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Lawsuit also criticised law firm Skadden for advising both Intel and the government
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Forum Upgrade is Live

Hey everyone - we’ve upgraded the forum to the latest version.

This includes:

• Improved security
• Improved stability
• Snappier performance
• Better image handling and optimisation
• Support for newer sign-in methods (e.g., passkeys)
• Better foundation for future improvements and add-ons

Please note that this is a small upgrade before we redesign the forum.

Please reply to this thread if you notice anything that is not working as it should.

Hi guys, I have an AC for a direct training contract coming up in April. I was wondering if any members on the forum who are around London would be interested in organising an in-person mock group exercise? I did one last year and it was super helpful in converting to a vacation scheme.

Creditors allege in filings ahead of urgent court hearing that UK mortgage provider lent to connected parties
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Hello,

I am currently a first year undergraduate doing LLB law at University of Exeter. I plan on dropping out at the end of this year as I don't enjoy the atmosphere and think I could be a more serious applicant in the future if I take a gap year and reapply. Over the gap year I am aiming to complete some work experience (in-person and online), volunteering (nationally and internationally) and complete the LNAT in September. I would like to apply to Warwick, Bristol or UCL.

My A-level grades are:
A* - Sociology
A - Law
A - Spanish

My GCSE's are weaker, with mostly 5s and 6s, but I will retake English and Maths to make myself more competitive.

I will likely achieve 2:1s and 1sts in all my first year modules at Exeter.

Does this seem 1) plausible to enter another university as a first year undergraduate and 2) a viable path to improve my chances of achieving a TC in the future?

Hi all,

I recently applied to Farrer & Co (my dream firm) and was unfortunately immediately rejected at the application stage. I put a huge amount of effort and time into my application (detailed firm research, structured answers using the PEE method, and even conducted various coffee chats with current trainees to better understand the firm) so I felt it was one of my strongest submissions.

I’m now stumped on how to improve. Does anyone have experience with training contract application review services they’d recommend? I’m particularly interested in smaller-scale mentoring services rather than larger ones like Rare, which feel a bit inaccessible. Also, if there are any current Farrer trainees around, I’d appreciate any insight.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I know many of you will soon start thinking about the next application cycle, so I thought it would be helpful to create a thread to collect the written application questions used by law firms in the 2025–26 recruitment cycle.

If you applied to any firms this cycle, it would be great if you could share the application questions you received. Over time, the aim is to build a resource that future applicants can use to start preparing their answers well in advance.

We’re really keen to include questions from all types of firms, so if you applied to any boutique, regional or high street firms, please feel free to share your questions as well.

If you’re able to contribute, please include:

• Firm name
• Programme (Vacation Scheme / Training Contract / Diversity Access Scheme)
• Recruitment cycle (ideally 2025–26, but feel free to share questions from the past two cycles)
• The application questions (as close to the original wording as possible)
• Word count limit (if applicable)

Even if you only remember one or two questions, that’s still really helpful!

Hi everyone

I have a Marriott Harrison assessment centre coming up (in-person). The invite mentions a group activity, a technical assessment, and an interview.

If anyone has attended recently, could you share:

• What was the technical assessment (written/email task, issue spotting, proofreading, etc.), and what was the rough timing?
• What was the group task format (case discussion/prioritisation/presentation), and what worked well?
• Interview style/themes (competency + motivation, commercial, disputes/VC focus)?

Any practical tips would be much appreciated, thank you!

Hello,

What are your tips for balancing your applications preparation and your studies effectively and reasonably? Both are time-consuming, which I completely understand, but I have found it challenging to make very good applications and get very good grades. My concern is to spend too much time on applications at the expenses of my studies and vice versa. There is so much uncertainty about applications. I am also wondering how many applications I 'should' make during a recruitment cycle without compromising my studies; I am fully aware of the fact that quality should be prioritised over quantity and the crucial importance of tailored and genuine applications.

@Jaysen @Amma Usman @Daniel Boden May I please ask whether you would be happy to share your thoughts on this?

Many thanks.

Upcoming asset sales are expected to yield as little as $200mn to pay off debt pile of more than $12bn
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For drivers under 21, the state has a zero-tolerance policy. The BAC limit is .01, not .08. Essentially, any detectable alcohol can result in charges. One drink could put a young driver over this threshold.

The consequences include license suspension, fines, community service, and mandatory alcohol education programs. For young people who need to drive to school or work, losing driving privileges creates real problems.

For those in this situation, consulting with an underage DUI lawyer NJ makes sense. These cases have specific procedures and potential consequences that differ from standard DWI charges.

Something else worth considering – some defense attorneys previously worked as prosecutors before switching to defense work. A former prosecutor DUI lawyer NJ has seen these cases from the other side. They understand how the state evaluates evidence and builds cases, which can inform the defense approach.

