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Willkie Live: How to Write a Successful Vacation Scheme Application

7 Oct 2025 5:30pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)

Learn exactly how to write a successful application to Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with live examples + Q&A with Gemma Baker.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ram Sabaratnam" data-source="post: 215439" data-attributes="member: 36738">Hiya [USER=41319]@Nimaj[/USER]These are great questions, and I’m sure this will be really helpful for others attending the fair for the first time too! Having attended and helped organise some of these, I wanted to give you some initial thoughts. I'll take your questions in order.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It really depends on the firm and when you approach their table. Some stands will be swamped, especially at peak times, while others might be quieter. You’ll likely get a chance to a few questions directly, but just be mindful that it can be difficult to have more extended conversations if a firm's table is quite busy. To make the most of your time, I’d avoid asking things that are easily found online or already discussed on the forum. Instead, try to prepare questions that are best answered by a trainee, grad rec, or a lawyer. For example, things about team culture, quality of training, or how the firm is positioning itself in certain sectors.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">You may well get the chance to ask follow-ups, especially if a firm's table isn’t too crowded. However, just be mindful that if a table is busy, you should try to ensure that you're leaving enough time for others to have a chance to engage with the firm too. If you do want to follow up more deeply, it can be worth asking for a contact (e.g. an email) to continue the conversation afterward. This is a great opportunity, for instance, to connect with trainees or grad rec on LinkedIn or in other ways.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">There’s no harm in reaching out to grad rec beforehand, especially if you’re hoping to tailor your questions to a particular associate or partner. That said, I don't think this is truly necessary to prepare and/or to leave a good impression. You can still prepare by researching the firm’s key practice areas and recent developments. Then on the day, you can focus your questions on things like what types of work trainees get exposure to in specific teams, what kind of client and partner contact is typical, how the firm is investing in niche or emerging areas, and so on.</li> </ol>Hope that helps and good luck at the fair!</blockquote>

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