I’d take it as why specifically commercial law at Pinsents, would be a good opportunity to talk about some deals they’ve worked on and essentially what makes their commercial law practice so attractive compared to other firms
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Cleary WGT invite 🥺
(I submitted last friday, 20 minutes before the deadline and they were rolling)
This is my first ever progress to a second stage of application process
I would appreciate some insights into how to prepare for this as I'm really bad with WGT and I have barely 2 days (too short of a time)
Guessing this means it’s a PFO if I have not heard back post app from Cleary.
White & Case Open Day PFO on my birthday! It’s my first rejection this cycle and it’s my top firm. Slightly disappointing, but onwards and upwards. Now to the vac scheme application. 😅
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I join my fellow aspiring solicitors in our collective experience of W&C Open Day rejections. Ironic that I'm attending the Legal Cheek event with them in about 20 mins too 🤣
Starting to wonder if Open Day applications are just way more competitive and maybe targeted given how many Open Day rejections I've had so far as I feel I've been writing these applications well 😅 But hey, at least it makes for good practice for VS/TC applications!
Starting to wonder if Open Day applications are just way more competitive and maybe targeted given how many Open Day rejections I've had so far as I feel I've been writing these applications well 😅 But hey, at least it makes for good practice for VS/TC applications!
I found the W&C Open Day application quite hard. Granted, it was my first (and only) one so far. If I was to critique my application, I would say I perhaps didn’t emphasise why I need to attend the open day. But I will also be at their event with Legal Cheek at 4, so see you then!
Hi!Thanks so much!
I'm also wondering if I should get a bit more personal in the cover letter. I have quite a unique background (moving around a lot within Europe for multiple legal roles and not having a typical UK law degree).
Should I try to be holistic about my profile more generally, or should I just try to tie up my cover letter with my existing answers.
Essentially what i'm trying to balance is
1. Whether I should cover as many things that have not been covered in the 2 subsequent questions, or;
2. Whether I should try to piece all answers together in the cover letter and link them
I'm torn
No problem at all
If your background is quite unique, it's definitely worth weaving that in - but I'd do it in a way that supports the overall narrative rather than trying to cover every gap or new detail.
In other words, I'd focus the cover letter on linking everything together into a clear story - who you are, why your experiences make you a strong candidate, and how it all leads naturally to this role and firm. You can then use the other questions to zoom in on specific examples or details that didn't fit neatly into the cover letter.
So, I'd lean more towards option 2 - a holistic, joined-up narrative that ties your profile together, rather than trying to cram in every missing point. I would definitely include a variety of experiences across both the cover letter and the two questions, but the key part is to make sure that your whole application fits together nicely and there is consistency across the entire form.
I hope that answers your question!
Hello!
You're totally right - for an open day, the key thing is showing that you've done your research and genuinely understand why you want to learn more about that particular firm. They will be looking for curiosity and a clear connection between your interests and what the firm does, rather than a full "why commercial law" discussion.
I would make sure to cover the following in your cover letter:
- Why this firm: briefly discuss what initially drew you to the firm - e.g. what stands out to you about its work, culture, or approach.
- Why you: briefly discuss what you hope to contribute or gain from attending, with reference to your past experiences.
- Your motivation for the open day: this is the most important part. Make sure you clearly discuss what draws you to the open day itself - e.g. wanting to learn more about their practice areas, approach to clients, or training style. All of your motivations for attending should be backed up by your research on the firm AND your past experiences and skills, so it's important to tie it all together here.
The process for an open day application is distinctly different from a vacation scheme application, so make sure that your answer focuses on what you hope to gain from the open day, rather than what you already have.
I hope that assists!
Hi I got an open day with a 2:2 in my first year and a 67% overall, so I think they are very holistic and place more emphasis on other aspects of the application as long as you meet the 2:1 requirement so dw!
Hello!
Great question - if they've set a 1000-word limit, it usually means they're open to something fairly substantial, not just a short cover letter. I'd aim for around 800-900 words, but the key thing is to make sure you've covered all the essential points and that it's written in a concise and clear way. It's always better to be slightly shorter and well-structured than to hit the word count just for the sake of it.
In terms of structure, I would follow something along the lines of:
- Introduction (100-150 words): Briefly introduce yourself, what you're applying for, and a summary of your motivation or background.
- Why this firm (250-300 words): This is where you should show off your research of the firm - mention specific aspects of the firm's culture, clients, or practice areas that genuinely interest you. Make sure to tie this back to your skills and past experiences to demonstrate why these unique aspects motivate you to train there - for example, if you are discussing their room sharing policy, it would be great to discuss previous instances where you have worked closely in teams and enjoyed it, etc.
- Why commercial law (200-250 words): Explain your motivation for pursuing commercial law, ideally linking it to your experiences or academic background. It's really important to link this to your previous experiences - it's fine to say that you are interested in commercial law as it is intellectually stimulating, but you need to expand on that and say why you enjoy that and how you have discovered this.
- Why you (200-250 words): Linking to the above, highlight the skills and experiences that make you a strong fit - both for the firm and the career itself. Think about the skills required of a trainee, and the skills valued at Travers Smith, and discuss how you have developed these in past experiences. It might be useful to link these to how they will make you a good trainee (i.e. if you have good organisational skills, discuss how you are well-equipped to handle competing deadlines from multiple supervisors).
- Conclusion (50-100 words): End by reaffirming your enthusiasm for the firm and the vacation scheme, and what you hope to gain from it.
In conclusion, yes, I would aim to be close to the word count - but it's more important to ensure that your writing is coherent, purposeful, and tailored. Quality over quantity always reads better!
Is it just me, or does the whole application process this year feel way more stressful than previous years- more tests, higher benchmarks/grade boundaries, more convoluted questions in some cases...
You’re a legend. Thanks so much for this.
I don’t think I’m going to get an offer because of the SJT
Do you have any advice for this?
Huge congratulations on the TC offer - that's a fantastic achievement! 🎊
Joining a smaller trainee cohort can actually be a real advantage. You'll likely get more hands-on responsibility, closer supervision, and better exposure to quality work early on. The fact that the firm's training is ranked highly is also a strong indicator that you'll be well supported and develop quickly.
The potential downsides are mainly around scale - a smaller London office might mean fewer seat options and a leaner support network. Brand recognition might also not be immediate as the biggest US or Magic Circle firms, but solid training and good deal experience tend to matter much more in the long run!
Overall, it doesn't sound like it would be a hinderance at all - if anything, the quality of training and the exposure you'll get could make you a very well-rounded candidate on qualification. I would just make sure the firm's practice areas and culture align with what you want long term.
Best of luck with your decision - either way, you should celebrate receiving such an amazing offer!
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