TCLA Premium
High-level resources to help aspiring lawyers secure training contracts
Watch Promo Enroll in CourseWhy TCLA Premium?
If you're on this page, chances are you want to be a commercial lawyer. It's a profession that offers interesting work, global opportunities and the chance to work on headlining deals.
However, commercial law is also one of the most competitive industries to enter. Thousands of candidates apply for a small number of places each year. Only a handful secure training contracts.
Just look at the reported application to interview ratio for these firms:
Data from Lex 100 (2018)
TCLA Premium has been designed to turn good candidates into great candidates at all levels of the process. We detail how to write the top 1% of applications. We break down how you can excel in case studies and partner interviews. And we teach you the fundamentals of commercial awareness.
We're not here to give you the secret to securing a training contract because, quite frankly, there isn't one. But what we can do is share everything we've learned, having been through the process ourselves and having worked with thousands of candidates over the last few years (over the past few years, we've reviewed several thousand applications for vacation schemes and training contracts).
Contrary to what you might think at the moment, much of reaching the top 1% percent is about learning skills. Application writing, interview performance, debating commercial topics... they're just like any skill, which means they can be developed through consistent, deliberate practice.
Now, at the moment, some of this information is already out there. But it's fragmented. That means different candidates have access to different information. It also means many aspiring lawyers don't have access to high-quality resources to teach them how to write a stand-out application or excel during law firm case studies. That's a huge problem because, for many firms, you only have one shot per cycle.
So, TCLA Premium offers high-level training and resources on teach candidates the skills they need to secure training contracts, all in one easily-accessible location.
It won't be for everyone and it's not a secret sauce; you can definitely still secure a training contract without TCLA Premium.
What it does do is combine the knowledge you need to know for your applications, interviews and assessment centres in a single, straightforward package. We've put hundreds and hundreds of hours into providing the best resources we can think of to help you secure a training contract.
TCLA Premium provides high-level training and resources to help aspiring lawyers secure training contracts at elite commercial law firms.
Our monthly membership programme gives you unlimited access to all our TCLA courses and premium materials, including all of our future courses.
I thought I would drop you a line to explain why I have decided to cancel my TCLA premium subscription, just in case you thought it was due to dissatisfaction with the service I have received. That is certainly not the case. Rather, I have recently received a training contract offer from Travers Smith and will be accepting the offer.
When I started using TCLA premium earlier this year, I lacked a lot of confidence in my ability to write a convincing application, my ability to assimilate complex commercial topics and my all-round ability to navigate through the TC process in order to actually obtain an offer. However, I began to use TCLA premium for hours upon end each day throughout lockdown 1.0, from the law firm insights you provide in order to better tailor my apps to the various courses you offer aimed at demystifying the elusive notion of ‘commercial awareness’ just to build up an arsenal of commercial aptitude that would leave me in good stead for AC’s and interviews, and my confidence began to dramatically swing in the other direction. I began to get past the application stage in the vast majority of my apps and I began to believe in my ability to perform exceptionally at the AC/interview stage. TCLA has undoubtedly been instrumental in allowing me to unlock my true potential and iron out deficiencies in my all-round approach to the TC process that had been holding me back for years.
I could not be happier with the service I have received and it is the best money I have ever spent. Thank you for your relentless efforts to continuously provide such a first-class service that really does have the capability to change lives.
All the bestNF![]()
What does TCLA Premium offer?
TCLA Premium is a monthly recurring subscription. You pay one monthly fee and get access to all of the courses we've ever created. You also gain access to our ongoing future material for as long as you are a subscriber.
75+ Successful Applications
Members of TCLA Premium have access to all of our past content in our private forum. Inside our forum, you will find copies of 75+ successful applications and cover letters shared by students applying to a variety of firms. You will also find high-level application advice, commercial discussions, and more!
The list of firms include: Addleshaw Goddard, Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, BCLP, Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co, CMS, Davis Polk, Dechert, Dentons, Eversheds, Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Howard Kennedy, Howes Percival, Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis, K&L Gates, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Macfarlanes, Mayer Brown, Mishcon de Reya, Norton Rose Fulbright, Osborne Clarke, Penningtons Manches Cooper, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Shearman & Sterling, Simmons & Simmons, Slaughter and May, Travers Smith, Watson Farley & Williams, White & Case and Womble Bond Dickinson.
Access to our Courses
Our courses are designed to teach you how to excel in interviews and assessment centres, from lessons on law firm case studies and discussions of commercial topics to in-depth guides. We use a combination of video tutorials, mock case studies and graded quizzes to cater to different styles of learning. More than "commercial awareness", we also provide you with an in-depth understanding of a variety of topics to take you forward in your career.
Our current courses include:
1: Understanding Private Equity
Basic questions about private equity arise during interviews with several U.S. law firms, including Weil Gotshal & Manges and Kirkland & Ellis. Other corporate-heavy law firms may also test your knowledge of private equity through case study interviews or written exercises.
2: The Interviewees' Guide to Mergers and Acquisitions
Our most popular course! Mergers and acquisitions forms the basis for some of the hardest exercises at law firm interviews and assessment days. That's why this course is designed to prepare you for all forms of M&A questions across case studies, written exercises and scenario interviews.
