TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[ILauw]

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? 😵‍💫

If you click through all the way, the penultimate page lets you edit certain pages before submitting your application.

 

[Tcmaker]

Like a week and a bit, maybe 9 days

Like a week and a bit, maybe 9 days

Did you get an offer? 🙏

 

[yk1906]

Hi All, I am a 2025 U.S. law school grad who recently relocated to the U.K. with plans to become a solicitor. I obtained the right to work this month and began my applications for direct training contracts. I received the Stage 1 Freshfields Online Assessment and as I understand, it does have a critical reasoning/mini-WG component.

Does anyone have any tips on preparing for the assessment as someone new to this process?

I feel like if you prepared for the LSAT and did well, you should be good. It's pretty similar. Try starting with practice tests (you can find one on Freshfields and Clifford Chance websites). Also, Freshfields WG was not crazy difficult, at least in my view

 

[Amgrad]

Hi All, I am a 2025 U.S. law school grad who recently relocated to the U.K. with plans to become a solicitor. I obtained the right to work this month and began my applications for direct training contracts. I received the Stage 1 Freshfields Online Assessment and as I understand, it does have a critical reasoning/mini-WG component.

Does anyone have any tips on preparing for the assessment as someone new to this process?

Hey American grad here too, but non-law. I didn't apply to Freshfield London, but the 5-week London-Asia vac scheme. It has different application process, so I can't help.

 

[Lamosophia41]

Just completed freshfields stage 2 I actually enjoyed the test and did not find it hard or intimidating. Willing to share tips etc with anyone who has done the Weil test!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Silly question, but let's say you get a TC offer from firm A and firm B. You accept the firm A offer and reject firm B, telling firm B that you have rejected them because you accepted a TC elsewhere.

Then firm B asks you which firm's offer you accepted instead, so you tell them that you accepted an offer from firm A.

Why does firm B want to know where you went instead, and would firm B verify this with firm A?

Hello!

Not a silly question at all!

There could be a variety of reasons why the graduate recruitment team have asked, but it's most likely to see which firms they are losing talent to and who they are competing with in the market. For example, if they are constantly losing candidates to the same few firms, they may look at what those firms are doing and try to implement new opportunities to stand out