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Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of submitting my application for the Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Kramer Internship in Hong Kong, specifically targeting their arbitration team.

I've hit a significant roadblock with a technical glitch on their online application portal, and I'm hoping someone here might have encountered something similar or can offer advice.

In the "Education Details" section, the "University" field is marked as mandatory, but when I click on the dropdown menu, it's completely blank/empty. There are no options to select, nor is there any free-text field or an "Other" option to manually input my university name. This is preventing me from proceeding with the application.

I've already sent detailed emails explaining the issue (with screenshots) to both [email protected] and [email protected] but I haven't received a response yet.

Has anyone else experienced this specific issue with HSF's portal, or any other firm's application system, where a mandatory field offers no options whatsoever? Also, are there any other general HSF Hong Kong recruitment or HR email addresses that I should try contacting?

Any insights or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

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Hey everyone,

After years of lurking on TCLA, I’ve finally decided to step out of the shadows and start sharing my training contract journey.

So many of you have kept me going through the rejections, the rewrites, and the late-night Legal 500 rabbit holes — so now I’m hoping to do the same for someone else. If you're feeling stuck, behind, or just plain lost... you're not alone.

Here’s a bit about me:

• Law grad with a First from a Russell Group uni (yes, with a couple of rogue 2:2s along the way — it happens)
• Completed one vac scheme with a transatlantic firm
• Now in my third application cycle and still figuring it out

For a while, I completely stopped applying. The constant rejections before even getting to interview were draining. But I’ve picked myself back up and I’m giving it another proper go — targeting the few direct TC applications still open this cycle.

I’ll be using this thread to track my progress, wins, fails, and everything in between. Hopefully, this becomes a space where we can share real tips, keep each other accountable, and maybe even celebrate a few offers together.

Hi everyone,

I recently had an interview with Slaughter and May and got a rejection a few days ago.
I am not sure whether maybe my case study report wasn't good enough (will try and ask) – anyhow, I've been wondering how everyone prepares for those? I didn't do an LLB in the UK, so I'm not sure if a lot of the case study practice usually happens as part of university law societies etc.
I have done the TCLA course case study but – if I remember correctly – there was only one business case study, and I am looking for sources that have a number of them (incl. suggested solution).

Thanks in advance for any tips

Hey! If I could get some clarification on whether you can give the online tests for Linklaters Applications (Ex-Watson Glazer) once or it is different for different programmes. For example if you are not able to clear the online tests for the vacation scheme then would you not be able to apply for other applications like direct TC applications.

Hi All,

I have a BSc Biomedical Science (graduated 2016) and MSc Neuroscience (graduated 2018) and currently work in Research & Development in the public sector as a Senior Contracts Associate which involves drafting, reviewing and negotiating research contracts with universities, charities, other collaborating institutions and liaising with/escalating research contracts to our in-house counsel where appropriate.

The next step above my current role is to Contracts Manager and then you hit a glass ceiling of if you want to go any further, you obviously require a legal qualification. I've pondered a great deal about where to go from this role and I think it's best that I pursue a career as a solicitor. The formal legal training and qualification I believe will open a lot of doors for me and I believe I have the capacity and appropriate skills to excel in a role as a solicitor.

My question is this, does it make sense for me to apply directly to training contracts as a non-law graduate with minimal legal exposure. I know they say in the TC entry requirements that they take non-law graduates but is that just something they say in theory but realistically when competing against bright, fresh-out-of-uni law grads a non-law grad is just not going to fare well? I've seen that a potential option for someone like me might be going via the paralegal route and then from there that firm may support me in enrolling onto their training contract - I've seen Macfarlane offer this. I guess this is all fairly new to me and I'm just looking for some guidance. I wouldn't want to start applying prematurely to firms without knowing what route might suit me best.

