TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[elle woods]

Hi everyone, I've been offered an AC for Slaughter and May DTC in March (applied 9th November). Just wondered if anyone knows why they're so far in advance (I am concerned)? Has anyone else had this?

wow!! congrats! i haven't even heard back for their summer work experience scheme haha, that's truly so early

 

[hawkins19]

wow!! congrats! i haven't even heard back for their summer work experience scheme haha, that's truly so early

Thank you! I think the summer work experience is done completely differently, dont worry - I know people who have already been assessed and accepted/rejected this cycle for the DTC. March seems extremely late to be interviewed to me! Essentially, I am worried that by that point, all their spaces will be filled.

 

[elle woods]

Thank you! I think the summer work experience is done completely differently, dont worry - I know people who have already been assessed and accepted/rejected this cycle for the DTC. March seems extremely late to be interviewed to me! Essentially, I am worried that by that point, all their spaces will be filled.

ooh that is a valid concern - but I'm sure they offered you an interview for a reason! they wouldn't if they didn't see the potential in you! That would be irresponsible of them to fill all the spaces while knowing they still have people to interview in my opinion lmao

 

[Willgetatc]

Hi everyone, I've been offered an AC for Slaughter and May DTC in March (applied 9th November). Just wondered if anyone knows why they're so far in advance (I am concerned)? Has anyone else had this?

Congratulations🥳🥳. Could you say when you received your offer?

 

[hawkins19]

Congratulations🥳🥳. Could you say when you received your offer?

a couple of days ago!

 

[lolololol]

Hi everyone, I've been offered an AC for Slaughter and May DTC in March (applied 9th November). Just wondered if anyone knows why they're so far in advance (I am concerned)? Has anyone else had this?

hi i had my interview in march for the last cycle DTC. I wouldn’t worry too much about this, good luck!!

 

[Icantstopeatingfood]

I’ve been wondering too haha. Pretty sure he got 4 or 5 vac scheme offers and 2 or 3 direct tc’s. It was an insane run, hats off to him. 😅

I remember he’d msg me every other day with an update (interview or offer) and I was like jheeze I aspire to be like that someday! :/

Let’s manifest a Chris brown result for everyone this cycle! Just got to keep an eye on these firms sneaking in a cheeky SJT and WG. 🥲​

I didn’t use the forum a lots last year with exams but I remember him a little.

There was talk in my law school about his success and his continuous applications for direct training contracts despite having secured training contract offer and multiple vacation schemes further to complete. It did seem very unbelievable at times. Happy he got the TC he was looking for.

 

[Harvey Specter]

I didn’t use the forum a lots last year with exams but I remember him a little.

There was talk in my law school about his success and his continuous applications for direct training contracts despite having secured training contract offer and multiple vacation schemes further to complete. It did seem very unbelievable at times. Happy he got the TC he was looking for.

Tbf I think he was applying until early spring but was interviewing over summer since some firms were non-rolling basis. He definitely wasn’t still applying to firms whilst holding onto a TC, but I know some people who are doing that on the forum at the moment. In any case, he worked hard and he seems really happy with his decision! Hopefully we can all emulate that kind of success this cycle!​

 

[SemperParatus]

@Andrei Radu is there any chance you could please reply to my dm? I would really appreciate it, thank you

 

[Trophy]

Tbf I think he was applying until early spring but was interviewing over summer since some firms were non-rolling basis. He definitely wasn’t still applying to firms whilst holding onto a TC, but I know some people who are doing that on the forum at the moment. In any case, he worked hard and he seems really happy with his decision! Hopefully we can all emulate that kind of success this cycle!​

just jumping in here as I’m a bully as stated from another person🤗

Your comment is directed to me. I do not hold a TC, I have an offer, an offer that expires soon. I have an OFFER that expires at the end of the calendar year (this was extended due to medical reasons). I do not intend to accept which is the sole reason for me applying but I guess many of you are either annoyed or jealous of that.

