TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[oliviabeijing]

Omg I want CMS to put me out my misery if its a PFO

 

[doodllaw29]

anyone heard from freshfields (post-test2) or kirkland DTC (post-VI)?

 

[testing123]

Hi! Quick question, what is the policy around emailing lawyers at firms before applying? Is this something that is considered annoying, or encouraged (assuming you have something to say haha)

 

[Shiv Lawy]

Hello if anyone has done Macfarlanes Stage 1 for DTC, do they send Stage 2 fast or take their time?

Very fast within the day for me

 

[Prudentia]

Hi! Quick question, what is the policy around emailing lawyers at firms before applying? Is this something that is considered annoying, or encouraged (assuming you have something to say haha)

There’s no policy. You’re free to email whoever you like. Just be mindful that they may not response. I’ve reached out to lawyers and partners throughout this process, and all of them (bar one) have been really responsive and happy to help.

 

[cos]

Hi! Quick question, what is the policy around emailing lawyers at firms before applying? Is this something that is considered annoying, or encouraged (assuming you have something to say haha)

I find it better to message on LinkedIn! I found a trainee at a firm I applied for and asked for advice for an AC (which I have not yet been invited to haha) and they sent me heaps of advice, although they did have something on their linkedin already welcoming aspiring solicitors to get in contact! I just find seems less invasive than using their work emails

 

[oliviabeijing]

I

Has anyone emailed CMS about when regional applicants expect to hear back?

Did you email in the end?

 

[livelaughlawve]

Hi for the firm I got my tc with, on the feedback call they mentioned they liked my honesty on the question “why this firm”.

I essentially said I could get the same experience at 5 other us firms and that at a trainee level objectively the work would be the same. The way I differentiated why Sidley over say Kirkland or PW etc was that I went really in on my experience so far with the firm and how the cultural fit fits me a lot more. Obviously in my answer I had just done the vac so had examples to point to to where I experienced the firms culture which might be harder to pinpoint on a dtc route. In this context you could mention the direct contact you’ve had with grad recruitment, the partners interviewing you, any trainee exposure you got etc

Edit* I got a tc this cycle as well from a SC firm through their DTC route and used this approach. I did end up going for the firm I did my vac with but my answer remained largely focused on culture for both processes

Thanks, that is very interesting. So did you only talk about your experience with the firm rather than quoting things like matters, USPs etc? Was this through talking about their initiatives and so on and explicit examples, or just the feeling you got?

 

[Rads]

Very fast within the day for me

I took it yesterday, for VS they were quick, should I be assuming PFO?

 

[rohing99]

How do firms actually make offer decisions after an Assessment Centre?
I’m curious how decisions are typically made once candidates reach the AC stage.
Do firms still take a genuinely holistic view at that point (e.g. academic record, prior experience, overall trajectory), or is the decision largely driven by AC performance itself?
More specifically:

• Are candidates scored numerically across exercises (case study, interview, group task, etc.) with certain exercises weighted more heavily?
• If so, do different exercises carry different weight (e.g. case study vs competency interview)?
• Or is there still a degree of discretion and qualitative discussion when deciding who receives offers?

Interested to hear perspectives from trainees, associates, or anyone involved in the recruitment process.

 

[msclm]

Thanks, that is very interesting. So did you only talk about your experience with the firm rather than quoting things like matters, USPs etc? Was this through talking about their initiatives and so on and explicit examples, or just the feeling you got?

I legit said “I like the vibes here” in my final interview lmao

By the time you are at a final stage, the “why law” or “why this firm” becomes less important IMO

 

[confusedbird]

Thanks, that is very interesting. So did you only talk about your experience with the firm rather than quoting things like matters, USPs etc? Was this through talking about their initiatives and so on and explicit examples, or just the feeling you got?

I know I'm not that person but I second their opinion that quoting these things gets less important (especially if its post a vac scheme). If you do want to mention them, you could potentially frame your answer in two parts with - "This is why I applied" as one section where you quote this info and the second section as "This was my experience and now my motivation has just increased".

Honestly, sometimes they might just ask you a question like what surprised you about the firm based on what you knew before the vac scheme and now that you've done it rather than ask the typical why firm question.

 

[confusedbird]

Interview related - Can anyone point me in the direction of a "model answer" for interviews for a "why this firm" question. I have been told in previous interviews that my reason for rejection is not being firm-specific enough. I think I have improved on this, but I really have nothing to compare it to...

Something that might be missing in your answer could be your enthusiasm while answering the question. I would've said mention practice areas, initiatives etc but you've already improved on those aspects per your later post.
Something not a lot of people realise is that just the way you say the answer could make someone either think you know a lot about the firm and are genuinely passionate or think that the answer is not firm-specific enough despite the content of both answers being EXACTLY the same.

 

[qaz99]

Anyone do the CMS AC today (london)? How was it?

 

[Lawlawland]

Applied for Slaughter on the last day and I have not Heard from them yet... IDK if my application was so bad they don't even wanna send me a PFO

 

[livelaughlawve]

Something that might be missing in your answer could be your enthusiasm while answering the question. I would've said mention practice areas, initiatives etc but you've already improved on those aspects per your later post.
Something not a lot of people realise is that just the way you say the answer could make someone either think you know a lot about the firm and are genuinely passionate or think that the answer is not firm-specific enough despite the content of both answers being EXACTLY the same.

OK thank you, so more "YAY" and less "I am trying to impress you and not throw up with nerves at the same time". Practice practice practice!

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

I JUST GOT A HEART ATTACK!

Slaughter and May holding email for DTC just arrived. Maybe someone here who said they'll get back to us in March is true, fingers crossed.

 

[confusedbird]

OK thank you, so more "YAY" and less "I am trying to impress you and not throw up with nerves at the same time". Practice practice practice!

Definitely! Also, if you feel like you've built up enough rapport with your interviewers, you can actually say you're nervous. I did that for the firm I have a TC with and all it did was make me sound more like a person and helped them connect with me. I have definitely not done that in the other 4 or so final stages I've done before because that comfort/connection/rapport was missing imo.