TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Trophy]

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 😄

 

[Rads]

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

 

[ellewoods26]

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.

 

[lolololol]

Has A&O made all the AC invites?

 

[UB1967]

Has A&O made all the AC invites?

I’m wondering the same. But I’ve only seen one AC on here so far.

 

[M123]

I’m wondering the same. But I’ve only seen one AC on here so far.

There has been 3 offers for AC in total on TCLA forums. One here and 2 on the vac scheme forum

 

[Andrei Radu]

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.

 

[Trophy]

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 😭

 

[WeGotThis!]

Are they doing the AC invites for A&O based on 2027 and 2028 intakes?

 

[Prudentia]

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!

 

[Singh241]

I logged onto my CC portal and it says Archived- should I consider this a PFO?

 

[silonthesofa]

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!

 

[flower1]

I logged onto my CC portal and it says Archived- should I consider this a PFO?

Hello, where about in the portal did it say this?

Thank you

 

[Singh241]

Hello, where about in the portal did it say this?

Thank you

After submitting your application you get a mail- below is an option to 'Access your application'. Once you log in you can see the status.

 

[flower1]

After submitting your application you get a mail- below is an option to 'Access your application'. Once you log in you can see the status.

Thank you

 

[lelezb1]

After submitting your application you get a mail- below is an option to 'Access your application'. Once you log in you can see the status.

Does it specifically say archived? Mine is still under review.

 

[Singh241]

Does it specifically say archived? Mine is still under review.

Yes, for me it says Archived. I guess that means a rejection. But good luck to everyone still in the race!

 

[WeGotThis!]

I just received an email from A&O saying that they are reviewing my application, it was an automated one. Did anyone else receive it?

 

[routetotrainingcontract]

Yes, for me it says Archived. I guess that means a rejection. But good luck to everyone still in the race!

Wow mine says archived too, I sill have hope and you should too!

 

[Bottega_Veneta]

Wow mine says archived too, I sill have hope and you should too!

It’s not over until it’s over!! Out of curiosity may I know when you submitted the application?