As I am (sadly) fast running out of options for getting a TC for 2028 I am looking at self-funding the PGDL in September. But I have just read about the Barbri Foundations in Law course which only costs £499 and, they say, is all you need as a non-law graduate before doing the SQE. Seems a bit strange that it’s enough compared to 9 months of PGDL… does anyone have any experience of it please?
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
I can't say about Barbri but I will say that there are student loans available if you do a masters with the PGDL!
Start of a new week 
good luck to everyone expecting to hear back from firms this week!! We've got this
good luck to everyone expecting to hear back from firms this week!! We've got this
Received an email for the Blake Morgan phone interview invite.
No, I checked the portal too, still says “application under review”Disney people, have any of you heard back?
Hey @Abbie Whitlock
Hope you had a good weekend!!
I’ve heard people say DTC applications usually need a lot more detail/time compared to VS ones. Did you find you spent more time on your DTC applications?
The only DTC application I’ve progressed with was just a personal statement, so I’m not totally sure how much time to put into a DTC application when it has 3–4 questions like a VS application.
I also think I sometimes overthink it to the point where it sounds too polished and lacks that personal touch.
Hope you had a good weekend!!
I’ve heard people say DTC applications usually need a lot more detail/time compared to VS ones. Did you find you spent more time on your DTC applications?
The only DTC application I’ve progressed with was just a personal statement, so I’m not totally sure how much time to put into a DTC application when it has 3–4 questions like a VS application.
I also think I sometimes overthink it to the point where it sounds too polished and lacks that personal touch.
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Has anyone got an official email post VS offer for Goodwin
Hi everyone,
I’m putting together a thread to collect 2025–26 law firm application questions to help candidates prepare for the next cycle. If you applied to any firms, it would be amazing if you could share the questions you received here. Thanks!
I’m putting together a thread to collect 2025–26 law firm application questions to help candidates prepare for the next cycle. If you applied to any firms, it would be amazing if you could share the questions you received here. Thanks!
Hi!
I had a good weekend, thank you - hope you did too!!
That's a great question, and I think it depends between firms. I actually only submitted one DTC application last cycle, so it could differ at other firms, but I found that the extra time needed was simply due to the fact that there are often more application questions for DTC applications. I think the level of research needed is relatively similar, as the first few stages don't differ too much between DTC and VS. However, I found that I needed to spend more time preparing for the later stages (e.g. AC and VI) rather than the application stage
If anything, I probably spent less time on my DTC application than the earlier VS ones - mainly because I had become more confident in the research and writing element (as I'd written quite a few applications by that point!). I wouldn't worry if you aren't spending ages on a DTC application, as they are ultimately looking for the same things as a VS application - that is, your motivation, the skills you have gained, and how these make you a good fit for the firm. Best of luck!
Hi Abbie, I am also interested in this - could you please explain more about why the AC etc stage takes longer for DTC? Many thanks.Hi!
I had a good weekend, thank you - hope you did too!!
That's a great question, and I think it depends between firms. I actually only submitted one DTC application last cycle, so it could differ at other firms, but I found that the extra time needed was simply due to the fact that there are often more application questions for DTC applications. I think the level of research needed is relatively similar, as the first few stages don't differ too much between DTC and VS. However, I found that I needed to spend more time preparing for the later stages (e.g. AC and VI) rather than the application stage
If anything, I probably spent less time on my DTC application than the earlier VS ones - mainly because I had become more confident in the research and writing element (as I'd written quite a few applications by that point!). I wouldn't worry if you aren't spending ages on a DTC application, as they are ultimately looking for the same things as a VS application - that is, your motivation, the skills you have gained, and how these make you a good fit for the firm. Best of luck!
Because there isnt the one-/two-week in-person assessment that there would be on a vac scheme, so the DTC AC has to be more thorough
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