Rejections thread!

[trainee4u]

Thought I'd track these:
Rejected at first stage purely because of the application form (answers, experience, qualifications, who knows!?):

• Dechert
• Bates Wells
• Burges Salmon
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (very fast: rolling!)
• Travers Smith
• Slaughter and May
• Dentons
• Eversheds Sutherland
• Weil Gotshal & Manges
• Davis Polk & Wardwell
• Bird & Bird
• Willkie Farr & Gallagher
• DWF
• Kirkland & Ellis
• Jones Day
• Cooley
• Forsters (made a factual error on form!)
• Sullivan & Cromwell
• Fieldfisher
• Vinson & Elkins
• Squire Patton Boggs
• Greenberg Traurig
• Clifford Chance (passed WGT)
• Debevoise & Plimpton
• Katten
• Hill Dickinson
• Fieldfisher
• Ropes & Gray
• Akin
• DLA Piper
• Freshfields
• Orrick
• Boodle Hatfield

Rejected at first stage either because of form or WGT performance:

• Hogan Lovells
• RPC

Rejected at first stage either because of form or SJT performance:

• A&O Shearman
• Pinsent Masons
• Taylor Wessing
• HSF (sjt was poor)
• BCLP (sjt was poor)
• Shoosmiths
• Ashurst
• Latham & Watkins

Rejected at first stage because of Arctic Shores performance

• NRF
• Gowling

Rejected at subsequent stage because of SJT or VI performance:

• Reed Smith

Rejected at subsequent stage because of VI performance:

• Mishcon
• Kennedys
• Baker McKenzie
• CMS
• WFW
• Goodwin
• Fladgate
• Gateley

Rejected following AC:

• Milbank

Currently, therefore, of resolved applications, 45 were rejected at the first stage, and ten were rejected at a subsequent stage.

I have other applications in progress at different stages (AC, VI, first stage), so the ratio above is not necessarily representative overall.

It's clear that my VI performance is substantially below par and I need to improve in this area.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey!

I really really really admire the accountability tracker! I had one during my cycle as well, and it was incredibly helpful in giving me the self-awareness I needed to identify the areas I needed to improve on. On the point on VIs, I have linked @Andrei Radu ’s amazing guide to help! https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....de-for-competency-interview-preparation.9380/

On the point on SJTs, one thing that personally helped me was trusting my intuition. I found that I always fell into the trap of putting answers I thought firms wanted to hear, and not ones that I genuinely would react to in such circumstances. Overthinking it also made me waste time and not move on to other questions. Another thing is that you’re usually given loads of info or case study banks to use when answering these SJTs. Not all the info will be relevant, and some may be more relevant than others, depending on the question. Lastly, the more practice you do on these, then better. I don’t really believe in the line “practice makes perfect“ as we can never really be perfect as humans, but “practice brings improvement and greater efficiency”. You have already done a few of these SJTs, so you’re on the road to a colorful trophy!

Another I would note is that some firms view a candidate’s application after they have passed the test. So, this means that a candidate may actually be passing these tests, but only need to refine their application questions/strategy, to write more tailored applications, in order to progress.

I hope this helps!

 

[trainee4u]

Thanks. I have updated the OP with my latest rejections.

There's definitely a process of learning and development in that I made some rather hasty/slapdash applications last year, and I can go back to these now and see improvement.

I've also applied to a lot of firms, and I'm quite passionate about statistics: my profile is atypical, and I've found that it might or might not fit with firms' requirements, but evidently some candidates are more desirable than others, and might stand a high chance of making it through the first stage of the top firms, whereas I have a smaller but non-zero chance. I doubt my Milbank application was as compelling as my Slaughters application, say, but Milbank had a new person reviewing applications this year and this random event got me to the AC. OTOH, if I apply to less prestigious firms, my success rate is higher: it's less competitive, fewer applicants with less compelling applications, and statistically if I apply enough then I'm likely to make it through.

On the other hand, the pure "if you apply to 100 firms you'll become a lawyer because it's a 1-in-100 chance" approach is definitely wrong. It's a combination of randomness and application. If I'd spent 40 hours practising recording VI questions a few months ago, then I'd probably have made it through one of my second-round VIs, as opposed to failing all eight.

