• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now 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.
    Join Premium →
  • Office Hours with BCLP (Live Q&A)
    17 December 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Hosted on TCLA TV
    Join Isabel Elsey, Legal Recruitment Manager at BCLP, for a live Q&A session. Get details on secondments, innovation, growth areas, and everything else you’ve wanted to ask about life at BCLP!

    📺 View Event →

Search results

  1. Ram Sabaratnam

    Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2024-2025

    Hiya @alfyundercat A&O Shearman typically has both vac scheme and direct training contract routes. As their recruitment process has undergone some changes since their merger, it's difficult to say what proportion of their trainees come directly through the vac scheme versus the direct training...
  2. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @Poppypops124 First of all, congratulations on both offers! That's no small feat! I don’t think there’s a universally right answer here. As you've indicated yourself, both options have clear advantages. I think that if you’re considering this as a question of which firm is better, you’ll...
  3. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @whywhy88 While you could resubmit the same application, I'd encourage you to try and update the statement even slightly. Most firms expect applicants to show that they’ve developed their thinking or deepened their understanding of the firm and its work since their last application. That...
  4. Ram Sabaratnam

    Full time SQE - is there a Christmas break ?

    Hiya @LawyerInMaking The maintenance funds are not subject to income tax/tax. You will take your maintenance allowance free of tax 🥳
  5. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @Hanzeeb, Yes, it is possible to secure a training contract through the direct TC route without having done a vacation scheme. While it’s less common (many firms do recruit primarily through their schemes or expect candidates to have some vacation scheme experience), there are absolutely...
  6. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @trainee4u If you applied for the summer vacation scheme during this cycle in February, you unfortunately won't be able to apply for the direct training contract application which closes at the end of this month (you would in effect be making two applications in the same cycle). You can...
  7. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @badmintonflyinginsect Having been in a similar position myself, I can say that it's highly unlikely that firms will sponsor a visa for a vacation scheme. Most firms expect applicants to already have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme, and I've rarely (if ever)...
  8. Ram Sabaratnam

    Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

    Hi @zsofiadara! I've just DMed you. Please respond whenever you can, and I will try to get this sorted for you :)
  9. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @BillSikes The test is sent out to candidates if they have passed the application form stage. From my understanding, it is not automatic. It's called the Future Potential Assessment and involves some numerical and verbal questions, as well as situational based judgment questions...
  10. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @trainee4u If you're unsuccessful with your first application you can definitely reapply, but Stephenson Harwood only allows you to apply once in every recruitment window. I think you should definitely consider reapplying if the main reason you didn't get through this cycle was because of...
  11. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @AS24 TCLA had a question bank, which included some scenario based questions. I've attached them below for your reference: What would you do if a client asked you to do something which you didn’t think was the best move for them to make? What would you do if you have a flight to catch...
  12. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hiya @ilovegardening1111 Highly recommend the posts by Andrei that @Chris Brown mentioned. In terms of your question, I’d encourage you to focus on the firm’s competitors in London, as that’s the market you'll be training and (most likely) qualifying into. While it's tempting to only discuss US...
  13. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @linkedinwarrior245 Happy to discuss this if you still need help. Feel free to DM me :)
  14. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Charles Leclerc Just wanted to add to what @legallady123 has already insightfully said in response to your question. I don't think your grades will necessarily be an issue. Many firms understand that first year can be a difficult adjustment, and what matters is how you’ve responded...
  15. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @x_lauren112 Not necessarily, since firms don’t always release outcomes all at once. It’s possible you’re still under consideration, or they’re just moving more slowly than expected (which, to be fair, happens a lot). Once the deadline they've sent passes, I think you can send a polite...
  16. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    THIS! No Russell Group? No perfect grades? Didn't stop you and you nailed it! Big, big congratulations!! Also appreciated the emphasis you put on showing kindness and choosing collaboration over competition during your vac scheme. Hope you can rest easy for a few weeks and enjoy the win 🥳
  17. Ram Sabaratnam

    Would love to retrain to be a solicitor

    Hiya @RgA Really glad to see more career changers on this forum (especially those coming from public service backgrounds!). 20 years in policy and government certainly gives you a wealth of transferable skills. As mentioned in my previous response, it might be helpful to get some exposure to...
  18. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hiya @Kakaboo Not necessarily. If the firm has a waitlist/reserve list, then an offer will normally be made to someone on that list. However, if there is no one on the waitlist, the firm will often bring someone forward in a subsequent application cycle. Good luck if you're still waiting to...
  19. Ram Sabaratnam

    Planning to crack SQE

    Hi @Jasmene We don’t have SQE notes available for download, but if you let us know what specifically you’re looking for (e.g. help with understanding the SQE exams, choosing a course provider, or tackling a particular SQE topic), I'd be more than happy to point you in the right direction or...
  20. Ram Sabaratnam

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Fantastic work @mfuturetrainee! I've seen you grind and improve and keep going! This is what happens when you don't quit!!! Well done!!!

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.