TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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.

 

[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

 

[whywhy88]

Should I expect PFO from Freshfields if I’ve not gotten a stage 2 invite after over 2 weeks?

Nope! Took over a month after I did stage 1 for me to receive stage 2. Don't give up hope!

 

[Superfrozone]

Does Clifford Chance send the WG automatically or..?

 

[yk1906]

Does Clifford Chance send the WG automatically or..?

Yes. Some people wait a day or two tho

 

[Irishman11]

Did you get an offer? 🙏

No. Not surprised though, I had never interviewed at an English law firm before so it was challenging.

 

[PFO King]

Hi, I just wanted to check if these two motivational questions are completely different, "why do you want to be a commercial lawyer" and "why do you you want to be a commercial lawyer at x firm". I am just confused as to how different these questions are? I understand that one has to be majorly about my personal experience and motivation and the other requires research into the firm as to why specifically at x firm but how much should I focus on the motivational aspect of being a commercial lawyer and how much should I focus on the firm itself? or is it that I should just focus on the firm and not mention why I want to be a lawyer . hope this makes sense

 

[kts17]

Guys can anyone confirm if we need to put every grade individually in the Gowling WLG application? It’s not clear to me.