I'm not Abbie, but in my view, securing a VS would mean that you are desirable on the market!! Which is a great thing, and I think law firms want strong candidates. It's also completely normal to apply to many firms; it doesn't undermine your motivation for a particular one. Goodwin even asks you which other firms you have applied to.
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
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Hi! I'm a non law applicant and just received a DTC interview invite today. I applied on 23/10.
It’s going to be around January and February I believe
I applied to Fieldfisher 16th November (3 weeks and 5 days ago) and still nothing bruh, not even a test invite, defo exceed the entry requirements, I feel like emailing them asking for a pfo😂
- Sep 9, 2024
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I completely agree with @yk1906 and can confirm that both in my experience and in the experience of many other successful candidates I know, when an applicant has VS offers from a competitor, firms often end up taking a more positive view rather than a negative one - to the extent that, at times, the dynamic of the interaction can change from you trying to convince them to offer you a role to them trying to connive you to choose their offer rather than the competitor's.
Nonetheless, in the off chance your "why the firm" motivation was strongly scrutinised in reference to you choosing another VS, an explanation that can often work well is along the lines of "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush": ie you had an interest in nothing firms (although you liked Ashurst more) but the competitor offered you a VS before they did, which was then an opportunity you rationally had to take, irrespective of how strong your interest in Ashurst was.
Has anyone heard from Willkie post-app since the deadline? I applied the day before the deadline, I wasn’t aware that it was semi-rolling 😬
They’re rolling to the extent that they review our apps and video interviews on a rolling basis. All apps are reviewed regardless of when they were submitted. Same for video interviews. The third stage is a written exercise which I don’t think is going to happen until late Jan. Idk for sure.
I applied around early Nov and haven’t heard back yet but that’s down to (i) change in the grad recruitment team and (ii) introduction of further checks and balances to the recruitment process. It’s almost Xmas so there will be some delays with hearing back post app if you sent it later in Dec.
I applied around early Nov and haven’t heard back yet but that’s down to (i) change in the grad recruitment team and (ii) introduction of further checks and balances to the recruitment process. It’s almost Xmas so there will be some delays with hearing back post app if you sent it later in Dec.
Could anybody provide me with more information on freshfield's second stage? this is my first direct TC application, and there's not information anywhere on how their VI works, how the questions are set up or how close this is to the AC
The Willkie process was impressive. If I recall correctly, I got an invitation to the VI on the same day as I submitted the written application, which was amazing! Unfortunately, my post-VI rejection arrived a few days ago.
Serves me right for over-preparing, I suppose. I'm trying to stop treating VIs like I'm recording a video lecture for my students. But its hard to give up on the day job!
hi how do you prepare for cappfinity tests? any resources, websites etc would be great to know. Also i dont understand how you're really meant to succeed at these tests because each law firm is different and they may place importance on different qualities so there's not really one correct answer - if that makes sense?
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Those who have completed Freshfields stage 2 did you get a confirmation after? Because I did not and I am slightly worried. Thanks
Silly question, could we put Legal Cheek WVS on our DTC app if we weren't able to attend their competitive open days since they didn't facilitate it virtually @Abbie Whitlock.
I feel like WVS is more intense than just short course that Forage offer which may better suited for VS?
I feel like WVS is more intense than just short course that Forage offer which may better suited for VS?
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not necessarily true, sometimes they just cancel the VS and give out TCs only w/o running vac scheme, they tend to pool the applications
I recently met with some partners and senior associates at A&O Shearman last week (my current employer is one of their clients). Even they said that a lot of the recruitment processes when it comes to training contracts/vacation schemes is down to luck. So if you get rejected at application stage, try not to take it personally. Interview stage is a different matter. They also had a very, very dim view of US firms which makes me wary about applying for them now.
Could you please elaborate on what sort of dim views they had?
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