Law Firm Application Questions 2025–26

[Jessica U]

Hi everyone,

I know many of you will soon start thinking about the next application cycle, so I thought it would be helpful to create a thread to collect the written application questions used by law firms in the 2025–26 recruitment cycle.

If you applied to any firms this cycle, it would be great if you could share the application questions you received. Over time, the aim is to build a resource that future applicants can use to start preparing their answers well in advance.

We’re really keen to include questions from all types of firms, so if you applied to any boutique, regional or high street firms, please feel free to share your questions as well.

If you’re able to contribute, please include:

• Firm name
• Programme (Vacation Scheme / Training Contract / Diversity Access Scheme)
• Recruitment cycle (ideally 2025–26, but feel free to share questions from the past two cycles)
• The application questions (as close to the original wording as possible)
• Word count limit (if applicable)

Even if you only remember one or two questions, that’s still really helpful!

 

[FutureLawyer_]

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Vacation Scheme
2025-26

1. Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you (300 words)

2. Why are you interested in pursuing a career at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer? (300 words)

3. What skills, qualities and attributes would you bring to the role? (300 words)

 

[Deleted member 32644]

DLA Piper
Summer Internship (London)
2025-2026

Question 1)
Describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions? (Max 200 words/1,500 Characters)

Question 2)
Select one article from DLA Piper Insights page on a client sector that interests you. How does it align with your personal and professional ambitions? (Max 200 words/1,500 Characters)

 

[hanz123]

Trowers and Hamlins
Vacation Scheme
2025-2026

Describe a recent commercial news story that interested you and explain how it relates to us. (250 words)

 

[TCchaser]

Jones Day VS 2025-26:
What makes you a good candidate for a training contract at Jones Day? Your answer should be reflective of your skills and personal experience. (max 300 words)
Have you used any AI or ChatGPT in your answer? (max 99 words)

Paul, Weiss VS 2025-26:
Tell us why you want to join Paul, Weiss (max 250 words)
How do your extra-curricular activities align with a career at Paul, Weiss? (max 250 words)

Debevoise VS 2025-26:
Please explain why you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor and what has attracted you to Debevoise? (max 250 words)
Please indicate if there are any preferred practice areas that interest you. (max 250 words)
Please detail any extra-curricular activities and leisure interests, including any relevant responsibilities and achievements. (max 250 words)
Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, focusing on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal. (max 250 words)
Please tell us something that not many people know about you. (max 250 words)
Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why? (max 300 words)
What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours? (max 250 words)

Goodwin VS 2025-26:
Why are you applying to Goodwin? (max 100 words)
What is your personal motivation for seeking a career in corporate/commercial law? (max 100 words)
Discuss a commercial issue that has particularly interested you. Why did it capture your attention, and what impact could it have on the legal sector? (max 300 words)
Describe a recent situation where you faced a challenge or problem. How did you overcome the challenge, and how did you display your resilience? (max 300 words)
Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, focusing on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal. (max 250 words)
Which other firms are you applying to and why? (max 200 words)
Please briefly summarise anything else that you would like to add which you think is relevant to your application. This can be positions of responsibility, extra-curricular activities and achievements or academic awards or scholarships (max 200 words)

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Sidley Austin
Spring and Summer VS 2026

Please list any academic scholarships or prizes.

Detail your extracurricular activities, interests and positions of responsibility. Please state what you feel you have gained from them and how others have benefited from your involvement. (250 words)

Why does a career in commercial law and specifically at Sidley Austin interest you? (250 words)

Describe a current commercial issue that has interested you and explain why it has interested you. (250 words)

In your view which personal qualities make a successful lawyer? (250 words)

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Spring VS 2026

What motivates you to pursue a career as a commercial solicitor, and why do you see Akin as the right place to begin that journey? (250 words)

Akin’s London office works across a range of practice areas. Which area(s) interest you most, and why? (250 words)

What are you looking for in your legal career, and how do you see a firm like Akin helping you achieve these goals? (250 words)

Please identify a commercial issue currently in the news and explain how this is likely to impact the clients that Akin represents and the type of work that the firm undertakes? (250 words)

Tell us about an achievement you are most proud of and why. What skills did you develop? (250 words)

Please give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility and any other noteworthy achievements that will support your application. (250 words)

Dechert
Spring and Summer VS 2026:

Please outline the skills you possess that make you suitable for a career as a commercial solicitor and explain why you believe this makes Dechert the right firm for you to develop your career? (300 words)

Please describe a challenging situation you have faced and how you approached it. What do you believe was critical to you being able to overcome that challenge? (300 words)

Please tell us about your non-academic activities and interests, highlighting any positions of responsibility held and achievements you are especially proud of. (300 words).

If applicable, please state any additional information which you think is relevant to your application or which you think has not been covered adequately in this form. (300 words)

Covington & Burling
Summer VS 2026:

What aspects of Covington’s work, culture or approach stood out to you in your research, and why do they appeal to you personally? How do you see these aligning with the kind of solicitor you hope to become? (350 words)

Select a practice group at Covington and discuss a recent commercial trend or development that you believe will impact this group. (300 words)

Describe an experience or activity which you have been involved in outside of your academic studies, and how this experience allowed you to develop? (You can use examples from any area of your life, including extra-curricular activities, paid or voluntary work) (300 words)

If you could witness any event, past, present, or future firsthand, what would it be and why? (300 words)

Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Summer VS 2026:

Why have you applied to Morgan Lewis? What do you think are the skills and attributes you possess that distinguish you from other applicants? (300 words)

Discuss a news story that interests you. What do you think are the implications for a law firm like Morgan Lewis? (300 words)

How do you ensure that you are a valued member of the team? Please provide an example of a time when you contributed to the team’s success. (300 words)

Providing an exceptional client service is at the core of everything we do. Please provide an example of a time you have delivered exceptional client service. (300 words)

Please provide details of your interests and extra-curricular activities - including any positions of responsibility you have held at school, university or otherwise - and an achievement of importance which you are most proud of. (300 words)

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Spring and Summer VS 2026:

What are your reasons for applying to Skadden? (350 words)

If you could choose a career other than law, what would you choose? (250 words)

Please choose a recent (less than 12 months) development in UK/European news. How are such developments relevant for Skadden’s clients? (250 words)

Tell us about your interests and inspirations outside of education/work. (250 words)​