Every law firm application cycle, I hear a version of the same question:
“How do I stand out when everyone seems to have the same legal work experience?”
It is a fair question. Most large international firms receive hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of applications for a relatively small number of vacation schemes and training contracts. Many applicants will have a law degree, decent grades, legal clinics, society positions and one or two internships.
The answer is not to collect experiences for the sake of it.
It is to build a profile that is genuinely yours: commercially aware, curious, internationally minded and supported by real evidence that you have explored different career options properly.
When I was in law school, I did not have the strongest grades, the most prestigious background or a network of lawyers around me. So I started looking for experiences that other candidates were less likely to have. I became a research assistant, wrote for legal publications, entered international mooting/essay writing competitions, completed summer schools in Beijing, Germany and Oxford, interned abroad in Europe and Shanghai, and said yes to opportunities that did not look like the standard route into commercial law.
Some of those experiences later helped me get into Cambridge. Some became the stories that partners asked about in final interviews. Others gave me the confidence to keep going when I had no job offer at all.
Below are 20 experiences worth considering. You do not need all 20. In fact, trying to do everything is a mistake. The goal is to choose some that fit your interests and use them to build a coherent story about the type of lawyer you want to become.
1. Open Days, Insight Schemes and Virtual Internships
Candidates often dismiss open days as "too basic" to matter. They are wrong.
Yes, one open day on its own may not transform an application. But a thoughtful pattern of attending various firm events, insight schemes, law fairs and virtual internships can become powerful evidence that you have made a serious effort to understand the UK legal market and distinguish between firms (and this is particularly important for non-law and international candidates).
These events also give you much more than a line on your CV. You may meet trainees and associates, learn "inside information" that are not available on their website or Legal 500, and sometimes take part in mock group exercises or case studies. That is live practice for the kind of work you may face later at an assessment centre.
Do not attend passively. Prepare some questions, introduce yourself to people, and note down anything that genuinely changes your understanding of the firm. Those conversations can later make your “Why this firm?” or "Why commercial law" answer much more specific.
I went to 12 Open Days in 3 months back when I was applying for training contracts in London. There was one time I even flew from Italy to London just to attend an open day. Those efforts really count and they will PAY OFF.
2. Internships at an Investment Bank or a Financial Institution
As we know, global law firms want commercially aware trainees. There are few better ways to develop commercial awareness than working inside a business that is likely to be a law firm’s client.
Hence, internships at an investment bank, asset manager, insurance company, accountancy firm or other financial institution can show that you understand how law firms' commercial clients make decisions, manage risk and work with external advisers.
This doesn't even need to be a legal role. A client-facing, operations, research or business-development role can also be valuable if you can explain what you learned about the sector and the problems those businesses face.
You're not simply saying that you read the Financial Times. You're showing that you have seen commercial decision-making in real life. I've seen successful applicants who completed internships at Big Four accountancy firms, investment banks or private equity firms before. You need to be creative and look for more diverse commercial work experiences if you want to stand out in today's competitive legal market.
One thing I regretted back at university is that I rejected a part-time legal internship opportunity at Credit Suisse, one of the major Swiss global investment banks. I did that because it conflicted with my study schedule. Looking back, I probably should have accepted it and it would have taken my CV to the next level!
3. Roles at a Technology Start-up
Many international firms are investing heavily in legal technology, innovation and AI-enabled delivery. Yet, most candidates still focus on building profiles that contain only traditional legal experience.
A start-up role can make you different.
You might work with a technology product, help a founder solve a business problem in a lean team, speak to customers, analyse a market or support a small team that has to move quickly with limited resources. That gives you a practical understanding of innovation which can be highly relevant to a firm’s approach to legal tech, client service and operational change.
The role does not have to be glamorous. What matters is that you can articulate what you saw: how technology affected the business, how the team adapted, and how legal advisers could support a growing company.
4. Legal Essay Competitions
Law essay competitions are one of the most underused opportunities available to law students who enjoy legal research and writing.
