In this newsletter, I will consolidate the key strategies and techniques I used to secure a training contract in London as an International student (and I didn't complete one single vacation scheme!)

Many international law students are under the impression that they need to apply to smaller or less prestigious law firms, because the competition is insane and they stand no chance of competing against many other domestic candidates. Yet, speaking from personal experiences, I think you may be better off applying to bigger law firms.

At the beginning of my second year of law school, many of my classmates already got their first internship at big law firms or banks, but I couldn’t find any. I remember I got my first-ever internship by cold-emailing a local law firm I found on the internet. I was invited for an informal interview. The partner liked my passion, and he decided to hire me as a part-time legal intern.

Getting a training contract in places like London is easier said than done - yet, the good news is whether or not you are an international candidate, law firms are essentially looking for the same skills and competencies. Unfortunately, there is little support out there for foreigners entering the London legal market, and therefore I have seen many bright international students struggling with writing good applications.

My training contract journey was a rocky path of detours. I was hampered by my initial unfamiliarity with the interview, my limited visa conditions and a lack of understanding of the application process. As someone coming from a completely different country and background, I felt like I have to spend twice, if not triple, the effort of others. But what my story shows is that your starting point doesn’t matter, what matters is where you end up.