Chris brown had several vacation scheme offers from spring. He then continued to apply in summer for direct training contact that were non rolling after already receiving a TC offer which he stated Willkie was his top firm as he did supposedly the spring scheme there. He then went on to do Paul Weiss (granted anyone would do all scheme they were offered as every firm is different). But he continued to apply to direct training contracts after holding an offer from a firm he knew he’d take a TC from and he did take a TC from them. I have no issue with the guy spoke to him a few times privately, but this whole I’m a new person when the tone and language you use is the exact same is odd. I’ve now had 4 people message me privately saying the exact same thing. I am the one voicing it so I am the one you can throw the shade and comments to, calling me unsupportive etc. I’ve not been unsupportive on here once. I’ve queried this new persona as it was odd to me and a few others. You said you do not want to share why you have the account of someone who got a tc even though the accounts are free to make and the persons account you took was successful in a lot of the applications you speak of. You said you don’t want to say why and I respect that. But I was curious I asked you, you ignored and I left it. Now I’m a bully for asking a question and rightly calling out the shady comments a lot of you have been making but wrap it up in positivity at the end of your messages saying “best of luck though” after putting someone down. It’s odd.

I do wish you the best in your journey Harvey, it’s only the beginning of the road. I won’t be continuing this as I’ll be called a bully again 🥲 good night 🌙

 

[shadowboxer909]

What an unusual community lol.

With all your esoteric, long-lasting grudges on a public forum where nobody knows each other.

 

[JustwantaTC]

What an unusual community lol.

With all your esoteric, long-lasting grudges on a public forum where nobody knows each other.

I do not think anyone has grudges it is just quite strange behaviour and completely valid to call out

 

[Icantstopeatingfood]

all I did was say I have an AC at freshfields now this.
i preferred the forum in my second year - 23/24 less ganging up and more community. people posted their legal journeys and helped each other out. now people are account sharing, what on earth

 

[zonnonomo]

the legend of chris brown deepens... 🧐 was he a person? an LLM? did he go to uni as a student or professor? was chris brown actually just sam altman?...🤨

 

[DavidJC]

all I did was say I have an AC at freshfields now this.
i preferred the forum in my second year - 23/24 less ganging up and more community. people posted their legal journeys and helped each other out. now people are account sharing, what on earth

I last used this forum in the last cycle I applied which was in 19/20 and tbh I'm surprised at how impersonal and combative the forum has become during this cycle. My memory of it back then was that everyone was kind, helpful, supportive, reassuring, no one put anyone down or accused anyone of anything or rode on any high horses, and people used to freely offer advice without requesting anything in return. The forum today is, in my opinion, completely different, but I've also accepted that that's just how it is and it's up to me to adapt to it, change is the only constant in life, after all.

I'm personally still in the camp of freely offering help/insight/advice (within the limits of the forum's rules) where I can when people ask if I feel like it (my mood changes) and it's not been answered already, because that's just my personal principle and belief. This is a collaborative and client-facing profession that requires a lot of resilience and mutual support. I think that if I can't afford to be as helpful as possible here, then I won't succeed in the profession either and I might as well give up on getting a TC and a career in law. There have been times I've found myself ticked off or miffed by others and their comments or replies as well this cycle, and I've decided to just bite my lip and accept it or ignore it. At the end of the day, this is a mostly anonymous forum and there's no point in stirring up shit, I reiterate my point about being collaborative and supportive. I simply aim to be the change I want to see in this community.

Just to be absolutely clear, I'm not throwing any shade at anyone, I'm just pointing out and commenting on the differences I've observed during this cycle compared to the corresponding threads and community from 5-6 years ago (massive shoutout to Alice G btw, I'm still really happy for her that she got her TC back then considering how much she helped LITERALLY EVERYONE on the forum).

Anyway, I just realised that I piggybacked your comment, and it's 4am so I'm kinda cooked. But, for what it's worth, genuinely good job getting to the AC, I pray it goes well and you get the TC you deserve! (I've repeatedly been told by so many others that if you've been invited to interview/AC, it means they already believe you can do the job, you just need to provide the evidence/confidence for them to make the offer, which means that you do deserve it!)

 

[ashwright]

Quick question for any freshfields AC invitees:
May I ask when you completed your stage 2 assessment?
Please feel free to PM if you feel more comfortable replying there.

(I’ve been rejected many times over the years so I am now pretty desensitised & just want to know for my application checklist lol so please don’t worry that I’m going to panic)

 

[p2bv]

Has anyone done the fieldfisher interview yet ?

 

[Flu1dity]

the legend of chris brown deepens... 🧐 was he a person? an LLM? did he go to uni as a student or professor? was chris brown actually just sam altman?...🤨

Don't know about any of these but definitely extremely weird for taking the pseudonym and likeness of a convicted domestic abuser

 

[Meena]

I went to a Freshfields event this morning and they said they haven’t sent out AC’s yet for the TC but said they should be coming through in the next following week

 

[futuretraineeihope]

Any AC offers or PFOs post VI for CMS (London DTC)?