 29, 2025
61
95
I’m trying to gauge whether A&O value the numerical section of the SJT? As I’ve progressed to AC with other firms with low numerical and high verbal which is the same as my results I got with A&O. My VI was ok. I’ve done vacation schemes and have been made TC offers so surely my motivation for law is there 😭
 

Prudentia

Star Member
Oct 21, 2025
45
78
Hi @Andrei Radu and @Abbie Whitlock, it would be good to get your thoughts on whether it’s worth applying for the VS at Sullivan & Cromwell or waiting until DTC applications open in May 2026. I’m a career changer currently working in a legal-adjacent field for one of the big banks. Work experience isn’t an issue for me, but I wonder if I will be at a disadvantage if I don’t apply for one of their VS cohorts. I understand Sullivan & Cromwell have a very small trainee intake, and they haven’t said that they recruit exclusively from VS. I’m also conscious about VS and annual leave (as I work full-time), and I would rather leave my VS applications for firms that recruit exclusively through them. Any insight would be appreciated!
 
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silonthesofa

Distinguished Member
Feb 7, 2025
55
43
Hey @Andrei Radu and @Abbie Whitlock. Have a bit of a judgement question to ask. After how long is it reasonable to email a firm asking for an application update? HL is rolling and their first stage - an online assessment - is automatic. My understanding, however, is it still needs to be manually sent out. It's now coming up on two months since I submitted my application and I've received nothing. The DTC is open till the end of January, but again, they are famously rolling, so it makes me question why I rushed to submit the application early if it wasn't going to be looked at.

Thanks in advance!
 
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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.

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