TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Prudentia]

CC PFO after passing the Watson Glaser. Genuinely how do these firms choose?

I have a previous VS with another firm, direct banking and finance experience (which I tailored my app to and was firm specific for EVERYTHING), and a first class degree from RG (non-law). Am I just unlucky or is there something I’m missing?

It’s so unhelpful as they never provide any feedback whatsoever so it feels like a guessing game. Sorry for the rant, but to not even make it to VI at this point is so demoralising and it’s making me doubtful of my other applications.

A lot of recruitment is down to luck and chance. Recruiters are also human and there is a large degree of subjectivity. Getting a PFO DOES NOT mean you’re not a strong candidate (you objectively are). Don’t doubt yourself. Remember: all it takes is one yes. Don’t let a random recruiter who probably spent a few minutes MAX reading your application make you doubt yourself. It wasn’t Clifford Chance this time, but there are so many more opportunities out there.

 

[routetotrainingcontract]

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CC PFO after passing the Watson Glaser. Genuinely how do these firms choose?

I have a previous VS with another firm, direct banking and finance experience (which I tailored my app to and was firm specific for EVERYTHING), and a first class degree from RG (non-law). Am I just unlucky or is there something I’m missing?

It’s so unhelpful as they never provide any feedback whatsoever so it feels like a guessing game. Sorry for the rant, but to not even make it to VI at this point is so demoralising and it’s making me doubtful of my other applications.

honestlyy it just seems like a luck game or maybe they want to focus on people who have actually worked with them, possibly through campus ambassadors, spark etc… I’ve worked at 3 mc firms in as a finance paralegal with a law degree (RG) and still nothing. At this point we might have to monitor if they are actually recruiting people 😩

 

[yk1906]

CC PFO for me as well. Oh and btw my app wasn't "archived"

 

[lolololol]

CC and Bird & Bird pfo at the same time 😔 can’t wait for A&O shearman

 

[Trophy]

CC PFO after passing the Watson Glaser. Genuinely how do these firms choose?

I have a previous VS with another firm, direct banking and finance experience (which I tailored my app to and was firm specific for EVERYTHING), and a first class degree from RG (non-law). Am I just unlucky or is there something I’m missing?

It’s so unhelpful as they never provide any feedback whatsoever so it feels like a guessing game. Sorry for the rant, but to not even make it to VI at this point is so demoralising and it’s making me doubtful of my other applications.

I think we may be the same person haha

it’s frustrating to say the least.

 

[Amgrad]

CC PFO after passing the Watson Glaser. Genuinely how do these firms choose?

I have a previous VS with another firm, direct banking and finance experience (which I tailored my app to and was firm specific for EVERYTHING), and a first class degree from RG (non-law). Am I just unlucky or is there something I’m missing?

It’s so unhelpful as they never provide any feedback whatsoever so it feels like a guessing game. Sorry for the rant, but to not even make it to VI at this point is so demoralising and it’s making me doubtful of my other applications.

I'm surprised too, but I never met them at their events, so I can't say what's missing in me. Definitely something that is not covered in my app that they're looking for. The only difference is I don't have any VS/direct legal experience. 🥲

I feel second essay miss some informal abbreviation like (I've), but not sure whether that is red flag or not for them. Where in my first essay I did mention why firm only and mentioned the recent deal involved with my country, and noticed it might too far to link it back with my experience lol as it's Islamic finance deal. Maybe I should highlighted that I went to Islamic boarding school pre university when I studied it rather than connect with my work during college or now post graduation.😢

Anyway, I also realized in the US at least my American friend said Clifford Chance is hard to get into and it's nominated by Vault as one of Top 5 most selective firm. Some Americans thought CC is American firm too 🤣 https://vault.com/best-companies-to...irms-to-work-for/selectivity#rankings-group-0

 

[Amgrad]

Clifford Chance PFO too. I really enjoyed the WG test, but I’m not too upset I won’t be progressing. On to the next applications! Commiserations to everyone who also got a PFO and huge congratulations to those who progressed!

I thought you'd be progressed as you said your app was in review when mine had already archived.

 

[ashwright]

Hi @ashwright and first of all huge congratulations for getting your first AC - you should be very proud of yourself 🥳 🥳 !! As for your questions, I would say the following:

• For general competency interview preparation advice, I would advise you to follow the step-by-step approach I laid out in the Complete Competency Interview Preparation Guide. Its underlying philosophy is to enable you to develop great interview skills rather than simply memorising answers, and I converted ACs at MC/US firms 4/4 times I implemented it.
• For firm-specific preparation, I cannot give you much guidance as I have not applied to the firm. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend you check out (i) any interview experience articles at A&O Shearman on TCLA's Premium Database; and (ii) texting people in your wider social circle/messaging LinkedIn connections who interviewed at the firm to ask for best advice.