Some are run by law firms (e.g. Gowling WLG Student ESG Essay Competition), universities (e.g. Oxford University Undergraduate Law Journal Annual Essay Competition), professional bodies (e.g. Law reform essay competition) or international organisations (e.g. UNIDROIT Essay Competition). The prize may include publication, prize money, an invitation to a firm event, or even work-experience opportunities at a global law firm. But even where you do not win, the process of researching and writing a strong piece gives you a valuable story and a portfolio item.
One of my own book chapter by publisher Springer began as an essay competition entry in the area of outer space law. It was not something I wrote because I thought it would lead to a training contract. I wrote it because I was interested in the topic. Later, it became a genuinely unusual achievement that partners wanted to discuss in assessment centres.
Pick a topic that you can become genuinely curious about. A strong, specific interest is much more memorable than a generic essay written because you think it sounds impressive.
5. International Mooting Competitions
Mooting does not just demonstrate advocacy. It can show intellectual curiosity, teamwork, legal analysis, resilience and your ability to communicate under pressure.
This was particularly important for me because I was terrified of public speaking. I nearly did not enter a public International law mooting competition because I was convinced I would embarrass myself. Five to six months of practice later, I won an oralist award and my team became first runner-up in Australia.
That experience later led to an invitation to present at an international conference. It also gave some partners a memorable topic to discuss in my law firm interview. It also showcases your internationality and global mindset.
If possible, look beyond the most obvious competitions. A moot in maritime law, arbitration, international trade, technology or a sector you genuinely care about can also create a useful bridge to the practices of particular global law firms.
6. International Organisation or Intergovernmental Internships
If you're interested in a global legal career, explore traineeships, internships and volunteering opportunities with international organisations (e.g. European Commission, WTO, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law).
During my own journey, I interned with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome for 3 months, working around private international law. That experience gave me a more international perspective, introduced me to people from different jurisdictions and gave me a story that was very different from a typical law-firm internship.
There are many organisations worth researching depending on your interests: international institutions, arbitration centres, European bodies, treaty organisations and sector-specific organisations. These experiences may be competitive, but they're worth looking at precisely because fewer applicants think beyond the conventional law-firm route.
They are especially valuable if you can explain what they taught you about cross-border work, cultural differences, international clients or the legal issues that arise when businesses operate across jurisdictions.
7. Write for a Legal Blog or Become a Law Reporter
Experience does not have to be formally advertised before you're allowed to create it.
In my final years at university, I saw that a Singaporean lawyer was building a legal blog. I researched his work, reached out on LinkedIn and offered to contribute case summaries. He gave me a chance, even though I was based in Hong Kong.
Writing for a blog, newsletter or legal publication can strengthen your legal research, drafting and ability to explain complex issues simply. It also shows initiative. You did not wait for a firm to give you an opportunity; you identified a way to contribute and created one.
Look for individual lawyers, legal publications, student-led platforms that publish thought leadership. Send a tailored message. Explain what you could write about or how you could help. A thoughtful contribution to a niche publication can be much more memorable than another generic CV line.
8. Become a Research Assistant for Professors
A research-assistant role is one of the best opportunities available inside a university, and most students never ask about it.
I became a research assistant for both my company law and IP law professors because I was looking for anything that could improve my CV. At the time, I did not realise it would teach me how to conduct research, structure an academic argument and write at a higher standard.
That experience later led to 6+ publications in international law journals, helped my Cambridge master's degree application and gave me a deeper interest in corporate law.
Find a professor whose work you genuinely find interesting. Read one of their articles or recent projects. Then send a concise, specific email explaining why their research interests you and asking whether there might be an opportunity to assist.
Do not make it about “improving your CV.” Make it about contributing to work you are genuinely interested in understanding.
9. Commercial Awareness Competitions
Commercial-awareness competitions (e.g. Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition, BIUCAC) are often overlooked, even though they can be one of the most direct routes to developing the skills law firms test at assessment centres.
Some of these competitions also offer direct access to firm events or work-experience opportunities for high-performing candidates. I know some winners who got 4 to 6 vacations schemes at various global law firms and they had difficulty choosing which one to attend. The exact prize varies, but the broader value is clear: you build commercial thinking and give yourself evidence that you can apply it under pressure.
