-
Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
man guys, I thought I was doing so much better this week in terms of posting less.. just checked leaderboards and yep there i am 😭
Has anyone heard back from A&O after their direct TC AC? Sincerely, impatient haha
From what I've heard, the last AC was on Monday, so I doubt they'll get back this week, much less today lol
At the very soonest it may be Friday, but I would assume it will be early next week.
That's based off how long they took to get back to us for the vac ACs - best of luck!
VI for CMS (finally haha)
This week has been so bad for rejections that I can’t even imagine a world where Frehsfields give me an AC 😂my brain can’t even comprehend the idea of good news
No, this is the only one I’m genuinely so disappointed in, I applied 16th November and still no news, haven’t got an online assessment invite, I exceed the entry requirements and there is nothing on my application form to stop me progressing, gutting mate
Need some advice re tutoring…
Are any of these admissions tutors legit? Would love someone to look over my applications and do some interview practice, but I’m wary of being scammed.
Also, any I’ve seen seem to specialise in corporate/commercial, and I am only looking at private client firms (small-medium).
Thanks in advance!
Are any of these admissions tutors legit? Would love someone to look over my applications and do some interview practice, but I’m wary of being scammed.
Also, any I’ve seen seem to specialise in corporate/commercial, and I am only looking at private client firms (small-medium).
Thanks in advance!
You're literally the most prolific poster here lol. I see your name in every other comment - it's very impressive to be honest.
Does anyone know whether the Hill Dickinson question is asking for which 'team' we would be interested in e.g. business services, health or marine group. Or is it asking which 'team' meaning seat e.g. real estate, family, commercial disputes. I'm a bit confused by the wording and originally I was drafting an answer for the business services group but then I started to question whether it was actually answering the question:
As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups.
Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why? ( 250 words)
As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups.
Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why? ( 250 words)
Hi, looking for some genuine advice here as I’m considering whether to continue applying or not. I’m an international applicant (based out of the UK) and so far, have received 8 rejections in TCs. This is my second cycle and in the earlier one, I only made it to one AC with a firm which had a dedicated intake program for applicants from my country. I have mitigating circumstances (conflict in my home country leading to the passing of a distant relative) due to which I couldn’t secure the minimum requirements for a lot of UK firms. The circumstances also impacted me enough to take a gap, due to which I only entered Uni 4 years after high school. I feel the lack of good A Levels, coupled with the gap and me being an international applicant, practically eliminate me from getting a TC. I’m scared, exhausted and dejected, because I’ve done extremely well in university (graduating first class with distinction) and interned with several Band 1 firms in my country across both transactions and contentious practice areas. From attending events to gaining work experience to maintaining first class grades, both in Uni and before my A Levels, I feel like nothing matters and I won’t get a TC. I’m asking for insight whether to even continue applying or not, since I’m not sure any firm will even look past the four year gap and low A Levels atp.
Hi, I'm not an expert but I would be really surprised if a four-year gap due to personal circumstances would matter. I don't think this is the kind of thing firms care about to be honest with you. People take several gap years before starting university for various reasons. As for your A-levels, I would just focus on the many, many firms that don't have A-level requirements. Your university grades are the most important thing anyway. I don't think you should give up applying at all, I think you have a strong grade profile from university and lots of experience. Perhaps focus on your application strategy/quality of your written applications. That's what made the difference for me to help me start getting past the first stages for law firms. Best of luck.
AC offers didn't go out until mid-end of Jan in the last application cycle. PFOs have already been going out post stage 2 though.....
Hi, I don't often post on here but felt the need to respond to this. I hope you won't take anything I say as either gospel, or an indication on you as person or as an applicant.
Keep your chin up. If there's one thing in the world that you have control over it is your own ambition. Measuring yourself against quantifiable metrics that may or may not be better or worse than others is a great way to discourage yourself from achieving your dreams. The process of applying to law firms in this country is not easy, for anyone. There's no amount of priviledge that automatically opens doors for you, it is why the qualifying age is near 30. Competition is high, places are low and the constant demoralisation doesn't help. The only thing you can do as an applicant is keep that chin up and continue grafting.
That being said, it is unfortunate that your position makes it especially hard. I saw a post on here the other day about a list of firms that takes international sponsored TCs, there aren't many. Furthermore, 8 rejections is quite frankly nothing. Many people will go through 25++ rejections before landing even one AC. I'd say the fact that you have made it to 1 AC in two years and 8 applications is actually quite a strong showing all considered.
As for your mitigating circumstances, there's no one on here that can read the mind of graduate recruitment and tell you that it is enough or not enough to be considered. Some firms will unfortunately be very harsh and automatically extinguish you on the back of not good A levels. Others will consider it character building and really like to know your story and how it defines how badly you want to become a lawyer. It's a toss up. The fact that you have progressed to graduating first class with distinction as well as interned with Band 1 firms undoubtedly works in your favour despite the A levels.
Don't demoralise yourself on the back of 8 rejections, that's rookie numbers. I know people that graduated from their LLB 10 years ago, had bits and bobs on their CV before getting their life together and confidently applying who are now working for some big PE American firms. No one's story is set in stone.
Maybe some practical tips. Look beyond TCLA, Legal Cheek and Chambers Student. They are very useful but there's also a vast number of other firms out there who are both operating at a very high level and don't receive many applicants. Firms like Wilmer Hale have a 3 month arbitration internship despite not taking TC's. Applying to solely the top 10 most firms list on Legal Cheek is a great way to bunch yourself in with the rest of the pack. Once you've done that, have a think about the number of applications you are submitting. Unfortunately, those who say quality over quantity aren't in touch with reality. It needs to be both quality and quantity. Spit out 25 applications this cycle, you can still do that. Once you think you can't go on, do more. If some firms offer both VC and DTC, do both. The game isn't over until you're ready to give up.
Hope this helps.
Similar threads
- Sticky
