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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

W&C PFO post SJT. 2 rejections in a day!

Iron Man Eye Roll GIF
guys idk why my prayers answered early
Ah. Stunning Ashurst PFO just made its way through. A day early!
same as Ashurst and possibly Baker McKenzie or White & Case post SJT
i was hoping they will come back tomorrow, not today 😆
 
Another question.

What is the best way to answer the following:

1) If you didn't know the answer to a client queston, how would you respond? and
2) Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

Thanks in advance
Hey!

For Question One, I would avoid giving an answer stating that you would just "guess" or give a solution that you weren't confident in - the client would absolutely rather that you take a moment to think about the steps you'd take and why. Usually firms want to hear that you'd be honest, manage the client relationship professionally, and then take steps to find the correct answer.

So, for example: "I'd avoid giving inaccurate advice off the top of my head. I would acknowledge the question, let the client know I'd like to check the position properly, and then either research it myself or speak to a supervisor/colleague before coming back to them promptly"

An answer such as the above shows traits such as honesty, attention to detail, and a willingness to ask for help where appropriate - this is generally much better than pretending to know everything, particularly as a trainee!

For Question Two, I think this is usually just an opportunity to mention anything important that hasn't naturally come up elsewhere. For example, you could use it to highlight a key experience or skill that you haven't been able to mention, or explain something contextual in your application. Equally though, if you feel that you have covered everything already, it is also completely fine to say something fairly short and polite rather than forcing in new information for the sake of it.

I hope that assists! :)
 
How do you actually answer when is a time you failed ?
Hi!

I'd say that with the "tell me about a time you failed" question, firms are usually much more interested in your self-awareness and how you responded afterwards than the actual failure itself.

You don't need to pick some huge catastrophic failure, but I also wouldn't choose something that sounds overly polished or like a disguised strength (e.g. "I work too hard"). Usually, the strongest answers are situations where something genuinely did not go to plan, you took accountability for it, and then you changed something in your approach moving forward.

A structure that I would always try to follow is to explain:
  • What happened
  • Why it didn't go well
  • What you learned from the experience, and
  • What you changed afterwards
For example, you might try to display traits such as resilience, accountability, and the ability to reflect and improve - these are all essential traits for a trainee. Therefore, the "what I learned" part is usually more important than the failure itself.

Some examples that come to mind are things such as:
  • Not preparing effectively for something
  • Struggling with workload management initially
  • A group project that did not go well
  • An unsuccessful application/interview cycle
  • Underperforming in a module or exam compared to expectations.
By way of an example, I always used to discuss my rejection from an AC in my second-year at university, and discussed that my feedback had highlighted I lacked commercial awareness. By choosing this example, I could discuss things such as BIUCAC and my internships in the following years to show that I had taken steps to improve in that area, and how I had changed my approach as a result.

The key is to make sure that the ending is constructive and shows growth, rather than leaving the story open-ended or on a negative note :)
 
I have a Summer Vac Scheme at a US Law Firm. But I still wanna increase my chances of landing a TC this year so I am applying to DTCs.

Do you think I should mention my Upcoming VS in my applications or would that do more harm than good?
Hey!

Congratulations on the vacation scheme!

I personally think this is a matter of preference - when I applied for my DTC last year, I mentioned my upcoming vacation schemes in my work experience section as they would become more relevant at the later interview/AC stages.

However, I can't imagine it makes a huge amount of difference either-way (+ is very unlikely to do harm), so I would go with the approach that you feel most comfortable with :)
 
During a VI, if you go onto another tab on your laptop during the preparation time e.g. to research or to look at notes, does this flag in their system/look bad?
Hi!

I'd say that it really depends on the structure of the VI itself and what the firm has explicitly said about the preparation time. If it is unlimited prep time, I think what you said is generally fair - it is likely fine to have notes/open tabs in the background, as long as you are not actually looking away or switching tabs during the recording itself. I did a similar thing during a VI with unlimited prep time in the past and was still progressed, so I think it is unlikely to negatively impact your score.

If it is limited prep time though, I'd personally say it is probably not the best use of time to be Googling or switching between tabs. You would be better off using that time to quickly structure your answer so that it is clear and concise when you start recording.

Either way, I'd always prioritise sticking to any explicit instructions that the firm gives, just to be on the safe side! :)
 

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