• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • How to Stand Out in Law Firm Interviews (Willkie)
    3 Dec 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Willkie’s new graduate recruiter and two trainees will break down what the firm looks for at the interview stage, common pitfalls to avoid, and how you can demonstrate confidence, clarity, and genuine motivation throughout an assessment centre.
    Register on Zoom →
  • Live Chat with BCLP’s Graduate Recruiter
    Today · 5:30 pm (UK) Hosted by Isabel Elsey Live Q&A on applications & interviews
    Join us for a live Office Hours session with BCLP’s Graduate Recruitment team. This is your chance to ask Isabel Elsey your specific questions on how to write a standout vacation scheme application and what BCLP looks for during interviews and assessment centres. Get clear, practical advice directly from the person who reads and assesses applications.
    Join live session →

TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Bread

Legendary Member
Jan 30, 2024
192
298
Why would they lie? If they didn’t want to answer the question they could have just ignored the email until the outcome was communicated.
Probably because it makes them look unprofessional for candidates to find out outcomes before they inform us. Also, since they said “w/c December 8”, they might want to let all candidates hear back at once and when they say.
On their page, smart recruiters say that archived is tantamount to rejection :(
 

yasmars

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Jan 1, 2021
413
647
In case this is helpful to anyone, this is how my application which was rejected last year (edited for anonymity) looks side by side with my seemingly active application:

View attachment 7422
Thanks for the case study. I think it could be plausible to think that archived means rejected.
 

Amgrad

Legendary Member
Oct 2, 2025
192
232
the only way i know is to go onto the solicitor apprenticeship application, click apply, log into the portal and then check the dashboard for ur dtc app!! lol
Just checked it says still under review and I am applying for 2028 TC. I'd take it as a jackpot if I got shortlisted to AC as I never intended to apply before since I never went to their events or OD prior submitting my app like any other Magic firms! Lol
 

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.