Feedback on Skadden VC application

[blipken]

Hi all! I posted this in the general Vac Scheme discussion thread for visibility, but am setting up this separate thread just in case. I applied for Skadden's VC / TC this winter, but got rejected. The below was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to Skadden?" I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so would be grateful for any feedback / tips on what I could improve. Many thanks!

***

There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.

First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.

Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.

The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.

 

[Aarav-TESTACCOUNT]

Hi all! I posted this in the general Vac Scheme discussion thread for visibility, but am setting up this separate thread just in case. I applied for Skadden's VC / TC this winter, but got rejected. The below was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to Skadden?" I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so would be grateful for any feedback / tips on what I could improve. Many thanks!

***

There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.

First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.

Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.

The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.

Thanks for sharing this and first off, it’s worth saying that there’s nothing “bad” about this answer. It’s clearly well thought through and shows genuine motivation.

A few gentle points that may help explain why it didn’t convert this time as someone who has talked to successful Skadden trainees about their requirements:

• Emphasis
  Your answer places a lot of weight on your personal journey and mindset. That’s a strength, but for firms like Skadden it can sometimes help to let the firm’s work and structure take centre stage, with your experiences supporting that fit rather than leading it.
• Skadden specific detail
  You clearly understand Skadden, but you might strengthen this by being even more explicit about what makes it distinct from similar US firms, particularly in how its teams operate across jurisdictions.
• Transactional focus
  Your interest in FinTech M&A is coherent and well explained. Tying that interest a little more closely to specific Skadden matters or practices could help sharpen the connection.
• Big picture
  A rejection here doesn’t mean the application missed the mark entirely. At this level, small differences in emphasis can make a big impact, and this reads much more like a fine-tuning issue than a fundamental one.

If you’re reworking this question for other firms, a slight rebalancing rather than a rewrite is probably all that’s needed!

You will definitely get there and please let me know if you need any more help!

 

[Lulu95049]

Hi Blipken,

Your answer is good but there are a few changes you could make to tighten it up and improve your application as a whole.

Paragraphs 1+2

Overall your structure is good - you've identified the characteristic of the law firm that appeals to you (eg. the firm's challenger mindset), and you've linked this to your own experience. You should combine the first two paragraphs into one, and focus on making it less wordy and more punchy. This is definitely an art, and something that you may want to use AI to help with. Instead of giving two examples to link the firm's challenger mindset to your own experience (ie. you adapting to a new education system at 14, and you taking on trainee-level legal work experience), maybe just stick to one example, and flesh it out a bit more.

Paragraph 3

Again your structure here is good. You say that you took finance, PE and M&A modules at university, and because of that, you realised you would enjoy transactional work - but why? What specifically did you enjoy about those modules? You need to go one step further in your self-reflection here. In the same paragraph, you then go on to talk about Skadden's approach to innovation. This seems a bit random, and should ideally be a whole other paragraph in itself. I know that word limits can be restrictive in applications, so it may be better to stick to two firm 'characteristics' and link both to your personal experience, but do so in detail.


NB. for the '£1trn in deal value in 2015' point, is this definitely in GBP, and not USD? (remembering Skadden is a US firm). Taking the exchange rate into account, this is obviously a big difference and is exactly the kind of point that the graduate recruitment team will pick up on.

 

[blipken]

Thank you @Aarav-TESTACCOUNT and @Lulu95049 for your replies, very helpful! I guess I need to be a bit more rigorous with my drafting. Many thanks and best of luck to you both if you are applying to any firms this season.

 

[Sian]

Hi Blipken!

Thank you for sharing this and for being so open about the rejection, that honesty is really helpful for everyone reading this. The feedback you’ve received so far is great and makes a lot of sense, particularly about structure, emphasis, and firm-specific detail.

I’d like to add a few additional points from my perspective that are slightly different and perhaps more granular:

1. Show impact over effort

You have strong examples of your work ethic and adaptability, which are great. One way to elevate them is to emphasise the impact of your actions rather than just the process. For instance, instead of broadly stating you “built Excel models for settlement negotiations,” briefly highlight the outcome or benefit for the client or team. Recruiters respond strongly to tangible results.

