TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[NorthernerInLondon]

CMS VI! Any insights please?

 

[nicoledm]

Has anyone heard from CMS Manchester ?

 

[hxnnahrobinson]

Anyone heard back from CMS Sheffield? Losing hope

 

[Jess_AspiringSolicitor]

Received a PFO for CMS London DTC this morning, unfortunately.

 

[Amgrad]

Can someone confirm fieldfisher's deadline for DTC?

I saw their LinkedIn and website, it'd be closed 2 days earlier, so 12/12 12:00 AM

 

[elle woods]

💀the fact that I ranked highest for exp this week says that I’m spending too much time on the forum and not enough time on my apps

 

[Harold Gunderson]

Anyone got insights for CC, can help with CMS, Kirkland, Weil etc.

 

[wqueens8]

Hi all,

I've been discussing this with some friends recently and wanted to get some opinions. This is purely a hypothetical - I'm curious about the general stance on this dilemma.

If you were to secure a TC offer in one cycle (be it from a VS or DTC), but had doubts about whether the firm’s training style or practice areas aligned with your long-term vision (or that firm was less aligned than a different firm which you didn't receive an offer for that cycle), would you consider rejecting it and reapplying in the next cycle to the firms that rejected you and that fit better?

Because on one hand, the legal job market is competitive, and the "take what you can get" mindset is understandable. On the other, the firm and TC you choose can significantly shape your career trajectory and qualification path.

Is it strategically unwise to turn down an offer in the hope of something more aligned later? Or does it make sense to prioritise long-term fit over short-term security, especially since the practice area you qualify into down the line is quite an important decision?

Interested in hearing thoughts!

Personally I think you have to go after what you want!

I was almost in this position. I had a vac scheme last year for a great firm, but it was in a regional office. The scheme itself was okay, but I realised this office didn't offer most of the practice areas I wanted to do, the pay was significantly lower than London, I also didn't love the city it was in, essentially really just not what I wanted.

I decided on the scheme itself that I wouldn't take any TC offered and would just use it as good experience. In the end wasn't given the offer anyway so didn't have the make that decision. But now in this new cycle I'm so much better prepared, I've been so much more focused in my applications, I've made a total of 7 applications so far to firms I really like, and I've got 3 AC invites! Still in the process for 2 of the others as well, with 2 rejections.

So of course I do not have a TC yet, but I'm feeling really good about this cycle. If I am unsuccessful maybe I'll regret not trying harder in that vac scheme last year, but either way it would've been wrong for me. You have to weight up how much of what you want the firm can offer you.

 

[elle woods]

💀the fact that I ranked highest for exp this week says that I’m spending too much time on the forum and not enough time on my apps

Mind you, I only joined on THURSDAY ... I think that makes it worse

 

[yk1906]

Mind you, I only joined on THURSDAY ... I think that makes it worse

I view this forum as a form of relaxation... hahhahaha

 

[Amgrad]

I view this forum as a form of relaxation... hahhahaha

I saw you topped this week's tally. Congrats! 🤴🏻

 

[elle woods]

Personally I think you have to go after what you want!

I was almost in this position. I had a vac scheme last year for a great firm, but it was in a regional office. The scheme itself was okay, but I realised this office didn't offer most of the practice areas I wanted to do, the pay was significantly lower than London, I also didn't love the city it was in, essentially really just not what I wanted.

I decided on the scheme itself that I wouldn't take any TC offered and would just use it as good experience. In the end wasn't given the offer anyway so didn't have the make that decision. But now in this new cycle I'm so much better prepared, I've been so much more focused in my applications, I've made a total of 7 applications so far to firms I really like, and I've got 3 AC invites! Still in the process for 2 of the others as well, with 2 rejections.

So of course I do not have a TC yet, but I'm feeling really good about this cycle. If I am unsuccessful maybe I'll regret not trying harder in that vac scheme last year, but either way it would've been wrong for me. You have to weight up how much of what you want the firm can offer you.

Half of me agrees wholeheartedly with you, the other is terrified of not having security and losing the one chance I might be given ahha
Thank you for sharing your experience! I think it's reassuring to hear that you're feeling good about this cycle and that you've received so many ACs already. Maybe the terrified part of me doesn't have to be so terrified haha. I really hope you get what you want this cycle! Maybe I won't even have to ponder about this question ever, but if I do at any point, I'll keep this is mind, thank you!

