I asked HR after the interview if they were going to telephone or email candidates - I may have misunderstood but I thought she said they’d call everyone. Fingers crossed.Anyone heard from PHB since the interviews? Radio silence… assuming that’s a PFO
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Did they email PFOs?
Do I have to submit by CV Mail if I have already submitted through their new portal? For baker
I applied to Bakers via the new portal. Were we all meant to apply via CvMail? Idk if I should submit another app now or leave it lmao…
If someone has the link to the CvMail portal can you please send it to me in PM. Probs a PFO but I don’t wan’t to self-sabotage my chances…
If someone has the link to the CvMail portal can you please send it to me in PM. Probs a PFO but I don’t wan’t to self-sabotage my chances…
Guys chill. As long as you’ve applied by the deadline, regardless of the portal, you’re good.
Hey!
For a law firm cover letter, it always helps to split it into three sections and make sure that you cover three main things - why commercial law, why that firm specifically (i.e. Fried Frank), and then why you (i.e. why you would be a good trainee at the firm). First, briefly explain why you are pursuing commercial law specifically, making sure that you are grounding it in your experiences, rather than giving a generic answer. I'd say that including one or two well-developed and backed up points should be more than enough.
Then, and often most importantly, you should move on to discuss why you are applying to this firm specifically. It is worth spending a lot of time here, as your answer should include research of the firm and make links back to your own journey so far. Try to go beyond surface level points such as "international presence" or "high-quality work", and instead try to pick out things that genuinely differentiate Fried Frank in the market. It is fine to say the more 'generic' points (i.e. high-quality work) if you can clearly back up what that means at Fried Frank (i.e. the types of clients and work that it would involve), and why you are specifically drawn to it (for example, by linking it to similar work experience that you have done). The aim is to make it feel clearly tailored, rather than something that you could send to any City firm.
Finally, show them how you would be a good trainee and contribute to the firm. Rather than listing skills, I would pick two or three qualities (or less depending on your word count) and demonstrate them through short examples, making sure to keep it concise and relevant. I'd just make sure that you aren't repeating your CV, and instead offering a different perspective or reflection from those experiences. It also helps to tailor your answer in this section too, and try to highlight skills that would specifically be useful at Fried Frank based on its unique traits. Essentially, you want to show why you would be a good fit for the firm.
In terms of structure, I always found that a straightforward approach worked best - for example, a short introduction that states what you are applying for, followed by why commercial law, then why the firm, then why you, and lastly a brief conclusion. If your word count is shorter than might be expected on a normal cover letter, it is fine to use less examples as long as the ones you include are well-developed (depth over breadth!).
I hope that assists, and best of luck with your application!
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