Training Contract Deadlines Thread 2025-26

[Amma Usman]

Hello everyone,

Training Contract application season is upon us! To make things easier for individuals preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates. I will keep this list updated, so do ensure to keep an eye out for any latest deadlines! Additionally, please feel free to drop any suggestions to better utilise this thread.

It is worth noting that many firms have varying training contract start dates, ranging from 2026, 2027, and 2028. For more information, click on the specific link in each row to be directed to a law firm's graduate recruitment page.

Good luck in your application and please keep us posted on your progress!

(This list is dynamic and will be updated as firms release their application windows) LAST EDITED: Friday 17th October, 2025

Training Contract Deadlines 2025/26:​

Specific Dates Released​

Opening Date	Closing Date	Firm Name	Rolling/Non-Rolling
29 September 2025	17 November 2025	A&O Shearman	TBC
1 November 2025	31 March 2026	Ashfords	Non-Rolling
5 January 2026	TBC	Ashurst	Non-Rolling
1 February 2026	1 April 2026	Baker McKenzie	TBC
5 January 2026	3 April 2026	Bates Wells	Rolling
June End 2025 (TC starting 2027)	TBC	Birketts	TBC
1 November 2025	TBC	Boodle Hatfield	Non-Rolling
1 October 2025	29 March 2026	BP Collins	TBC
5 September 2025	2 January 2026	Bristows	TBC
TBC	31 May 2026	BCLP	TBC
3 September 2025	19 November 2026	Clifford Chance	Non-Rolling
29 September 2025	TBC	CMS	TBC
1 September 2025	31 January 2026	Dentons	Rolling
Presumably Open Now	19 December 2025	DWF	Non-Rolling
1 November 2025	27 March 2026	Farrer & Co	Non-Rolling
4 December 2025	1 February 2026	Fox Williams	TBC
1 October 2025	1 December 2025	Freshfields	Rolling
1 December 2025	TBC	Fried Frank	TBC
12 September 2025	12 December 2025	Goodwin	Non-Rolling
Open Now	16 January 2026	Greenberg Traurig	Non-Rolling
1 November 2025	31 January 2026	Harbottle & Lewis	TBC
Open Now	16 July 2026	HFW	Rolling
1 October 2025	TBC	Hill Dickinson	Rolling
10 September 2025	31 January 2026	Hogan Lovells	TBC
13 October 2025	1 December 2025	Irwin Mitchell	TBC
1 November 2025	31 July 2026	K&L Gates	TBC
Open Now	28 November 2025	Kennedys	Rolling
17 November 2025	TBC	King & Spalding	TBC
14 October 2025	14 January 2026	Lewis Silkin	Non-Rolling
1 September 2025	3 December 2025	Linklaters	Non-Rolling
5 January 2026	26 June 2026	Macfarlanes	Rolling
1 September 2025	31 March 2026	Mayer Brown	TBC
12 January 2026	27 March 2026	Penningtons	TBC
23 March 2026	22 June 2026	RPC	TBC
7 November 2025	TBC	Russell-Cooke	TBC
Open Now	28 November 2025	Slaughter & May (1st TC opening for law and non-law finalists and graduates)	Rolling
June 2026	TBC	Slaughter & May (2nd TC opening for for penultimate year law students, law finalists and law graduates)	Rolling
1 October 2025	31 May 2026	TLT	Non-Rolling
3 October 2025	7 November 2025	Travers Smith	Non-Rolling
1 October 2025	5 January 2026	Trowers & Hamlins	Non-Rolling
1 November 2025	1 May 2026	Wedlake Bell	TBC
Open Now	24 May 2026	Watson Farley & Williams	TBC
Open Now	12 July 2026	White & Case	Non-Rolling
2 January 2026	22 May 2026	Wiggin	TBC
November 2025	TBC	Wilkin Chapman	TBC
1 October 2025	27 February 2026	Withers	TBC
29 November 2025	23 January 2026	Womble Bond Dickinson	TBC
1 May 2025	12 June 2026	Sullivan & Cromwell	Rolling
1 October 2025	15 January 2026	Osborne Clarke	TBC
2 January 2026	30 April 2026	Orrick	Rolling

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Why do you not include Birketts who hire 30+ trainees across their offices including London, Bristol and Cambridge? I noticed this last year too.

 

[Amma Usman]

Why do you not include Birketts who hire 30+ trainees across their offices including London, Bristol and Cambridge? I noticed this last year too.

Thank you for letting us know! Added now!

 

[WeGotThis!]

Does BCLP have a good trainee intake from the DTC?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does BCLP have a good trainee intake from the DTC?

Hey!

From the Chambers Student Guide on BCLP, it states that between 85-90% of their trainee intake comes in through its vacation schemes. As they offer 20 training contracts a year, this is likely to be a few DTC offers per cycle.

Whilst they recruit from the vacation scheme in most instances, it's always worth applying (as there's no reason why you can't be one of the few DTC offer holders!). I got my TC at a firm through the direct route when they hire primarily from the VS, so the only way to definitely miss out is by not applying at all

 

[ZNadeem]

Does BCLP have a good trainee intake from the DTC?

Hi! From my experience on a vacation scheme there, I’d say BCLP mainly recruits through the schemes. That said, they do have a stronger direct TC rate compared to many other firms, so the DTC route is definitely viable if that is your only option!

 

[rain2801]

Hi, is it too late to apply for Slaughter since it's rolling?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi, is it too late to apply for Slaughter since it's rolling?

Hi!

As the deadline isn't until November, I'd say that it is definitely still worth applying. As a general rule, I would always recommend submitting the application even if it is close to the deadline, as you never know!

 

[WeGotThis!]

Hi! From my experience on a vacation scheme there, I’d say BCLP mainly recruits through the schemes. That said, they do have a stronger direct TC rate compared to many other firms, so the DTC route is definitely viable if that is your only option!

Thank you very much! I think I'll apply early for their DTC so that I have a better chance.

 

[jkatz]

Does anyone know whether Slaughter and May inform you about TC application via email or phone call? Is it phone call if accepted and email if rejected?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone know whether Slaughter and May inform you about TC application via email or phone call? Is it phone call if accepted and email if rejected?

Hello!

As a general rule of thumb, a firm will contact candidates by phone if they are successful, and email if they are unsuccessful.

However, I have previously been emailed with a VS offer and phoned with a rejection, so I wouldn't automatically assume the worst if you get an email!

If you're unsure, you could always reach out to the graduate recruitment team to check how they typically handle it - they're usually more than happy to clarify!

 

[SM2001]

Do RPC and Dentons hire a good proportion of trainees from the DTC?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Do RPC and Dentons hire a good proportion of trainees from the DTC?

Hello!

I have found some posts from last cycle on the forum where this was discussed for these firms - whilst this may have changed slightly, hopefully this assists!

I would expect RPC to fall into the category of the firm recruiting a substantial number of trainees from their vacation scheme, but this is topped up with their direct TC process. The firm seems to recruit 14 trainees a year but only has 16 vacation scheme students - its highly unlikely everyone will get an offer and that of those that do, there will be some who turn down their offers for other opportunities. I suspect they are recruiting at least around 25% of their TCs (so approximately 4) via a direct TC route.

Hiya @A worried graduate

I wanted to send across some firms that generally only make offers through their direct TC routes, as well as a few firms that have had a historically strong track record of taking a good number of applicants through direct TC routes.

• Baker McKenzie
• BCLP
• Dentons
• Farrer & Co
• Haynes Boone
• K&L Gates
• Macfarlanes
• RPC
• Stephenson Harwood

Hope this is helpful to you and good luck with your applications!