Treat these competitions as both an opportunity and test of your commercial awareness.
10. Mini-Pupillages at Barristers’ Chambers
Some candidates worry that a mini-pupillage is irrelevant if they want to be a solicitor. I do not entirely agree.
Exploring an alternative legal career can make your decision to pursue commercial solicitors’ work more convincing, not less. It shows that you've looked at the profession seriously rather than simply following the default path.
You may also gain exposure to legal research, advocacy, court process and a particular practice area. The key is to be honest about what the experience taught you. Perhaps it confirmed that you enjoyed commercial matters but preferred the team-based, client-facing nature of transactional practice. That is a thoughtful and credible insight.
One or two well-chosen contrasting experiences can make a profile more rounded.
11. Editorial Internships at a Legal Publisher
When I could not secure any conventional law-firm internship, I reached out on LinkedIn to the talent-acquisition team at a leading legal publisher, LexisNexis. That conversation led to an editorial internship, where I interacted with lawyers, barristers and judges.
It was not the route I had planned. But it gave me transferable skills that mattered: legal writing, communication, adapting to different audiences and working with professionals across the sector.
Legal publishers, professional bodies and legal-media organisations need researchers, editors, writers and event support. These roles can help you understand the legal ecosystem from a different angle while improving your ability to communicate clearly — a skill every trainee needs.
Do not reject an opportunity simply because it is not labelled “law-firm internship.” Think about what it gives you that other candidates may not have.
12. Experiences at an Offshore Law Firm
Many candidates focus only on City, Magic Circle and US firms. That means they overlook a whole part of the international legal market: the global "Offshore Magic Circle" including Ogier, Mourant, Walkers, Maples and Calder, Appleby, etc.
Offshore firms work on complex cross-border corporate, finance and funds matters. An internship or paralegal role at an offshore firm can give you a distinctive perspective on how international transactions are structured and how different jurisdictions interact.
I worked as a contract paralegal at Mourant's London office before too, and that experience helped deepen my understanding of the international corporate landscape, especially in financial centres like the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI).
If you're interested in investment funds, finance or cross-border transactions, this is a particularly useful area to explore. It can also lead to a more distinctive “Why commercial law?” narrative than simply repeating that you're interested in M&A.
13. Join a Student Law Review
Student law reviews are often accessible through your university, yet many candidates overlook them because they do not see them as “real” work experience.
They're real experience.
Serving as an editor can help you develop legal writing, attention to detail, project management and an understanding of how good legal arguments are structured. I was a general editor for the Cambridge Law Review during my master’s degree, and it gave me another way to engage with legal ideas outside the classroom.
For students who may not yet have extensive work experience, this is a practical way to demonstrate intellectual engagement and commitment. It may even help you learn how to turn your own coursework into a publishable article later on.
14. Internships at a High-Street Law Firm
Your first UK legal experience does not need to come from an international or a prestigious firm.
When I was trying to establish myself in London, I cold-emailed dozens of smaller firms. Eventually, I secured a short informal internship with an immigration practice. It was not a formal vacation scheme. It was not glamorous. But it gave me UK-specific exposure when I needed it most.
For first or second year students and international candidates in particular, a high-street internship can be a valuable first step. It shows that you have worked in the UK legal environment, communicated with clients and seen how legal work operates day to day.
Be proactive. Research firms in your area, identify practices that interest you and send tailored messages. Your first opportunity may not look like your final destination. That does not make it any less useful.
15. In-House Legal Internships
Law-firm trainees and lawyers spend their careers advising clients. So an in-house internship gives you something many candidates lack: an understanding of what it feels like to sit on the other side of the table.
You may see how a legal team works with finance, operations, HR, sales, technology or senior management. You may learn what businesses actually expect from law firms: practical advice, commercial awareness, responsiveness and an understanding of the bigger picture.
This can be particularly helpful in applications to sector-focused firms. If you intern in the legal team of a technology company, financial institution, energy business or consumer brand, you have direct insight into the industry that firm serves.