Parents dealing with this situation are understandably stressed. Getting accurate information early helps everyone understand what's actually at stake and what options exist. Free consultations are typically available at most firms.

Regional lender files lawsuit against investment bank in New York state court on Friday
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Hi all, I am a career changer who initially went through the GDL/LPC/TC route to qualification, starting this whole journey in 2019.

Due to COVID and some family commitments, I left the UK in 2020 and completed by LPC during the lockdown period. Since then I have been working as part of an in-house legal team in corporate of an international company headquartered overseas.

I have been with this company now for almost 3 years, working on many corporate and commercial legal matters, and really being deeply embedded in all legal related goings-on in the business.

I now wish to restart my qualification journey via QWE. I believe my experience is acceptable, however I am now questioning if I can find anyone suitable to certify my QWE.

For clarity, it will need to be someone external to my company, and although I have SRA solicitors in my network, I'm not certain what is the process or etiquette in this situation. Can anyone who has been in my situation please advise what they did?

Thank you all in advance!

Case could influence wider legal questions about how long-term risks apply to fiduciary duties
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Banco Master’s Daniel Vorcaro detained amid allegations of illegal surveillance and intimidation of critics
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Does anyone have any idea when we will hear back about our submissions?

I'm planning on applying for a full-time research analyst role at chambers and partners but I don't know if it will be useful in my journey for a training contract. Or should I focus on getting a part time retail job so I have time for applications? Or paralegal roles if I can find any? Really lost.

Justice department reverses decision from a day earlier to walk away from court case
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New AI assessment systems fail to identify risks, warns Financial Conduct Authority
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Hi all,

I've just been accepted onto Simmons & Simmons' Spring Insight Scheme. However, little information is available online regarding what it specifically entails. I'm aware of what it will likely consist of, but am wondering whether (like some other schemes, e.g. CMS') if you can be fast-tracked to an AC from it?

Anyone that has completed the scheme in the past, or is yet to do so but knows whether an AC offer can be achieved from the scheme, I would greatly appreciate your input.

Thanks!

Administration to terminate appeals in four cases involving law firms that sued to block measures from taking effect
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Hello, I have a study exchange during university second semester and summer, at a university in Australia (I had to do 2 of 3 terms for an exchange at UNSW to make up the required credits), so that means I will not be in the UK during my penultimate year summer and therefore will not be able to do any spring or summer vacation schemes.

There are very few winter vacation schemes, and among those, ones for penultimate year students are even fewer and pretty much all of them take place during my December exams so I lost that option.

I have thought about whether it is possible to do the work placement courses at UNSW but I am unsure whether this is allowed, and when I go there I will for sure try getting a part time job or an internship (but I am not optimistic due to being on a student visa during my time there).

Does this mean I genuinely will not be able to do any legal work experience during my penultimate year? I really wanted to do my study abroad for 6 months as I will get to experience a country I have always wanted to go too, even considering living there in the future if I ever had the chance so I would love to check it out, and it will be my only chance at a taste of independence since I won't really be able to leave my parents house until after graduating only if I get a job in England (since I am in Scotland, University of Glasgow).

I already have decent grades (mid 2:1) (second year of 4 year degree), A's in 8 nat 5s, 6 highers and 3 advanced highers, I volunteer at CAB, am part of the uni badminton team, and previously balanced a part time job as well, I've been trying to get into online tutoring, had a part time job last year as a student caller. I also do a joint degree with business management. I am going to do pwc's diversity insight scheme soon but I haven't been able to get a law first year scheme yet (applied to very few and got a rejection already, and the other applications are also really low quality so not optimistic there).

If there really is nothing I can do, then I will probably try applying to winter vacation schemes in my final year as well as spring and summer vacation schemes and direct tc's based on where firms hire more from. I will hopefully be eligible to do UNSW work placement courses even as an exchange student and I will hopefully also get a part time job while there. Anyways I am sorry for all the information, if anyone has useful suggestions for me I'd be very grateful.

Thank you for your time.

Bank among lenders to have identified issues with Market Financial Solutions after other high-profile failures
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Hi all,

I still haven't heard back from Linklaters for their Summer Vacation Scheme. I know many have received ACs (and have completed them too), but Linklaters is the only firm that hasn't got back to me with an AC offer (or rejection).

Anyone else in the same boat? Or has anyone been rejected yet?

I'm sure I've been rejected, but a little hope would be nice haha.

Thanks.

"We fill most of our training contract spaces directly through our vacation scheme, so we recommend all candidates apply via this route."

If a firm says what I've quoated above is it even worth applying for a TC directly? EDIT: especially if there's only 14 vacancies.