Training Contract Advice

[Anjolao]

Hi everyone, my name is Anjola and I’m a law student at the University of Kent, graduating in 2026. I’m originally from Canada and studying here in the UK as an international student. I’m starting to think seriously about training contract applications and wanted to ask how many people usually apply for. I’d also love to hear any tips on how to prepare well and give myself the best chance.

Also, do grades carry most of the weight in these applications? I’m a bit unsure about my second year results, so I’m wondering how much that might affect things and what I can do to strengthen the rest of my application.

Any advice or insight would really mean a lot.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @Anjolao

Welcome to the forum, and lovely to see another Canadian here! I'm also originally from Canada

You're absolutely right to start thinking about training contract applications now. To answer your question: while grades are important, I don't think it would be accurate to say they carry most of the weight. In many cases, what really matters is demonstrating your understanding of commercial and corporate law, your awareness of the London legal market, and (perhaps most importantly) drafting a well-researched, well-written application that shows you genuinely understand the firm you’re applying to. It's often easy for grad rec to tell when an applicant hasn’t done much research into a firm.

One of the best ways to improve your application writing/research is simply to start making applications. You’ve got time over the summer, so I’d encourage you to aim for 5-7 by the end of September if you can. I'd recommend you start with firms whose application questions don’t change much year to year (e.g. Freshfields, Jones Day, Travers Smith, etc). You can draft those early and use them to practice your application writing.

In terms of the number of applications you write, I think this is ultimately dependant on what's feasible for you. Some people do 510 apps total and do just fine in the application process. In my case, I found success doing well over 30 applications. It really depends on what works for you, but the most important thing is to ensure that every application is as tailored to each firm as possible.

Wishing you the very best of luck in the upcoming cycle, and feel free to tag me or any of the community assistance if you have any follow-up questions.

 

[Elizabeth123]

Hello everyone. I am Elizabeth, and I am a recent law graduate from Nigeria. I just graduated in 2024. I am in a bit of a dilemma regarding the whole process. Being an international student, I know my most feasible options will be a direct training contract. But, I have also been told by many to manage my expectations because firms usually take a smaller intake from direct TCs and a larger intake from vac schemes.

Also, there is the point of law firms having higher expectations of 'exceptionality' from applicants within the direct intake. My questions are these:
What candid advise would you give to someone like me that is new to the process? I have some legal experiences, but I know it will take a while lot to stand out, especially since I am not from the UK.

With my past legal experiences being quite tailored to a certain niche, i.e., international arbitration, would it be a disadvantage to my application, especially to a firm who doesn't have a major practice in it. Showing that I am not open-minded enough to explore?

I would really appreciate your kind advice and answers to my questions. Thank you very much.

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Hello everyone. I am Elizabeth, and I am a recent law graduate from Nigeria. I just graduated in 2025. I am in a bit of a dilemma regarding the whole process. Being an international student, I know my most feasible options will be a direct training contract. But, I have also been told by many to manage my expectations because firms usually take a smaller intake from direct TCs and a larger intake from vac schemes.

Also, there is the point of law firms having higher expectations of 'exceptionality' from applicants within the direct intake. My questions are these:
What candid advise would you give to someone like me that is new to the process? I have some legal experiences, but I know it will take a while lot to stand out, especially since I am not from the UK.

With my past legal experiences being quite tailored to a certain niche, i.e., international arbitration, would it be a disadvantage to my application, especially to a firm who doesn't have a major practice in it. Showing that I am not open-minded enough to explore?

I would really appreciate your kind advice and answers to my questions. Thank you very much.

Hi Elizabeth, I am also an international student from Nigeria. The advice I would give is dependent on your current situation. If you just graduated from a UK university, then try getting a graduate visa which will allow you to work full time without any restrictions. This will give you the chance to apply for vacation schemes as it's not clashing with term dates and you can be in the country to go through the entire process. Also with vac schemes, there's not as much expectation for you to have legal experience as compared to TCs.

As for being new to the process, the best piece of advice I can give is research! Research what different types of law firms there are (you can find a good guide here: https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/different-types-of-law-firm ), Research those law firms' application process, what good applications look like and how to properly research law firms. It's also good to create an application strategy (There should be some posts on here about that). Try to attend as many events as you can whether online (Legal Cheek has a virtual law fair, also check AllaboutLaw) or in-person (Bright Network is holding a networking festival in Sept). Attending events will help you ask questions for things you can't find online.
Beyond your legal experiences, look for transferable skills in other things you've done. Whether it's volunteering, a part-time job, or a leadership role (like being in the committee for a society), there are so many skills you could have gained that you can use to stand out.

Your current legal experiences will not hinder you if you can link it to your interest in commercial law overall.

Finally, you have to believe in yourself. Even though it is good to manage your expectations it is also good to have faith that you can be chosen. Most of it is down to hard work and luck/grace.

NB: Just saw that you changed your grad date to 2024. So does that mean you're already on a graduate visa?