2. Make your FinTech and transactional interest more concrete

You link your modules and dissertation to transactional work well, but it could land even stronger if you highlight specific skills or insights you gained that would directly transfer to Skadden deals: e.g., structuring complex financial instruments, understanding regulatory implications, or analysing market trends. This connects your experience more explicitly to the work trainees do.

3. Highlight the human element of Skadden’s culture

You mention innovation and global reach, which is good. Another angle could be emphasising how the firm supports junior lawyers (collaboration across jurisdictions, mentoring, or exposure to clients) to make it feel more grounded and relatable. Recruiters like to see candidates imagining themselves within the team, not just admiring achievements.

Hope this is helpful and remember: Rejection is just Redirection!

 

[S1kumo]

Hi all! I posted this in the general Vac Scheme discussion thread for visibility, but am setting up this separate thread just in case. I applied for Skadden's VC / TC this winter, but got rejected. The below was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to Skadden?" I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so would be grateful for any feedback / tips on what I could improve. Many thanks!

***

There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.

First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.

Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.

The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.

Hey @blipken,

I thought, as a future trainee, it might be helpful if I replied to this and offered some advice.

Firstly, I think every point you make needs to be specific to the firm and linked back to yourself and your own motivations. Your first point about Skadden's reputation is good, but when you end it by saying "I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work", it makes it seem a little broad and as if it could be applicable to a variety of different firms as opposed to Skadden specifically. I'd suggest starting with your point, e.g., Skadden's reputation, followed by where you learned this (speaking with an associate), why this appeals to you, and then what this will mean for you as a trainee at Skadden specifically. Since your point is focused on being a determined newcomer, perhaps you could link this to the firm's training regimes and how they train incoming lawyers differently from other firms, which will set you up for a rewarding career in the formative years of your career.

Secondly, I think signposting is always useful, but I personally only use the "there are two reasons..." model when writing in a cover letter. I think, as applications are usually more limited in words, it might be worth getting straight into the "meat" of your answer by starting with "I am drawn to..." and then following up in your second paragraph with "Equally".

Finally, I like your second paragraph, but I think you could zoom in on a specific transaction and the specific aspect of this which stood out to you to demonstrate your interest in the firm's Fintech M&A capabilities. Additionally, you may want to consider the fact that Skadden is mentioned quite superficially, as opposed to going into depth about your experiences elsewhere. Therefore, restructuring this to make Skadden the focus might help. The last thing I noticed was that both your Skadden points are practice area/revenue focused, whereas you could potentially zoom in on a different aspect alongside this, such as the use of AI, pro bono work, training, or international opportunities, etc.

I hope this helps!

 

[blipken]

Hey @blipken,

I thought, as a future trainee, it might be helpful if I replied to this and offered some advice.

Firstly, I think every point you make needs to be specific to the firm and linked back to yourself and your own motivations. Your first point about Skadden's reputation is good, but when you end it by saying "I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work", it makes it seem a little broad and as if it could be applicable to a variety of different firms as opposed to Skadden specifically. I'd suggest starting with your point, e.g., Skadden's reputation, followed by where you learned this (speaking with an associate), why this appeals to you, and then what this will mean for you as a trainee at Skadden specifically. Since your point is focused on being a determined newcomer, perhaps you could link this to the firm's training regimes and how they train incoming lawyers differently from other firms, which will set you up for a rewarding career in the formative years of your career.

Secondly, I think signposting is always useful, but I personally only use the "there are two reasons..." model when writing in a cover letter. I think, as applications are usually more limited in words, it might be worth getting straight into the "meat" of your answer by starting with "I am drawn to..." and then following up in your second paragraph with "Equally".

Finally, I like your second paragraph, but I think you could zoom in on a specific transaction and the specific aspect of this which stood out to you to demonstrate your interest in the firm's Fintech M&A capabilities. Additionally, you may want to consider the fact that Skadden is mentioned quite superficially, as opposed to going into depth about your experiences elsewhere. Therefore, restructuring this to make Skadden the focus might help. The last thing I noticed was that both your Skadden points are practice area/revenue focused, whereas you could potentially zoom in on a different aspect alongside this, such as the use of AI, pro bono work, training, or international opportunities, etc.