That is powerful material for both applications and interviews.
16. University Legal Clinics or Citizens Advice Roles
Legal-clinic roles are much more common these days, but they are still valuable foundations.
They can teach you how to listen carefully, communicate with people who may be stressed or unfamiliar with the law, manage responsibility and turn complicated legal issues into practical guidance. These are all skills that commercial lawyers need.
Indeed, the work may often involve private-client issues rather than large corporate transactions. That is not a weakness. It can broaden your profile and may open up further options at firms with strong private-client, employment, family, immigration or pro bono practices.
Just do not rely on a legal clinic as your only experience. Combine it with something commercially oriented, unusual or international.
17. Legal Volunteering with a Charity
If there is a cause you care about, look for charities or community organisations that need legal support, research, translation, policy work or administrative assistance.
I once volunteered as a legal translator for Feeding Hong Kong, an organisation tackling food poverty. That experience reflected something personal to me and showed that I was willing to contribute outside the conventional career path.
Charity work can also create a credible link to a firm’s pro bono practice or wider social-impact initiatives. But do not choose it simply because you think firms want to see “pro bono.” Choose an organisation whose work you genuinely care about. Authenticity is obvious when someone asks you about the experience.
A tailored cold email can be enough to start the conversation.
18. Marshalling or Shadowing a Judge
Shadowing a judge can give you a closer view of court process, legal reasoning, drafting and how advocates present cases.
This is especially helpful if you're interested in litigation, arbitration, investigations, public law or disputes. But even future transactional lawyers can benefit from understanding how legal disputes unfold when a commercial relationship breaks down.
Like mini-pupillages, marshalling is not about proving that you want to become a barrister or judge. It is about exploring other law career options properly and being able to explain what you learned from the experience.
If the judge’s work aligns with an area you might wish to explore, the experience can become a particularly useful part of your wider narrative.
19. Paralegal Roles
A substantive paralegal role remains one of the strongest experiences you can have before applying directly for a training contract (and many of the successful direct training contract applicants I know have paralleled for quite some time).
You gain exposure to the day-to-day realities of legal work, learn how documents and matters are managed, and often have stronger evidence for your motivation than someone who has only attended short insight events or done some 2-week internships.
It can also create an internal pathway. Some firms give paralegals an opportunity to apply for training contracts directly through a more streamlined process or give them greater visibility with graduate recruitment.
There is one important caveat: think carefully about the firm and practice area. A full-time paralegal role can shape the story your CV tells. Ideally, it should build experience that aligns with the kind of law you may want to pursue, rather than moving you further away from it.
20. Compliance Experiences
Compliance roles are closely connected to commercial law, even if they are not traditional legal jobs.
You may learn how rules are interpreted inside a business, how organisations identify risk, and how they balance legal requirements with commercial realities. That is highly relevant to the role of a trusted legal adviser.
A compliance internship or role can be particularly valuable in financial services, technology, healthcare, data, consumer regulation or any regulated industry. It shows that you understand the practical side of legal rules: not just what the law says, but how businesses respond to it.
For candidates who want to show commercial awareness from a different perspective, this can be a very interesting experience too.
The Question to Ask Before You Say Yes
At the end of the day, this article is not a checklist. You do not need to do every experience above, and a CV full of disconnected activities is not automatically impressive.
Before accepting an internship, role or volunteering opportunity, ask yourself two questions:
"Will this give me a clearer understanding of the legal sector or the clients and sectors law firms advise?"
"If 100 other applicants applied to the same firm, how many of them would realistically have this experience too?"
The best opportunities often sit at the intersection of those two questions. They help you understand the profession better while giving you something distinctive to say about yourself.
Do not blindly follow my list either. Be creative. Look at your own interests, your background, your community, the industries around you and the problems you care about. Then find a way to get involved.
Standing out is not about trying to look impressive.
It is about becoming someone with a real, interesting and well-evidenced story to tell.
Start building that story now.
The Next Application Cycle is Approaching — Stop Wasting Any More Time!
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Hope you're looking forward to the weekend!
Gordon Chung
