TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[EzeLaylor]

does anyone know how many trainees does white and case take through the DTC route on average?

If it helps, I applied to direct TC last year and got to the final stage. There were about 2 ACs held (could’ve been more but I only know of two) with around 6- 8 candidates in each.

I think that’s a healthy number given their high TC conversion from their vacation schemes

 

[LegallyStressedOut]

Sorry just confirming white and case is non rolling for DTC?

 

[traineewannabe]

Anyone heard back from Winckworth yet post first interview?

 

[lawyersum]

Anyone who passed the app stage for White & Case this cycle or any cycle for a vac scheme/TC - was your cover letter exactly or very near to 1000 words? I find the word limit quite intimidating, especially as on paper it would take it over one page...Would love to hear any advice

 

[Amma Usman]

Sorry just confirming white and case is non rolling for DTC?

Hey. It’s non-rolling - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....lines-2024-25-training-starting-in-2027.9085/

 

[Chris Brown]

Anyone who passed the app stage for White & Case this cycle or any cycle for a vac scheme/TC - was your cover letter exactly or very near to 1000 words? I find the word limit quite intimidating, especially as on paper it would take it over one page...Would love to hear any advice

I think the 1,000 words figure is more of a guide than a specific target you must hit. In my cover letter, I think I wrote around 800 words, including a brief introduction and conclusion. I got past the application stage this cycle for Spring / Summer VS. Best of luck with your White & Case DTC application. 😀​

 

[Amma Usman]

Hill Dickinson Insight Day and TC interview!! This is the furthest I've ever made it ahh very happy

Hey,

Huge congratulations on this!

I’ve provided some tips below:

1. Motivational Interviews

Motivational questions test whether you have a genuine and well-thought-out reason for pursuing a legal career and joining the firm you're applying to. Some common questions are:

• Why Law?

This is often asked early on, so it’s important to have a solid, genuine answer. You should show a broad interest in the legal profession beyond any specific area. It’s okay if your interest in law came from a variety of influences. What matters is how you connect them to your current ambition.

• Why Commercial Law?

Interviewers sometimes ask this immediately after "Why Law" to see if you can clearly distinguish between different legal paths. Make sure your answer shows you understand what commercial law actually involves and how it's different from, for example, criminal or family law. For me, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but my interest in commercial law developed through new experiences like open days and legal internships in corporate environments. That evolution of interest shows growth and awareness.

• Why This Firm?

Show that you've done your research, not just by browsing the firm's website, but through real engagement. This could include attending events, speaking to trainees or associates, or reading about recent deals. Back up your answer with specific examples. For instance, maybe you scheduled a coffee chat with a current associate who helped you understand the firm's culture and client approach.

• Why This Firm Over Others?

This is where a lot of candidates get caught. Don’t just list features that many firms share, such as international reach or practice areas. Instead, talk about how the combination of their work, values, people, training structure, and your own goals make this firm a better fit for you than other similar ones. A holistic view shows real consideration and maturity in your decision-making.



2. Situational Interviews


Situational questions, also called competency-based questions, assess how you think, react, and solve problems. Examples:

• Tell me about a time you worked in a team
• Describe a time you overcame a challenge
• Give an example of when you had to show leadership

Tips:

• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
• Be specific. Vague or generic stories don’t land well.
• Choose examples that showcase commercially relevant skills like communication, adaptability, initiative, time management, and attention to detail.
• Where possible, reflect at the end of your answer by explaining what you learned and how it will help you as a future trainee.

In summary, back up every point with real, personal experiences, even small ones like sending a LinkedIn message to someone you admire or attending a niche event others might overlook. These examples humanise you and show proactivity.


Best of luck. I know you’ll do really well in the interview.

 

[Amma Usman]

Anyone who passed the app stage for White & Case this cycle or any cycle for a vac scheme/TC - was your cover letter exactly or very near to 1000 words? I find the word limit quite intimidating, especially as on paper it would take it over one page...Would love to hear any advice

In situations like this, I would personally say it’s not always necessary to hit the word count. Sometimes thinking too heavily about this even made me waffle, but you will want conciseness in a cover letter. If you are able to back up your points and experiences well, and in less than the 1k mark, then there is no reason why you will not be progressed. I have written cover letters in 600-800 words, where there was that 1k limit, and still got progressed. The key is conciseness. It always boils down to conciseness and specificity in your writing.

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi everyone! BCLP's application form doesn't have a question on extracurriculars or other achievements - should I cover activities that weren't work experience in the traditional sense like moot courts, publications, uni society work etc. under the work experience section or just leave them out? I will include some of them in the 4 additional questions anyways but not all.