I've gone through my written applications and can identify where answers are not quite top-class: awkward wording, long sentences, illogical structure, failing to properly tailor my copy-paste answer to a generic question (e.g., "tell us about your hobbies") to the specific question being answered, but for VIs that's more difficult as a VI is a one-off performance rather than something that can be written, checked, edited, and restructured to attain a higher standard.

 

[trainee4u]

I am over 100 rejections now; however, I don't feel like updating the list.

Just received the PFO for my one VS. The feedback was essentially that my written work was very good but I struggled in the interview - they gave us a few minutes preparation time but I perhaps didn't use the time as effectively as good, or perhaps I just have been consistently weak on this.

I found the feedback process quite interesting from a legal perspective in that they went through it methodically and said "well you needed to be good on everything but you were weak on the interview", so there's a clear rationale demonstrated whether or not in reality the reason was "you're not the type of person we're looking for".

Anyway, it's quite clear to me that I continue to need to improve my oral skills so I guess there's that.

I do have some applications that I haven't heard back from so I hope (but don't expect) something will come from them.

 

[Jaysen]

I am over 100 rejections now; however, I don't feel like updating the list.

Just received the PFO for my one VS. The feedback was essentially that my written work was very good but I struggled in the interview - they gave us a few minutes preparation time but I perhaps didn't use the time as effectively as good, or perhaps I just have been consistently weak on this.

I found the feedback process quite interesting from a legal perspective in that they went through it methodically and said "well you needed to be good on everything but you were weak on the interview", so there's a clear rationale demonstrated whether or not in reality the reason was "you're not the type of person we're looking for".

Anyway, it's quite clear to me that I continue to need to improve my oral skills so I guess there's that.

I do have some applications that I haven't heard back from so I hope (but don't expect) something will come from them.

I admire your willingness to reflect on your journey. The main thing I'd say is that with a vacation scheme behind you, if you decide to go through another cycle, it'll help a lot. I hope you hang in there

 

[trainee4u]

So my 2025 outcomes where I had direct human interaction were:

• Unsuccessful online interviews: Wedlake Bell, Withers, Russell Cooke, Beale
• Unsuccessful online AC: Farrer
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Milbank
• Successful online interview leading to VS, but could not attend: Devonshires
• One VS attended, but no TC

Meanwhile this year, I have so far:

• Unsuccessful online interview: Russell Cooke
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Walker Morris
• 1x successful online interview leading to future VS
• 1x successful AC leading to future VS
• 2 pending AC leading to TC
• 2 pending online interviews leading to VS

I have several applications I'm waiting on but not particularly hopeful.

I have maybe a dozen more applications to make this year.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

So my 2025 outcomes where I had direct human interaction were:

• Unsuccessful online interviews: Wedlake Bell, Withers, Russell Cooke, Beale
• Unsuccessful online AC: Farrer
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Milbank
• Successful online interview leading to VS, but could not attend: Devonshires
• One VS attended, but no TC

Meanwhile this year, I have so far:

• Unsuccessful online interview: Russell Cooke
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Walker Morris
• 1x successful online interview leading to future VS
• 1x successful AC leading to future VS
• 2 pending AC leading to TC
• 2 pending online interviews leading to VS

I have several applications I'm waiting on but not particularly hopeful.

I have maybe a dozen more applications to make this year.

Hey!

Huge congratulations on the VS offers - that is a great result already!

Looking at your progression from last cycle to this one, I'd hope it is reassuring to see clear results and evidence that the steps you are taking to improve are working (although you were very successful last cycle too!). It is clear that you have the capability of securing a TC - at this stage, it likely just comes down to finding the firm that is the right fit for you as much as you are for them. I remember feeling really dejected after not receiving a TC offer after any of my vacation schemes last cycle, but I ultimately ended up at the right firm for me through my only DTC application. It's a really tough process, and handling rejections is always tricky - however, it seems like you've utilised feedback and built on your experiences really effectively, which is clearly reflected in your positive outcomes so far!