Best of luck with your ACs! I hope they go well and you get the offers you want!

 

[yk1906]

I saw you topped this week's tally. Congrats! 🤴🏻

It's because I literally have nothing else to do apart from endless apps 😂 😂 😂 My full-time internship only starts mid-Jan, you'll see less of me then, hahaha

 

[elle woods]

I view this forum as a form of relaxation... hahhahaha

😂 It's definitely a great place for trauma bonding imo... I won't forget the CC PFO gang ever 🤞 we're in this together

 

[Trophy]

Anyone got insights for CC, can help with CMS, Kirkland, Weil etc.

Kirkland hasn’t given out VI’s this year… so these would be last year questions I’m assuming?

 

[wqueens8]

Half of me agrees wholeheartedly with you, the other is terrified of not having security and losing the one chance I might be given ahha
Thank you for sharing your experience! I think it's reassuring to hear that you're feeling good about this cycle and that you've received so many ACs already. Maybe the terrified part of me doesn't have to be so terrified haha. I really hope you get what you want this cycle! Maybe I won't even have to ponder about this question ever, but if I do at any point, I'll keep this is mind, thank you!

Best of luck with your ACs! I hope they go well and you get the offers you want!

No definitely I was exactly the same, still am a little bit! You hear all the statistics of 1% success rates and it does panic you.

On my scheme for me it was realising that I was only a second year. Almost everyone was a graduate, so many were years and years postgrad. One or two in their 30s. Like of course we'd all love to get a TC straight out of uni, but it is so so not necessary and we are all so young in the grand scheme. I guess I though even if i didn't get one this cycle, I probably (hopefully lol) would the next year, or the year after. There is no rush at all.

And again it was weighing things up. I'm interested in some more niche things like IP, so every firm I've applied to this year does have an IP seat. It would not have been an option at this other firm, I basically would've only done seats in Real Estate, Employment, Pensions, Tax, Corporate, Insurance or Banking.

Definitely have faith in yourself! Best of luck to you too.

 

[elle woods]

No definitely I was exactly the same, still am a little bit! You hear all the statistics of 1% success rates and it does panic you.

On my scheme for me it was realising that I was only a second year. Almost everyone was a graduate, so many were years and years postgrad. One or two in their 30s. Like of course we'd all love to get a TC straight out of uni, but it is so so not necessary and we are all so young in the grand scheme. I guess I though even if i didn't get one this cycle, I probably (hopefully lol) would the next year, or the year after. There is no rush at all.

And again it was weighing things up. I'm interested in some more niche things like IP, so every firm I've applied to this year does have an IP seat. It would not have been an option at this other firm, I basically would've only done seats in Real Estate, Employment, Pensions, Tax, Corporate, Insurance or Banking.

Definitely have faith in yourself! Best of luck to you too.

That is so true! It's nice to know that I can still keep applying, and that we're only second years after all. However, the idea of having one year at uni where I can fully enjoy the academic pursuit and social life (for the last time ever) without having to worry about applications is also appealing haha... Also wanting to qualify in the same cycle as your friends sounds tempting ahha... but I guess it's true that in the grand scheme of things, those don't really hold a candlelight to your future and long-term happiness.
There's definitely a balance that needs to be struck - I guess I'll tackle it when and if I ever encounter it 😣 Thank you so much for your response! It's given me some more food for thought 💗

 

[elle woods]

Sigh, taking a break from Apps today to work on my 4 essays due over the break 😬 essay no.1 here I come

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Is anyone else on here looking at private client focussed firms? Feels like everyone is looking at MC/US firms and while I admire you all for it, I am not brave (or perhaps cutthroat?) enough for corporate.

I’m looking at small-medium firms in band 1/2 in London. I do have a little bit of work experience and an Oxbridge 2:1 (non-law), but it’s daunting going through a cycle, especially as there are SO FEW training contracts in this area. Grim prospects…

Hey!

I did a vacation scheme at Farrer & Co, who are very private client focused (and it was an amazing scheme!). Totally get what you mean in relation to the scarcity of training contracts in that area - happy to answer any questions on the firm if you were thinking of applying to them at all