I hope this helps!

Thanks @S1kumo for stopping by and offering your opinion, much appreciated. See, the background to my drafting here was that I'd heard from Grad Rec (not Skadden, but a different firm) that they want to see more about you as opposed to why the firm. So I leaned quite heavily into who I am for this answer. That may have been at the cost of sounding superficial when talking about Skadden.

I guess sounding superficial may be a general shortcoming of my applications - I have trouble being really specific when I outline my motivation. I actually thought this answer was one of the better ones because I tried to connect several points to sound more unique: in para. 2, I talk about strength in FinTech M&A against the background of a broad transactional practice. I thought this was as specific as I could get without going into so much detail that Grad Rec may get turned off, like e.g. the fact that it was SPAC mergers. Do you have any advice on how to find that middle ground?

 

[blipken]

Hi Blipken!

Thank you for sharing this and for being so open about the rejection, that honesty is really helpful for everyone reading this. The feedback you’ve received so far is great and makes a lot of sense, particularly about structure, emphasis, and firm-specific detail.

I’d like to add a few additional points from my perspective that are slightly different and perhaps more granular:

1. Show impact over effort

You have strong examples of your work ethic and adaptability, which are great. One way to elevate them is to emphasise the impact of your actions rather than just the process. For instance, instead of broadly stating you “built Excel models for settlement negotiations,” briefly highlight the outcome or benefit for the client or team. Recruiters respond strongly to tangible results.

2. Make your FinTech and transactional interest more concrete

You link your modules and dissertation to transactional work well, but it could land even stronger if you highlight specific skills or insights you gained that would directly transfer to Skadden deals: e.g., structuring complex financial instruments, understanding regulatory implications, or analysing market trends. This connects your experience more explicitly to the work trainees do.

3. Highlight the human element of Skadden’s culture

You mention innovation and global reach, which is good. Another angle could be emphasising how the firm supports junior lawyers (collaboration across jurisdictions, mentoring, or exposure to clients) to make it feel more grounded and relatable. Recruiters like to see candidates imagining themselves within the team, not just admiring achievements.

Hope this is helpful and remember: Rejection is just Redirection!

Thank you @Sian, great tips. I sort of forgot about how good it is to quantify outcomes, I will keep that in mind next time. Your other points are valuable as well - I guess I hadn't found that much in terms of TC support, so I went light on that. Thanks again - hope your applications are going well (if you are applying)!

 

[anonymousanon123]

Hi all! I posted this in the general Vac Scheme discussion thread for visibility, but am setting up this separate thread just in case. I applied for Skadden's VC / TC this winter, but got rejected. The below was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to Skadden?" I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so would be grateful for any feedback / tips on what I could improve. Many thanks!

***

There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.

First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.

Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.

The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.

Hey! I am a TC holder and have gotten through quite a few initial application stages so I thought I could add a bit of feedback, though you have gotten plenty of amazing feedback already.

The final paragraph is really strong - it’s great how you’ve picked out something specific about Skadden and linked it clearly to yourself and your strengths. I think that same level of specificity is missing a bit in the first two paragraphs. The point about Skadden wanting to prove itself makes sense, and I can see that you’re trying to show that you’re a hard worker, but that idea isn’t especially unique to Skadden, so it comes across as quite general. You want to focus on points that are really specific to the firm, as that shows you’ve gone beyond surface-level research and that you’re genuinely well-suited to them. For example, when I was applying, I looked closely at things like how firms structure their seats (e.g. Freshfields offering more seats), their standout DEI initiatives, or the regions they work across that most other firms aren't reaching / the way they structure their international work. You can still show off your own strengths - just anchor them much more clearly to what makes the firm distinctive.

Additionally though, the final paragraph could do with some more specifity. Can you find a recent deal they did that was really impressive, that maybe they did an entire talk about because they themselves were really impressed, or maybe won an award for? You can then make a specific link to the modules you have done etc.

A good way to find information you can use that is a bit more niche and specific is to look beyond the first few pages of their websites. Watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, look at their news pages, check LinkedIn, and check firm profiles on platforms like this!

