TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[SueD]

Also PFO from Farrers

 

[Gregglt]

Is 6-6-6-9 at the test good enough for reed smith to pass to the next stage?

 

[ches12ru]

Hi! Hope everyone is well. Does anyone have insight on the white and case VI regarding the mix of questions they asked? Congratulations to everyone that has reached this stage, even passing an online assessment is a win these days haha....

 

[HMajesty]

Hi! Hope everyone is well. Does anyone have insight on the white and case VI regarding the mix of questions they asked? Congratulations to everyone that has reached this stage, even passing an online assessment is a win these days haha....

Congrats! When did you apply and receive the VI btw?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Is 6-6-6-9 at the test good enough for reed smith to pass to the next stage?

Hey!

I'm not sure whether there is a specific benchmark, but if it helps at all, I scored 6-7-6-6 last year during my direct TC assessment and made it to the next round. Hopefully that is slightly reassuring!!

 

[TheHamlet4]

Is there way to study this SJT format where you need to choose most and least likely? I know there isn’t a “way” to succeeding but whenever I respond it like a trainee - my initiative score turns out to be low.

 

[tolu01]

Has anyone previously completed the online written assessment for Kingsley Napley?

They’re top of my list so any insight would be soo appreciated!

Thank you

Would also appreciate any tips

 

[Jaysen]

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.

I feel for you. I think the journey is really tough and only getting harder.

But I really hope you hang in there too. I really do think anyone here can get a training contract, as long as you are willing to stay in the process, despite how hard it is.

It might also help to know what firms care about and don't care about. Many firms I speak to are getting stricter on grades, so you are right about the 2:2 (and even A-Levels for some firms).

But I'm yet to speak to a top firm and find out they care about your school or university. No doubt there are some, but this doesn't matter in the way it used to.

 

[kn]

has anyone heard from orrick dtc?

 

[shays]

re BCLP test, i vaguely remember it is cappfinity but do not remember if there is a WG element to it or VI? does anyone know? thanks x

 

[livelaughlawve]

Was anyone else given literally no preparation time for the questions in the W&C video interview? I don't know if the short time was a mistake or not. I have never had preparation time so short before...

 

[Rafa]

Was anyone else given literally no preparation time for the questions in the W&C video interview? I don't know if the short time was a mistake or not. I have never had preparation time so short before...

When you say short, how short do you mean? Was it 2 minutes, 1 minute or only a few seconds?

 

[livelaughlawve]

When you say short, how short do you mean? Was it 2 minutes, 1 minute or only a few seconds?

literally not enough time to finish reading the question. It started recording my answer before the video question even finished

 

[ches12ru]

Congrats! When did you apply and receive the VI btw?

thanks! applied on the last day (May 10) and received the VI on Friday

 

[WeGotThis!]

literally not enough time to finish reading the question. It started recording my answer before the video question even finished

Yes, I did W&C VI for the WVS. The minute the question pops up the timer starts counting downward too, so it's challenging to adjust prep and speaking time. I didn't do well in it at all, as it caught me off guard too.

 

[amb303]

Pfo from Farrer DTC yesterday!

Me too! Second year in a row directly post-app

 

[ababababba]

For the Reed Smith test, could I do the SJT today and VI tomorrow? i understand you can have a break between the two but would a day be possible?

 

[FutureAntitrustLawyer]

Applied to BCLP DTC last week Sunday and still haven’t received a test. Should I be worried?

 

[sbbusybee]

literally not enough time to finish reading the question. It started recording my answer before the video question even finished

That’s crazy!! I swear last year I at least had 30 seconds to prep when I did it for a VS app

 

[funnyaccent11]

Applied to BCLP DTC last week Sunday and still haven’t received a test. Should I be worried?

I wouldn’t, they take AGES. I did the test 14/04 and to this day still not answer. They took ages to send me the test too