 

[Elizabeth123]

Hi Elizabeth, I am also an international student from Nigeria. The advice I would give is dependent on your current situation. If you just graduated from a UK university, then try getting a graduate visa which will allow you to work full time without any restrictions. This will give you the chance to apply for vacation schemes as it's not clashing with term dates and you can be in the country to go through the entire process. Also with vac schemes, there's not as much expectation for you to have legal experience as compared to TCs.

As for being new to the process, the best piece of advice I can give is research! Research what different types of law firms there are (you can find a good guide here: https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/different-types-of-law-firm ), Research those law firms' application process, what good applications look like and how to properly research law firms. It's also good to create an application strategy (There should be some posts on here about that). Try to attend as many events as you can whether online (Legal Cheek has a virtual law fair, also check AllaboutLaw) or in-person (Bright Network is holding a networking festival in Sept). Attending events will help you ask questions for things you can't find online.
Beyond your legal experiences, look for transferable skills in other things you've done. Whether it's volunteering, a part-time job, or a leadership role (like being in the committee for a society), there are so many skills you could have gained that you can use to stand out.

Your current legal experiences will not hinder you if you can link it to your interest in commercial law overall.

Finally, you have to believe in yourself. Even though it is good to manage your expectations it is also good to have faith that you can be chosen. Most of it is down to hard work and luck/grace.

NB: Just saw that you changed your grad date to 2024. So doesn't that mean you're already on a graduate visa?

Hi @Jessica Pearson, thank you so much for your very candid reply. I appreciate it. I actually finished university in Nigeria, not in the UK (So, I am not in the UK). And yes, I graduated in 2024.

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Hi @Jessica Pearson, thank you so much for your very candid reply. I appreciate it. I actually finished university in Nigeria, not in the UK (So, I am not in the UK). And yes, I graduated in 2024.

Heyy @Elizabeth123 you’re welcome 💛. I don’t really have advice on coming to the UK from Nigeria but maybe look at firms that have offices and good standing in Nigeria/West Africa. For example, HSF Kramer has a top tier emerging markets team, and DLA Piper has an office in Nigeria (Lagos). Also, I think Linklaters has an African clerkship scheme (not fully sure if that equates to a vac scheme or TC).
Alongside this, check out 10k Black Interns. They offer 6 week long internships for black professionals and I heard that they sometimes sponsor visas for it.

 

[Elizabeth123]

Thank you so much @Jessica Pearson. This was really helpful 🙏😊

 

[tryingtogetajob555]

Hi there, I have recieved a TC offer but it is in Bristol. I am worried that taking it there would effect my ability to get a job in London which is where I live now? Any advice?

 

[WillKitchen]

Hi there, I have recieved a TC offer but it is in Bristol. I am worried that taking it there would effect my ability to get a job in London which is where I live now? Any advice?

Congratulations on the offer!

It depends on your personal circumstances, of course. But if it is your only offer, I would be tempted to accept and move to Bristol.

There will be other opportunities to work in London later, if you wish to move back. If the firm has a good reputation and opportunities to gain more senior responsibilities during and/or after your TC, then I suspect that London firms will still be accessible to you.

 

[Sunshinepink]

Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of drafting training contract applications for this intake and would really appreciate some advice on how to structure them effectively. I know every firm is different, but I’d like to understand what strong frameworks look like for example, how people approach weaving together motivation for law, motivation for the firm, and evidence of skills/experience in a way that flows naturally.

If anyone has tips, sample structures, or examples that helped you organise your answers (especially for “Why this firm?” or “Why commercial law?”), I’d be very grateful. I’m particularly interested in how to avoid repetition while still showing consistency across different parts of the application.


Thanks so much in advance!

 

[nimramansoor]

Hi everyone, my name is Anjola and I’m a law student at the University of Kent, graduating in 2026. I’m originally from Canada and studying here in the UK as an international student. I’m starting to think seriously about training contract applications and wanted to ask how many people usually apply for. I’d also love to hear any tips on how to prepare well and give myself the best chance.

Also, do grades carry most of the weight in these applications? I’m a bit unsure about my second year results, so I’m wondering how much that might affect things and what I can do to strengthen the rest of my application.

Any advice or insight would really mean a lot.

Thank you in advance!

Hi Anjola, I hope you are well. I was an international student as well, and I remember it was challenging to navigate the application process without prior knowledge.

As far as your grades are concerned, as long as you are averaging a 2.1 or above, firms will look upon that favourably. Try your best in your next set of exams. I had a 2.2 in one module and it did not make a difference to my applications.

Secondly, I would recommend applying to vacation schemes and attending open days before you make direct training contract applications. This is so that you have sufficient understanding of the role of a trainee before you make direct TC applications. I would suggest researching into firms based on practice areas, and see which ones interest you most. Most firms are multi-specialist, but will have expertise in a few areas. Recognise what you are most interested in, and then make a specific list of firms, making tailored applications for those. Focus on questions like 'why commercial law' and 'why x firm' since they want to see if you are genuinely interested in commercial law. Good luck!