Insights
Legal Career Insights & Expert Advice
Practical advice and fresh perspectives for ambitious law graduates.
Welcome to our Insights hub—a curated collection of articles, resources, and expert tips for aspiring legal professionals. Whether you’re drafting your first CV, preparing for interviews, or navigating scholarship applications, our insights are designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and informed every step of the way. Stay ahead of the competition with practical guidance, industry trends, and advice you can trust.

How to Get a Training Contract at Weightmans
Preparing a Strong Application for Weightmans Weightmans LLP is a top 40 UK law firm known for its strong presence in insurance, healthcare, local government, and private client work. With a reputation for fostering early legal talent and providing an inclusive culture, Weightmans is a popular destination for aspiring solicitors

How to Get a Training Contract at Mills & Reeve
Preparing a Strong Application for Mills & Reeve Mills & Reeve is one of the UK’s most respected national law firms, known for its collaborative culture, top-tier client base, and strong presence across multiple sectors. Securing a training contract here is a competitive but achievable goal for aspiring solicitors who

How to Get a Training Contract with Anthony Collins Solicitors
Preparing a Strong Application for Anthony Collins Solicitors Anthony Collins Solicitors is a leading UK law firm with a strong social purpose. Based in Birmingham, the firm is known for working with clients who aim to make a difference—such as charities, public sector bodies, housing associations, and socially responsible businesses.

How to Get a Training Contract at Shakespeare Martineau
A Modern Firm with a Regional Heart Shakespeare Martineau is a respected UK law firm known for its entrepreneurial outlook, regional strength, and broad sector expertise. With offices across the Midlands and beyond, the firm blends strong community roots with a modern approach to legal practice. For aspiring trainees, this

How to Get a Training Contract at Gateley
Understanding Gateley’s Unique Position Gateley is a distinctive firm in the UK legal market—it was the first commercial law firm to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. That entrepreneurial edge means they’re looking for more than just academic excellence; they want commercially aware, business-minded individuals who see law as

How to Get a Training Contract at Shoosmiths
Steps to Success with a Shoosmiths Training Contract Shoosmiths is a leading UK law firm known for its friendly culture, strong client relationships, and national reach. With offices across the country and expertise across commercial and private client law, Shoosmiths offers a fantastic opportunity for aspiring solicitors to train in

How to Get a Training Contract at Ward Hadaway
Understanding Ward Hadaway Ward Hadaway is one of the UK’s Top 100 law firms, with offices in Newcastle, Leeds, and Manchester. Known for its strong regional presence and full-service offering, it works with clients across the public and private sectors, including SMEs, NHS Trusts, universities, and large corporations. For aspiring

How to Get a Training Contract with Irwin Mitchell
Why Irwin Mitchell Appeals to Aspiring Solicitors Irwin Mitchell is one of the UK’s most well-known full-service law firms, with a strong national presence and deep roots in Sheffield, where its headquarters are based. With opportunities across personal legal services and business legal services, the firm offers a unique environment

How to Get a Training Contract with Walker Morris
How to Stand Out in the Walker Morris Recruitment Process Walker Morris is a leading independent law firm, headquartered in Leeds, known for its strong client base, collaborative culture, and award-winning legal services. Securing a training contract here is highly competitive, but with the right preparation and strategy, you can

8 Practical Tips for Securing a Training Contract in the UK
How to Improve Your Chances of Securing a Training Contract Landing a training contract is one of the most competitive milestones in a UK law graduate’s journey. Thousands of candidates apply each year for limited spaces, especially at top firms. But while the process is tough, it’s not impossible. With

Cracking the Watson Glaser Test for Training Contracts
What law firms are really testing—and how to prepare When applying for training contracts at top law firms, it’s not just your academics or CV that get scrutinised. Many firms—especially those in the Magic Circle, Silver Circle, and large international firms—use the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal as part of