For improving technical knowledge and commercial awareness, I would advise you to consult Investopedia and use general Google searches to clarify any important business/legal concepts that you may be asked to explain. I do not think you need to be able to calculate EBIDA or company valuation; these are matters generally expected of financial analysts at investment banks rather than commercial lawyers. I have not heard about such tasks featuring in ACs at law firms, and I can say from personal experience that (i) I have been successful without knowing how to do that; and that (ii) the vast majority of people I know who have been successful would also not known how to do that. As such, I would not worry over and invest a lot of time in trying to memorise complex formulas; rather, I would simply try to be acquainted with and be able to explain in laymen terms the underlying concepts (ie. what is EBIDA and why is it useful?). More generally, to ensure you have covered your bases technical knowledge-wise, I think you should have a basic understanding of the following:

1. Some fundamental company law & company organisation matters, such as the different roles of shareholders vs directors, role of articles of association, concept of limited liability and separate legal personality, etc.
2. Common financial jargon - ie interest rates, equity vs debt finance, IPOs, bonds, securities, market capitalisation etc.
3. Types of institutions in financial markets and their roles: corporates, investment banks, PE funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds, asset managers, private credit funds, etc.
4. The different types of legal services offered to these clients by different practice areas of a law firm (ie you should be able to explain what department of the firm is responsible for what type of legal service and why clients need that type of legal service).
5. Some knowledge of M&A: you should understand the basic nature and structures of M&A deals (asset deal vs share purchase agreement), their strategic rationales, risks associates with M&A and how that is mitigated through contractual terms, the basic M&A terms (warranties & indemnities, NDAs, conditions precedent, etc), and the rough stages of an M&A transaction.

Finally, for building and improving confidence, I would say the following:

1. Have the right mindset and do not put too much pressure on yourself: of course, having the right mindset is key; the hundred dollar question is identifying (i) what exactly is this optimal mindset to aim for; and (ii) how can you actually go about developing it. For (i), I would say you want your attitude on the day to be something along these lines "The fact that I have gotten to this stage out of a huge pool of candidates is clear proof I have everything it takes to succeed. I have prepared thoroughly and I know that, if I simply focus on answering each question well and I therefore score well across the board, I have a really good chance to succeed. I do not need to put pressure on myself to be absolutely exceptional in any way or to compare myself with and try to outshine others, as I know this actually more often than not leads to making major errors and to not scoring well at all in some assessment criteria." For (ii), I think you should try to continuously internalise this line of thinking by consciously reminding yourself of it every time you catch yourself worrying a lot before the AC and thinking you may not be good enough. At first, you may not think this is very helpful, but as time goes on, continuously directing your thoughts in a positive way can definitely work wonder.
2. Speak at a slower pace and take more strategic breaks when answering questions: this is a point I have made a number of times on the forum, but I truly think it can make a huge difference. In stressful scenarios, people naturally start speaking faster, which unfortunately leads to you having less time to consider exactly what you want to say and how you want to go about saying it, which can then cause you to choose suboptimal substantive points to make or to express them in an unclear/inarticulate manner. This can then cause a negative feedback loop that impacts your whole performance. If instead you slow down and take more 2-3 second breaks between points/before starting an answer, that gives you more time to think and will also make you appear more composed and in control, which can create a positive feedback look and actually make you feel more composed and in control.

Thank you so, so, so much Andrei!!! I am so grateful for the reassurance on both fronts, as well as the guidance on how to best focus my energies. I will make sure not to get too caught up in the technical stuff & will try to focus more on the core ideas you mentioned.

The list of 5 points is exactly what I need; I'll make sure to focus on those things. If there's any further resources you recommend, such as any M&A knowledge resources, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you so much!

 

[yk1906]

Ah I just wish I was a nepo baby with Partner-level connections at this point. It's so tiring to keep proving yourself constantly

 

[bells123]

Stage 1 test is a mix of both of those two.

Thanks so much! This is helpful for my prep🫶🏻

 

[Prudentia]

I thought you'd be progressed as you said your app was in review when mine had already archived.

I don’t think that status meant anything tbh.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Slaughter and May PFO post app. Applied around 2-3 weeks ago.​

 

[ashwright]

CC PFO! I passed the WG last year with a >90% score, so the score is clearly not 'the' deciding factor.
CC has been a longtime favourite of mine; admittedly, I'm a little disappointed in myself.

At times like this (of which I have had many!), I try to remind myself of my old favourite quotation: "Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it is not yet the end." For the rest of the PFO crew, keep your head up - the game is still on.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Ah I just wish I was a nepo baby with Partner-level connections at this point. It's so tiring to keep proving yourself constantly

Same here matey. At least it will all be worth it in the end when we finally get that ‘yes’, knowing it was through our hard work and determination that we got through this process. ​

 

[BM99]

CC VI

 

[Vakil]

Bird & Bird PFO after a VI — but fortunately received the CC VI immediately afterwards.

 

[rain2801]

CC PFO 😭

 

[Singh241]

Joining the club of CC PFO!! WOHOOO

 

[Singh241]

Anyone who has taken the FF Stage 1 test could provide some insight please?

 

[Prudentia]

Joining the club of CC PFO!! WOHOOO

We have tea, biscuits and plenty of tissues for the tears! 😂