TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[radssss]

the LBA is a one-year programme then you start the TC after that (from what I understand). So I am assuming the TC is another year post-LBA

Oh I see, do u know if they sponsor the visa for the tc and fund the sqe?

Thank you!

 

[elisenatasha]

Any Goodwin VIs for DTC?

.Yes received an invite for VI earlier this week

 

[hopeful33]

Oh I see, do u know if they sponsor the visa for the tc and fund the sqe?

Thank you!

They said work authorisation required so i'm not sure! I believe they do fund the SQE, given you work with them while doing it. Don't quote me on this, I would double-check their brochure or send them an email

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Thank you so much! This is so helpful

Would you/anyone else have any advice on the drafting emails, client pitches etc. type of questions, or be able to guide me to such advice on the forum? Thanks!

Hi there. In regards to drafting emails and client pitches. Generally, the golden rule is that clients value being clear and concise above all. The easier the email/pitch is to read and understand the better. They often won't have any legal insight at all, so keeping information to that of what non-lawyers can understand is a very valuable skill. Tone is important, but generally, formality (but not dismissive) will depend on what you are doing. Contacting a client or partner for the first time, a small introduction and explanation of why you are contacting them sets a nice tone. Communicating an update in the latter stages of a transaction or with a client or partner you have worked with for a while, it can be less formal and more focused on being concise. Don't forget the norms of politeness, but don't be a robot. Bullet points are more than welcomed, try not to draw your sentences on too long (like I am here) and focus on communicating information in order of importance.

Client pitches can be slightly different. They are almost completely focused on effective and efficient communication of information. The shorter, easier to understand and suggestive the better. Take the initiative to introduce different pathways and explore other ideas, but don't deviate from what you think the client will want to hear. It's quite important not to waste their time, you are billing them for the minutes after all.

Others may disagree, but ChatGPT can often be a good starting point if you're having any trouble with specifics. Obviously don't use it during VI's or assessed tasks but using it as a tool to refine information and/or adjust tone and formality can be quite useful. Most firms these days will expect if not encourage you to use in-house AI for more medial tasks, so demonstrating that you are able to effectively use it outside of those limited circumstances can be good. Just don't forget that you are expected to have those skills regardless of AI, so email drafting and client pitching is going to be a given.

 

[WeGotThis!]

Oh I see, do u know if they sponsor the visa for the tc and fund the sqe?

Thank you!

I had reached out the Head of Recruitment last year when I was considering applying for the LBA programme and they had mentioned that they can't sponsor. Any candidate must have the full right to work for the entire duration.

 

[lawninja00!]

Has anyone heard back from AG following the WG/CT for the voice interview? Should I just give up hope now?

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Goodwins VI!! Would really really appreciate any insight

 

[Laur2cj]

does anyone know how many questions and time you have (and prep time) for Kennedys VI please? Also would appreciate if anyone had an insight to what type of questions to expect - dm me if any insights please!!

 

[hopeful33]

Should I add one line in the work experience section describing what the firm/company etc is?

 

[i really like clouds :)]

is it okay for me to send emails to grad rec to follow up on my application? i applied to mischon when they opened and haven't gotten the amberjack test yet so i want to check if it is a pfo

 

[BM99]

is it okay for me to send emails to grad rec to follow up on my application? i applied to mischon when they opened and haven't gotten the amberjack test yet so i want to check if it is a pfo

Ngl, they will probably just say 'We are in the process of reviewing application....We will let you know the outcome as soon as possible....Thank you for your patience'.

 

[Prudentia]

@Abbie Whitlock Hi Abbie, I know I've asked a similar question before, but would be grateful for any insight you might have into this! I'm debating whether to apply for White & Case's vacation scheme or direct training contract. I'm undecided because as a career changer, I would rather use my annual leave for firms that recruit exclusively from their vac schemes. W&C seem to recruit around 80% of their DTCs from vac schemes. Can you advise? Also, my application currently has pre-populated with my answers for my application to the Open Day which I was not successful for. Should I tweak my responses to the question for the training contract/vac scheme?

Also, for this question 'Please use the space below to provide details of any careers events you have attended e.g. insight days, workshops, presentations etc. These do not need to be White & Case specific' should we go into detail about the event in terms of what we learned from it or just list them?

Thanks so much!