 

[lawyersum]

I think the 1,000 words figure is more of a guide than a specific target you must hit. In my cover letter, I think I wrote around 800 words, including a brief introduction and conclusion. I got past the application stage this cycle for Spring / Summer VS. Best of luck with your White & Case DTC application. 😀​

In situations like this, I would personally say it’s not always necessary to hit the word count. Sometimes thinking too heavily about this even made me waffle, but you will want conciseness in a cover letter. If you are able to back up your points and experiences well, and in less than the 1k mark, then there is no reason why you will not be progressed. I have written cover letters in 600-800 words, where there was that 1k limit, and still got progressed. The key is conciseness. It always boils down to conciseness and specificity in your writing.

Thank you both very much!

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi everyone! BCLP's application form doesn't have a question on extracurriculars or other achievements - should I cover activities that weren't work experience in the traditional sense like moot courts, publications, uni society work etc. under the work experience section or just leave them out? I will include some of them in the 4 additional questions anyways but not all.

Also regarding BCLP, is filling out the max 250 words per WE description necessary? Some of mine are 150-200 words only and adding more would feel redundant.

And is it a good idea to divide some WE descriptions into two paragraphs but not others? - certain roles I did had multiple dimensions to them but others were more homogenous. I wonder if it might be an issue that not all WE descriptions are identical.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

 

[Alturistic whale]

Has anyone done the BCLP online test and received their feedback report?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone! BCLP's application form doesn't have a question on extracurriculars or other achievements - should I cover activities that weren't work experience in the traditional sense like moot courts, publications, uni society work etc. under the work experience section or just leave them out? I will include some of them in the 4 additional questions anyways but not all.

I would generally recommend sticking to what the section is asking for you, so if it is only asking for work experience, just focus on that rather than extracurriculars, especially if you are going to highlight these elements elsewhere.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Also regarding BCLP, is filling out the max 250 words per WE description necessary? Some of mine are 150-200 words only and adding more would feel redundant.

And is it a good idea to divide some WE descriptions into two paragraphs but not others? - certain roles I did had multiple dimensions to them but others were more homogenous. I wonder if it might be an issue that not all WE descriptions are identical.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

No - for some experiences that are either short in nature or have limited responsibilities, I would not expect to see the full word count utilised. It is just there for instances when it is needed.

 

[yk123489]

Withers PFO

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Withers PFO

Same

 

[trainee4u]

Same

Sorry to hear that - they sent out interview invites on 19 May, and I think the deadline was yesterday to book an interview, so I guess the PFO follows the resolution of that.

 

[James Wakefield]

Anyone still waiting on Mayer Brown post app...?

 

[yk123489]

Any Dentons post-app invites for DTC?

 

[Andrei Radu]

epic, Andrei. Just one follow up question here. I actually didn't get the point of london being a status quo choice in international commerce. my interest is in cross-border M&A, so how does it matter what the choice of jurisdiction is? In transactional cross-border work, other than the dispute resolution clauses in SSAs, SHAs, where else does London have an influence? I'd be grateful if you could pls clarify.

In international transactions, parties normally have a right to choose (i) which courts have jurisdiction over any disputes arising from the transaction; and (ii) which country's laws should govern the transaction. Normally, parties prefer that the two coincide, in that each court is best equipped to judge a dispute on the substantive laws of the jurisdiction it operates in, but it sometimes does happen for the two to separate (e.g. English courts to have jurisdiction to hear the case but to have to judge the claim based on French law).

Now, to come back to your question - essentially, London is a legal hub for cross-border M&A because the majority of major of non-US-centered international transactions are governed by English law and are under the jurisdiction of English courts. This is so firstly for historical reasons, with the UK having been the dominant power in international commerce in the 18th and 19th centuries, which led to English law becoming the dominant system of laws chosen to govern international contractual relations. The second and more important reason is that English law is greatly respected by businesses for its focus on predictability and commerciality (particularly when compared to rival civil law systems), and English courts are greatly respected for their political independence and general approach to solving disputes in a commercially-sensible manner. English courts are also seen as being highly experienced in dealing with cross-border cases, as they have been the dominant historical forum they have been heard in - creating a virtuous cycle.

How is all this relevant for cross-border M&A? As explained, companies and banks generally like the predictability of English law, and anyway have a general preference to choose English law to govern the transaction if they are to include an English dispute resolution clause. Thus, in practice, English law is the status quo choice of governing law for cross-border M&A even when the deal has no connection whatsoever to England. If English law is going to govern most international M&A deals, buyers and sellers will have to get English commercial law firms to advise them in the transaction. If you have an interest in working on as many of these transactions as possible, this will naturally make London a very attractive place for you to practice law in.