TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[FutureAntitrustLawyer]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, hope you're well I've recently been invited to an AC at the civil service for a grad role. I will have to undertake a written exercise, presentation, and group exercise. I have never been to an AC before and was wondering if you could provide some advice on how I should prepare?

Thanks in advance

 

[ILauw]

I didn’t but I also had 6667 - High Verbal for the SJT, so I am hoping there is another batch of invites.

Finally got my PFO. Very confused on how this all works in my first application cycle.

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Also just received BM PFO post-SJT.

 

[ravioli]

Has anyone heard from the following firms recently (a PFO or otherwise):

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

I’m assuming PFO but it seems like all of these firms gave up on actually sending them out lmao.​

When did you hear back from SullCrom and when did you apply?

 

[Ancika]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith after the case study response ?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Bakers PFO post SJT finally. This is my 32nd PFO of the cycle so far I think.​

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Does anyone have any advice for the Reed Smith assessment centre ? I have experience from NRF this year and would be so happy to share.

Did they send an ac offer today?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

When did you hear back from SullCrom and when did you apply?

I didn’t say that I heard back from SullCrom? I applied the day before the deadline I think so 11/06.​

 

[Vee77]

Does anyone have any advice for the Reed Smith assessment centre ? I have experience from NRF this year and would be so happy to share.

When did you receive your AC invite? Congratulations

 

[Tomato]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith after the case study response ?

Did you hear back then?!

 

[amb303]

Wedlake Bell round 1 interview invite!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, hope you're well I've recently been invited to an AC at the civil service for a grad role. I will have to undertake a written exercise, presentation, and group exercise. I have never been to an AC before and was wondering if you could provide some advice on how I should prepare?

Thanks in advance

Hi!

I am well, thank you - hope you are too! Congratulations on the AC invite, that is fantastic news!!

I have previously made a few posts on how I would prepare and approach the activities you have mentioned (that is, written exercises, presentations, and group exercises) - I have quoted them below! I hope they are useful in your preparation, but just shout if you have any further questions.

Best of luck with the AC!

Hi @LegallyBrunette_ !

Huge congratulations on being invited to AC - what a fantastic achievement!

In the AC that I completed for my TC, I had to complete both a group exercise and a case study interview, so I can understand wanting to do all you can to prepare in advance. I can share what worked best for me!

Group Exercise

• In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
• Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
• Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
• If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.

Case Study Interview

• You'll usually be given a business / legal scenario with background documents. I would start by reading quickly to understand the big picture, and then go back to confirm the smaller details.
• Structure your response clearly - identify the client's goals, outline the key issues, and suggest practical next steps.
• They won't expect you to know black-letter law. Focus on logic, prioritisation, and showing that you can think commercially.
• Talk the interviewer through your thought process - even if you get stuck or seem confused, they can see how you reason.
• If given a contract to assess, make a note of the exceptions and calculations in the contract. You might be asked how your stance would change if X event occurred, and it's useful to be mindful of when it might fall under any exceptions.

I would also brush up on Jones Day's structure (e.g. their non-rotational training system and international work) just in case it comes up. They're assessing potential, not perfection - so as long as you stay calm and do your best, you'll be fine.

At the end of the day, they want to see the real you - someone who can think clearly, work well with others, and stay composed under pressure. If you go in with a collaborative mindset and a clear structure for approaching problems, you'll put yourself in a strong position.

Best of luck - you've already done the hard part by getting to this stage!

Hi!

Congratulations on getting to the interview stage - that's a fantastic achievement!! Presentations can feel daunting at first, and as someone who has always been nervous when it comes to public speaking, I used to dread them! However, they're really just a chance to show how clearly you can communicate and structure your thoughts. I found that taking the time to prepare in advance and practicing a couple times really helped to calm my nerves, and I got a lot better at them over time

Once you get your topic, I would start by planning a simple structure - an introduction, two or three main points, and a clear conclusion or recommendation. Make sure that everything links back to your main message / overall theme so it feels focused and logical.

I would also try to practice delivering it out loud (and timing yourself can help), and try to sound confident and conversational rather than overly scripted. If visuals are allowed, I would keep these simple and easy to follow as the focus should be in the information that you are delivering.

It also might be worth preparing for one or two follow-up questions, as interviewers often want to see how you think on your feet. I would avoid trying to prepare for every follow-up question possible - as long as you have a good understanding of the topic itself, and take a moment to clear your thoughts, you should be able to tackle any question they throw your way!

You've got this - with a clear structure and a few practice runs, you'll definitely come across polished and confident!

Hey!

Congratulations on receiving the AC invite!! I've collated some general advice from a few of my previous forum posts which will hopefully offer some guidance - just shout if you have any follow-up questions.