Also for context and to complicate things slightly, I'm currently pregnant with my second child due in October so I initially started off thinking how I could spend this next maternity leave to improve myself i.e. take the Postgraduate Diploma in Law? I've seen some paralegal roles wanting legal background like the PGDL so perhaps during this maternity leave I could make a start on PGDL and then once complete try and secure a paralegal role and then from there pursue a training contract?

Thank you for taking the time to read and advise me.

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to actually get past the first stage of the Linklaters vac scheme/TC application, since it's just a Cappfinity test with no written application? I've applied 4 times and gotten rejected every time after the test, and I was just wondering how anyone even gets past this stage!

Hi,

I’m interviewing for a paralegal role in derivatives and ISDA. I’m curious if getting experience in this area is transferable to a more general commercial contract paralegal role in the future, as I’m not sure if structured finance is the route I want to go down. Would firms recruiting for general commercial contract paralegal roles accept my experience in derivatives as relevant to my application?

I would appreciate any advice.

Hi If I do a PGDL after a MBBS medical degree instead of an LLB will I be disadvantaged when applying for TC’s and corporate jobs at US and magic/silver circle firms ?

I am a current MLP (LPC equivalent) student, and I am new here. I look forward to meeting you all and contributing to this community! <3

UPDATE 22/11/2025 - So last application round did not go well for me. Honestly, I know everyone says this but being nearly 24 and not having secured anything is hard. I feel so behind my peers and very succesful friends who are earning high salaries and progressing in their careers. I know people say not to get bogged down in age/numbers but the thought that I will (finally) qualify as a solicitor (if I secure anything this cycle) at 30 feels so scary to me. I will just be starting my career whilst all my friends will be way into theirs. Comparison is the thief of joy and I keep reminind myself of this, but it is so hard to keep your head up and keep trying. I feel like everyone around me is so much more intelligent, commercially aware and overall better candidates, I'm not really sure what I have to offer that is special.

Despite this, all I can do is keep trying. I dont mean to be negative but I feel like this is a space where I can get it all out of my system, and probably hardly anyone will read it. I feel like I would really benefit from some mentoring but I dont think there are any open mentoring schemes at the moment. My strategy this year will be, send out as many applications as possible. People say it is better to pick a few and really work hard on them but in my experience, today it is all about luck of the draw. That is not to say I won't tailor my applications but before I would spend many weeks working on one application, just to get through the first few stages and then miss other deadlines.

I hope this year will be my year. I am trying everything I can to make sure I can be the best candidate. I did my Freshfields online assessment and prepared so hard for the critical reasoning section. Despite that, I dont think it went well at all so not off to a good start for the cycle. I will aim to keep this updated as much as I can.


ORIGINAL 28/05/2025 : I thought I would join everyone else in documenting my training contract journey. I guess this is more of a place for me to rant and keep myself accountable especially since the last few years of law school and trying to get into a legal career has been painful.

I can't say that I feel like a particularly standout candidate and I don't really know where to go from here. I have fairly average grades, 2:1 standard but nothing special or exceptional. I I've filled my life at uni with extra-curriculars and I have tried my hardest to make a standout application to firms but have been rather unsuccessful. I completed 1 vacation scheme secured as part of a mentoring scheme but didn't manage to turn that into a TC. I also had two vacation scheme interviews but didn't make it through to the next stage. Technically, this is my 3rd application cycle but the first and second time around, I only applied to a few firms and I cant say they were particularly tailored applications.

My difficulty is, is that from first year onwards I set myself up for the Bar, so I have done a fair amount of mini-pupillages and my extra curriculars are very mooting and Bar soc centred. I am now graduating this year, and feel completely lost. I don't feel like I'm good enough for the Bar academically but I also don't feel like I'm good enough to get a TC either because I don't have many vacation schemes. I have worked since I was 16 so I have a fair bit of work experience especially more recently in corporate environments.

Anyway enough of the sob story- these are the firms I am hoping to apply to for direct TCs in the remaining time I have.

