TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[AryanAgg]

I spoke to a few people who I know that have secured TCs. They told me it's really subjective in the sense if the trainee intake is big say 30/40+ then 1/2 typos are alright but if it's a small trainee intake you may be rejected

So it's doomed even if other aspects are really strong?

 

[maxro]

So it's doomed even if other aspects are really strong?

Tbh I wouldn't worry. I had a few typos in my application questions to 2 US firm vac schemes and still progressed. I was worried but it was fine and lesson learnt lol, I would just make sure any other apps are checked

 

[WeGotThis!]

So it's doomed even if other aspects are really strong?

Tbh idk but I'm pretty sure they won't reject you on a typo, unless it's the firm's name and rest of your app is strong.

 

[AryanAgg]

Understood, can only hope for the best.

 

[futurelawyer45]

Has anyone else received a written answers application submission from Reed Smith again, or is that just me? I did that stage last month, so bit confused as to whether it's just a system clash or not, because when I saw the notification, I assumed it was an interview invite and got way too excited seeing the words next stage and delighted on the tab before fully reading it

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Has anyone else received a written answers application submission from Reed Smith again, or is that just me? I did that stage last month, so bit confused as to whether it's just a system clash or not, because when I saw the notification, I assumed it was an interview invite and got way too excited seeing the words next stage and delighted on the tab before fully reading it

Yeah a few received it. It was an error, they're still yet to get back to anyone.

 

[HasRez]

Anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood post test?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Is anyone still waiting on these firms, or heard back with a PFO or next stage recently:

Bakers post SJT (I scored 6-6-6-5, high verbal).
BCLP post test
Macfarlanes post stage 2 (Job Sim VI)
SullCrom post app

Not sure whether to assume PFO for these firms or still hold out hope for something positive…​

 

[Gracejonesd]

Does anyone know when we should expect to hear back from Howard Kennedy?

 

[neverdidiever]

does Morgan Lewis review applications on a rolling basis for DTC?

 

[tc_cc]

Does anyone know when we should expect to hear back from Howard Kennedy?

I was looking back to when people heard last year & it looked like nearer the end of this month

 

[chesplus]

Hi Abbie. Thank you for replying. I will drop the graduate recruitment team an email and find out.

hi! just wondering if you got a response back from them about the cover letter?

 

[StressedByAMountainOfBooks]

Is anyone still waiting on these firms, or heard back with a PFO or next stage recently:

Bakers post SJT (I scored 6-6-6-5, high verbal).
BCLP post test
Macfarlanes post stage 2 (Job Sim VI)
SullCrom post app

Not sure whether to assume PFO for these firms or still hold out hope for something positive…​

Same for Bakers, pretty sure its a PFO, I think we'd hear back from SullCrom after the deadline.

 

[AryanAgg]

Same for Bakers, pretty sure its a PFO, I think we'd hear back from SullCrom after the deadline.

Wasn't SullCrom supposed to be rolling?

 

[chesplus]

also does anyone know what the page limit is for S&C cover letter supposed to be? saw here someone said 2 pages but another said 1?

 

[Bottega_Veneta]

also does anyone know what the page limit is for S&C cover letter supposed to be? saw here someone said 2 pages but another said 1?

Hey,

This is what I found in an old thread.

 

[chesplus]

Hey,

This is what I found in an old thread.

thank you so much!

 

[TCapplicant1005]

hi! just wondering if you got a response back from them about the cover letter?

No sorry. I submitted my application today. My cover letter was a page and half.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Thank you! My work experiance doesn't support public speaking as a weakness- would you say reluctance to ask for help too early is a good weakness? It's genuine to me but I don't know if thats a skill critical to a trainee!

No problem!!

I think this can be a good weakness to use if you are able to frame it well! Reluctance to ask for help too early is something I'd imagine quite a few trainees experience as there can be a tendency to want to prove you can work independently and avoid interrupting busy people. The important part is that you show self-awareness and demonstrate that you have reflected on what the downside to this is.

For example, you could frame it as recognising that trying to solve things independently is valuable up to a point, but that leaving questions too long can sometimes make things less efficient or mean you miss opportunities to get feedback earlier.

You could then talk about what you have done to improve in this area - e.g. setting yourself a time limit before escalating, identifying what you have already tried before asking for help, or getting comfortable asking more targeted and specific questions rather than waiting until you feel you have everything figured out.

I do think this is quite relevant to trainee work as there is often a balance between showing initiative and knowing when to seek guidance, so as long as you frame it in a way that shows how you are taking steps to improve, I think it can work well.

The only thing I'd avoid is presenting it as a preference for working alone, and I'd keep the emphasis on independence becoming over-independence occasionally, and what you have learned from that.

I hope that helps!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

If you get a VI invite and the deadline is “expiry date, which is 7 days from the date you receive this email”, does the day the email was received count?

E.g. if I got the invite on a Wednesday, is the invite expiring Wednesday midnight or Tuesday midnight?

Would be awfully helpful if they just included this very basic deadline info on the portal lol…

Hi!

My interpretation of wording like that would usually be that the 7 days starts from the date you received the email, so if you received it on a Wednesday, I'd generally assume the deadline would fall on the following Wednesday rather than Tuesday.

However, I wouldn't rely on assumptions where possible as some platforms calculate deadlines differently and can sometimes behave inconsistently. Personally, I'd always mentally set myself a deadline of the day before anyway (so effectively treating it as 6 days rather than 7) just to give yourself a buffer and avoid any last-minute issues with the platform