Seeking Advice on Next Steps After Graduation

[deyagakhal]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

 

[nimramansoor]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

Hi, I hope you are well.

Firstly, congratulations on your First Class degree, that is a great achievement and firms will look upon this favourably.

I would recommend applying for vacation schemes over direct training contracts if you do not have specific legal work experience. A direct TC application is a viable route, but only if you have completed a vacation scheme before. There are some schemes that are only open for current students, but the vast majority accept graduates. I received my training contract offer after I had graduated (as a PGDL student).

Firms look at transferable skills, so it does not matter if your experience is mainly in admin roles. There are key skills you learn from those, like communication, organisation, teamwork- all of which are crucial for the role of a solicitor.

Rejections are a natural part of the process, do not let those demotivate you. Instead, do research on individual firms to see what practice areas they offer and build a reasoning for why those firms interest you more. This way, you can make more tailored applications that are likelier to be successful.

Lastly, join TCLA Premium for a list of firm deadlines. Good luck, I wish you the best.

 

[LadyGagaWithATC]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

I firstly wanted to say that I completely understand how you feel. I did not receive a vacation scheme offer from a firm until after graduating. The Vacation Scheme/Training Contract application process can be daunting. However, please know that the majority of candidates struggle to even pass the application stage before receiving their Training Contract offer.

To respond to the individual components of your question:

• While some firms only accept current students on their Vacation Schemes (for example, Freshfields, Slaughter and May, and Sullivan & Cromwell), I would say that a majority of firms accept applications from graduates for their Vacation Schemes. I completed two vacation schemes as a graduate, and on one of them, a majority of my cohort were graduates. Definitely check with each firm that you are applying to whether they accept graduate applicants for their Vacation Schemes, but know that there are many firms that you can still apply to!

• If a firm does not accept graduates to apply for their Vacation Schemes, often, they will have an opportunity to apply for a Training Contract directly, without completing a Vacation Scheme! The firms I mentioned above each offer such an opportunity.

• With regards to whether you should be applying directly for Training Contracts, this depends on the firm that you are applying to. For example, I am aware that Norton Rose Fulbright generally expects Direct TC applicants to have some legal experience. However, I know several people who have secured a TC with Freshfields and Hogan Lovells directly with no legal experience. If the firm does not have any guidance on its Graduate Recruitment website, I would contact its Graduate Recruitment Team for guidance.

• I understand that it may be difficult to track the deadlines for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts! The good news is that you have not missed any opportunities in this application cycle yet! I am attaching two comprehensive resources, which I believe you will find useful for this purpose!

TCLA’s “Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025-26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)” (created by the wonderful @Ram Sabaratnam ): https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....5-26-with-rolling-non-rolling-checklist.9720/

Legal Cheek Key Deadlines Calendar: https://www.legalcheek.com/key-deadlines-calendar/

Best of luck!

 

[Test_Account]

Hello there!


Firstly, Congratulations on graduating with an amazing set of grades! I hope you have taken the time to celebrate this amazing achievement!

It’s completely understandable that you might be feeling a bit lost, but I hope I can help you out and break things down into some manageable steps. I would firstly start by saying, please don’t worry! The application cycle has just started and you are not behind in the slightest. You have plenty of time to make high quality applications.


Before I address the specific questions, I would strongly recommend that you read this incredible thread by Andrei, which breaks down an incredibly daunting process, into some simple steps on how to craft an application strategy. Spending a little bit of time now to understand which firms to apply for, whether to apply for a VS/TC and how to go about with applications will be invaluable down the line.

In terms of your specific questions, I would firstly say that most firms accept graduates for their vacation schemes, so you should not feel as if your choices are restricted. I would recommend looking at the eligibility for vacation schemes and TCs at the firms in which you are interested in.

This thread , which explains how much firms rely on vacation schemes or direct TC applications for filling their trainee cohorts, is also a great resource. At some firms you will, of course, only be eligible for a direct TC. However, a general rule of thumb is that if a firm offers a VS and a direct TC, you should apply to the VS. This is because the firm will get to know you over a longer period of time and some firms aim their direct TC process at candidates with significant legal experience. This is all explained in more detail on the thread.

In addition, I would also highly recommend that you apply for Open Days at firms in which you are interested in. Not only are these a great way to demonstrate your interest in commercial law and a specific firm, but you can sometimes pick up information, from conversations or sessions, which will help you write more personal and tailored applications. Furthermore, you can leverage what you learnt on an Open Day in the application for a different firm, if there are similarities in, say, practice areas.

The following threads (VS Deadlines, Open Day Deadlines ) will both be very helpful for planning the applications that you make. You absolutely have not missed most deadlines - in fact many firms have not even opened applications yet!