• BCLP
• Dentons
• Haynes Boone
• Reed Smith
• Burges Salmon
• Watson Farley & Williams
• Morgan Lewis
• Paul Hastings
• Sullivan and Cromwell (Maybe)
• Macfarlanes
• White & Case
• HFW
• Stephenson Harwood

Applied already to

• Kingsley Napley - PFO post-second stage
• GLD - PFO
• Wedlake Bell - Waiting for a response

Hi all, this forum has been such a lifesaver when I was prepping for SQE1 so I thought I'd come back and return the favour.

About me:

• 23 y/o female. Graduated with law degree from RG uni in 2023. Future trainee at a US firm.
• Studied full-time at ULaw on the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) course from September 2024 onwards. I was sponsored by my firm to study there and I was also given a maintenance grant.
• Sat SQE1 in January 2025. Found out in March 2025 that I passed both FLK1 and FLK2 in the first quintile. Sat SQE2 in April/May 2025. I will find out whether I have passed SQE2 in August 2025 (fingers crossed!). I start my training contract in September 2025.

I will not be able to say much about SQE2 as I don't know if I have passed yet. But I am happy to share my preliminary thoughts on my experience prepping for it and how I felt going in and coming out of SQE2 exams.

I initially planned to write a long article detailing my experience but realised halfway in that it was taking me longer than I expected. Also I drafted it here but the draft didn't save lol RIP. So I figured it might be more productive to just start a new thread and answer questions as and when needed. I will monitor this thread and answer questions for the next few months until I start my training contract in September.

I might add to this thread bits and bobs that I think would be helpful as and when I remember them. I mainly just want to chat about my experience while it is still fresh in my head and hopefully that proves useful for someone prepping for these exams or are about to start their prep course soon, so you can learn from my mistakes and go into the exams feeling more confident.

I would also like to caveat that my experience will be specific to ULaw, so might not be applicable to you if you are prepping with another provider. But hopefully the more generic bits will still be helpful to you.

I am not claiming that whatever I say here is true. You should take what I say with a grain of salt, take on board what you think works for you and ignore whatever else I say that you think is untrue or unreliable. Exercise your own judgment to figure out what approach works for you as you prep for these exams. I am only sharing what I believe to be true in my experience. If you disagree or had a different approach to certain things, please feel free to share below — would be great to have a mix of different perspectives here.

Hi so im currently in the process of trying to find a suitable SQE provider. im currently thinking BPP is a good option as they offer the LLM SQE 1 & 2 as well as option for funding. however a lot of people have good reviews about Barbri who do just the SQE and The College of Legal Practice who do the LLM sqe 1 and 2... Does anyone have any recommendations.

Hi,

I initially went to university (non-RG) in 2018 after finishing secondary school abroad in an American school and doing the SAT (American university exam). I did a Foundation Year at uni (2018), did one year of Computer Science before deciding I hated it (2019), and took a gap year during COVID (2020). Will this be a problem when applying?

After this, from 2021-2024, I did a History degree and got a 2:1 overall. The problem is that, for various reasons which could be mitigating circumstances, I had to resit 2 modules in my foundation year (2:1), and one module in my first year of Computer Science (2:2). Neither of these affected my degree outcome with History. I did however have to resit one module in my first year of History because I missed the exam date, but that also did not count towards my final degree result.

I've also just finished my pGDL exams and expect a Distinction, worst case scenario a high Merit.

I also have about 9 months of work experience as a conveyancing paralegal in a high street firm.

Do I have to:

1) Note the resits on my TC apps or can I just put my final grades in the modules I resat

2) Include my first year of Computer Science in my application? It's not relevant to my main degree at all and it's a 2:2, which I really do not want to show

Thanks

Hi @Jessica Booker and everyone,

I’ve got a 2:1 in law and recently started the LLM SQE course, but I was withdrawn after failing one module. I’m planning to apply for vacation schemes and training contracts later this year, but I’m unsure how this might affect my chances.

