Rolling/Non-Rolling 2022-2023

[James Carrabino]

Hi everyone!

I have compiled a list (this is still a work in progress as many firms are yet to update their recruitment pages for the new cycle) of firms by whether they are recruiting on a rolling basis or not for the upcoming application cycle. You should look at this in conjunction with my list of law firm deadlines and my thread about where firms recruit from (VS or direct TC). In the below list, I have only included firms where I have a website link or e-mail confirming this and quite a few firms have changed from previous cycles. The below list will be updated over the coming weeks and if you have any knowledge about how firms review applications then please feel free to comment below with a link!

It is really important to note that when a firm recruits on a rolling basis, this can mean any one of a number of things (I have written a post about this here) and certainly does not mean that an application submitted on the deadline day will inevitably be rejected. Most firms receive over half of their applications in the days leading up to the deadline - even those which recruit on a rolling basis.

One firm writes on its website that 'You will hear from us within ten to fifteen working days as to the outcome of your application [i.e. this firm reviews applications on a rolling basis]. We will not fill up places before the deadline. It is our strong recommendation that you only submit your application when you feel it is ready rather than submitting it as early as possible.'
I have listed this firm as rolling but my designation could mislead some candidates.

Consequently, I would check the links I have included below to see exactly what each firm advises in relation to when you should submit your application. Good luck

Firms which review applications on a rolling basis

Addleshaw Goddard: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Akin Gump: rolling (https://www.akingump.com/en/careers/uk-students/how-to-apply.html)
Allen & Overy: rolling (https://krb-sjobs.brassring.com/TGn...siteid=5040&Areq=6647BR#jobDetails=62982_5040)
Baker McKenzie: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Bird & Bird: rolling (https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/vacation-schemes)
Bristows: rolling, but all applications received by the deadline are considered equally (confirmed by e-mail)
Charles Russell Speechlys: rolling, but no decisions are made about who to invite to AC until after the deadline when all applications have been reviewed (confirmed by e-mail)
Cleary Gottlieb: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
CMS: rolling (https://www.cmsearlytalent.com/application-support/frequently-asked-questions/)
Dentons: rolling (https://challengers.dentons.com/uk-trainees/applications/applications-process/)
DLA Piper: rolling (https://www.dlapipergraduates.com/uk/apply/)
Fieldfisher: rolling (https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/careers/graduates#application)
Gibson Dunn: rolling (https://www.gibsondunn.com/careers/law-students/london-graduate-recruitment/)
HFW: rolling (https://www.training-contracts.com/Grad-Rec-Our-Recruitment-Process)
Hill Dickinson: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Ince: rolling (https://www.incegd.com/sites/defaul...plication-process-Ince-brochure_Sept-2020.pdf)
Irwin Mitchell: rolling (https://graduaterecruitment.irwinmitchell.com/training-contracts)
Jones Day: rolling (https://www.jonesday.com/en/careers/locations/united-kingdom?tab=howtoapply)
Mayer Brown: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Mishcon de Reya: rolling (https://www.mishcon.com/graduates/faqs)
Osborne Clarke: rolling (https://join.osborneclarke.com/faqs-and-contact)
Pennington Manches Cooper: rolling (https://www.penningtonslaw.com/careers/early-careers/training-contract)
Shoosmiths: rolling, but no decisions are made about who to invite to AC until after the deadline when all applications have been reviewed (confirmed by e-mail)
Sidley Austin: rolling (https://www.sidleycareers.com/en/europe/london-opportunities?tab=faqs)
Simmons & Simmons: rolling (https://www.simmons-simmons.com/en/graduates/faq)
Skadden: rolling (https://www.skadden.com/-/media/fil...london-graduate-page/carve-your-path-2022.pdf)
Slaughter and May: rolling (https://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers/trainee-solicitors/work-experience-opportunities/)
Stephenson Harwood: rolling (https://www.shlegal-futuretalent.com/faqs)
Taylor Vinters: rolling (https://www.taylorvinterstribe.com/graduates-and-students-taylor-vinters#TheForm)
Taylor Wessing: rolling (https://www.taylorwessing.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/students-and-graduates/graduates-faq)
Watson Farley & Williams: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Willkie Farr & Gallagher: rolling, but places are not filled and subsequent stages do not commence until after the deadline (https://www.willkie.com/careers/london/graduate-recruitment)