Finally, please don’t worry about the rejections. This is one of the most competitive industries and every single candidate (even the most successful ones) have faced rejection. In fact, rejection is part of the process. What is important is how you deal with this. I would urge you to keep going and to not give up. Every application makes you sharper for the next one: you build a clearer story and you get better at answering the questions. Please don’t give up - I promise that you are not alone in this regard!

 

[Isabelcampbell]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

Hi there, and congratulations on achieving a First Class degree, that’s an incredible accomplishment and a strong platform for your next steps. It’s completely normal to feel a bit lost after graduating, but you have more options than you think. Many firms do accept graduates onto vacation schemes, so it’s worth applying for both those and training contracts where you’re eligible- but definitely make a considered shortlist of firms and so as much research into them as possible.

For keeping on top of deadlines, I’d recommend TCLA’s dedicated thread: “Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025–26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)” (created by @Ram Sabaratnam) link here. It’s a fantastic way to stay organised and make sure you don’t miss upcoming opportunities, and will be constantly being updated.

I also think you have a wonderful opportunity to be proactive and make use of the connections you already have. For example, try reaching out on LinkedIn to Manchester Met graduates working in law, or to people you’ve worked with during your previous roles. You’ll often find people are really happy to share advice, and those conversations can be a big confidence boost. Also, getting to know people who work at the firms you're interested in is such a valuable insight into the culture there.

As mentioned above, I can't recommend the thread by Andrei about application strategy enough- so thank you @Test_Account for that recommendation too!

Most importantly, remember that you’re smart, accomplished, and already have the tools you need to succeed! Keep in touch on this thread too and we will all be willing to help.

 

[deyagakhal]

Hi, I hope you are well.

Firstly, congratulations on your First Class degree, that is a great achievement and firms will look upon this favourably.

I would recommend applying for vacation schemes over direct training contracts if you do not have specific legal work experience. A direct TC application is a viable route, but only if you have completed a vacation scheme before. There are some schemes that are only open for current students, but the vast majority accept graduates. I received my training contract offer after I had graduated (as a PGDL student).

Firms look at transferable skills, so it does not matter if your experience is mainly in admin roles. There are key skills you learn from those, like communication, organisation, teamwork- all of which are crucial for the role of a solicitor.

Rejections are a natural part of the process, do not let those demotivate you. Instead, do research on individual firms to see what practice areas they offer and build a reasoning for why those firms interest you more. This way, you can make more tailored applications that are likelier to be successful.

Lastly, join TCLA Premium for a list of firm deadlines. Good luck, I wish you the best.

Hi Nimra,

Thanks so much for your advice, I really appreciate you taking the time to share it with me. I’m going to focus on applying for vac schemes this month and make the most of the transferable skills I’ve picked up so far.

I’d also love to hear a bit more about how you went about securing your training contract if you don’t mind sharing.

Thanks again!
Deya

 

[deyagakhal]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

I firstly wanted to say that I completely understand how you feel. I did not receive a vacation scheme offer from a firm until after graduating. The Vacation Scheme/Training Contract application process can be daunting. However, please know that the majority of candidates struggle to even pass the application stage before receiving their Training Contract offer.

To respond to the individual components of your question:

• While some firms only accept current students on their Vacation Schemes (for example, Freshfields, Slaughter and May, and Sullivan & Cromwell), I would say that a majority of firms accept applications from graduates for their Vacation Schemes. I completed two vacation schemes as a graduate, and on one of them, a majority of my cohort were graduates. Definitely check with each firm that you are applying to whether they accept graduate applicants for their Vacation Schemes, but know that there are many firms that you can still apply to!

• If a firm does not accept graduates to apply for their Vacation Schemes, often, they will have an opportunity to apply for a Training Contract directly, without completing a Vacation Scheme! The firms I mentioned above each offer such an opportunity.

• With regards to whether you should be applying directly for Training Contracts, this depends on the firm that you are applying to. For example, I am aware that Norton Rose Fulbright generally expects Direct TC applicants to have some legal experience. However, I know several people who have secured a TC with Freshfields and Hogan Lovells directly with no legal experience. If the firm does not have any guidance on its Graduate Recruitment website, I would contact its Graduate Recruitment Team for guidance.

• I understand that it may be difficult to track the deadlines for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts! The good news is that you have not missed any opportunities in this application cycle yet! I am attaching two comprehensive resources, which I believe you will find useful for this purpose!

TCLA’s “Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025-26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)” (created by the wonderful @Ram Sabaratnam ): https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....5-26-with-rolling-non-rolling-checklist.9720/

Legal Cheek Key Deadlines Calendar: https://www.legalcheek.com/key-deadlines-calendar/

Best of luck!

