TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TheSaulGoodman]

Has anyone heard anything post-app for Mayer Brown DTC? It says online that they're rolling but applied back in November and haven't heard anything

 

[choicefox212]

I hope the wait is not too long for Macfarlanes. I feel like I did terribly in that stage 2 assessment

Same boat here…

 

[WeGotThis!]

Anyone that submitted their Vedder app in February heard from them?

 

[johnjoh199]

Has anyone heard back from Macfarlanes post stage 2 or Stephenson harwood post app for dtc?

Does Mac recruit DTC on a rolling basis? I saw the deadline is June so not sure when is the best timing to apply.

 

[johnjoh199]

Has anyone heard anything post-app for Mayer Brown DTC? It says online that they're rolling but applied back in November and haven't heard anything

same, i thought the online test was automatically sent after submission? I havent heard anything tho.

 

[mmm918]

I applied for DTC and got the holding email last night - but haven’t done any stages yet, only application. I think they are still dealing with vacation schemes.

Same boat as you but I saw someone on the forum said they got VI (also DTC London office)

 

[HMajesty]

Hi, can someone who’s applied for Baker DTC pls help? Idk where to add my A Levels on the form

 

[SueD]

Same boat as you but I saw someone on the forum said they got VI (also DTC London office)

Oh… disappointing! I thought they just hadn’t started DTC yet. Damn.

 

[marshall]

anyone knows what DTCs are currently still open to apply?

 

[lowkeyloser]

Who else has applied for a DTC at Arnold & Porter? Do people know when we should get AC responses?

 

[nfe00001]

anyone knows what DTCs are currently still open to apply?

A lot tbh

 

[HMajesty]

Hi, can someone who’s applied for Baker DTC pls help? Idk where to add my A Levels on the form

Hi, can someone please help me with this! Grad rec isn’t responding either.

 

[theres.a.TC.out.there]

Any advice for preparing for Macfarlanes second stage (job simulation)?

 

[Scottishlion]

Does anyone know the typical hours for King & Spalding? Can't seem to find anything online. Is there a lot of weekend work, do you get a life?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Does anyone know the typical hours for King & Spalding? Can't seem to find anything online. Is there a lot of weekend work, do you get a life?

Legal Cheek says K&S have a billable hours target of 1,800 a year. Roughly assume they will want 150 billables a month. That would be c40 billable hours per week. Not all hours are billable so that might be 60-70 hours a week total so maybe 9am start and 9pm finish on average (idk for sure)?

This is just speculation here but it’s a US firm and pays £62k and £67k for trainees and £175k for NQs so it’s gna be up there with the likes of a Kirkland, Weil, Debevoise and Sidley for working hours. It probs all depends on each person’s own working style and practice area though tbf.​

 

[Dogecoin GC]

Clifford Chance
Fried Frank
King & Spalding
Macfarlanes
Morgan Lewis
Orrick
Paul Hastings
Sidley Austin
Weil Gotshal & Manges
White & Case
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

To do:
Sullivan & Cromwell

Legend: = applied, = test, = VI, = rejection.

 

[AryanAgg]

Fried Frank
King & Spalding
Macfarlanes
Morgan Lewis
Orrick
Paul Hastings
Sidley Austin
White & Case
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

To do:
Sullivan & Cromwell

Legend: = applied, = test, = VI, = rejection.

Does white & case allow for reapplying to dtc within the same cycle if VS application is rejected? And would like to know about orrick as well.

 

[katie2911]

Hey, sorry for this vent and idk what I’m looking for here but I’m so done. This is my second cycle, and I have gotten rejected at every firm I applied to and only made it to the VI for 1 of them. I’m an international student (out of the UK) and don’t have the A-level grades most firms ask for. I’m so exhausted, and today’s rejection absolutely broke me. It was the only VI I’d given, and I was rejected again. I don’t know how to improve anymore. My uni profile and internships are good, but my nationality and A-level grades isn’t something I can change. I don’t think I’ve enough courage to apply again. I’m exhausted and in so much pain it hurts physically. I don’t even know what I’m doing wrong, just that no matter what I do, I don’t think I’ll ever get a TC.

Hello, don't be disheartened, although it's a very competitive process, if you've done your degree outside of the UK, this will put you at a major disadvantage, alongside your grades, my advice would be to you that work in your country for a couple of years, then do the SQE and try for TCS or do a masters degree or the SQE LLM from the UK, this will give you a better chance of getting in, as you have to show strong relation to the country you want to work in, as at the end of the day, the firms are businesses, and make extremely calculated investments into their potential employees. BUT you still have a chance if you do these, and then you can leverage your international background to ensure that your application stands out, using your disadvantage to give you an edge! I hope this helps, don't stop dreaming but reflect and find practical ways to them ) ATB!!

 

[soph107048]

There are some law firms with a DTC route only, and some have a relatively healthy DTC intake (meaning they don’t really prioritise vac schemers). First thing I’d check is the firms’ FAQs on this. If no available info I’d encourage you to email. And of course in contrast some firms make it quite clear their preference for vac schemers, and only take a handful trainees from the DTC route.

Heyy may i ask which firms recruit though DTC alone?

 

[AryanAgg]

Heyy may i ask which firms recruit though DTC alone?

Think Fried Frank, King & Spalding and maybe Paul Hastings are few from the list above