TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[yk1906]

Has King & Spalding opened their apps?

 

[GT1205H]

Has anyone received a pfo or interview invite from Slaughters recently

Nothing here, I'm also waiting

 

[x_law2004]

can anyone help, im a current pgdl student and will sit sqe1 in jan 2027, do i apply for a&o's 2027 or 2028 training contract? I've emailed but had no reply

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

can anyone help, im a current pgdl student and will sit sqe1 in jan 2027, do i apply for a&o's 2027 or 2028 training contract? I've emailed but had no reply

2028. You should look at their website where it states the 2027 TC begins in March...

 

[Tcmaker]

Does anyone know generally how long will it take for Slaughters to come back to our application with either a rejection/interview invite?

I think two weeks

 

[yk1906]

I think two weeks

More... I applied in early October and am still waiting for an outcome, just like many others... Also, some people on this forum said they waited around 7 weeks

 

[Deek14]

Thank you!
I have just submitted my application. Fingers crossed, I receive the test soon!

I just completed my online assessment. Managed to do everything before the deadline. Thank you so much to all those who replied to me this morning and gave me insights!

 

[x_law2004]

2028. You should look at their website where it states the 2027 TC begins in March...

I have read it. It was just a question to double check as it also says graduates currently completing the PGDL, which I am

 

[Amgrad]

Why there is no pillar about the score on A&O Amberjack feedback report?

 

[WeGotThis!]

I scored a low in numerical reasoning, high in verbal reasoning and good/excellent across other areas of the Amberjack for A&O. Is it going to be a direct rejection considering the low or is there a ray of hope?

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

I have read it. It was just a question to double check as it also says graduates currently completing the PGDL, which I am

Right, but hopefully you realise that unless you're able to sit and pass both SQE 1 and 2 by March 2027, as per their website, then you should be applying for 2028...

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

I scored a low in numerical reasoning, high in verbal reasoning and good/excellent across other areas of the Amberjack for A&O. Is it going to be a direct rejection considering the low or is there a ray of hope?

Definitely still hope I'd say. The rest of your scores are really good and they'll also look at your VI responses as well as grades and work experience. I doubt they'll auto-reject you based off of one tiny data point.

 

[x_law2004]

Right, but hopefully you realise that unless you're able to sit and pass both SQE 1 and 2 by March 2027, as per their website, then you should be applying for 2028...

Okay i'm sorry it was genuinely just a question, some people just want some extra clarity as they second guess things :')

 

[PFO King]

are there any tips on video interviews? I feel like preparing for them the same way one would approach a written application is not going to cut it. even though 2 minutes seem like a good amount of time to put your points through and one should be concise. for questions like why x firm and what are skills you consider important for success, how do I approach this? if this was written application I would give three reasons for why x firm and then go onto answering qualities in a concise manner. with VI I am struggling to do the same, I'm running out of time and I also don't want to come off as rehearsed.

 

[ILauw]

Did anyone get to FF Stage 2 after submitting the Stage 1 assessment just minutes after the deadline?

 

[Prudentia]

Finally hit submit on my first DTC application for this cycle to Clifford Chance! That application took me about a week even though the application questions amounted to about 600 words.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

are there any tips on video interviews? I feel like preparing for them the same way one would approach a written application is not going to cut it. even though 2 minutes seem like a good amount of time to put your points through and one should be concise. for questions like why x firm and what are skills you consider important for success, how do I approach this? if this was written application I would give three reasons for why x firm and then go onto answering qualities in a concise manner. with VI I am struggling to do the same, I'm running out of time and I also don't want to come off as rehearsed.

Hello!

Video interviews definitely feel different from written applications, but the good news is that you don't need to overhaul everything - it's more about adapting your structure so it fits naturally into 1-2 minutes and doesn't sound scripted.

For questions such as "Why X Firm", I would try choosing two strong and specific reasons instead of the three you might write in an application. Give a sentence or two on why each reason matters to you (with reference to your past experiences or future goals), and then end with a short line linking it back to your motivations. This keeps your answer natural and stops you from sounding overly rehearsed.

For skills or qualities questions, you don't need to list everything. Pick one or two key qualities, give a very brief example, and connect it to why it matters in the role. This should be more than enough information for a VI question.

The method that really helped me was preparing bullet-point prompts rather than full scripts. When I tried to memorise whole paragraphs, I sounded robotic and would lose my place or talk too quickly. With quick prompts in the form of bullet-points, you can stay structured but it still feels conversational. I also kept a small "example bank" in mind, and before completing the VI, wrote down my main experiences and discussed what skills were displayed in each. This meant that I wasn't scrambling to think of examples under pressure, and I could pick the experience that suited the question best.

There are also a few resources on TCLA that are super useful and I would check out - you can find the video interview section of the TCLA Wiki here, and I would really recommend Andrei's post in particular!

I hope that assists!

 

[Vdfrz]

I applied on the 21st September.

heya! When did you apply? I applied today lol

 

[Vdfrz]

Hey American grad here too, but non-law. I didn't apply to Freshfield London, but the 5-week London-Asia vac scheme. It has different application process, so I can't help.

Hey! Who is eligible for it? From the website it seems like you need to study in china? Or am I tripping. Also, are you allowed to apply to both the trainee associate and the London Asia scheme?

 

[Vdfrz]

I did close to the max word count

Heard back yet? From what I saw - I think they mostly recuirt vac schemers.