Hi,

Thank you so much for such a detailed and thoughtful reply, I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to explain everything. It’s reassuring to hear that a lot of people only secure a vac scheme after graduating, and it makes me feel more confident about where I am in the process.

I’ve had a look at the links you shared and they’re really useful – I’ll be applying to at least one winter vac scheme as well as planning for the summer ones too. If you have time, I’d also love to hear a bit more about how you navigated the process yourself and how you approached your applications, as that would be really helpful.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, it’s made things feel a lot less daunting!
Deya

 

[deyagakhal]

Hello there!


Firstly, Congratulations on graduating with an amazing set of grades! I hope you have taken the time to celebrate this amazing achievement!

It’s completely understandable that you might be feeling a bit lost, but I hope I can help you out and break things down into some manageable steps. I would firstly start by saying, please don’t worry! The application cycle has just started and you are not behind in the slightest. You have plenty of time to make high quality applications.


Before I address the specific questions, I would strongly recommend that you read this incredible thread by Andrei, which breaks down an incredibly daunting process, into some simple steps on how to craft an application strategy. Spending a little bit of time now to understand which firms to apply for, whether to apply for a VS/TC and how to go about with applications will be invaluable down the line.

In terms of your specific questions, I would firstly say that most firms accept graduates for their vacation schemes, so you should not feel as if your choices are restricted. I would recommend looking at the eligibility for vacation schemes and TCs at the firms in which you are interested in.

This thread , which explains how much firms rely on vacation schemes or direct TC applications for filling their trainee cohorts, is also a great resource. At some firms you will, of course, only be eligible for a direct TC. However, a general rule of thumb is that if a firm offers a VS and a direct TC, you should apply to the VS. This is because the firm will get to know you over a longer period of time and some firms aim their direct TC process at candidates with significant legal experience. This is all explained in more detail on the thread.

In addition, I would also highly recommend that you apply for Open Days at firms in which you are interested in. Not only are these a great way to demonstrate your interest in commercial law and a specific firm, but you can sometimes pick up information, from conversations or sessions, which will help you write more personal and tailored applications. Furthermore, you can leverage what you learnt on an Open Day in the application for a different firm, if there are similarities in, say, practice areas.

The following threads (VS Deadlines, Open Day Deadlines ) will both be very helpful for planning the applications that you make. You absolutely have not missed most deadlines - in fact many firms have not even opened applications yet!

Finally, please don’t worry about the rejections. This is one of the most competitive industries and every single candidate (even the most successful ones) have faced rejection. In fact, rejection is part of the process. What is important is how you deal with this. I would urge you to keep going and to not give up. Every application makes you sharper for the next one: you build a clearer story and you get better at answering the questions. Please don’t give up - I promise that you are not alone in this regard!

Hi,

Thank you so much for such a detailed and kind message – I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to write it. It’s made me feel a lot calmer and ready to start tackling applications.

Your advice is super helpful, and I’ll definitely read Andrei’s thread. I’m going to start focusing on some vacation schemes and plan around my part-time care work, which I’m doing in the meantime to support myself while applying.

I’d love to hear any further advice you have, as it’s clear you really know your stuff – it would be amazing to learn from your experience.

Thanks again for taking the time to help!
Deya

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

Huge congrats firstly!

I’d suggest starting with vacation scheme applications since most of them have just opened. A good strategy between now and December is to make a list of firms you’re interested in, note their deadlines and whether they recruit on a rolling or non-rolling basis, and then aim for 1–2 strong applications per week.

Don’t worry too much about firms saying they mainly take students — on my schemes there were plenty of people who were graduates, career changers, or working already. I’d also recommend prioritising vacation schemes over direct TCs, since most firms recruit primarily through their schemes.

 

[vera.mekhonoshina]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree. I have some previous work experience, mainly short stints in admin roles at various firms, but I’m feeling a bit lost about my next steps.

I’m unsure whether I should apply for vacation schemes in the hopes of securing a training contract, even though I know some firms only accept current students for those schemes. Alternatively, should I be applying directly for training contracts?

I’m also having trouble finding deadlines for upcoming training contracts, and I worry I may have already missed most of them. I’ve only been receiving rejections from firms and don’t really know where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be really appreciated!

Hi Deya,

Huge congratulations on graduating with a first-class degree - this is really impressive. You should definitely be proud of yourself, and I hope that you had the time to celebrate this important milestone!

I see that other forum members have already given you some great suggestions regarding the choice between vacation schemes and training contracts, as well as where to find the relevant application deadlines for a variety of law firms here on the forum (I love how supportive the community is!)

I want to say a couple of things to put your mind at ease - I know firsthand how overwhelming this process can feel, and I assure you that you are by no means late to the process this application cycle. Although rejections can definitely make one feel down, I would try and perceive them as a learning curve - with each answer you write, application you submit and test you complete, you will only become better and better.