You still have a lot of applications in the works this cycle, and I'm sure more success will come your way! It only takes one offer, and you've put yourself in a great position for that to happen

Wishing you the best of luck with your remaining ACs/interviews and applications - I'm sure you'll smash them!

 

[soph107048]

Hey!

Huge congratulations on the VS offers - that is a great result already!

Looking at your progression from last cycle to this one, I'd hope it is reassuring to see clear results and evidence that the steps you are taking to improve are working (although you were very successful last cycle too!). It is clear that you have the capability of securing a TC - at this stage, it likely just comes down to finding the firm that is the right fit for you as much as you are for them. I remember feeling really dejected after not receiving a TC offer after any of my vacation schemes last cycle, but I ultimately ended up at the right firm for me through my only DTC application. It's a really tough process, and handling rejections is always tricky - however, it seems like you've utilised feedback and built on your experiences really effectively, which is clearly reflected in your positive outcomes so far!

You still have a lot of applications in the works this cycle, and I'm sure more success will come your way! It only takes one offer, and you've put yourself in a great position for that to happen

Wishing you the best of luck with your remaining ACs/interviews and applications - I'm sure you'll smash them!

Hey Abbie, may i ask if you submitted your DTC application in the same cycle as you had your VSs? Or was it the following cycle? Thanks!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hey Abbie, may i ask if you submitted your DTC application in the same cycle as you had your VSs? Or was it the following cycle? Thanks!

Hey!

It was in the same cycle! I did a spring VS and two summer VS', and submitted my DTC application in between the spring and summer schemes

 

[trainee4u]

So my 2025 outcomes where I had direct human interaction were:

• Unsuccessful online interviews: Wedlake Bell, Withers, Russell Cooke, Beale
• Unsuccessful online AC: Farrer
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Milbank
• Successful online interview leading to VS, but could not attend: Devonshires
• One VS attended, but no TC

Meanwhile this year, I have so far:

• Unsuccessful online interview: Russell Cooke
• Unsuccessful in-person AC: Walker Morris
• 1x successful online interview leading to future VS
• 1x successful AC leading to future VS
• 2 pending AC leading to TC
• 2 pending online interviews leading to VS

I have several applications I'm waiting on but not particularly hopeful.

I have maybe a dozen more applications to make this year.

so unfortunately I struck out on both ACs.
However, I've since received 2 more ACs leading to TCs, and have a PWC Virtual AC for VS as well, plus my two VS are still pending.

It's tough because it's not strictly "try until you succeed" - there's also a risk of perpetual failure, and I would love to be in the position where I now have a firm offer, but I still don't have that.
However, I've had despair at failing to get the options I've reached final stages of so far tempered by more successes than I had last year, so there's definitely still a hope, albeit definitely no certainty at all.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

so unfortunately I struck out on both ACs.
However, I've since received 2 more ACs leading to TCs, and have a PWC Virtual AC for VS as well, plus my two VS are still pending.

It's tough because it's not strictly "try until you succeed" - there's also a risk of perpetual failure, and I would love to be in the position where I now have a firm offer, but I still don't have that.
However, I've had despair at failing to get the options I've reached final stages of so far tempered by more successes than I had last year, so there's definitely still a hope, albeit definitely no certainty at all.

Hey

I'm sorry to hear about the AC results - I completely get why you are feeling conflicted. It can be really hard to reach the final stages and still not have an offer, especially when you can see how close you are.

At the same time, the fact that you have already secured 2 more ACs, the virtual AC with PwC, and still have two VS outcomes pending shows that this cycle is already going really well! Firms are clearly seeing potential in you consistently now, which is a really important sign even if the end result hasn't landed yet.

It's always worth remembering that this process can be incredibly fine-margin at AC/final interview stage, and it can be tricky to tell where it went 'wrong'. Sometimes it comes down to things like fit, timing, or cohort size, rather than someone not being good enough. Whilst I appreciate that is frustrating as a candidate (and I felt the same way), it also means that one rejection does not suddenly undo all of the strengths that got you to that stage in the first place.

Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll hear positive news soon