TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[CupOfTea17]

Hey guys, is there anyone who got a TC during their first cycle? Wondering if is it really possible if you are not an oxbridge, head of law society etc type of candidate

Hey, I'm not one of those people who have managed that. It is possible! But for most people it might take a few cycles! So don't feel disheartened if you haven't converted. I am on my second cycle now and I have received 3 ACs and 1 VS (so far! ), but in my first cycle I didn't progress through a single second stage for any of my applications.
Don't worry if you don't get anything this round essentially! (Although I'm sure you are more than capable of getting it!)

 

[radssss]

Heyy. No problem haha I applied on the 3rd April did the online test and then got a PFO a couple weeks later I think!

Thank you!! I did the online test on 26th March and haven’t heard back :/

 

[amb303]

Hey, I'm not one of those people who have managed that. It is possible! But for most people it might take a few cycles! So don't feel disheartened if you haven't converted. I am on my second cycle now and I have received 3 ACs and 1 VS (so far! ), but in my first cycle I didn't progress through a single second stage for any of my applications.
Don't worry if you don't get anything this round essentially! (Although I'm sure you are more than capable of getting it!)

I second this! I'm an Oxbridge PhD finalist and cycle 2 is going better than cycle 1 but I think multiple cycles is very common, as TC's are brutally competitive no matter what your background is.

 

[biglawslave]

Could someone advise if Macfarlanes' 2-stage online tests are automatic?

Pretty sure it's after passing a benchmark on the first one!

 

[joy.grace]

Hello! Does anyone have any advice for the AC and final stage interview at Russell-Cooke? Thank you!

 

[MZJxLadha]

Thank you!! I did the online test on 26th March and haven’t heard back :/

Ooo good luck! I’m sure you’ve done well

 

[MZJxLadha]

Hello! Does anyone have any advice for the AC and final stage interview at Russell-Cooke? Thank you!

Congrats!! Good luck.

 

[Gregglt]

Any news on Shoosmiths following online test?

 

[Maddy]

Any response from bakers today?

 

[tozziesss]

Any response from bakers today?

the day has just begun

 

[gayathri28]

Has anyone heard back from Pennington Manches Cooper? I believe their deadline was in March end and it has been more than a month now :/

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst, Bakers or SH, or are they acc gna take until 2035 to send us post app updates? Gna assume PFO atp…

 

[abc124]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst, Bakers or SH, or are they acc gna take until 2035 to send us post app updates? Gna assume PFO atp…

Wth happened with bakers they sent one batch and silence

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Withers first-stage interview! If anyone has any tips or insights I’d be really grateful and happy to share insights into other firms!

 

[letsdothis]

does anyone have any idea what the final interview with Irwin Mitchell will look like?

 

[Irishman11]

MacFarlanes job simulation

 

[Bridget1130]

If anyone has done / has an upcoming Insight Day with Irwin Mitchell, please could you offer some insights or reach out for a quick chat? Even if you haven’t done it yet but have one coming up like myself, I would love to see what others are expecting from the day as it all seems so ambiguous.

Mine is on Thursday how about yours? I think it will be more of a culture check to be honest

 

[letsdothis]

Mine is on Thursday how about yours? I think it will be more of a culture check to be honest

Mine is next Tuesday. I just hope it's not smth awfully complicated like a case study

 

[adfs456]

Has anyone ever successfully come off a Bristows DTC waitlist list?

 

[Bridget1130]

Mine is next Tuesday. I just hope it's not smth awfully complicated like a case study

I really don’t think it will be. They have prided themselves on having a strengths based process the entire way through so I really doubt they would change so drastically. Even the wording on the website which is about making sure we are the right fit for each definitely lends it self to checking motivations and values and things like that more than anything