Firms which review applications on a non-rolling basis

Arnold & Porter: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Ashurst: non-rolling (https://www.ashurst.com/en/careers/...ndon-training-contract/what-you-need-to-know/)
Burges Salmon: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Clifford Chance: non-rolling (https://careers.cliffordchance.com/london/what-we-offer/training-contract.html)
Clyde & Co: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Covington & Burling: non-rolling (https://www.cov.com/en/careers/lawyers/london-graduate-recruitment-programme/application-information)
Davis Polk: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Debevoise & Plimpton: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Eversheds Sutherland: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Farrer & Co: non-rolling (https://www.farrer.co.uk/join-us/train-with-us/)
Forsters: non-rolling (https://www.forsters.co.uk/graduate-recruitment/frequently-asked-questions)
Freshfields: non-rolling (https://ukgraduates.freshfields.com/faqs)
Fried Frank: non-rolling (https://www.friedfrank.com/uploads/documents/cf2376b2bf385d619188c16bbaaa5350.pdf)
Goodwin Procter: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Gowling: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Herbert Smith Freehills: non-rolling, and the test can be completed after the deadline (https://careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/uk/grads/faqs)
Hogan Lovells: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Howard Kennedy: non-rolling (https://www.howardkennedy.com/en/careers/trainees/trainee-faqs)
Katten: non-rolling (https://katten.com/london-training-contract-and-internship-programme)
Kennedys: non-rolling (https://kennedyslaw.com/thought-leadership/article/faqs-training-contracts/)
Latham & Watkins: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Lewis Silkin: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Linklaters: non-rolling (https://careers.linklaters.com/en/early-careers/your-application)
Macfarlanes: non-rolling (https://www.macfarlanes.com/join-us/trainee-solicitors/faqs/)
Milbank: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Mills & Reeve: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Morgan Lewis: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Norton Rose Fulbright: non-rolling (https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-gb/careers/graduates/apply/faq)
Orrick: non-rolling (https://www.orrick.com/en/Careers/Global-locations/Careers-in-the-UK/London-Office-Read-more)
Paul Hastings: non-rolling (https://www.paulhastings.com/en-GB/careers/graduates)
Pinsent Masons: non-rolling (https://www.pinsentmasons.com/careers/graduate/vacation-placements/england)
Reed Smith: non-rolling (https://www.reedsmith.com/en/careers/general/uk-faqs)
Ropes & Gray: non-rolling (https://www.ropesgrayrecruiting.com/en/UK/Students-Graduates/FAQ)
Shearman & Sterling: non-rolling (https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/application-information/faqs/)
Squire Patton Boggs: non-rolling (https://fsr.cvmailuk.com/spb/main.cfm?page=jobSpecific&jobId=63950&rcd=2624302&queryString=officelocation=London&groupType_59=&groupType_7=&groupType_4=&groupType_21=&x-token=tf57wy4fhouhnikfbnpe4iaqglw6ve7iqvekpu8w&srxksl=1)
Sullivan & Cromwell: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
TLT: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Trowers & Hamlins: non-rolling (https://www.trowers.com/careers/students-and-graduates/training-contracts)
Vinson & Elkins: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Wedlake Bell: non-rolling (https://wedlakebell.com/careers/summer-vacation-scheme/)
Winston & Strawn: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Womble Bond Dickinson: non-rolling (https://www.trainingcontract.com/apply/)

Firms which have a mixture of rolling and non-rolling recruitment processes

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner: rolling, except non-rolling for Manchester and Hong Kong (https://trainee.bclplaw.com/apply-now)
DWF: non-rolling for England and Scotland, rolling for Belfast and Dublin (https://dwfgroup.com/en/careers/graduate-recruitment/trainee-solicitor-programme/faqs)
Weil, Gotshal & Manges: rolling for VS (https://ukrecruiting.weil.com/vacation-scheme), non-rolling for TC (https://ukrecruiting.weil.com/training-contract)
White & Case: rolling for VS, non-rolling for TC (https://www.whitecase.com/careers/locations/uk/students/how-apply)

 

[lowen13]

Important to note!!!

Weil, Gotshal & Manges recruit VCs on a rolling basis, and TCs on a non-rolling basis!

 

[fleur269]

@James Carrabino Is it bad practice to submit applications close to the deadline for those firms recruiting on a rolling basis? Is it possible that their chosen shortlist will already have been filled before the deadline? Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

@James Carrabino Is it bad practice to submit applications close to the deadline for those firms recruiting on a rolling basis? Is it possible that their chosen shortlist will already have been filled before the deadline? Thank you

It’s not bad practice - plenty of people do it (in fact a very significant proportion of applicants do). There is a chance the firm could have filled all their interview slots up of the next stage is a face to face interview. But many firms have stages in between this (tests/video interviews/telephone interviews) which means they most likely still able to consider all applicants as they will still be fairy early in their full recruitment process.