Motivational Interview

When preparing for the motivational interview, I'd encourage you to have a think about the following beforehand:

• Be clear on why a US firm (e.g. lean teams, responsibility early on, client exposure, etc.)
• Then narrow it down to why this US firm - practice strengths, the type of deals that they work on, the office culture, and any recent matters that interested you
• Expect follow-up questions that test the depth of your knowledge on the firm / work (e.g. why corporation litigation vs disputes, why the London office, etc.)
• Be prepared to back up your motivations with examples from your past experiences - for example, if you discuss wanting to have a lot of responsibility early on, you can strengthen your answer by discussing a past experience where you found that you enjoyed this aspect.

Overall, I'd try to create a narrative that links your interests to the firm and its work, as well as your long-term career goals.


Written Exercise

• Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
• Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
• Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
• Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
• Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
• Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!

The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.

I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.

I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!

I've also previously created a post on client emails as a written exercise format - I have linked that here as well!


Group Exercise

• In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
• Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
• Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
• If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.

I hope that helps - wishing you the best of luck with the AC, and I'm sure you'll do great!!

Hey!

It is completely normal to be nervous before an AC, especially your first one! I'm happy to offer some pointers on how I would approach each task below

Written Task and Presentation

I would try to focus on using a clear structure and showing well-reasoned judgement, rather than trying to give a "perfect" answer.

For the written task, try to:
1. Start with a clear recommendation
2. Support this with 2-3 key reasons
3. Flag any main risks, and explain how you would mitigate these

Overall, aim to keep it concise and commercial-focused - it can be easy to slip into "essay-style" writing, but avoid this where possible!

For the presentation, you won't be expected to repeat what you wrote word for word. I would use the presentation to explain why you took that approach and the trade-offs that you considered. You should aim to show your thought-process, and any relevant factors or considerations that you took into account. This could also involve flagging areas where you might need more information before making a definitive decision, or practical steps that could be taken.

If challenged (which happens most of the time, so don't panic that they're doing it because your answer is "wrong"), make sure to talk through your reasoning calmly - it is absolutely fine not to know everything, but talking the assessor through what you are thinking helps a lot.

Group Exercise

This is usually much more about how you work with others, rather than the overall final answer. The assessors will usually be looking for collaborative behaviour and clear contributions to the group - however, this doesn't mean that you have to talk the most! I always aimed to be neither the quietest or the loudest in the room, and found that a middle ground struck the right balance. You could contribute by helping the group stay structured and on time, and helping track the progress as you go along.

It can be difficult to prepare for a group exercise and written task, but you could practise summarising lots of information quickly (e.g. by reading a commercial news story and creating a brief summary), as well as practise explaining your thinking out loud to others (e.g. your friends or family).

Overall, I'd try to go into the AC with the mindset of being a good future colleague, rather than trying to be the perfect candidate. Best of luck, and I'm sure you'll do great!!

Hello!

I have quoted a few different posts on written exercises below, which I hope you find useful! In my past experience with written exercises on vacation schemes, they have usually involved being given a small booklet of information which you use to write a report or email to a client. Therefore, I'd definitely make sure that you have a good understanding of the structure of these and what you need to include (e.g. formalities, headings, etc.).

Don't underestimate time management as well - give yourself some time to read the materials and plan what you want to write, but don't put off the actual writing for too long as otherwise you might have to rush! I am someone that usually has additional time left at the end of assessments, but I have nearly ran out of time in a few written exercises as there is quite a lot to get through.

Best of luck!!

 

[FutureAntitrustLawyer]

Thank you so much Abbie, really appreciate this

Hi!

I am well, thank you - hope you are too! Congratulations on the AC invite, that is fantastic news!!

I have previously made a few posts on how I would prepare and approach the activities you have mentioned (that is, written exercises, presentations, and group exercises) - I have quoted them below! I hope they are useful in your preparation, but just shout if you have any further questions.

Best of luck with the AC!

 

[MZJxLadha]

Has anyone heard back from Moore Barlow post VI? I could have sworn they said they’ll get back before the 8th, so I’m now assuming PFO?

 

[Life_of_PFOs]

Has anyone heard back from Moore Barlow post VI? I could have sworn they said they’ll get back before the 8th, so I’m now assuming PFO?

Moore Barlow just cancelled their assessment days ... I can't believe it!

 

[at1234]

Has Paul Hastings closed their DTC applications? I thought it was 30 June 2026, as I couldnt find the opening on their job board

Are u sure?

 

[summersun]

Has Paul Hastings closed their DTC applications? I though it was 30 June 2026, as I couldnt find the opening on their job board.

It is still open from what qi see on their website and all hires still has it as open

 

[Peter Hsu]

has anyone heard back from Howard Kennedy yet? really worried that means a pfo is incoming...

 

[Gracejonesd]

has anyone heard back from Howard Kennedy yet? really worried that means a pfo is incoming...

I’ve but heard back yet either, hoping tomorrow :/

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Anyone heard from Reed Smith or Stephenson Harwood?