The ONLY Training Contract Guide You Need as an International Student
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!). But before that...
On 10 October 2025, I launched the "Part-Time BigLaw Academy", a self-paced online course aimed at equipping aspiring lawyers with all the strategies and techniques I used to secure a training contract in London. This course could completely change your application game by helping you:
Get rid of the limiting beliefs that prevent you from unlocking your true potential;
Redefine your perspective on how to draft answers;
Find out why your application is getting nowhere;
Know what law firms you should apply to maximise your chance;
No longer get stuck at online tests;
Check all the boxes for pre-recorded video interview;
Score high points in competency interviews, group and written exercises;
Make the law firm partners say “yes” to offering you a training contract.
The ONLY Training Contract Guide You Need as an International Student
So, you're an aspiring lawyer but don't know where to start in the upcoming application cycle? Lets delve into it...
Why Working in London as a Commercial Solicitor?
Before you consider applying for a training contract, perhaps the first thing I need to address here is why someone should even consider practicing law abroad in a major jurisdiction like London?
I will list out a few key benefits below...
The training system at global law firms in those jurisdictions is likely more well-organised and robust. For example, many international law firms in London recruit a large number of trainee solicitors each year (e.g. from 10 up to over 100) and thus have excellent track records of talent developments (i.e. a wide variety of seat options for trainees to choose from, exposure to bigger, more lucrative deals / transactions, more well-established mentoring and diversity programmes etc.)
You will be able to work in a more international, diverse environment as employers value diversity and inclusion more in these jurisdictions. This will help you develop an international mindset and ability to interact with people from different backgrounds.
The deal size in places like London and New York is significantly bigger and the deals are inherently more international compared to some of the other legal markets. These experiences look good on your CV and showcase your ability to manage large-scale, complex deals.
It can possibly fast-track your legal career. For example, if you are trained at an international law firm in London and worked there for several years to become a mid-level associate (PQE 2 or 3). If you transfer to other jurisdictions (except for the US), you will probably be considered as a senior associate (PQE 4 or 5) in those jurisdictions given your London experiences.
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. In other words, it's often not the case that big law firms prioritise local candidates over international candidates. The truth is that foreigners are simply not familiar with the recruitment process, and this inevitably results in lower-quality applications, poorer interview performance - and no job offer.
You cannot control the cards you are dealt, but how you play the hand - the following sections aim to help international students / foreign lawyers to figure out a good application strategy, understand how to write a high-quality application and build up relevant experiences to stand out from the crowd!
What London Law Firms to Apply to as an International Student?
1) Aim HIGH
Many international 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.
The bigger and more international the firms are, the more likely they will consider an application from a foreign-educated candidate. The reason is that they need more international employees to meet their global business needs as well as diversity and inclusion targets.
If you have additional language skills or work experiences in another country, your CV will probably appeal to big law firms that work with international clients on a daily basis.
2) Bigger firms have more resources for foreign talent
Bigger firms are also in a better position to provide visa sponsorships and cover all the necessary expenses. They are usually more experienced in handling any immigration issues arising from your visa status, as they have a track record of hiring foreigners and a dedicated immigration team to guide you through the process.
If you get invited for an assessment centre but you’re not based in the UK, some international law firms are even able to reimburse you for part of your flight/train ticket.
3) Identify firms that value foreign talent
Back when I applied for a training contract in London, I mostly shortlisted law firms that:
have a strong international brand;
have a passion for diversity and inclusion (you can identify those firms by looking at the D&I initiatives on their official website); and
have a track record of hiring international candidates, including (but not limited to) Baker McKenzie, White & Case, DLA Piper, Latham Watkins, Dentons, Hogan Lovells, and of course, the typical Magic / Silver Circle firms — these law firms should be your main focus when applying for a training contract.
Specifically for point (iii), I used to check each firm’s profile on Legal Cheek to assess the percentage of Current Trainees attended universities abroad, and then create a spreadsheet listing out all the firms that recruited foreigners in the past.
4) Resilience is the most important quality
I think one thing all international students must bear in mind when applying to law firms in a different country is that no matter how good you are as a candidate, someone is going to reject you. Even today, if I want to apply for a different role, I still get rejected for reasons possibly unrelated to my ability. Therefore, don’t take rejection personally.
Remember, you worked as hard as others to make your best application. You spent as much time as others to prepare for the interviews. You are as worthy as anyone else to get the job.
Should I Apply for a Vacation Scheme or Direct Training Contract?
I once heard from the Graduate Recruitment at some law firms that they receive way less applications for direct training contracts compared to vacation schemes. As an international candidate, I would suggest you to try both. The benefit of applying for a direct training contract is that you only need to focus on perfecting your written application and interview techniques.
As for a vacation scheme, you will need to:
first go through various online tests and interviews to get a vacations scheme offer,
impress different people at the law firm during your two-week vacation scheme, and
go through a final round of interview towards the end of your vacation scheme.
This is a very mentally draining process...
Personally, I have not done a single vacation scheme at any global law firm before getting my training contract. Therefore, nothing should stop you from applying directly for a training contract, especially if you already have some past work experiences. Although applying directly for a training contract is still very competitive, it is not inherently more challenging than a vacation scheme and the process is more straightforward. In fact, as a law graduate with an international background, I got way more interviews by applying for a direct training contract than a vacation scheme.
