Training Contract Advice

[Anjolao]

Hi everyone, my name is Anjola and I’m a law student at the University of Kent, graduating in 2026. I’m originally from Canada and studying here in the UK as an international student. I’m starting to think seriously about training contract applications and wanted to ask how many people usually apply for. I’d also love to hear any tips on how to prepare well and give myself the best chance.

Also, do grades carry most of the weight in these applications? I’m a bit unsure about my second year results, so I’m wondering how much that might affect things and what I can do to strengthen the rest of my application.

Any advice or insight would really mean a lot.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @Anjolao

Welcome to the forum, and lovely to see another Canadian here! I'm also originally from Canada

You're absolutely right to start thinking about training contract applications now. To answer your question: while grades are important, I don't think it would be accurate to say they carry most of the weight. In many cases, what really matters is demonstrating your understanding of commercial and corporate law, your awareness of the London legal market, and (perhaps most importantly) drafting a well-researched, well-written application that shows you genuinely understand the firm you’re applying to. It's often easy for grad rec to tell when an applicant hasn’t done much research into a firm.

One of the best ways to improve your application writing/research is simply to start making applications. You’ve got time over the summer, so I’d encourage you to aim for 5-7 by the end of September if you can. I'd recommend you start with firms whose application questions don’t change much year to year (e.g. Freshfields, Jones Day, Travers Smith, etc). You can draft those early and use them to practice your application writing.

In terms of the number of applications you write, I think this is ultimately dependant on what's feasible for you. Some people do 510 apps total and do just fine in the application process. In my case, I found success doing well over 30 applications. It really depends on what works for you, but the most important thing is to ensure that every application is as tailored to each firm as possible.

Wishing you the very best of luck in the upcoming cycle, and feel free to tag me or any of the community assistance if you have any follow-up questions.