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17 Nov 2025
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK)
Hosted on TCLA Forum
Chat with Withers' graduate recruitment team and ask about life at the firm, secondment opportunities, and what it's like to be a trainee. Simply return to this page on the day to post your questions.
Join us for a live student panel with BPP University Law School. We'll be joined by Jonny Hurst, Senior Lecturer in Law at BPP, and current BPP students who will share their advice on passing the SQE.
Hi!
Linklaters is non-rolling I believe (unless they’ve changed it this year), but you can always email grad rec to confirm. I’d still suggest submitting your application as soon as it’s ready to maximise your chances.
Hi! As an international student myself I’d say no unfortunately, as it depends on your university’s official term dates rather than whether you have lectures or not. I’d suggest emailing your uni to clarify the exact term dates — sometimes term 3 isn’t officially counted as “term time.” You...
Hi! Very well done on your uni grades!
I wouldn’t worry too much about the past, which can’t be changed. There’s no reason you can’t get into good firms with those strong university results, as many have removed A-level requirements and focus far more on degree performance and relevant...
Hi!
I can’t speak from personal experience, but I do know people who’ve managed it. For the shorter schemes (spring or winter), they just used their annual leave.
It depends a bit on your job and how much flexibility you have, but it’s definitely possible to balance both — especially if you’re...
Hi!
Having spoken to many grad recruiters, I would say they don’t actually check the quality of your Forage submissions, so you don’t need to worry about whether some of them were “bad” or if you skipped the video parts. What matters is that you engaged with the programme.
Where it can help...
Hi!
I don’t think it’s the Arctic Shores one, but it is a game-based test. Ashurst uses versions that include elements like Cognify and Emotify – quick-fire, gamified assessments that are the complete opposite of something like Watson Glaser, which requires slower, more detailed reasoning.
You...
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...
Hi!
I fully echo the fantastic advice above, especially regarding open day applications.
Regarding work experience entries, particularly where there is a word limit, I’d recommend focusing mainly on describing what you did and how you did it, rather than overwhelming the section with long...
Hi!
This should come under questions like “Why our firm?” or “Which of our practice areas interest you and why?” And yes — you can definitely use a deal from that practice area as evidence to show you genuinely engage with and enjoy the type of work they do.
Congrats on pushing forward with this process, it can definitely feel overwhelming but you’re taking the right steps!
I believe most firms don’t sponsor vacation scheme students, so I’d recommend aiming for direct TC applications. Try to be as strategic as possible: between now and December...
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...
For open day applications, I’d suggest keeping it focused with 1–2 short paragraphs that highlight 1–2 USPs of the firm you’d really like to learn more about. A good structure is the PEA approach: make your Point about a USP, give Evidence from your background or interests that explains why it...
I completely understand how disheartening this can feel, but as someone who has been in your shoes, let me assure you: comparison is the thief of motivation. I had similar doubts after a disappointing first application cycle, but I learned that what truly matters is not the quantity of your...
Hi! I would say if today is the agreed-upon date, it should be fine to drop the forms off at reception. Once you've done so, follow up with an email to the relevant graduate recruitment contact to confirm that you have delivered the forms.
The main competitors would depend on the practice area in question, but firms like HSF and Linklaters are strong contenders due to overlaps in corporate, finance, and dispute resolution work. Other competitors could include Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy, particularly in areas like banking...
Introduce the Formula: Begin with the fundamental concept: Profit = Revenue - Cost. Explain that understanding this balance is crucial for any business, as increasing revenue and managing costs are the core drivers of profitability.
Maximising Revenue: Discuss how businesses generate revenue by...
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