-
Paul, Weiss's Insight Days are now open! Apply to the first Insight Day by 7 September 2026.
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Shoosmiths London ac!
Shoosmiths PFO 
yh I completed sjt last week and haven't heard anything... ik they might be sending out invites in batches so I'll just assume the worst and hope for the best.
Please provide any insight!!
My main concerns are to do with renumeration and WLB.
I know if I go direct TC i will stick to leaving for the civil service/in house because of the WLB.
A lot of seniors have told me being young and from a low income background it makes more sense to go where I am best paid. Especially as I want to live in London and i have a massive loan debt from SFE.
I think the work wherever you end up is great tbh, and much of the enjoyment will be to do with the culture of your team more anything. But interested in how people tackle the idea of pay when it comes to private v public sector work.
I am also from a low income background (I earn good money now), so I’ll give my two cents. When I was looking for my current role, I had multiple offers from the civil service. I ended up choosing my current role at a large bank, even though I found the work less interesting. I haven’t regretted it at all. The opportunities I’ve had since then have been insane, and the money/benefits package is something the public sector could never match. Like you, many seniors have told me to train at the best law firm I can because that gives you more options later. It seems like it’s easier to move from, say, a MC/US/SC/international/large firm into in-house/civil service than the other way round. Of course, this also depends on the type of law you want to qualify into, but that’s the general advice. Organisations like the Civil Service will always be there, but the opportunity to make a life changing amount of money may not be.
Last edited:
BACK AFTER AGES!!!
A long break from the forum as been trying to process this cycle. Finally been rejected from all Vacation Scheme applications for this cycle so my cycle has come to an end with 0 offers. For context I do not come from a privileged background nor did I attend a Russell Group university. Would look for any advice on what to do as the post AC rejection from SPB and another firm hit me a lot.
Application summary (I did have a list of 12 applications when I made my application strategy in August)
Applications made - 30
Applications with tests and no application questions - 14
Post application rejections - 6
Test rejections - 10
Video Interview rejections - 10
AC rejections - 2
I am thinking of the positives about how I have developed this cycle and the experiences I have learned.
Finally the friend or friends I have made on the forum shows how some people are willing to help.
Anyone reading this and has not progressed past the application stage my advice is the applications I reached far I wrote those applications from my heart and did not use any AI tools to draft any of my applications.
A long break from the forum as been trying to process this cycle. Finally been rejected from all Vacation Scheme applications for this cycle so my cycle has come to an end with 0 offers. For context I do not come from a privileged background nor did I attend a Russell Group university. Would look for any advice on what to do as the post AC rejection from SPB and another firm hit me a lot.
Application summary (I did have a list of 12 applications when I made my application strategy in August)
Applications made - 30
Applications with tests and no application questions - 14
Post application rejections - 6
Test rejections - 10
Video Interview rejections - 10
AC rejections - 2
I am thinking of the positives about how I have developed this cycle and the experiences I have learned.
Finally the friend or friends I have made on the forum shows how some people are willing to help.
Anyone reading this and has not progressed past the application stage my advice is the applications I reached far I wrote those applications from my heart and did not use any AI tools to draft any of my applications.
Withers PFO post interview. This is not a good day
Interviews are definitely my downfall. I know this and I've had coaching, mock sessions, listened to feedback and still keep getting rejected.
I am neurodivergent (ADHD) and am beginning to wonder if it is a little more to do with this. I can ramble a lot, struggle to remember things on the spot etc. I've done a lot of work on this, lots of practice for interviews etc. It's something I've only recently been diagnosed with though and so I'm still navigating what it all means. If anyone else also has ADHD and is willing to share techniques that have helped them or accomodations they've been able to ask for I would be really appreciative.
I am neurodivergent (ADHD) and am beginning to wonder if it is a little more to do with this. I can ramble a lot, struggle to remember things on the spot etc. I've done a lot of work on this, lots of practice for interviews etc. It's something I've only recently been diagnosed with though and so I'm still navigating what it all means. If anyone else also has ADHD and is willing to share techniques that have helped them or accomodations they've been able to ask for I would be really appreciative.
Is anyone still waiting for Reed Smith’s test for DTC following the application? I applied nearly 2 weeks ago it seems most people on here seem to be getting it within a week. Is anyone in the same boat as me?
Did you get invited to AC? Still haven’t heard back so guess I got rejected.If someone has attended an assessment centre at foot Anstey in previous cycles or attended a spring vac scheme with them this cycle, please could you pm me, I’d be super grateful and would be very happy to share insights regarding other firms!
Honestly, the best advice I ever received was to take a sip of water before answering so that I could gather my thoughts. I think it has helped a lot. Also, as soon as I catch myself rambling, I just finish my sentence and basically tie it back to the original question.
As someone who got through to AC stage for Reed Smith for the vac scheme at least, I got 3/9 for one pillar. And while I don't know exactly how it works, I was told in a virtual event with they kind of separately assess the VI, and they have a different weighting for VI and test. So a good test can offset a bad VI, and vice versa.
So far from this forum it seems people invited to the VI/TI submitted their applications around the deadline, please correct me if I am wrong!
I submitted my app 24 April and completed the SJT 25 April. I got to the final interview for the spring VS last year so really hoping they are sending VIs in batches…
I submitted my app 24 April and completed the SJT 25 April. I got to the final interview for the spring VS last year so really hoping they are sending VIs in batches…
Hi, hearing a lot about how the W&C VI is quite difficult. I applied on the deadline but haven’t heard back yet, but in the meantime, can those who gave it/ advanced to the next stage give any insight or advice into the VI and how to best prep for it? Did it contain any curveball questions?
I am doing a vac scheme with them. My ac is at the end of the scheme. I don’t think DTC people have heard back.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Sticky
Latest posts
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27
- Latest: Abbie Whitlock
-
-
Harvey’s Horror Story (TC journey edition) 👻 🎃- Latest: Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner
Top Members
Posts
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +0
- 9
AryanAgg
-
New
- 3
Non Billable
- -2
- 3
Saul_specter
-
New
- 2
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +97
- 163
Novaa
- +219
- 21
Non Billable
- +96
- 18
user55998384
- +110
- 15
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +329
- 1000
Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner
- +325
- 639
Novaa
- +614
- 433
Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner
- +875
- 371