• WIN: Lunch with Willkie Trainees!
    15 Oct 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Put your knowledge of Willkie Farr & Gallagher to the test in this interactive quiz session. The winner will enjoy lunch with Willkie trainees!
    Register on Zoom →
  • 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 →

Direct TC Application - how much legal experience required?

BuddingLawyer

Distinguished Member
Jul 10, 2023
70
30
Hi
As a penultimate year law student, I am looking to divide my applications between VS and direct TCs. For TC applications, what is the minimum bar for legal experience that firms expect ? I did 2 continuous weeks of full time internship in small law firm (in Yorkshire) during summer. Apart from that I volunteer as a social media assistant for a small law firm as well as a couple 2 week law internships during high school. That's about it. Will my direct TC application be binned ?

Thanks.
 

TCLA Community Assistant

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,526
21,761
Hi
As a penultimate year law student, I am looking to divide my applications between VS and direct TCs. For TC applications, what is the minimum bar for legal experience that firms expect ? I did 2 continuous weeks of full time internship in small law firm (in Yorkshire) during summer. Apart from that I volunteer as a social media assistant for a small law firm as well as a couple 2 week law internships during high school. That's about it. Will my direct TC application be binned ?

Thanks.
Unfortunately there is no answer to this. Many firms may expect over 4 weeks legal work experience but others will expect 0.
Some firms value non legal work experience as much as they value legal work experience too. If you are ever unsure, I would ask the firm you are wanting to apply to.
 

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.

Newsletter

Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.