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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Been on my mind for a while, sorry for the vent. Please ignore if you’d rather not read it because it details my frustrations with the process.
The threshold for getting a TC is ridiculously high, to the point that it doesn’t feel like the effort I put in is worth the payoff anymore. You put effort into researching a firm, make tailor made applications to each of them, and they reject you without even reading your applications if you fail a test or without any feedback or reasoning on why they rejected you. The process is as opaque as an AI until you clear 4-5 obstacles as if you’re in a freaking video game to get to an interview. Also, firms asking you to not use AI in the application is also such massive hypocrisy, since they definitely employ AI when reviewing applications and claim to want someone who can leverage legaltech.
I’ve seen so many posts this past month on LinkedIn of people from Oxford and Cambridge who haven’t even studied law getting TCs with leading law firms, and I just wonder what I’m lacking with each such post I come across. Is pedigree and being from a well-recognised school all that matters? Is having low A Levels truly such a huge setback that you’ll never move past it in your life? Is a 2:2 really the hill where ones talent goes to die on? How do you cover the aspects of your life which made you who you are and which firms claim they want to know over a 300 word answer? How hard do you have to work to get an interview where for the first time in the process, you get to interact with an actual human being? You never know, because they never tell.
I know firms receive thousands of applications for less than 50 places. I realise the limitations of being a human. But I’ve realised these firms don’t. They lay out expectations which anyone with a non-linear path would struggle with, and then claim they want to give you a shot. Every webinar, every training session, where someone encouraged me to continue applying all seems patronising to me now. I’m exhausted of putting in the work when I don’t even know why it isn’t materialising.
The job should have been the slog, but now you need to put it 2,3 who knows how many years to even get it in the first place. I’d like to believe I’m capable and competent, but this process has just made me lose all faith in myself ATP.
The threshold for getting a TC is ridiculously high, to the point that it doesn’t feel like the effort I put in is worth the payoff anymore. You put effort into researching a firm, make tailor made applications to each of them, and they reject you without even reading your applications if you fail a test or without any feedback or reasoning on why they rejected you. The process is as opaque as an AI until you clear 4-5 obstacles as if you’re in a freaking video game to get to an interview. Also, firms asking you to not use AI in the application is also such massive hypocrisy, since they definitely employ AI when reviewing applications and claim to want someone who can leverage legaltech.
I’ve seen so many posts this past month on LinkedIn of people from Oxford and Cambridge who haven’t even studied law getting TCs with leading law firms, and I just wonder what I’m lacking with each such post I come across. Is pedigree and being from a well-recognised school all that matters? Is having low A Levels truly such a huge setback that you’ll never move past it in your life? Is a 2:2 really the hill where ones talent goes to die on? How do you cover the aspects of your life which made you who you are and which firms claim they want to know over a 300 word answer? How hard do you have to work to get an interview where for the first time in the process, you get to interact with an actual human being? You never know, because they never tell.
I know firms receive thousands of applications for less than 50 places. I realise the limitations of being a human. But I’ve realised these firms don’t. They lay out expectations which anyone with a non-linear path would struggle with, and then claim they want to give you a shot. Every webinar, every training session, where someone encouraged me to continue applying all seems patronising to me now. I’m exhausted of putting in the work when I don’t even know why it isn’t materialising.
The job should have been the slog, but now you need to put it 2,3 who knows how many years to even get it in the first place. I’d like to believe I’m capable and competent, but this process has just made me lose all faith in myself ATP.
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White & Case VI invite, I'm ecstatic!!! FYI I applied and completed WG+SJT exactly a week ago. If anyone has any insights, please PM me, I can trade for Moore Barlow VI, Bevan Brittan VI (or if you feel gracious, share with everyone!)
Hey, I completely understand your feelings of frustration with the process and in fact perseverance and willing to try again are attributes that firms look for.
Regarding AI, it is a good tool to help you formulate your ideas or rephrase sentences or check for SPAG and is a massive advantage to use it this way and it will not be looked down upon if you do.
I also think you should try not to compare yourself with people you see on LinkedIn or elsewhere, I say this as a law student who goes to what is considered one of the best universities in the UK and I used to feel disheartened when I would see people in my year or from 'worse' (want to caveat that no university is bad, you should never feel bad about your educational and institutional background!) universities get vac schemes or TCs, but I think it is really important to remember that another applicant is never the reason why someone doesn't get the TC. No matter how many applications a firm gets if they are the right fit for you and you for them you will get the offer.
Well done.
They use a range of questions and it is random which ones you get. Good luck!
Okay back to the applications again. I got some trauma after spending hours for Perkins Coie app and getting rejected by AI because of ticking the visa box but time to go back to work
Hey
I really related to a lot of what you have written here, and I think many people silently do too (even those at Oxford/Cambridge with perfect academics). When I was applying, I was a non-Russell Group undergraduate with no connections to the commercial/legal world, and there were definitely points where the process felt completely fruitless unless you were Oxbridge with a First, loads of legal experience, perfect academics, etc. It is hard not to compare yourself when you see people's success stories in LinkedIn, and it can be an incredibly isolating experience too.
I think what frustrated me most as well was exactly what you mentioned, which is the lack of transparency. You can spend hours tailoring applications and do lots of research, only to be rejected at a test stage with no feedback. Therefore, it becomes really difficult not to internalise that as "I'm not good enough", when in reality, there are so many factors that are outside of your control and don't necessarily mean you aren't capable.
Logically, when I was applying, I knew that firms had to use these online tests as a way of filtering down thousands of applications, and that there has to be some process for doing that. However, as a candidate, I do think it is incredibly frustrating and disheartening at times to put genuine effort into the applications and feel like you are being filtered out before anyone has seen your full profile as a candidate.
I also didn't really know many people from my university or friends that were applying for commercial roles, and I don't think people outside of these processes can appreciate how exhausting and emotionally draining they can become over time (which is why TCLA was a great space for me!). In recent years, it isn't as simple as just sending a CV and cover letter, and the repeated cycles of online tests and interviews can definitely be a frustrating process in which you feel like you have little control.
For what it is worth, despite feeling this way at points during my own applications, I did end up securing a TC when I least expected it. I genuinely do not believe that this process is an objective reflection of your intelligence, capability, or long-term potential as a future lawyer, even though it can absolutely feel that way when you are in it. Some of the best trainees/associates that I know had to go through many cycles in order to secure their training contract, and I think that often gets lost because we usually only see the final success story rather than all of the rejection and uncertainty that came before it.
You are absolutely capable and competent, and the fact that you are still pushing through a process this demanding says a lot about your resilience and potential. Wishing you the very best of luck moving forward - I'm sure things will start to feel more positive for you soon
Nothing from Stephenson Harwood yet… thought it was going to be this week
We won’t be getting anything from them until May 2035 idk what’s taking so long tbh. I’m assuming it’s a PFO though in the meantime…
I spoke to grad rec, and they told me it could take up to one month as they're doing it manually.
That seems solid, but nobody knows the benchmark for progression. I am not going to worry about it until I get the next email with either invite to VI or PFO.
Pfo from Farrer DTC yesterday! 
me too - don't remember applying though!Pfo from Farrer DTC yesterday!
Hii! Congratulations! Have you done the VI? How did it go? Any insight? Feel free to PM me please!
Also PFO from Farrers
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