Is it worth submitting last-minute applications for firms recruiting on a rolling basis?

[Andrei Radu]

As deadlines for many firms are fast approaching and we are entering in the busiest time for applications in the year, a question many candidates ask around this point in the application cycle is: it is worth investing time and effort to complete a last-minute application for a firm recruiting on a rolling basis?

This is an issue I used to worry about a lot - and for good reasons: I would find myself in the unfortunate (although very common) situation where I had intended to apply to a given firm a long time ago but had procrastinated on it, only to now have only a few days left to try to research the firm in depth and try to write high-quality answers. The matter was stressful enough simply given how pressed for time I would be with other applications, but when this was a firm recruiting on a rolling basis, I would then have the additional anxiety and worry that all of my efforts would be in vain - for I (wrongly) assumed my chances of progressing would be minimal given how last-minute I had left things. As such, I would end up doubting whether it is even worth submitting the application and whether it would be better to abandon it and move on to another firm.

Fortunately, in my second application cycle, I ended up taking the advice of some seniors and still went through with these last-minute applications at rolling firms. I was therefore progressed past the applications stage in more than by more than a couple of these firms, and ended up even invited to the AC by one. Taking a broader view, my progression/rejection rate was not substantially worse in these last-minute applications for rolling firms than in my normal applications for non-rolling firms. As such, my general advice for people who are facing the same issue is the same one I have received before: unless this is a firm that is known to place a very heavy emphasis on early submissions, you should try to complete and submit even a last-minute applications for rolling firms - provided that you estimate you will still have enough time to write objectively high-quality applications.

There are a number of reasons why I think this makes sense and why most last-minute submissions are not just doomed to fail:

1. According to many recruiters I have spoken to, even firms recruiting on a rolling deadline receive the vast majority of their applications the last 48 hours before the deadline. As such, if they do not want to automatically take out a huge pool of talent, recruiters simply cannot afford to not give application sent around that time proper consideration.
2. For the same reason, even if you only manage to submit an application to a rolling firm 1-2 days before the deadline, chances are you will still have submitted earlier than most other candidates. As such, this is not a factor that would likely be held very strongly against you.
3. Finally, most recruiters I have talked to embrace a holistic approach to assessment of candidates and decision-making, with their aim simply being to identify the best potential future lawyers. While early submission can be indicative to good planning and a stronger interest in the firm, this is but one factor among many that a graduate recruiter will consider when deciding the outcome of your application. As such, if everything otherwise is really strong, you should still have a good chance of being progressed.

 

[Sian]

Hi there!
I want to offer a slightly different way of thinking about last-minute applications to rolling firms, drawing on my experience as a HSF Kramer Campus Ambassador and supporting students throughout the cycle.I've laid out some pro's and con's below as well as my personal view. Hope this is helpful!


Potential Pros (Beyond Immediate Success)

1. Real interview and assessment exposure
Even when submitted late, rolling applications can still lead to interviews or assessment centres. As a Campus Ambassador, I’ve seen candidates gain their first real commercial interview experience from late applications. This experience later made them significantly stronger applicants elsewhere.

2. Sharpening your application technique under pressure
Completing a well-structured application in a short timeframe forces clarity. Candidates often become more concise, selective, and intentional in their examples, directly highlighting skills that are transferable to future applications.

3. Demonstrates resilience and commitment to the process
The legal recruitment process is long and demanding. Submitting a late application (rather than disengaging entirely) shows persistence and emotional resilience, which are traits firms actively value (even if indirectly).

4. Keeps momentum during a demanding cycle
One of the biggest risks late in the cycle is disengagement. From what I’ve observed, candidates who continue applying (even selectively) tend to remain more motivated and confident than those who mentally “check out” early. Applying consistently enhances your applications as the more exoperrince you gain in applying to firms, the more confident and familiar you feel with the process.

Potential Cons (That Are Often Overlooked)

1. Opportunity cost
Time spent on a last-minute application is time not spent refining stronger ones or preparing for interviews. This trade-off should be considered carefully especially when a lot of candidates are managing multipl;e committments (work/university life) alongside applications.

2. Emotional impact of rejection
Late-cycle rejections can feel heavier. Students should be realistic about this and protect their wellbeing, especially if confidence is already low. Mental health is wealth in itself and therefore applying last minute with a potentially rushed application may weigh students down significantly.

3. Risk of diminishing returns
If you’ve already applied to many similar firms, another rushed application may add little strategic value unless it genuinely targets a different practice, culture, or structure. It is better to apply to a firm that you have more knowledge and experience with. Remember training to be a solicitor still takes valuable years of your life and time is infinite- be sure that you apply to a firm that you feel informed about and actually can envision yourself working at with this in mind.

How I'd Frame the Decision

From my Campus Ambassador experience, the strongest candidates aren’t those who apply to everything, but those who apply intentionally. Having as tragetted specific focus on a firm will not just help the firm see your interest in them, but also will aid you in deciding which firm is the best it for you..
I would advise when approaching applications that rather than thinking "Will this application succeed?" it can be helpful to ask "What value does submitting this application have?" In my view, a last-minute rolling application can still be worthwhile if it: gives you meaningful exposure or practice, targets a firm that genuinely fits your interests, or helps you stay engaged and proactive in the process.

I'd love to hear your thoughts:
How are you deciding whether a last-minute application is worth submitting? Are you thinking mainly about your chances of success, or about the wider experience and momentum it could give you in this application cycle?

