TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[xMontmorency]

I feel like this might be more of a question you should put to recruiters or more experienced people within the profession ...

Hi, so I got rejected from nearly all TCs I applied to this cycle, but got an offer in my home country. I plan to try and shift laterally to these UK firms now after gaining some work experience in my home country ...

Depends entirely on what firm and what jurisdiction. Common associate pipelines to UK firms are Australia, NZ, Canada, Greece, US, Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong. Get a role in a good firm in one of those countries and your chances are pretty good, as long as you're a good lawyer. If you're already qualified, being admitted as a solicitor in the UK isn't too hard. I don't think the lateral associate market is as competitive as the Disgruntled SQE Student suggests - firms need lots of associates to bill clients, and associate attrition is quite high in general.

Obviously, it's not a walk in the park. Lots of people want to make the move, so there is competition for the best spots.

The biggest problem is that you need to fit the kind of skills and experience the UK firms are looking for. Being a property lawyer or pensions lawyer in a foreign jurisdiction isn't very useful. I would say the following foreign qualified lawyers are quite sought after:

- US-qualified finance lawyers. There's a ton of American, Greek and Italian lawyers in the UK who specialise in high yield bonds.
- Projects and project finance lawyers. Soooo many Australians. Very little actual law involved. Deals are all international.
- Arbitration and PIL lawyers. Goes without saying.
- EU / Competition lawyers. Can qualify in any EU jurisdiction then make the switch. Lots of UK competition partners go between London and Brussels.

Bonus points if you do a UK LLM in one of these fields after having qualified abroad.

Regarding having been rejected for TC, I second @Disgruntled SQE Student 's answer. It is not going to make a difference.

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Depends entirely on what firm and what jurisdiction. Common associate pipelines to UK firms are Australia, NZ, Canada, Greece, US, Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong. Get a role in a good firm in one of those countries and your chances are pretty good, as long as you're a good lawyer. If you're already qualified, being admitted as a solicitor in the UK isn't too hard. I don't think the lateral associate market is as competitive as the Disgruntled SQE Student suggests - firms need lots of associates to bill clients, and associate attrition is quite high in general.

Obviously, it's not a walk in the park. Lots of people want to make the move, so there is competition for the best spots.

The biggest problem is that you need to fit the kind of skills and experience the UK firms are looking for. Being a property lawyer or pensions lawyer in a foreign jurisdiction isn't very useful. I would say the following foreign qualified lawyers are quite sought after:

- US-qualified finance lawyers. There's a ton of American, Greek and Italian lawyers in the UK who specialise in high yield bonds.
- Projects and project finance lawyers. Soooo many Australians. Very little actual law involved. Deals are all international.
- Arbitration and PIL lawyers. Goes without saying.
- EU / Competition lawyers. Can qualify in any EU jurisdiction then make the switch. Lots of UK competition partners go between London and Brussels.

Bonus points if you do a UK LLM in one of these fields after having qualified abroad.

Regarding having been rejected for TC, I second @Disgruntled SQE Student 's answer. It is not going to make a difference.

I can definitely see where you're coming from. My own experience with the competitive market comes almost exclusively from the challenges faced by some NQ and 2 PQE friends of mine who have tried to move laterally. Firms do need a lot of associates, but the market at the moment is so saturated that NQs aren't even being kept on their training firms. The idea that a foreign qualified NQ who would need to convert would fit the bill over their own trainees is a little alien to me. Not to mention that there are many smaller firms that do not sponsor, so one's target firms will be reduced and competition narrowed to that of big international firms. That being said, specialist markets demand specialist people and for all of your mentioned KPAs, being a dual qualified lawyer can really be an asset. Especially for firms with lateral pipelines, PM, HL, HSFK and so on, it may very well be exactly as you say.

 

[tc2026]

Hi can anyone share some advice or insights for kennedys VI? I would really appreciate it x

 

[Florencejones]

How did everyone find the Kennedys VI?

 

[TCGrad1642]

When clicking on the Freshfields secodn stage assessment that I did a while ago, it says this period has expired even though im 100% sure I submitted it. Does anyone else have this issue and if not, should I email grad rec?

 

[yasmars]

When clicking on the Freshfields secodn stage assessment that I did a while ago, it says this period has expired even though im 100% sure I submitted it. Does anyone else have this issue and if not, should I email grad rec?