There’s no official record of the failed course, but I understand any gaps on my CV might raise questions. I’m not trying to hide anything, but I’m not sure if it's still realistic to apply.

I meet the 2:1 requirement for most firms and still really want to qualify as a solicitor. Would really appreciate any honest thoughts or advice.


Thank you so much.

Does anyone know how us firms do their conversions from dollar to pound given that USD/GBP is at 0.745. Therefore, 225 dollars is now sub 169 pounds. Firms that used to top the market now do not ie Kirkland now pays almost 7k pounds below White & Case.
Do you think these US firms, who pay $ 225,000, will detach from US-linked pay, especially given that GS FX puts the rate to drop yet further, so it could end up being around $ 164, which is $16,000 below the top of the market ie GD, PW, QE etc ?

Hi! Just wondering how it is best to approach the question that asks for your understanding of how a business generates and maintains a profit?

Hello everyone,

I'm just looking for advice on what to do differently or if its time to call it quits.

I am a first-class law 2023 graduate from an RG Uni. I've had 3 cycles now. In my first cycle, I managed to get a vacation scheme but didn't convert. In my second and third cycles, I got up to the last stage interview (before the VS) and got rejected. Despite having a first-class degree, I have relatively weak A-levels (ABB equivalent, I did the IB in 2020, the year that no one did exams). I also did badly in my public and contract law modules, which were in my first year of uni, and I have mitigating circumstances for those results, which I have always detailed in my applications. The majority of my applications never progress past the first stage. If I could give some ratio, I'd say only 1 in 10 progress. I think the applications I write are honestly okay. I have been a gold user sometimes and taken advantage of the application review services and gotten advice from various TCLA mentors. I'm starting to think maybe my profile is wrong, or maybe I am just applying to firms that don't want me. It's taken a toll on my confidence, given I've been applying for 3 years now, and my parents think maybe it's time to move on. However, I do not want to give up on my dream. So if anyone has any advice, it would really be appreciated. @Jessica Booker @Jaysen @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam

Hi everyone!

I am about to graduate law school in June 2025. After graduation, I intend to do the SQE and I have decided to go with QLTS as my Prep Course Provider.

I originally intended to sit for the July 2026 SQE1 exams, however, I wanted guidance on whether you believe I would be well prepared to sit for the January 2026 SQE1 exams if I were to devote 7 hours per day in a week of SQE prep.

Similarly, how long would you estimate I should spend in preparation if I intend to sit for the July 2026 SQE1 exams. I intend to prepare for the SQE1 without any work on the side.

Thanks and looking forward to hearing your insights,
Sohan Prasad

Hi everyone,

Just completed an exam today and I think I've failed or at least got a very bad pass. I'm not over-reacting either because a lot of things happened in the exam room today that made me completely lose my focus and not finish my answers at all (i.e. invigilator loudly taking the register after the exam has started, someone next to me having issues with his laptop and even more talking, people leaving early from the exam as they are done and more talking from the invigilator to tell them they can go etc.)

I have mitigating circumstances for my A Levels which are not good at all (BBB) and I also go to a non-RG uni, so my main aim for this year was to get at least get 2:1s in every module because I know that I needed to at least salvage some chance of getting a vac scheme/TC for the next application cycle, which I'll be in second year for. This is looking more and more unlikely for me unfortunately, and I feel that writing these additional mitigating circumstances just looks l'm making excuses when that is far from the truth.

I'm definitely feeling that pressure of becoming a commercial solicitor because not only is being one the only job I found interesting and have ever wanted to do, but coming from a lower socio-economic background, I feel this intense self-inflicted pressure to get a training contract and pass the SQE so that I can have job stability.

What can I do to make myself look like the best candidate possible for the next application cycle, or should I skip it altogether and just apply in my third year? Even after applying in third year, will they question me on first year grades?

Hey guys, has anyone heard back from RWK Goodman after completing their TC application?

