TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

I have my first AC coming up and I'm not totally sure how much commercial awareness I need? I'd say I have a basic layer but how deep are the partners going to dive/how much am I expected to know?

Hi!

Congratulations on your first AC!

I think it depends a little on the firm and the type of interview, but in general, I don't think they're expecting you to have the same level of commercial awareness as a trainee/qualified lawyer.

I would make sure that you have a solid understanding of a few recent commercial stories that are relevant to the firm's clients or sectors, and that you can explain what happened, why it matters, and what the implications might be for businesses, their legal advisers, and the firm itself. In my experience, that is much more important than trying to memorise lots of facts.

A good way to approach it is to think about how a commercial trend creates legal work. For example, if you are interviewing at a firm with a strong shipping practice and discussing geopolitical tensions, you might explain how this could lead to clients needing the commercial team to review and renegotiate contracts, the insurance team to advise on coverage or claims, the disputes team incase any contractual issues arise, and the sanctions or regulatory teams to advise them on compliance. Making those links between the commercial issue and the legal work can show the interviewers that you understand both the current commercial events, but also the wider impact and why clients/firms care.

If they do ask follow-up questions, they are often testing how you think rather than whether you know every detail. It is absolutely fine to acknowledge if you do not know something, provided you can reason through the commercial implications based on what you know. It is usually best to share your views on something and explain your thought process or reasoning behind it, rather than not saying anything at all due to a fear of getting it wrong.

More generally, I would also make sure you are comfortable answering broader questions like "why commercial law?", "why this firm", and discussing the firm's key practice areas, sectors and recent work, as those often tie into commercial awareness and research too.

Overall, I think it is often better to focus on developing a good depth of understanding of a handful of stories, rather than trying to know a little bit about everything.

Wishing you the best of luck with your AC - you've got this!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Thank you so much, Abbie! Can I say that “Since HFW is primarily a disputes firm. As a student who has completed the Bar Training Course, HFW blend of transactions plus a focus on disputes appeals to me.”

Would it throw a recruiter off? Would they think “oh how about you do a pupillage then why HFW”

Hey!

No worries at all! I don't think that would throw the recruiter off - if anything, it can help explain why you are particularly interested in HFW's disputes practice.

I would just make sure you link it back to why you want to be a solicitor. For example, if I was writing an answer, I would say something like: "Having completed the Bar Training Course, I developed a strong interest in contentious work. HFW's combination of market-leading disputes work alongside exposure to transactional matters particularly appeals to me, as it offers the opportunity to see matters from both a preventative and contentious perspective".

I'd just make sure you use your background as a way of explaining your interest in HFW and the solicitor route, rather than suggesting you are looking for an alternative to pupillage

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

For the q: “Why have you chosen to apply to HFW and how do you think the firm differs from its competitors?”

This was a part of my answer:

With global issues like trade protectionism and climate change, the value of lawyers specializing in supply chain disputes is increasing exponentially. HFW’s international arbitration specialism that ranges from highly affected sectors like energy, construction, commodities, shipping, aviation, and insurance&reinsurance makes it the perfect place for me to train right now.

Can I please have some general opinions - as a bystander who’s just read this - does this part sound cheesy?

Hey!

Personally, I don't think it sounds cheesy overall. I think the underlying point is strong as you are linking global commercial trends to HFW's sector strengths, which is exactly the sort of connection that firms want to see in a motivational question.

I would perhaps tweak the phrase "the perfect place for me to train right now", as it reads a little absolute. You could soften it slightly with something like "makes HFW a particularly attractive place for me to train" or "is one of the key reasons HFW appeals to me". I think those sound a bit more natural while making the same point.

Overall though, I think you are definitely on the right track! Best of luck with your HFW application