It’s probably because you completed the test a while ago and therefore the test period has expired. I wouldn’t worry.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

When clicking on the Freshfields secodn stage assessment that I did a while ago, it says this period has expired even though im 100% sure I submitted it. Does anyone else have this issue and if not, should I email grad rec?

@TCGrad1642 this is probably just a boilerplate notice from the fact the test link isn’t active anymore, as in the deadline has passed. It won’t necessarily mean you haven’t submitted, but simply that the test itself is no longer actively available.

Personally, I’d find it confusing too - so I would advise emailing graduate recruitment just to confirm that they’ve received your test submission - no harm in double checking.

 

[dlc3266]

Hi guys, for a firm like Perkins where the cover letter length is not specified, would two pages be alright? Especially since they’re asking two separate questions

 

[p8]

CC Assessment Centre coming up later this month and im soooo nervous as it is my first ever AC and its for a direct TC so any advice would be appreciated and if anyones attended a CC AC before (successful or unsuccessful) id really appreciate any insight!!

 

[lucky888]

Does anyone have any insights for Clifford Chance Assessment Centre?

 

[radssss]

How did everyone find the Kennedys VI?

I think because it was so simple, it’s going to be so much more competitive to make it to the ac

 

[nicoledm]

I think because it was so simple, it’s going to be so much more competitive to make it to the ac

How long did you have to prep for each question

 

[radssss]

How long did you have to prep for each question

30 secs. But u get 2 chances to record in total.

 

[tryingmybestlol]

Hi everyone!
I know this is a thread for applications but I cant find anything anywhere else and this thread is very active so hoping someone can help!

I have secured a TC in London with the SQE commencing this September. I do not live in London so will need to relocate.
My question is, how are people affording this and does anyone have any advice of where in London I will actually be able to afford to live? 😭

Firm pays a £13k grant and I can apply for post graduate student finance. But I will have no family help and I am really worried about being able to afford rent more than anything else.

Any help or advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[elle woods]

CC Assessment Centre coming up later this month and im soooo nervous as it is my first ever AC and its for a direct TC so any advice would be appreciated and if anyones attended a CC AC before (successful or unsuccessful) id really appreciate any insight!!

Does anyone have any insights for Clifford Chance Assessment Centre?

hey! if someone wants to create a joint PM thread I'm happy to share my insights from my AC last year!
Joint PM thread because I don't really want to be repeating myself more than once lol

 

[BM99]

hey! if someone wants to create a joint PM thread I'm happy to share my insights from my AC last year!
Joint PM thread because I don't really want to be repeating myself more than once lol

Thank you! Just opened: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/clifford-chance-ac-discussion.10101/

 

[M123]

AG's critical thinking test was so hard

Did it follow the True/False/Cannot Say format?

 

[hanz123]

Did it follow the True/False/Cannot Say format?

one element was that yeah

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Hi guys, for a firm like Perkins where the cover letter length is not specified, would two pages be alright? Especially since they’re asking two separate questions

I did one and a half pages but at a Zero Gravity event it was said that up to two pages is fine

 

[xMontmorency]

Hi everyone!
I know this is a thread for applications but I cant find anything anywhere else and this thread is very active so hoping someone can help!

I have secured a TC in London with the SQE commencing this September. I do not live in London so will need to relocate.
My question is, how are people affording this and does anyone have any advice of where in London I will actually be able to afford to live? 😭

Firm pays a £13k grant and I can apply for post graduate student finance. But I will have no family help and I am really worried about being able to afford rent more than anything else.

Any help or advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Depending on where you are, 13k just about covers your rent (maybe even with utilities). Find a flat outside of central but with tube connections. Ideally rent with 1-3 other people - the more roommates the more you spread the cost.

In terms of areas to search, I'd recommend:
- Either end of the northern line (tooting, morden, high barnet, woodside park, colindale)
- Elephant & Castle / Bermondsey
- Angel / Islington
- The west end of the central and elizabeth lines (ealing, ruislip, hounslow)
- Stratford

Obviously depends on budget and vibe tho ofc. I might try to avoid North East London and places like Lewisham, Peckam and Whitechapel.

Defo apply for whatever finance you can get. Might be worth asking your firm if they offer interest-free loans for SQE students (some do). If you have a job rn try saving up as much as you can.

Get a part time job while studying. Waitressing, bartending, paralegaling, retail, anything. If you have experience, try walking in and handing your CV to one of the bars and restaurants around soho, covent garden, camden, brixton or the City - they are often hiring and pay quite well.