FINALIST/ GRADUATE
Training contracts are structured as two-year placements at commercial law firms, which take place after you have finished your degree and passed the SQE. After a training contract is completed, a trainee will become a Newly Qualified Solicitor in the firm.
Finalists who did not attend a vacation scheme will be eligible to apply to Training Contracts directly.
Prior to starting their training contract, graduate students are required to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), two exams that are necessary to qualify as a solicitor in the UK.
Build on Your Experience
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Without the exposure a vacation scheme provides, your work experience and extracurricular activities take centre stage. Highlight legal internships, paralegal roles, or involvement in societies where you showcased teamwork, problem-solving, or leadership.
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Firms expect depth in your examples—describe what you did, how you did it, and the impact you made. Reflect on what might have been missing in past applications: were your examples specific and detailed enough? Did they demonstrate the qualities firms value, like initiative and resilience?
Sharpen Your Commercial Awareness
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Commercial awareness is crucial to showing your understanding of the firm’s world. Stay informed about legal and business developments, like emerging market trends or landmark cases. Relate these insights to the firm’s work in your applications.
Without a vacation scheme, you need to work harder to prove you’ve done your research and can apply commercial thinking. Reflect on previous feedback: did your commercial awareness feel surface-level? Show you’ve deepened your understanding this time.
Broaden Your Horizons
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If past applications didn’t work, consider expanding your scope.
Apply to firms of various sizes, and niche practices, or explore in-house legal roles. The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) now allows flexibility with Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), including paralegal roles or volunteering in legal clinics.
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Reflect on whether your past approach was too narrow or if you underestimated opportunities outside traditional Training Contracts.
Reflect and Refine
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Without the chance to showcase your skills in a vacation scheme, your application must make a strong, detailed case for why you’re a fit for the firm. Rejections are an opportunity to learn: were your answers too generic, or did they lack structure?
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Seek feedback, revisit your applications, and refine your examples. Firms value resilience and the ability to grow—your improvements will demonstrate just that.