TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[ew0513]

Hi everyone!

I am thinking of applying directly to TCs this year and want to get an idea on my realistic chances. I am quite new to these types of applications so thought it would be best to ask here.

For context, I graduated with a high 2:1 non-law degree from Oxbridge in 2023. I went straight into a graduate scheme at a Big4, working in real estate. I have worked on a number of technical projects which have quite a big law aspect, including preparing documents for and supporting at tribunals. By doing this, I have realised that whilst my passion is real estate, I’m more interested in pursuing it from a fully legal angle. I have had legal work experience pre university at two firms, but my experience during university and since has been more finance/consulting based.

As I am still working full time and can’t undertake other paid work ruling out vacation schemes, and don’t want to leave my current job without something else lined up, I am thinking of applying directly to TCs, especially as I have related work experience. I have done a couple of virtual work experiences and attended some virtual open events, but again I can’t really take days off work to go to full open days. Is getting a TC with this background realistic? Or would I be better off applying to vac schemes?

Advice or insight from all would be much appreciated! @ZNadeem @vera.mekhonoshina @Amma Usman

 

[anyonymous2001]

Hi everyone!

I am thinking of applying directly to TCs this year and want to get an idea on my realistic chances. I am quite new to these types of applications so thought it would be best to ask here.

For context, I graduated with a high 2:1 non-law degree from Oxbridge in 2023. I went straight into a graduate scheme at a Big4, working in real estate. I have worked on a number of technical projects which have quite a big law aspect, including preparing documents for and supporting at tribunals. By doing this, I have realised that whilst my passion is real estate, I’m more interested in pursuing it from a fully legal angle. I have had legal work experience pre university at two firms, but my experience during university and since has been more finance/consulting based.

As I am still working full time and can’t undertake other paid work ruling out vacation schemes, and don’t want to leave my current job without something else lined up, I am thinking of applying directly to TCs, especially as I have related work experience. I have done a couple of virtual work experiences and attended some virtual open events, but again I can’t really take days off work to go to full open days. Is getting a TC with this background realistic? Or would I be better off applying to vac schemes?

Advice or insight from all would be much appreciated! @ZNadeem @vera.mekhonoshina @Amma Usman

I'd focus early on applying to firms like Slaughter and May, Travers Smith, Irwin Mitchell, Simmons Simmons which have early TC applications (Slaughter interview on a rolling basis quickly so get in application ASAP). In applications leverage your experience and the insights that has given you to show your professional aptitude for a TC. Working at Big4 will have given you the scope of working on large projects and developing key client skills.

Ensure to combine this with very good reasons, well thought-out reasons for transitioning to a legal career at this stage and what aspects of the law excite you more than what you have done up to this point. With your experience if you can combine these two nicely you should be in a good position.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Nothing like Faegre Drinker rejecting me for 2027 TC when they already rejected me for it last cycle 😂

 

[amrita6399]

Is there a checklist with firms that have opened/opening for the DTC?

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi everyone!

I am thinking of applying directly to TCs this year and want to get an idea on my realistic chances. I am quite new to these types of applications so thought it would be best to ask here.

For context, I graduated with a high 2:1 non-law degree from Oxbridge in 2023. I went straight into a graduate scheme at a Big4, working in real estate. I have worked on a number of technical projects which have quite a big law aspect, including preparing documents for and supporting at tribunals. By doing this, I have realised that whilst my passion is real estate, I’m more interested in pursuing it from a fully legal angle. I have had legal work experience pre university at two firms, but my experience during university and since has been more finance/consulting based.

As I am still working full time and can’t undertake other paid work ruling out vacation schemes, and don’t want to leave my current job without something else lined up, I am thinking of applying directly to TCs, especially as I have related work experience. I have done a couple of virtual work experiences and attended some virtual open events, but again I can’t really take days off work to go to full open days. Is getting a TC with this background realistic? Or would I be better off applying to vac schemes?

Advice or insight from all would be much appreciated! @ZNadeem @vera.mekhonoshina @Amma Usman

There are a lot of firms (including some big ones) that have direct TC applications only. So I wouldn’t worry too much. One thing tho is that you have to convince the recruiters that you’re truly committed to a legal career and this can be demonstrated by attending open days, volunteering in clinics, shadowing, taking their free online workshops, etc.

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi everyone!

I am thinking of applying directly to TCs this year and want to get an idea on my realistic chances. I am quite new to these types of applications so thought it would be best to ask here.

For context, I graduated with a high 2:1 non-law degree from Oxbridge in 2023. I went straight into a graduate scheme at a Big4, working in real estate. I have worked on a number of technical projects which have quite a big law aspect, including preparing documents for and supporting at tribunals. By doing this, I have realised that whilst my passion is real estate, I’m more interested in pursuing it from a fully legal angle. I have had legal work experience pre university at two firms, but my experience during university and since has been more finance/consulting based.

As I am still working full time and can’t undertake other paid work ruling out vacation schemes, and don’t want to leave my current job without something else lined up, I am thinking of applying directly to TCs, especially as I have related work experience. I have done a couple of virtual work experiences and attended some virtual open events, but again I can’t really take days off work to go to full open days. Is getting a TC with this background realistic? Or would I be better off applying to vac schemes?