Application is indeed a number game
Back when I worked on my job applications, I remember I spent my morning researching various law firms and my afternoon writing application forms, 5 days a week like a full-time job. That is how I went from knowing nothing about the UK recruitment process, to acquiring the knowledge on applications, commercial awareness and interview techniques in just one year's time, and eventually landed a training contract at my ideal law firm.
Application is a number game, but it is the number of high-quality applications that count. Your application must be tailored to each law firm. If you want to send out 10 or 30 letters, then prepare 10 or 30 letters individually. There is nothing more off-putting than copying and pasting the exact same content across multiple applications, as this will only suggest to the recruitment team that the application they receive is merely one of the many mass-produced letters, and it lacks sincerity. Ask yourself these questions before you submit your application:
Have you done any in-depth research on this particular law firm?
Does everything you have written down in this application still make sense if you copy and paste it to another application?
Why does the firm have to pick YOU? Have you mentioned anything about yourself that matches the firm's initiatives, strategies or culture (i.e. emphasis on tech, D&I and innovation etc.)?
I also want to make clear that as an international candidate, you can apply for a training contract even though you are not in the UK. In March 2019, I submitted my application when I was in Italy. Later in April, I completed an online video interview in Hong Kong, and then my firm partially sponsored me to fly to London to attend the final interview in May. Where you are currently based is not very important.
Find your Unique Selling Point ("USP")
Lastly, it is extremely important to make yourself stand out from the crowd. As an international candidate, international experience is often our USP and we need to take advantage of it in our application.
Especially for those who are still in law school, I would suggest you to go apply for different sorts of international internships or any other interesting experiences. Before I got my training contract, I did internships at some smaller law firms in Hong Kong and attended summer exchange programmes at universities in mainland China and Germany. I also researched for international legal internships in the UN, WTO, European Union and International Court of Justice etc., in order to improve my CV after graduation - I eventually obtained an internship at the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law ("UNIDROIT") in Italy as well as a few short-term paralegal roles in London. My internationality turned out to be my USP in my training contract applications.
Conclusion
No matter how well you follow my tips and tricks above, you will most likely still get a rejection at some point.
I failed the Watson Glaser test the first time I took it. I couldn’t finish most of the questions at my first video interview. A partner asked me a question and I sat there frozen for a whole minute at my first-ever parter interview. It is ok to fail at first and soon you will realise that a rejection is often a blessing in disguise - if I had not been rejected, I would not have ended up at a firm I actually like.
For those who are not as confident, during your entire application journey, you may come across other candidates who seem more experienced or intelligent than you. But remember, you have worked so hard and come so far. You are as worthy as anyone else in the interview room to get the opportunity. At the end of the day, you only need that one offer to make your dream come true.
As a reminder, my flagship "1:1 BigLaw Academy" programme is a one-to-one coaching programme meticulously designed to help you land a training contract at international law firms. The course outline is as follows:
1. Build an International & Diverse Profile from Day 1
✅ Learn how to build an international and diverse CV that appeals to recruiters.
✅ Learn how to craft your unique story and fill in the gaps in your CV.
✅ Discover 3 unorthodox ways to get diverse experiences without connections.
✅ Learn how to best sell yourself in written applications.
2. How to Punch Above Your GPA & Discover Your USPs
✅ Learn how to level up your CV + sell yourself in written applications and interviews.
✅ Discover extra-curricular activities and unlock achievements to create your USPs.
✅ Learn how to turn your achievements into ”a wow factor” that impresses recruiters.
✅ Discover note-taking and exam techniques I used to become the top 5% (in e.g. New York Bar, law school exams).
3. Build Your Personalised Application Strategy
✅ Master both “internal” and “external” commercial awareness + understand the USPs of law firms.
✅ Learn how to effectively tailor your applications and research law firms.
✅ Learn which international firms you should target + which firms to avoid to maximise your chance of success.
✅ Learn the application strategies for both Direct TC and VS applications.
4. My Four Steps Approach to Cover Letter Writing
✅ Avoid the biggest mistake in preparing your cover letter.
✅ Learn the 4-step approach to writing a killer cover letter.
✅ See examples of high-quality cover letters + learn how to show “linkage” between you and the firm.
✅ Learn the skill matching technique to effectively identify your USPs.
5. How to Prepare Multiple High-quality Applications
✅ Learn how to stand out from the crowd.
✅ Navigate each section of an application form.
✅ Discover the best answering techniques to 5 key types of application questions.
✅ Help you get past the written application stage.
6. How to Write an Impressive CV & Pass the First Stages of Assessment
✅ Learn how to craft an impressive CV that grabs recruiters' attention, including timeless tips and best practices.
✅ Navigate online tests and pre-recorded video interviews like a pro.
✅ Learn the most effective techniques and speaking delivery for video interviews + cheatsheets.
✅ Review your video interview footage and train your presentation skills like a mooter.
7. How To Stand Out in Assessment Centres
✅ Navigate case studies, written and group exercises like a pro.
✅ Understand the best analytical frameworks for case study and written exercises.
✅ Learn the top 8 techniques for group exercises.
✅ See examples of mock case studies + how to impress the interviewers.
8. Nail Your Final Interviews
✅ Learn how to build good rapport and leave a lasting impression on partners.
✅ Learn the best approach to nailing the motivational, commercial and competency-based questions etc.
✅ Master the answering strategies and techniques for 20+ most pressing interview questions.
✅ Conduct a 1:1 Mock Interview with you to help you crush Partner Interviews.