 

[DavidJC]

@Abbie Whitlock Hi Abbie, I know I've asked a similar question before, but would be grateful for any insight you might have into this! I'm debating whether to apply for White & Case's vacation scheme or direct training contract. I'm undecided because as a career changer, I would rather use my annual leave for firms that recruit exclusively from their vac schemes. W&C seem to recruit around 80% of their DTCs from vac schemes. Can you advise? Also, my application currently has pre-populated with my answers for my application to the Open Day which I was not successful for. Should I tweak my responses to the question for the training contract/vac scheme?

Also, for this question 'Please use the space below to provide details of any careers events you have attended e.g. insight days, workshops, presentations etc. These do not need to be White & Case specific' should we go into detail about the event in terms of what we learned from it or just list them?

Thanks so much!

I remember asking Grad Rec specifically about this question at a Legal Cheek event. They said to include 5 or 6 items in response to that answer, write in prose and explain very clearly what you learned or enjoyed (whether through doing something or otherwise). Ideally, the firm should be of similar calibre to W&C (probably practice areas/sectors too but I did not ask about this), without a need to link it back to being a trainee at W&C

 

[Prudentia]

I remember asking Grad Rec specifically about this question at a Legal Cheek event. They said to include 5 or 6 items in response to that answer, write in prose and explain very clearly what you learned or enjoyed (whether through doing something or otherwise). Ideally, the firm should be of similar calibre to W&C (probably practice areas/sectors too but I did not ask about this), without a need to link it back to being a trainee at W&C

Thank you so much for this!

 

[baj5]

anyone have any recs on how long the cover letter for Perkins LBA is supposed to be? And are we meant to answer just the two qs? I'm struggling to decide.

 

[Singh241]

Has anybody heard back from Freshfields about their DTC AC?

 

[charlotte1704]

Have an invite for shakespeare VI - are the questions personal or firm research oriented

 

[solicitor_2028]

Anyone heard from Slaughter and May for their DTC application? I applied right before the deadline and haven't heard anything back yet.

 

[Superfrozone]

anyone have any recs on how long the cover letter for Perkins LBA is supposed to be? And are we meant to answer just the two qs? I'm struggling to decide.

Hey, I was part of the first cohort for their vac scheme and I did one page for the cover letter. I did their AC last year for the LBA programme was unsuccessful after my interview but still happy to offer any advice if you need it

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock Hi Abbie, I know I've asked a similar question before, but would be grateful for any insight you might have into this! I'm debating whether to apply for White & Case's vacation scheme or direct training contract. I'm undecided because as a career changer, I would rather use my annual leave for firms that recruit exclusively from their vac schemes. W&C seem to recruit around 80% of their DTCs from vac schemes. Can you advise? Also, my application currently has pre-populated with my answers for my application to the Open Day which I was not successful for. Should I tweak my responses to the question for the training contract/vac scheme?

Also, for this question 'Please use the space below to provide details of any careers events you have attended e.g. insight days, workshops, presentations etc. These do not need to be White & Case specific' should we go into detail about the event in terms of what we learned from it or just list them?

Thanks so much!

Hi!

These are some great questions! On the vacation scheme / DTC point, it might help to think about what you actually want from the application. A vacation scheme is often as much about you testing the firm as it is about them assessing you, whereas a DTC is more appropriate if you know you are interested in the firm and can confidently articulate this during an assessment centre. Therefore, as W&C offer a large proportion of their TCs to their VS' participants, I'd weigh up the various factors, such as: how confident you are in expressing your genuine motivations to the firm, whether you'd benefit from seeing and being at the firm before committing, and how motivated you are towards W&C compared to other firms (in relation to annual leave). There isn't a 'wrong' choice at all - I ultimately ended up failing to convert three VS' but converted my only DTC application, so I'd try to filter out the statistics and odds if you can!

On the pre-populated answers, I would definitely revisit them rather than leaving them. Even if the questions are similar, the purpose of your application has changed and it is always good to refresh your answers when you can. Make sure that your answers are clearly tailored to the vacation scheme / DTC, and whether there is anything you can add that demonstrates your motivations or research. This doesn't mean you have to start from scratch - especially since your underlying motivations won't have necessarily changed! I would just go in and tweak your answer where you can, as it is always useful to go back over your previous answers with a fresh perspective.

For the careers events question, I would avoid just listing unless there is very limited word count. You don't have to go into loads of detail: I'd name the event and briefly flag one specific insight or skill that you gained that is transferable to law or relevant to W&C's work. This shows that you have reflected on the experiences, rather than attended them just to add them as a tick-box to an application.

I hope that helps - best of luck with the application decision!