Advice or insight from all would be much appreciated! @ZNadeem @vera.mekhonoshina @Amma Usman

Hi! That’s a really impressive background! I’d say that unless you’ve already done vacation schemes, it would be better to focus on those first. Most firms recruit mainly through their schemes, so applying would put you in the strongest position. You could try aiming for summer schemes where you can use some saved-up annual leave.


That said, if attending a scheme truly isn’t possible, then absolutely go ahead and apply directly for TCs—you’ve got relevant experience that you can highlight.

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi everyone!

I am thinking of applying directly to TCs this year and want to get an idea on my realistic chances. I am quite new to these types of applications so thought it would be best to ask here.

For context, I graduated with a high 2:1 non-law degree from Oxbridge in 2023. I went straight into a graduate scheme at a Big4, working in real estate. I have worked on a number of technical projects which have quite a big law aspect, including preparing documents for and supporting at tribunals. By doing this, I have realised that whilst my passion is real estate, I’m more interested in pursuing it from a fully legal angle. I have had legal work experience pre university at two firms, but my experience during university and since has been more finance/consulting based.

As I am still working full time and can’t undertake other paid work ruling out vacation schemes, and don’t want to leave my current job without something else lined up, I am thinking of applying directly to TCs, especially as I have related work experience. I have done a couple of virtual work experiences and attended some virtual open events, but again I can’t really take days off work to go to full open days. Is getting a TC with this background realistic? Or would I be better off applying to vac schemes?

Advice or insight from all would be much appreciated! @ZNadeem @vera.mekhonoshina @Amma Usman

Hi @ew0513,

It definitely sounds like you have a lot of interesting commercial experiences! They will have the potential to become a solid foundation for answering questions about your motivations for transitioning into commercial law, substantiating your interest in real estate as a practice area, and illuminating the skills and qualities you'll bring to the role.

To answer your question, you will definitely have a shot at securing a training contract through the direct TC route, but you will need to be purposeful about crafting really strong responses to such questions as 'Why commercial law?'

I also think that firms do expect a higher standard of understanding of the world of commercial law from direct TC applicants - this would include the type of work commercial lawyers in different practice areas do, the role of a trainee, and key differences of working for a commercial law firm as opposed to in-house, etc.

Finally, the disadvantage of applying only to direct TCs is that your pool of firms will be smaller, and you will face competition from vacation scheme participants, to whom the firm might give preference.

In short, it is definitely realistic to secure a TC this way. I wish you the best of luck in your applications!

 

[TCLA0322]

CC still not have their app link, or only me cannot find it.😭

 

[ashwright]

Hey there, @ashwright!


I love your positive mindset and fighting spirit - keep it up!


When it comes to writing great work experience entries, I would recommend focusing on describing the specific things that you did in each of your roles - this is the one part of the application where you don’t need to link your actions to the firm! I would actually advise against it, as it would take away the valuable space that you can use to describe each of your experiences in more depth.


You also don’t really need to use STAR unless you choose to highlight a specific situation that happened to you within a particular work experience. In that case, you would use STAR to structure a sentence where you would be highlighting the skills that you gained from a specific event or situation.

Here are some of my other top tips for writing a good work experience section:

• Use metrics to showcase your achievements. For example, if you had a hospitality position, how many customers did you serve per day? You want to make sure that you include metrics in each of your work experience entries.
• Details and specificity will make your application stand out. For example, if you worked as a research assistant, you would want to specify what specific research you completed - I’m talking actual names of regulations/ procedures/statutes!
• Use simple and precise language and pay attention to the length of your sentences. You want to make it easy for the recruiter who will be reading your entries to understand exactly what you did in every single role. A good test is to have someone who is not familiar with your professional experiences to read through your work experience entries and explain back to you how they understood each of your roles!

I hope this helps

Hi! I echo the great advice above by Vera. Just to add: it’s not necessary to explicitly list skills for every experience, as this can be overwhelming and take up space that could be better spent describing your role and what you actually did in projects or tasks. The skills will usually come through naturally from the way you describe your responsibilities and achievements. Focusing on concrete actions and outcomes makes your experiences feel more authentic and impactful.

Thank you guys so, so much!! I really appreciate your responses - I will make sure to prioritise specificity and concision when writing my responses. It's really helpful to know that I don't need to explicitly state skills (e.g., doing task X means I am organised!); I can imagine that GR would find it boring & artificial after a while.
Thank you for your kindness & support!

 

[qwop881]

Is it worth reapplying to Slaughter and May with one more vacation scheme, a rewritten cover letter, and an earlier submission date? For reference, I had three legal placements last I applied and submitted late Oct. Or do they just not like my profile (3.84/4.0 GPA from US uni and 66% masters from top UK uni )

 

[ZNadeem]

Is it worth reapplying to Slaughter and May with one more vacation scheme, a rewritten cover letter, and an earlier submission date? For reference, I had three legal placements last I applied and submitted late Oct. Or do they just not like my profile (3.84/4.0 GPA from US uni and 66% masters from top UK uni )

Hi! It’s definitely worth reapplying — Slaughter and May allow it, and I know of people who were successful on their second attempt within the same cycle. With the added experience, a stronger cover letter, and an earlier submission, you’d be showing real progression.

 

[yk1906]

Any news from CC? They haven't opened their apps yet...

 

[noahsmiit01]

Just email them at this point

 

[Bread]

Any news from CC? They haven't opened their apps yet...

I checked online and they moved their application opening date to next week