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Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
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Register on Zoom →A Deep Dive Into Reed Smith's Sector Focus (Transportation)24 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)Dive into Reed Smith’s transportation practice to see how their legal advice drives the world’s largest shipping, aviation, and logistics businesses, and how trainees can make their mark.
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Register on Zoom →How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)In this interactive session, Maya Shah, Senior Early Careers Specialist at Ropes & Gray, will walk you through every stage of the firm's application process.
Search results
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How do I make my training contract applications stand out?
I would highlight a few things from the applications we review. I can go into a bit more detail after if you want. The ones that stand out are easy to read. They don't waffle or use flowery language. Each sentence has a reason for being there. I'm never left wondering whether an applicant...- Jaysen
- Post #2
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Application Reviews & New Features
Hey all, As application season is about to restart, we're offering a free application review for everyone (even if we've reviewed your application already) until 31 July 2018. For further application reviews, the trophy system will still apply as normal. J- Jaysen
- Post #8
- Forum: Site Announcements
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The what-we're-doing-right-now page
You may have also noticed the new 'courses' section on the homepage - coming soon :)!- Jaysen
- Post #17
- Forum: Site Announcements
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The what-we're-doing-right-now page
Currently working on the next commercial awareness briefing (will aim to send it out today). It's an update to the 'how do companies raise money' post I made a while back. Part 1 will introduce the subject and break down equity v debt. Part 2 will talk about why that's relevant to law firms.- Jaysen
- Post #13
- Forum: Site Announcements
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 7: I'm finding it really hard to deal with rejections. Do you have any advice? When I first started writing applications, they weren’t very good and I got lots of rejections. I was ecstatic to get my first telephone interview only to stumble on the final question: ‘what are the...- Jaysen
- Post #7
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 6: Is there anything you would have done differently when it comes to the application process? I didn’t want to go into corporate/commercial law until late into my second year of uni so that left me with little time to prepare and very little confidence (when everyone else seemed to...- Jaysen
- Post #6
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 5: How important are uni grades at top firms? I didn't do so well in my first year, but looking at LinkedIn, I see trainees with first class grades and A* at A-Level. It’s a barrier, but it’s not detrimental. Grades are just one factor of many in an application. Sure, at some firms...- Jaysen
- Post #5
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 4: Due to mitigating circumstances, my A Level grades weren't very good and I only got BCC (but I did go on to get a first at uni). I'm worried that I won't stand a chance applying to the silver circle/magic circle/US law firms? Well done on the first. As you have mitigating...- Jaysen
- Post #4
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 3: Do you have any advice for the cover letter? I would usually go for a structure like this: (1 paragraph) Brief introduction stating what I'm applying for (vac scheme/training contract) at X firm and what stage I'm at (e.g. third year at university). (2 paragraphs) Why I'm...- Jaysen
- Post #3
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 2: I'm having trouble giving a good answer to the question "why do you want to be a commercial lawyer". I know that should be a given and I do have ideas but I just struggle to put it into words. Do you have any advice? I don't think you're alone in this. It's reasonably easy to give...- Jaysen
- Post #2
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Vacation scheme and training contract applications
Question 1: How do I tailor my application to a law firm? Specifically, the 'Why are you applying to this firm?' question. Most law firms seem to say the same thing. When it came to answering this question in my first round of applications, I used language like "multi-jurisdictional" and...- Jaysen
- Thread
- Replies: 8
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Welcome
Hi everyone We're going to move the 'trainee advice' page to this section so that the posts are easier to sort through. I'll be updating each one as I add them in so they're worth a look even if you've checked out the page before. The plan is that we'll also add more answers over time. For...- Jaysen
- Thread
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Case Study 2: M&A analysis
Yes of course!- Jaysen
- Post #3
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Commercial Awareness - April 2018
Great post Coralin! Good article in the FT yesterday explaining why oil prices are rising: https://www.ft.com/content/112d1342-488f-11e8-8ee8-cae73aab7ccb- Jaysen
- Post #60
- Forum: Commercial Awareness Discussion
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Meaning of GDPR?
Ok here's a brief introduction to the GDPR. Part 2 will focus on how it will impact law firms and their clients. The impact of the GDPR on businesses and law firms - Part 1 What is it? The General Data Protection Regulation or "GDPR" is an EU-wide regulation which regulates the processing of...- Jaysen
- Post #3
- Forum: Commercial Awareness Discussion
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Slaughter and May Interview Tips
Really appreciate this, thanks.- Jaysen
- Post #7
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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Slaughter and May Interview Tips
Hey, let me see if I can find a recent Slaughters interviewee and I'll get back to you.- Jaysen
- Post #4
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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Meaning of GDPR?
Bear with me, I'll do a write up on this now.- Jaysen
- Post #2
- Forum: Commercial Awareness Discussion
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An introduction to law firms
How do law firms make money? How do they charge clients? Law firms make money by charging clients for the legal services they provide. They make a profit by generating more fee income than their overhead expenses and salary costs. Overheads include a bunch of things, such as supplies and...- Jaysen
- Post #2
- Forum: Watson Glaser and Case Study Resources
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Background checks
Hi Mary, Our screening company was a risk consultancy. I remember they sent us a form to fill out but I think that was just to verify what we had said in our screening forms. We also sent them ID docs and details of our residency history for background/DBS checks. I remember in the email they...- Jaysen
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion