TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[hmevey]

Hey guys, with application answers if the word count is 500 words or 300 words, is hitting 50 so words under e.g. 420 or 230 sufficient or should you bump this up. I feel like ive said everything i want to say but not sure if this means im not saying enough? any help would be appreicated!

 

[loch_sk]

Freshfields Stage 2 Job Simulation!

 

[Irishman11]

If we haven't heard from Travers by now is it likely a PFO?

 

[DavidJC]

If we haven't heard from Travers by now is it likely a PFO?

It's only been a week since the deadline and I think there's only three of them in the team manually going through every application so I wouldn't say so.

 

[Irishman11]

It's only been a week since the deadline and I think there's only three of them in the team manually going through every application so I wouldn't say so.

I mean, they have been reviewing them on a rolling basis and people who applied on deadline day have been invited to interview. But I guess maybe they're just picking exceptional people first or something.

 

[WeGotThis!]

For those who completed the A&O DTC VI, how many questions are there and are they motivational or competency? Thank you!

 

[milawalton]

Has anyone heard back since Stage 2 of the Freshfields Trainee Associate programme

 

[milawalton]

Has anyone heard back from Hogan Lovells Direct TC?

 

[Irishman11]

Out of interest how many words did you guys do for your Travers Smith cover letter?

 

[flower1]

Hello, has anyone done the Clifford Chance VI - I tried to find information on their website about format but there's not much

Thank you

 

[ashwright]

Might just be me being technologically inept, but I can't find a 'back' button on the A&O Shearman application portal to look at previous parts of my application? If I press the 'Back' button at the top, it just takes me to the application portal homepage. I can only see 'Save and continue' and 'Save and finish later'...

Any advice before I start re-entering all these entries for a third time?

 

[law123456789]

I submitted FF test one on Nov 5th and got stage two on Nov 10th, so 5 days between them. Think they send the tests in batches though so it could be more or less time for others.​

Really confused - what are the stages for FF? I've submitted my written app today.. what can I expect?

 

[Superfrozone]

Out of interest how many words did you guys do for your Travers Smith cover letter?

I did close to the max word count

 

[Ben14014]

Hello, has anyone done the Clifford Chance VI - I tried to find information on their website about format but there's not much

Thank you

Have you got an invite yet ? They’re not sent until December

 

[GUt02]

Out of interest how many words did you guys do for your Travers Smith cover letter?

I did about 700ish words

 

[flower1]

Have you got an invite yet ? They’re not sent until December

I haven't - I was just wondering because I was looking through the firm's website and couldn't find anything

 

[Bob142]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

 

[Irishman11]

I did an interview with Slaughters so thought I would be able to get interviews with more firms, but doesn't seem to be working out that way. I think there is a bit of randomness to this whole thing.

 

[Bread]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

I did an interview with Slaughters so thought I would be able to get interviews with more firms, but doesn't seem to be working out that way. I think there is a bit of randomness to this whole thing.

Hi, would you mind sharing when you applied? Thanks

 

[Irishman11]

Hi, would you mind sharing when you applied? Thanks

I did Slaughters in the last cycle, for 2027. I applied like a week before the deadline or something, and did my interview in September. I was waiting like 7 weeks in total.

Edit: 7 weeks after applying until interview.