Good luck this application cycle!

 

[deyagakhal]

Hi there, and congratulations on achieving a First Class degree, that’s an incredible accomplishment and a strong platform for your next steps. It’s completely normal to feel a bit lost after graduating, but you have more options than you think. Many firms do accept graduates onto vacation schemes, so it’s worth applying for both those and training contracts where you’re eligible- but definitely make a considered shortlist of firms and so as much research into them as possible.

For keeping on top of deadlines, I’d recommend TCLA’s dedicated thread: “Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025–26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)” (created by @Ram Sabaratnam) link here. It’s a fantastic way to stay organised and make sure you don’t miss upcoming opportunities, and will be constantly being updated.

I also think you have a wonderful opportunity to be proactive and make use of the connections you already have. For example, try reaching out on LinkedIn to Manchester Met graduates working in law, or to people you’ve worked with during your previous roles. You’ll often find people are really happy to share advice, and those conversations can be a big confidence boost. Also, getting to know people who work at the firms you're interested in is such a valuable insight into the culture there.

As mentioned above, I can't recommend the thread by Andrei about application strategy enough- so thank you @Test_Account for that recommendation too!

Most importantly, remember that you’re smart, accomplished, and already have the tools you need to succeed! Keep in touch on this thread too and we will all be willing to help.

Hi Isabel,

Thank you so much for your advice and kind words! I will definitely push myself to be confident and reach out to other Manchester Met students working in law on LinkedIn, as I haven’t done that yet. I’ll also follow individuals at firms I’m interested in to learn more about them.

I’ve saved the list of vacation schemes to my personal documents now, so I can start planning my applications properly. I’d also love to know a bit more about your journey if you are in law – how you navigated this process or any other advice you might have would be really helpful.

 

[deyagakhal]

Hi Deya,

Huge congratulations on graduating with a first-class degree - this is really impressive. You should definitely be proud of yourself, and I hope that you had the time to celebrate this important milestone!

I see that other forum members have already given you some great suggestions regarding the choice between vacation schemes and training contracts, as well as where to find the relevant application deadlines for a variety of law firms here on the forum (I love how supportive the community is!)

I want to say a couple of things to put your mind at ease - I know firsthand how overwhelming this process can feel, and I assure you that you are by no means late to the process this application cycle. Although rejections can definitely make one feel down, I would try and perceive them as a learning curve - with each answer you write, application you submit and test you complete, you will only become better and better.

Good luck this application cycle!

Thank you so much for your lovely and motivating words Vera, I really appreciate it!

 

[deyagakhal]

Huge congrats firstly!

I’d suggest starting with vacation scheme applications since most of them have just opened. A good strategy between now and December is to make a list of firms you’re interested in, note their deadlines and whether they recruit on a rolling or non-rolling basis, and then aim for 1–2 strong applications per week.

Don’t worry too much about firms saying they mainly take students — on my schemes there were plenty of people who were graduates, career changers, or working already. I’d also recommend prioritising vacation schemes over direct TCs, since most firms recruit primarily through their schemes.

Hi Z Nadeem,

Thank you so much for your advice and kind words, I really appreciate it! I’ll do my research on the different firms and make sure to apply early to the rolling schemes, as I hadn’t prioritised this before. I realise now that I hadn’t fully understood how important timing can be.

I’d also love to hear a bit more about how you navigated the process and what you did to stand out – any tips or insights from your experience would be really helpful!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi Z Nadeem,

Thank you so much for your advice and kind words, I really appreciate it! I’ll do my research on the different firms and make sure to apply early to the rolling schemes, as I hadn’t prioritised this before. I realise now that I hadn’t fully understood how important timing can be.

I’d also love to hear a bit more about how you navigated the process and what you did to stand out – any tips or insights from your experience would be really helpful!

Standing out really comes down to having a clear, strong structure!

For motivational questions (like “Why our firm?” or “Why commercial law?”), the PEA structure works best:

• Point: Start with a clear statement of your main idea.
• Evidence: Support it with concrete examples from your experiences, studies, or research.
• Analysis: Explain why this matters to you and how it connects to the firm or role. This shows self-awareness and genuine interest rather than generic statements.

For competency questions (like teamwork, problem-solving, or leadership), use the STAR method:

• Situation: Set the scene for your example.
• Task: Explain what your responsibility or challenge was.
• Action: Describe exactly what you did, focusing on your personal contribution.
• Result: Share the outcome, ideally with measurable or impactful results, and reflect on what you learned.

Finally, your work experience section is often overlooked but can make a huge difference. Don’t just list roles or duties — briefly explain:

• What you actually did
• How you did it
• Any challenges you overcame
• Key skills you developed (optional depending on word limit)