Good luck!

 

[A_ede]

Thanks @S1kumo for stopping by and offering your opinion, much appreciated. See, the background to my drafting here was that I'd heard from Grad Rec (not Skadden, but a different firm) that they want to see more about you as opposed to why the firm. So I leaned quite heavily into who I am for this answer. That may have been at the cost of sounding superficial when talking about Skadden.

I guess sounding superficial may be a general shortcoming of my applications - I have trouble being really specific when I outline my motivation. I actually thought this answer was one of the better ones because I tried to connect several points to sound more unique: in para. 2, I talk about strength in FinTech M&A against the background of a broad transactional practice. I thought this was as specific as I could get without going into so much detail that Grad Rec may get turned off, like e.g. the fact that it was SPAC mergers. Do you have any advice on how to find that middle ground?

Hi,

I thought I would chime in here! It can be very difficult to balance the importance of expressing yourself and the firm without going into too much depth on either.

For me, the best success I've had with applications is when I start with why the firm and then link this to why me. I would identify something I've specifically learnt from engaging with someone from the firm/an event and then discuss why this was interesting or valuable to me specifically. This link works well to capture both parts, but it is important to use a tangible experience to link these two, rather than a broad discussion of you. I really like your example of working at a law firm so I would highlight how and why that will help you as a trainee.

Personally, I think it is difficult to go into too much detail on Skadden's work, specifically if you're talking about something slightly niche (such as FinTech M&A). You don't want to add something that is easily found online, so discussions of SPAC mergers would be insightful. It doesn't need to be in too much depth but just an indication that you understand their work.

Hope this helps!

 

[Assessment Account]

Hi all! I posted this in the general Vac Scheme discussion thread for visibility, but am setting up this separate thread just in case. I applied for Skadden's VC / TC this winter, but got rejected. The below was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to Skadden?" I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so would be grateful for any feedback / tips on what I could improve. Many thanks!

***

There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.

First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.

Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.

The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.

This is clearly a well-considered answer. That said, in an era where tools such as ChatGPT are widely used, it is more important than ever to be highly specific and to ensure that each application is distinctly and deliberately tailored to the firm in question.

What works

• You show genuine reflection and motivation.
• You link personal background to work ethic.
• You reference Skadden’s transactional strength and FinTech exposure with some specificity.
• Your examples demonstrate analytical ability and responsibility.

Key issues and potential improvements

1. The “newcomer mentality” point is risky
   • Saying Skadden has a “newcomer mentality” can feel forced or imprecise for a firm that is widely perceived as an elite, established market leader.
   • The £1tn / top-two dealmaker statistics read as impressive but generic and are not clearly tied to how Skadden trains or uses juniors.
   • Recruiters are less interested in Skadden “proving itself” and more in how you would thrive in its operating model.
   • Improve by: reframing this around Skadden’s execution culture, pace, or responsibility given to juniors, rather than a psychological “mentality”.
2. Too much focus on you; not enough on Skadden
   • The personal narrative is well written, but it occupies a disproportionate amount of space.
   • The Excel example is strong, but it is doing double duty as both motivation and competence evidence, which dilutes its impact.
   • Improve by: shortening personal backstory and using examples only where they directly explain fit (e.g. comfort with intensity, responsibility, ambiguity).
3. Transactional motivation lacks Skadden-specific depth
   • Enjoying “deals grounded in the present” and contrasting them with disputes is common and safe—but also generic.
   • FinTech M&A is mentioned, but without a clear why Skadden over peers explanation.
   • Improve by: anchoring your interest to how Skadden actually operates (cross-border exposure, US capital markets interface, sponsor-driven work, etc.).
4. Conclusion is descriptive, not decisive
   • The final paragraph explains why Skadden is attractive, but not why you are a particularly good bet for Skadden.
   • Improve by: ending with a clear alignment statement (pace, responsibility, commercial rigour).

General tips for future applications
1. Assume the reviewer is reading 50+ competent answers — you must differentiate on fit, not just quality.
2. Every personal example should answer: why this firm would want you, not just why you want the firm.
3. Where possible, link motivation → capability → firm need in one sentence.