TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[SueD]

Thank you! Buzzing. I didn't get email confirmation after the proofreading exercise actually, but if you click on the link taking you to the proofreading, it should show that you've completed all the activities they want.

On that note, has anyone here done the online interview for Withers? I'd love some guidance on it - it's with HR and a partner apparently, and up to 50 minutes... does that mean it's on my application as well as some problem solving?

I did the VS interview and it was a mixture of motivation, competency and problem solving questions. I can’t give any more details. It was v friendly.

 

[choicefox212]

I did the VS interview and it was a mixture of motivation, competency and problem solving questions. I can’t give any more details. It was v friendly.

Thank you! It's good to know I should prepare for a bit of everything

 

[choicefox212]

Any news from Bakers or SH post app? I imagine Ashurst will be end of this week or early next and Mayer Brown have said June 30. So it’s only these two (Bakers and SH) that I’m waiting for… ​

Likewise waiting for SH and Baker...

 

[AryanAgg]

Likewise waiting for SH and Baker...

Same here.

 

[neverdidiever]

Any news from Bakers or SH post app? I imagine Ashurst will be end of this week or early next and Mayer Brown have said June 30. So it’s only these two (Bakers and SH) that I’m waiting for… /​

has ashurst said it would be coming back this week or next?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

has ashurst said it would be coming back this week or next?

Nah I’m just guessing based on what I’ve seen on last cycles threads and app timelines.

Usually it seems they send WE end of Apr to early May, ACs mid to end of May and final ints are in June. Ofc this could vary slightly this year.

The 29 May date in the email they sent last week is the PFO day but they don’t say that lmao smh.

 

[nicoledm]

Nah I’m just guessing based on what I’ve seen on last cycles threads and app timelines.

Usually it seems they send WE end of Apr to early May, ACs mid to end of May and final ints are in June. Ofc this could vary slightly this year.

The 29 May date in the email they sent last week is the PFO day but they don’t say that lmao smh.

I didn't get an email last week?

 

[AryanAgg]

I didn't get an email last week?

They sent a holding email, maybe doing that in batches I think.

 

[username10341034]

Did CMS already do direct TC apps for this cohort? Their website mentions opening in 2026 but I wondered if that is for September onwards

 

[CGPULAW]

Does anyone have any idea on when PMC are getting back?

 

[Futuretrainee002]

Did CMS already do direct TC apps for this cohort? Their website mentions opening in 2026 but I wondered if that is for September onwards

Yes, their direct TC apps for 2028 closed at the end of last year, their Vac scheme is only for their future trainees. Their DTC applications will reopen in September of this year.

 

[Aug123]

Does have anyone have any idea what to expect for the Irwin Mitchell insight day? It says a 30-40 minute interview but nothing more for their AC interview they told us it would be strength based. So should we assume that this one will be different?

 

[lowkeyloser]

Has anyone heard back from Arnold & Porter for the DTC?

 

[rs_2002!]

anyone else heard from Hogan Lovells for an AC yet - starting to get worried!

 

[Futuretrainee002]

anyone else heard from Hogan Lovells for an AC yet - starting to get worried!

I think someone on the forum posted the other day that got invited to the DTC AC.

 

[Gracejonesd]

Hey anyone who has done the KN online assessment, did you get sent a cappfinity report, it said you will but I didn’t get anything?

 

[TCchaser]

@Abbie Whitlock

Hey, I hope you're well! Thank you for your advice on these forums - they're really helpful!

For competency questions in an interview, is it fine to use the same examples but frame them differently depending on the question? I know it'd be best to have different examples for different questions, but I'm not sure I have enough experiences for a 35-40 min competency interview

 

[choicefox212]

Hey anyone who has done the KN online assessment, did you get sent a cappfinity report, it said you will but I didn’t get anything?

Mine came through one day after I did the test

 

[Gracejonesd]

Mine came through one day after I did the test

Ahh okay might be tomorrow then, tbf I feel like those feedback reports are kind of pointless anyway

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, I'm in a bind as to how I should list a particular A-level grade. In my country, only 5 subjects are taken into account for percentage calculation, but we can take additional subjects if we want to. I registered for an additional subject, but ended up not writing the final exam. However, it still shows up on my transcript as an 'F' grade in line with the exam policy. It has never been considered a valid grade in my country, which only considers the 5 subjects taken. I am unsure whether to detail it as a separate grade or just mention it in mitigating circumstances. Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

Hey!

I would include it for transparency, particularly if it appears on your transcript, as omitting it could raise unnecessary questions or raise suspicion. I'd just make sure to give the right context in the mitigating circumstances section - you can briefly explain that it was an additional subject beyond the core five that count towards your final percentage, and that the "F" arises from not sitting the final exam (+ the F is in line with exam policy), rather than reflecting your academic ability.

As long as you make it clear why it is included in your transcript, I can't imagine it will raise any further questions for firms