I am just slightly concerned because it has been over a month since the deadline passed.

Has anyone heard back from the HSF Campus Ambassador Role for 25/26. My interview was just over a week ago.

Hey!! I thought it might be fun to turn what is likely going to be a long journey into a thread so that maybe others feel a little less alone?? Also because, to be brutally honest, if I don't have something to hold me accountable, I will procrastinate :')

I figured I should probably set the scene a bit. I've just finished all my assessments for my final year of my law degree and am now in the very weird gap between finishing uni and graduation. I went to a non-russell group uni and got 3 As at A-level (for context, I did my A-levels in 2022 when RG unis raised their law requirements to A*AA because there was more students than usual). I at least will finish with a 2:1, but have had firsts in quite a few modules (including my diss) and am toeing the line between a 2:1 and a first, so really these last couple results determine it.

As for where I went to end up, the goal is to be a commercial solicitor. I'm particularly interested in less litigious work, things to do with technology and where the law is still evolving to keep up interests me a lot (I'm a nerd lol). I've got a lot of artistic/creative hobbies so I like when stuff involves that part of my brain. Who knows what practice group I'll end up in, since I find a lot of things interesting, but hopefully that gives you some idea of the kind of person I am!

This cycle, I applied for like 6 firms I think? Got to the virtual interview and online assessment part of it (I don't know the fancy forum acronyms yet) and failed! What did we learn from that? Use your uni's careers team! That's probably going to be the running.. well, thread, throughout this thread since I intend to actually make use of them this time! I also intend to actually apply to all the firms on my list. I think I had around 12 I wanted to apply for but deadlines approached and I got so fixated on assignments that they just slipped through my fingers *cue ABBA* which was not good!

I also am currently jobless (woo) so, since there'll at the very least be year, if not two or three, between now and when I start my TC/SQEs I will find something to fill my time between now and then. Honestly, the idea of having an office job sounds fun (that itself feels like a giant recession indicator haha) so I'm happy to get that experience before entering my TC - it'll probably make me a much better candidate since I'm lacking in that department a bit. On the note of SQEs, I don't want to self-fund and am hoping to get it funded by a firm but, who knows, if anyone thinks that might be a good option, I'm always open to hearing it.

So what's the plan?

1) Get a job (yay income) OR/AND find some work experience to fill the time (yay cv fillers)
2) Do firm research between now & the start of the next cycle to get some basic answers written (yay planning)
3) Keep in touch with my careers department and use their help
4) Get a training contract?? :0

There'll likely be a lot of little steps between now and then so we'll see how that goes!! At the very least, even if I don't secure a TC between now and the next cycle, I will have a thread detailing all the smart moves and setbacks along the way that will help me do better next time

(the thread title from treacherous by taylor swift btw bc i couldn't help myself)

TL;DR
Jobless almost-graduate attempts to get a job and training contract - join her for wacky shenanigans

Hi all - hoping you don't mind me asking a couple questions! I'm also new here, so I apologise if this is in the wrong place/already discussed in a pinned forum.

For context, I'm a 2nd year non-law at an RG uni, and I'm just kind of exploring my options at the moment. I am aware that if I choose to go into Law, many hours studying, researching, and thinking about 'why' must be done.

However, for the sake of sheer information, I'm trying to parse together when and where things must be done if I were to go into Law. From what I can parse together:

1. As a non-law student, I am to be applying for vacation schemes in my final year. As it is May currently, I would be looking at applying for the winter 2025 contracts? Or Even Easter 2026? (This would be important, as I'd be looking at preparing over the summer, I suppose)

2. As I'm graduating in summer 2026, would I then be applying for Training Contracts for 2028?

3. Would a training contract sponsor me for a GDL course?

Any answers are appreciated, thank you!

Hi! I currently have two offers for CMS and Travers Smith and I’m having a really hard time deciding between the two. I would like to know people’s thoughts and what they would choose. I really want to go on international secondment.