How to Get a Training Contract with Addleshaw Goddard
What It Takes to Succeed at Addleshaw Goddard Addleshaw Goddard (AG) is one of the UK’s top law firms, recognised for its strong regional presence, international reach, and client-focused approach. With offices across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, it offers ambitious graduates a well-rounded and high-quality training

How to Get a Training Contract with DLA Piper
How to Stand Out in the DLA Piper Recruitment Process Breaking into a global law firm like DLA Piper is no easy feat, but for aspiring solicitors, it’s one of the most rewarding training environments out there. With offices in more than 40 countries, DLA Piper offers its trainees international

Travers Smith Trainee Interview Tips and Insights
Why Travers Smith Appeals to Aspiring Solicitors Securing a training contract at Travers Smith is a competitive process that requires more than just strong academics. As a leading UK law firm known for its high-profile work and distinctive culture, Travers Smith looks for applicants who not only understand the law

Eversheds Sutherland Vacation Scheme: How to Stand Out and Succeed
What It Takes to Succeed at Eversheds Sutherland Eversheds Sutherland is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms, with a strong reputation for innovation, international reach, and sector expertise. With offices across the UK and beyond, the firm’s vacation scheme is a highly sought-after opportunity for aspiring solicitors to

Law Career Coaching: Your Guide to Succeeding in the Legal Profession
Why Law Career Coaching Matters More Than Ever Breaking into the legal profession has never been more competitive. With thousands of law graduates vying for limited opportunities each year, even high-achieving students can struggle to secure training contracts, pupillage, or paralegal positions. That’s where law career coaching can make a

How to Get a Training Contract with a Magic Circle Law Firm
What It Takes to Succeed in Magic Circle Recruitment Magic Circle firms—Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May—are known for their global reach, complex transactions, and ultra-competitive training contracts. With thousands of applications for just a few hundred roles, breaking into one of these elite firms

How to Get a Training Contract at Pinsent Masons
Why Pinsent Masons Appeals to Aspiring Solicitors Pinsent Masons is a leading international law firm known for innovation, client-focused legal solutions, and an open, forward-thinking culture. With one of its largest UK offices based in Birmingham, the firm offers high-quality legal work, international opportunities, and a well-structured training contract programme.

How to Get a Training Contract at Eversheds Sutherland
Understanding the Eversheds Sutherland Approach to Legal Training Eversheds Sutherland is a global legal powerhouse with a reputation for delivering high-quality commercial law across sectors and jurisdictions. With a strong presence in Birmingham, as well as other regional hubs and major global cities, the firm blends international reach with local

How to Get a Training Contract at Gowling WLG
How to Launch Your Legal Career at Gowling WLG Gowling WLG is a leading international law firm with deep roots in Birmingham. Known for combining a strong UK presence with global capability, the firm offers law graduates the chance to do complex legal work across sectors such as real estate,

How to Get a Training Contract at Herbert Smith Freehills
How to Stand Out in the HSF Recruitment Process Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is a leading international law firm, known for its exceptional disputes practice and global transactional strength. With offices across EMEA, Asia Pacific, and the US, it offers trainees the opportunity to work on complex, cross-border matters from

How to Get a Training Contract at Mishcon de Reya
How to Launch Your Legal Career at Mishcon de Reya Mishcon de Reya is one of the most distinctive and high-profile law firms in the UK. Known for its bold brand, entrepreneurial spirit, and high-profile litigation work, the firm attracts graduates who value intellectual independence, client-facing responsibility, and working on

How to Get a Training Contract at Ashurst
How to Stand Out in the Ashurst Recruitment Process Ashurst is a major international law firm renowned for its strength in finance, infrastructure, private capital, and innovation. With over 30 offices worldwide and a London headquarters, it offers high-calibre legal work in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment. For law graduates, Ashurst

How to Get a Training Contract at Travers Smith
What It Takes to Succeed at Travers Smith Travers Smith is one of the most respected independent law firms in the UK, known for its premium work in private equity, corporate M&A, disputes, and commercial advisory. With a single-office model based in London, it fosters close-knit teams, real trainee responsibility,