Hi all - returning to TC applications after a 2-year break

[BubbleTeaFan]

Hi everyone,
as it says above in the title, I've decided to return to making TC/VS applications after 2 years with no applications, following 3 cycles of no offers & only one interview/AC secured.
Briefly about me:

• I'm an international student and a top 10/RG Law graduate (2024) with a 2:1
• Secured an Insight Scheme at a SC firm in my first year, then an internship with a MC firm in my home country in Europe; no UK-based vac schemes so far
• After graduation I worked in compliance in London for a year, then completed an LLM in Europe (just graduated)

Following all the rejections over 3 cycles, including the fact that I only got past the application stage once across 19 applications, I was feeling really demotivated. As a result, I ended up making exactly 0 applications between 2024 and 2026, even though I had told myself that I would keep applying – I just couldn't bring myself to write anything because I felt it would not be good enough anyway.

Now after finishing my Master's degree, I've built my confidence back up and I'm feeling super motivated again. I am in a fortunate enough position to be able to take a break and live at home for the next few months, so that I can focus 101% of my time and energy on TC applications.
I'm hoping to submit between 20-30 applications this cycle, as I think one of my mistakes in the past few years had been making too few applications (among other things).
I feel like over the last 5 years I've accumulated a huge breadth of knowledge about the application process, as well as the work of a lawyer and commercial law itself, so I'm hoping to properly use that to my advantage this cycle
My main goals are:

• submitting 20-30 applications in 2026/27
• improving my application writing skills
• actually submitting applications even if I don't feel like they're "perfect"
• improving my Video Interview skills by practising a few times a week
• improving my overall interview skills & confidence while speaking
• keeping up to date with the news across 3 topics to improve my commercial awareness

As a long-time (mostly) lurker of the forum, I'm looking forward to posting more and chatting to other candidates hoping this will be my last cycle applying!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone,
as it says above in the title, I've decided to return to making TC/VS applications after 2 years with no applications, following 3 cycles of no offers & only one interview/AC secured.
Briefly about me:

• I'm an international student and a top 10/RG Law graduate (2024) with a 2:1
• Secured an Insight Scheme at a SC firm in my first year, then an internship with a MC firm in my home country in Europe; no UK-based vac schemes so far
• After graduation I worked in compliance in London for a year, then completed an LLM in Europe (just graduated)

Following all the rejections over 3 cycles, including the fact that I only got past the application stage once across 19 applications, I was feeling really demotivated. As a result, I ended up making exactly 0 applications between 2024 and 2026, even though I had told myself that I would keep applying – I just couldn't bring myself to write anything because I felt it would not be good enough anyway.

Now after finishing my Master's degree, I've built my confidence back up and I'm feeling super motivated again. I am in a fortunate enough position to be able to take a break and live at home for the next few months, so that I can focus 101% of my time and energy on TC applications.
I'm hoping to submit between 20-30 applications this cycle, as I think one of my mistakes in the past few years had been making too few applications (among other things).
I feel like over the last 5 years I've accumulated a huge breadth of knowledge about the application process, as well as the work of a lawyer and commercial law itself, so I'm hoping to properly use that to my advantage this cycle
My main goals are:

• submitting 20-30 applications in 2026/27
• improving my application writing skills
• actually submitting applications even if I don't feel like they're "perfect"
• improving my Video Interview skills by practising a few times a week
• improving my overall interview skills & confidence while speaking
• keeping up to date with the news across 3 topics to improve my commercial awareness

As a long-time (mostly) lurker of the forum, I'm looking forward to posting more and chatting to other candidates hoping this will be my last cycle applying!

Hi!

Welcome back, and I'm glad you have decided to post on the forum!

It sounds like you have done a lot of reflecting over the last couple of years, and I think you are approaching this cycle with a much healthier mindset.

Your goal of submitting applications even if they don't feel "perfect" really stood out to me, and I think that is one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make. It is easy to spend too long polishing one application instead of getting strong applications submitted, and sometimes it is about knowing when to stop nitpicking and just send it in (I definitely struggled with this too!).

You have also gained some valuable experience since your previous cycles through your compliance role and LLM, so you are applying with a much stronger profile than before.

Wishing you the best of luck this cycle! I hope it is the one that pays off for you, and I look forward to seeing your updates throughout the year!