TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[routetotrainingcontract]

I progressed to stage 3 on Monday. Not sure about their timings, though, as they have been doing interviews the past few weeks.

What is the stage 3 please?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Is anyone still waiting on BCLP post test? I’ve not yet heard anything (PFO or VI). I sent my app on the 17th May and took the test on the 18th…​

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

hey! on the subject of extra time I know sometimes people with mitigating circumstances get extra time for exams - sometimes in grave circumstances they are granted extra time by their university to complete their degree. How do law firms look at this (especially the latter?). Would the latter be a red flag or count against you?

Hey!

If there are genuine mitigating circumstances, I personally can't imagine this being viewed as a red flag in itself. Universities don't grant extra time or extensions to complete degrees lightly, so I think firms are generally aware that there can be circumstances that affect someone's timeline at university that are beyond their control, and will absolutely take those into account.

For exam adjustments (e.g. extra time), I'd expect firms to focus much more on the outcome of your degree and your overall application form rather than the adjustment itself. Equally, if someone has been granted additional time to complete their degree due to mitigating circumstances, I wouldn't assume that would count against them if there are clear reasons as to why they had that adjustment.

If there is space on the application to provide context, I'd definitely do this and keep it brief and factual. Ultimately, almost all firms look at applications holistically and will focus on the grades achieved, your experiences, and the strength of your overall application, rather than viewing a different study timeline as a negative in itself.

I've seen plenty of successful applicants take non-liner routes through university and still secure VS/TC offers. I hope that assists!

 

[cherry flavoured]

anyone heard back from foot anstey yet?

 

[StressedNotBlessed]

Does any know the London grad rec contact address for Morgan Lewis (ML)? I realised that I don't have a phone number for one of my references...

 

[Z48]

Does any know the London grad rec contact address for Morgan Lewis (ML)? I realised that I don't have a phone number for one of my references...

[email protected]
But most places contact references via email, so if you have that should be fine

 

[cherry flavoured]

anyone do assessment and hear back from foot anstey, ashurst, shoosmith or mayer brown yet?

have u heard back from foot anstey yet??

 

[WillKitchen]

This week I had a feedback call after an unsuccessful AC at a transatlantic firm. The HR representative was very encouraging, and said that I performed very well. I did not progress to the final stage of the DTC assessment process, but they said that it was only "a matter of percentages".

They helped me identify one key thing to work on for future interview responses: Being more confident in presenting my conclusions and client recommendations.

Here are some thoughts about what this means for me...

Lawyers often have to make decisions when faced with inadequate information. That's just part of the job. When pressed for a "yes" or "no" answer, my first instinct is healthy academic skepticism: "Well, it depends. We need more info." Academics might have the privilege of sitting on the fence, but in commercial law, for good or ill, clients need actionable advice.

Whatever action you recommend might make things worse, of course; it might not. Either way, some decision is better than none. An interview panel is looking for a confident answer that you are able to articulate and defend.

As far as a TC interview goes, it doesn't even matter if the recommendations are wrong or right. What matters is that a candidate demonstrate that they can state a reasonable conclusion based on the facts available, even if we don't have all data necessary to offer foolproof advice.

You have two whole years of being a trainee to learn what the right thing to do might actually be. In a TC interview, it is ok to risk saying the wrong thing. Just articulate like a potential lawyer. The rest comes later.

Do you think that sounds like the right approach to take?

...

(I'm still a big advocate of academic skepticism, by the way. Philosophically speaking, we never have all the facts we need to make a perfect decision. Ironically, I wrote a whole book about how sitting on the fence is a problematic philosophical concept. It's not too surprising that law should re-open some old questions! ... If anyone is interested: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/film-negation-and-freedom-9798765105542/)