Hi all! I applied to
Skadden's VC / TC but was unsuccessful. The text below (with redactions) was my answer to "What are your reasons for applying to
Skadden?" Does anyone have any tips on what I could have done different? I never seem to get anywhere with my applications, so grateful for any advice.
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There are two main reasons I am applying to Skadden.
First, despite its status as a leading full-service firm, Skadden has retained the mentality of a determined newcomer who continuously strives to prove themselves. Speaking with [Skadden Associate] at a [University] alumni event confirmed that this drive defines the firm that surpassed £1tn in deal value in 2015 and then became a top-two global dealmaker in 2024.
Having moved to the UK at 14, I know that success takes precisely that — proving yourself over and over again. To get accepted into a top university, I stayed up most Friday nights mastering an unfamiliar education system. Later, when qualifying as a commercial solicitor became my goal, I took on trainee-level work at [Law firm I worked at] to demonstrate my capabilities. For example, I built Excel models used by an international wholesaler in settlement negotiations to assess the commercial feasibility of offers. Although this required analysing granular data and conducting extensive legal research, showing myself I could do this was worth it. I want to work at a firm that shares this approach to work.
The second reason is Skadden's recent active growth in FinTech M&A set against its broad transactional practice. Taking financing, private equity and M&A modules at [University], I realised I would enjoy transactional work. Deals are firmly grounded in the present, something that the influential yet decades-old competition disputes I administered at [Law firm I worked at] could not offer. Through my dissertation on barriers to FinTech growth I became particularly interested in innovation and its future. I want to train in an environment where I can explore diverse transactions while focusing on how innovation scales. Skadden offers both. Alongside a wide choice of transactional training seats, the firm supported several major crypto- and stablecoin companies with entering US capital markets, where innovation accelerates. Together, these factors make Skadden the ideal environment for me to develop.
Hey,
For your first point, I would recommend expanding upon what you mean by the firm has the mentality of determined newcomer. How has this been demonstrated in their work/ strategy? Have they explicitly stated that they are wishing to operate as a startup/newcomer or has this been shown in their involvement in new/evolving industries and geographical locations. Or is this something exemplified in how they value entrepreneurship among their lawyers. I think the firm's work of deals valued at $1tn is more of a product of this newcomer mentality, and you would benefit from explaining how/where this mentality comes from and how it is demonstrated in the day-to-day work at
Skadden. I think your point of linking it back to yourself and your experience moving to the UK is great and definitely shows alignment, but this should be coupled with express comments on how
Skadden's newcomer mentality is maintained.
For your second point, I think it's great to focus on a specific sector, it combines a unique strength of
Skadden, its M&A practice, with a new and evolving sector. This also actually links well with your first point about being a newcomer. I think you would benefit from discussing a recent deal in this space that the firm has worked on, to showcase the depth of your research and interest. I also think you do not necessarily need to make comments about decades-old disputes, as many law firms also want their trainees to keep an open mind about other practices.
Overall, I think you have great experiences and interests and with a few changes this would definitely be an even stronger application! Wishing you all the best
