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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Prudentia

Legendary Member
Oct 21, 2025
170
430
CC just sent me another email with feedback

I've just read this. The feedback was generic. It's entirely possible that many candidates did everything they asked for and still got rejected. They like to make out like recruitment is an objective metric when a lot of it comes down to personal opinion and vibes. They also can't interview every strong candidate. You can do everything right and still not get selected, which is why it's important not to see rejections as referendums on your suitability. Of course it's important to refine and improve, but even strong candidates get rejected.
 

Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
1,032
1,816
Thank you so, so, so much Andrei!!! I am so grateful for the reassurance on both fronts, as well as the guidance on how to best focus my energies. I will make sure not to get too caught up in the technical stuff & will try to focus more on the core ideas you mentioned.

The list of 5 points is exactly what I need; I'll make sure to focus on those things. If there's any further resources you recommend, such as any M&A knowledge resources, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you so much!
No worries, glad I could help! For M&A resources, I would recommend the following:
  1. TCLA's free introductory M&A guide written by @Jaysen
  2. TCLA's M&A course
  3. TCLA's M&A Bootcamp (a series of 5 lectures going in depth into everything that goes in an M&A deal)
  4. Amma's list of M&A terms explained
  5. Chambers Associate introduction to M&A
  6. Chambers Student M&A Guide
 
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DavidJC

Legendary Member
Dec 29, 2019
224
490
Also joined the CC PFO club yesterday even though I felt it was one of my strongest applications I've ever submitted. I think I'm gonna give up on MC firms after this cycle.

I have some doubts about whether they're necessarily the best fit for me anyway and considering they regularly get 7-10k+ apps, make you jump through hoops and hurdles (yes, jump through hurdles, not over them) and can't provide more than generic "everyone already knows this if they've genuinely and seriously engaged with any TC app process for more than 30 mins" feedback, I think it's just becoming a waste of time that could be diverted to other firms.

On a strict % basis and seeing as I've heard CC have quietly reduced their trainee intakes to compensate for their post-COVID overhiring, they're probably the most competitive firm anyway in terms of % of participants actually getting a TC, it would also explain why the SPARK scheme operates the way it does now instead of the previous SPARK + Spring/Summer VSs.

Also looking forward to the incoming A&OS rejection at this point 🤣
 

Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
1,032
1,816
I applied to 12 vac schemes/dtcs. Is that enough or shall I try for more? I have work experience in banking and finance but no legal experience and am doing the pgdl now. What are my chances?
While I cannot make any decent estimation of your overall success chances at this stage (as that depends on a huge number of variables and unknowns), I would advise you to try to make more applications if you have the available time. Generally, to maximise chances of securing a TC, I think the best strategy is to seek to make as many high quality applications as possible - this is the best (and, arguably, only) way to reduce the importance of the luck factor.

Because of how competitive applications at top firms are, even if you are an incredibly strong candidate and have written a brilliant application, you can never have a very high credence you will succeed in any individual application, simply because recruiters have to constantly make difficult choices between great candidates. Nonetheless, if this is the case and you have submitted 30 applications, even if you only had a say approx. 10-20% success chance with every individual application, your overall odds of getting a TC will be much higher.
 
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