 

[A_ede]

Hi,

I thought I'd also share my insight to this topic. Last year, the significant majority of my applications were sent in the last 48 hours of the deadline. I generally found that were I had submitted 48 hours, instead of 24 hours ahead of the deadline I had a greater chance of success.
Personally, I think that if you have a firm whose deadline is approaching and the application is ready to send off, then there is no reason not to do so, even if it has a rolling deadline. A vast majority of students are in the same situation and have also put off applying, particularly during late December/January, as so many deadlines are close together.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi,

I thought I'd also share my insight to this topic. Last year, the significant majority of my applications were sent in the last 48 hours of the deadline. I generally found that were I had submitted 48 hours, instead of 24 hours ahead of the deadline I had a greater chance of success.
Personally, I think that if you have a firm whose deadline is approaching and the application is ready to send off, then there is no reason not to do so, even if it has a rolling deadline. A vast majority of students are in the same situation and have also put off applying, particularly during late December/January, as so many deadlines are close together.

Hi @A_ede this definitely resonates with my experiences and what I have heard from other people: if this doesn't come with the cost of a substantial hit on the quality of yours answers/the opportunity cost of completing other applications, I would advise to submit irrespective of how close the deadline is. That said, the closer you get to the deadline, the higher the marginal utility of an earlier submission: when it's a month before the deadline, whether you send your application this day or the next will not have a substantial impact; while when its just before applications close, whether you submit the day before or the day of the actual deadline may be a lot more significant. Even a 12-24 hour difference in submission time may mean a difference between being in the top 20% of early applicants and the last 20% of late applicants. As such, besides ensuring the quality point as mentioned above, I would emphasise that nothing I said should be taken to mean that time is not of the essence in maximising progression chances.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi there!
I want to offer a slightly different way of thinking about last-minute applications to rolling firms, drawing on my experience as a HSF Kramer Campus Ambassador and supporting students throughout the cycle.I've laid out some pro's and con's below as well as my personal view. Hope this is helpful!


Potential Pros (Beyond Immediate Success)

1. Real interview and assessment exposure
Even when submitted late, rolling applications can still lead to interviews or assessment centres. As a Campus Ambassador, I’ve seen candidates gain their first real commercial interview experience from late applications. This experience later made them significantly stronger applicants elsewhere.

2. Sharpening your application technique under pressure
Completing a well-structured application in a short timeframe forces clarity. Candidates often become more concise, selective, and intentional in their examples, directly highlighting skills that are transferable to future applications.

3. Demonstrates resilience and commitment to the process
The legal recruitment process is long and demanding. Submitting a late application (rather than disengaging entirely) shows persistence and emotional resilience, which are traits firms actively value (even if indirectly).

4. Keeps momentum during a demanding cycle
One of the biggest risks late in the cycle is disengagement. From what I’ve observed, candidates who continue applying (even selectively) tend to remain more motivated and confident than those who mentally “check out” early. Applying consistently enhances your applications as the more exoperrince you gain in applying to firms, the more confident and familiar you feel with the process.

Potential Cons (That Are Often Overlooked)

1. Opportunity cost
Time spent on a last-minute application is time not spent refining stronger ones or preparing for interviews. This trade-off should be considered carefully especially when a lot of candidates are managing multipl;e committments (work/university life) alongside applications.

2. Emotional impact of rejection
Late-cycle rejections can feel heavier. Students should be realistic about this and protect their wellbeing, especially if confidence is already low. Mental health is wealth in itself and therefore applying last minute with a potentially rushed application may weigh students down significantly.

3. Risk of diminishing returns
If you’ve already applied to many similar firms, another rushed application may add little strategic value unless it genuinely targets a different practice, culture, or structure. It is better to apply to a firm that you have more knowledge and experience with. Remember training to be a solicitor still takes valuable years of your life and time is infinite- be sure that you apply to a firm that you feel informed about and actually can envision yourself working at with this in mind.

How I'd Frame the Decision

From my Campus Ambassador experience, the strongest candidates aren’t those who apply to everything, but those who apply intentionally. Having as tragetted specific focus on a firm will not just help the firm see your interest in them, but also will aid you in deciding which firm is the best it for you..
I would advise when approaching applications that rather than thinking "Will this application succeed?" it can be helpful to ask "What value does submitting this application have?" In my view, a last-minute rolling application can still be worthwhile if it: gives you meaningful exposure or practice, targets a firm that genuinely fits your interests, or helps you stay engaged and proactive in the process.

I'd love to hear your thoughts:
How are you deciding whether a last-minute application is worth submitting? Are you thinking mainly about your chances of success, or about the wider experience and momentum it could give you in this application cycle?

Hi @Sian and thanks a lot for sharing your experience and analysis, I think many candidates will find this very useful. In particular, I think the point you emphasised about not thinking about success in a narrow "will this particular individual application get me a TC?" way and instead consider it in a broader sense - which accounts for the cumulative impact of success chances of applications taken as a whole, but also the overall development of skills and experiences - was crucial for me in figuring out how to better strategise and invest my time and efforts throughout the application cycle. This also connects well with your explanation about needing to consider opportunity costs and diminishing returns, as this is a point I always bring up when advising people not to put in too much effort with a single firm/s to the detriment of being out of the game for many more others.