Thank you and yes! I got invited to the SJT on the 9th of April and completed it yesterdayCongratulations!Just to clarify, was this after the sjt?
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
It's interesting they changed the format of the exercise from proof reading to written exercise
I did the proof reading exercise 2 weeks ago. Anyways good luck!
Oh sorry!! It is the proofreading task, just skimmed the email, my badIt's interesting they changed the format of the exercise from proof reading to written exercise
Anyways good luck!
Could someone dm with tips and tricks on an e-tray excercise? Or more broadly, if they have any tips for an RPC AC? (Especially if specific to Bristol)
it doesn't matter, their application system is trash and doesn't reflect how SQE works, I reported it to them but they don't care and just want money from law firms and don't fix bugs. either one is fine - just choose the higher one!
I think a sentence or so of “so what”/ reflection could be useful? Especially for non legal examples—at least that’s what I do—I’m sure there’s not one correct way
Hey!
I would always recommend writing your work experience in prose (unless the firm states otherwise) as it allows you to add depth to each experience and make sure that the graduate recruitment team fully understands the context of your role, rather than expecting them to piece it together from bullet points.
In terms of structure, I would keep it quite simple and follow a structure such as:
- Start by clearly setting out what your role was and the context (e.g. the team, practice area, and type of work the organisation does)
- Then explain your main responsibilities in the role, but in a way that shows depth rather than just listing tasks
- Finally, and most importantly, highlight the skills and insights you gained and explicitly link these to how they would be useful as a trainee solicitor
I always liked to think of it as telling a short story or blurb about your work experience - outlining what you did, what you learned, and why that matters for a trainee role
Hi has anyone heard back from KN since the holding email?
Has anyone done a VS AC before and also done a TC AC before? Was there a substantial difference in your experience/ what you feel they're looking for? Any advice on how to do well for DTC ACs despite having failed VS ACs?
Feel free to DM too - happy to hear from different perspectives and experiences!
(because I assume at VS ACs, they're more willing to take a risk on a candidate because there is a 2 week "interview" (VS) afterwards right? is the DTC AC higher standards?)
Feel free to DM too - happy to hear from different perspectives and experiences!
(because I assume at VS ACs, they're more willing to take a risk on a candidate because there is a 2 week "interview" (VS) afterwards right? is the DTC AC higher standards?)
Applied for Akin ME TC; just received Capp - does anyone know if this is automatic?
I’m assuming we will hear tomorrow by end of work day but who knows!
Has anyone heard from Bakers or SH post app for DTC? Idk if I can assume they’re PFOs yet…
Haven't heard anything from baker yet :/
Hey!
I have done both, and I would say that DTC AC's typically do have a higher benchmark as the firm isn't able to assess you over an extended period of time like a VS. This can sometimes mean that the standard of performance is higher, and I have found that they usually include additional tasks as well (to assess you across more competencies).
With a vacation scheme AC, as you mentioned, the firm knows that they'll have a couple of weeks to get to know you, so there is sometimes a bit more room for potential. They can see how you work in practice, how you take feedback, and how you develop over time. With a DTC AC, they don't have that follow-up period, so they are usually looking for things to come across more clearly on the day.
In practical terms, I found that this means your answers need to be more polished and well-formed. Your motivations should feel really clear and backed up with evidence (e.g. why commercial law, why this firm, why you), your competency examples should be a bit more developed and structured, and your commercial awareness should come across in a more practical and applied way - instead of just showing that you know what is going on, you need to be able to explain why it matters for clients or the firm. They aren't expecting lots of legal experience, but they are expecting you to show how your experiences have made you suited to the role of a trainee solicitor at this specific firm.
On the VS vs DTC point, I do think it is fair to say that firms can take slightly more of a "wait and see" approach with vac schemes, whereas with DTC they need to be a bit more confident upfront. However, I don't think that means that the bar is wildly different, and plenty of people who don't convert a VS AC go on to succeed at a DTC AC (myself included - and I don't think of myself as particularly confident in those sorts of assessments!).
If you have had a VS AC that didn't go your way, I always found that these were really valuable in shaping how I prepared for the next one. Things such as being more structured, more concise, and a bit more deliberate in how you link your answers back to the firm and its work are all little things that can make a huge difference. There is absolutely no reason why you would fail to convert a DTC AC just because you might not have converted a VS AC in the past - different firms have different benchmarks, and it might just be that you weren't the right fit at the time (+ you might be for this firm!).
I hope that offers an alternative perspective, but happy to chat about it further if you have any other questions!
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