TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Dogecoin GC]

Have you looked into boutiques? Unfortunately I think all of these firms are hugely competitive at this point

No, I haven’t and yes they are.

 

[nonliquetagain]

Ashurst more competitive I'd guess but they have more places. I want a firm hardly anyone will apply to and are less well known, which hopefully K&S, FF or A&P are, compared to Dentons or Linklaters. Obviously, these things are all relative. I generally don't like hugely competitive processes.

Might be worth to look into the likes of Tatham & Co

 

[Scottishlion]

Does anyone have insight to Hogan Lovells Online Test?

 

[SueD]

Dos anyone know when Lewis Silkin will get back to people?

 

[Winter]

SPB VI ! Would appreciate any tips

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Dos anyone know when Lewis Silkin will get back to people?

12/2 according to email

 

[lucky2]

Dos anyone know when Lewis Silkin will get back to people?

They said by 12 Feb

 

[SueD]

They said by 12 Feb

Brilliant. Thank you. And Harbottle and Lewis?

 

[Deleted member 22634]

Hi @TCLA Community Assistant, I’ve posted a thread and would appreciate some advice.. could someone please respond there? If not, could you let me know how I can delete my account?

 

[lucyindia]

12/2 according to email

Hi, did they send another email apart from the app submission confirmation? Bc mine said 13/02... thanks

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Hi, did they send another email apart from the app submission confirmation? Bc mine said 13/02... thanks

Oh you're correct, it's actually 13/2 at latest, but usually they can announce it earlier like a day before as they said "no later than"

 

[adfs456]

SPB VI ! Would appreciate any tips

Same here pls

 

[Dogecoin GC]

Arnold & Porter
Fried Frank
King & Spalding
Macfarlanes
Morgan Lewis
Orrick
Paul Hastings
White & Case

Key: = application sent; = SJT.

 

[hmevey]

does anyone have any tips for macfarlanes assessment. worried about choosing answers for the behavioural/sjt and dont want to score too low- any tips?

 

[ADhillon01]

Quick question here for people that have been applying for the DTC route:

I’m an LPC Graduate with Distinction Honours
First Class LLB (Non Russell Uni - but still considered a top uni for law)
A Levels: BBB (but I have managed to get around the min A Level requirements, through my overall academic performance.

Have legal experience (paid and non-paid) and should be starting as a commercial litigation paralegal at a boutique firm just outside of London (pending final approval)

Is this profile good to apply for DTC? I have been applying mainly for vac schemes, because I wasn’t sure whether I have the profile for a DTC. Thank you if you read all this!

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Quick question here for people that have been applying for the DTC route:

I’m an LPC Graduate with Distinction Honours
First Class LLB (Non Russell Uni - but still considered a top uni for law)
A Levels: BBB (but I have managed to get around the min A Level requirements, through my overall academic performance.

Have legal experience (paid and non-paid) and should be starting as a commercial litigation paralegal at a boutique firm just outside of London (pending final approval)

Is this profile good to apply for DTC? I have been applying mainly for vac schemes, because I wasn’t sure whether I have the profile for a DTC. Thank you if you read all this!

From what I mostly hear from early careers from many firms, if a firm has no preference as to which route you apply for, they would strongly suggest you apply for a vac scheme if you don’t have or have limited legal exp. I don’t think that’s the case for you - you have a law degree, legal work experience, and you’re starting a COMMERCIAL Paralegal role soon so it’s all very relevant. I don’t think I’ve ever heard about academics being a factor in deciding which route to apply for. However if you make DTC to firms that take more from vac schemers, I guess it may make sense the overall benchmark for DTC to get past the initial application stage could be higher.

 

[panon]

Has anyone heard from GT? I know they said successful candidates will be contacted by 23rd Feb so getting a bit nervous loll

 

[lolololol]

i got work ethic and resilience as my top skills and innovation as the lowest for HL does anyone know what they look for typically?

 

[nordicnomad]

anyone heard back from CC today?

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

i got work ethic and resilience as my top skills and innovation as the lowest for HL does anyone know what they look for typically?

I'm unsure, my top 2 were work ethic and innovation and my lowest was resilience so I'll be interested to find out. To be completely honest Idk how much stock firms actually put in the results