TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[HMajesty]

Baker Mackenzie pfo :/

So sorry to hear that. May I ask when you applied?

 

[SharonTej]

Baker Mackenzie pfo :/

Same

 

[HMajesty]

Same

Sorry to hear that. May I ask when you applied?

 

[Magdalena6912]

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

any advice on what to expect from stage one would be super helpful! I am curious to know whether there are any numerical reasoning questions given they mention calculators...

 

[SharonTej]

Sorry to hear that. May I ask when you applied?

March 15th

 

[AryanAgg]

Reed Smith application does not have any questions to answer, is it correct or the application is bugged?

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Joining the Baker Mackenzie PFO club - applied March 2nd (not through the CV mail portal)

 

[WeGotThis!]

Joining the Baker Mackenzie PFO club - applied March 2nd (not through the CV mail portal)

Sorry to hear that
Did you just receive the PFO or was it a while ago?

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Sorry to hear that
Did you just receive the PFO or was it a while ago?

This morning around ten

 

[Kj1996]

Anyone heard from withers?

 

[choicefox212]

Anyone heard from withers?

At which stage? I had an interview yesterday and they said I'll hear back in the next couple of weeks about ACs.

Baker Mackenzie pfo :/

Right, steeling myself for this. I guess it's nice they're finally responding?!

 

[blueblueblue420]

Anyone heard back from KN yet today?

 

[addy2004]

This morning around ten

Same, PFO around ten lingering in my junk folder

 

[HMajesty]

Okay I’m sorry but Baker’s responding way sooner than I expected my heart’s not ready for a PFO yet I need like a month or two more to brace myself

 

[lolololol]

did anyone that get a PFO from bakers receive it after applying using CVMail? trying to brace myself

 

[abc124]

has anyone who applied on deadline day heard from bakers? or are they going through earlier apps rn :')

 

[juanitasimi]

has anyone who applied on deadline day heard from bakers? or are they going through earlier apps rn :')

no haven’t heard they are probs going thru early ones lmao

 

[aliiiisonxooox]

Hi all and hi @Abbie Whitlock . Hope you had a fabulous weekend.

When you’re given feedback that you should use different examples in an interview. Does that mean:
1. That you are not allowed to use your current workplace for more than a competency question? Like if I have teamwork competency q and mistake competency q, can I use the same workplace? I don’t know why they expect me to use a different example that wouldn’t fit. The examples are different, the job is just the same.
2. Or do they mean use different scenarios? For example if you’re talking about a mistake you made in your work, don’t use that same example for a problem solving q?

I really struggle to understand! I don’t think for a TC other examples would be more relevant! Like for problem-solving or mistake I’m not going to use my volunteer experience as legal exp fits better..

Thanks so much.

 

[Hanzeeb]

Anyone heard back from KN yet today?

No, did you get your cappfinity report, in yet to receive mine

 

[summersun]

Hi all and hi @Abbie Whitlock . Hope you had a fabulous weekend.

When you’re given feedback that you should use different examples in an interview. Does that mean:
1. That you are not allowed to use your current workplace for more than a competency question? Like if I have teamwork competency q and mistake competency q, can I use the same workplace? I don’t know why they expect me to use a different example that wouldn’t fit. The examples are different, the job is just the same.
2. Or do they mean use different scenarios? For example if you’re talking about a mistake you made in your work, don’t use that same example for a problem solving q?

I really struggle to understand! I don’t think for a TC other examples would be more relevant! Like for problem-solving or mistake I’m not going to use my volunteer experience as legal exp fits better..

Thanks so much.

Hi
Amy is not available until mid May I think
Not an expert but I think law firms like to see that you are able to demonstrate skills across different experiences. Using one experience a couple of times is usually fine but if you have other experiences that could be used for some questions, even if there are not the more relevant experiences for the job, you should try to use them.
Competency questions don't evaluate how relevant the job you are talking about is but the skill you demonstrated, how you did and how you explained it.
So I would say it is important to balance the different experiences you have. Obviously, it also depends on the variety of experiences you have had but any type of job (part time retail can be very valuable for these questions), volunteering, societies are all worth using as examples as much as legal experiences.