3: The Aspiring Lawyer's Guide to Brexit
This course is a roadmap to what you need to know about Brexit for your interviews. It’s structured through a series of interview questions based on the impact of Brexit on businesses and law firms.
5: Becoming an Exceptional Candidate Course
Have you been struggling with law firm interviews? Do you fall down on group exercises during assessment centres? Are you wondering how to approach case studies and written exercises? This course was designed to help you turn an interview into a training contract offer.
5. Legal Technology Crash Course
This crash course is aimed at students and future trainees who want to better understand the advent of legal technology and its impact on commercial law firms. It's taught by Richard Tromans, founder of Artificial Lawyer, a global news website dedicated to “New Wave” legal technology. Artificial Lawyer has been recognised as one of the top 50 information sites in the world on Artificial Intelligence.
6. Managing your Training Contract
Brought to you by a team of trainee solicitors and associates at leading City law firms, this course is designed to help you better understand the role of trainee solicitors.
The course focuses on joining the top percentage of applicants, aiming for outstanding rather than ‘good enough’ in every aspect of your application journey, drafting applications that leave no doubt in the recruiter’s mind as to your capabilities, and learning the nuances that will help you to stand out when developing commercial awareness and performing on vacation schemes.
8. TCLA's Weekly Report and Interview Guides
Our Weekly Report has been designed to develop your understanding of topical commercial news. This includes examining why it's in the news and the impact across different sectors.
9. TCLA's Introduction to the City Course
In this course, we break down the commercial topics likely to come up at interviews and assessment centres in 2019/2020, including the financial markets, the business of law firms, as well as topical news stories. The goal is to demystify key business and legal topics and provide an overview of how different parts of the City work together.
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No other course contains the breadth of material contained in these courses, nor are they tailored in the same way to aspiring lawyers. Moreover, within these courses you will find mock case studies and sample answers, detailed video breakdowns of challenging interview questions, and sample interview answers.
50+ Law Firm Profiles
To secure a training contract, you need to demonstrate a clear motivation for applying to a particular firm. But it's not always easy to work out what makes law firms different. Our detailed law firm profiles have been designed to help you to tailor your applications and justify what makes a law firm different at interviews.
We use our premium subscriptions to The Lawyer and Legal Week, along with our existing knowledge of firms, to give you a detailed explanation of a firm's unique selling points. You'll come away with a high-level understanding of a firm, which you can then apply to your applications, interviews and vacation schemes.
We have insights on the following firms: Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Charles Russell Speechlys, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co, Dentons, DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Herbert Smith Freehills, HFW, Hogan Lovells, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Macfarlanes, Norton Rose Fulbright, Shearman & Sterling, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Slaughter and May, Taylor Wessing, Travers Smith, Vinson & Elkins, Weil Gotshal & Manges, and White & Case. Check out a sample insight for Clifford Chance here.
Access to TCLA's Webinars
Access recorded versions of our webinars with Shearman & Sterling LLP:
- Writing Exceptional Training Contract Applications
- How to Excel in a Virtual Interview
Exclusive Gold Member Content
One Fast-Track Application Review Every Month
We've reviewed thousands of applications for vacation schemes and training contracts over the past few years. Our thorough and personal application review service offers you detailed, line-by-line comments on your vacation scheme or training contract application. We'll use our application reviews to teach you to how sell yourselves on paper, how to stand out from the crowd, and how to answer a variety of law firm application questions.
Gold Members can receive 1 fast-track review each month (returned in 1 working day). Read more about our Application Review Service. Note, this replaces the standard application review under the silver subscription and does not roll over.
Gold Members are entitled to all of the benefits of TCLA Premium, plus...
25% Discount On Additional Application Reviews
Want the best support for your applications? Gold members receive a 25% discount on all additional individual application reviews. You can find your exclusive code within the TCLA Premium course curriculum
Access to TCLA's Crash Course Talks
We're delighted to announce that Gold Members now have access to almost three hours of content from TCLA's Crash Course. More details on this exclusive course can be found here.
The sessions include:
- Legal Technology Crash Course by Alistair Wye (Lead Innovation & Technology Consultant at a global law firm)
- Understanding the City by Christopher Stoakes (author of All You Need to Know About The City) and Ben Staveley (former partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
- Mergers & Acquisitions Crash Course by Bobby Reddy (former partner at Latham & Watkins and University of Cambridge Lecturer in Corporate Law)
- Mastering Interviews by Arun Sohan-Pall (secured five training contract offers and future trainee at Kirkland & Ellis)
Office Hours
Starting from Tuesday 3 March 2020, Gold members also have access to office hours. There will be three 15 minutes phone slots each week to speak to the TCLA team. Kindly note, currently there is high demand for this service.
You can use this session to chat about anything related to securing a training contract. This can include:
- Reviewing your current profile and identifying areas of improvement
- Working out your application strategy
- Dealing with rejection and time management
- Reviewing a past application
- Advice on improving your interview performance
- Developing your commercial awareness
Kindly note, the prices below exclude VAT.
Get started now!
- Camilla Gionso, Third Year Student, University College London
Courses Included with Purchase
Original Price: £168
- William Nicholson, Master's student, King's College London