Training contract and vacation scheme applications: the questions, and how to answer them
Updated · 3 min read
Applying for training contracts, vacation schemes or solicitor apprenticeships means a lot of forms, and a lot of them ask the same things. There's no single official framework like the Civil Service has, but the questions are well worn. Prepare a strong answer to each, and you can adapt rather than rewrite for every firm.
The questions that come up most
- Why law? Why a career as a solicitor, and why commercial law if that's what you're applying for.
- Why this firm? What sets them apart, and why you'd fit there.
- Commercial awareness. A recent business or legal development, why it matters and how it affects the firm's clients.
- Competency questions. Teamwork, leadership, resilience, attention to detail, a time you failed.
- Practice areas. Which areas or seats interest you, and why.
- Your experience. Work, legal or not, and what it taught you that's useful in a law firm.
Why law
Firms want to see that you understand what a solicitor actually does, day to day, and that you've chosen it on purpose. Draw on real exposure: work experience, open days, conversations with trainees, a module you enjoyed, or a part-time job where you solved problems for clients. Avoid lines about loving debate or TV dramas.
Why this firm
This is where generic answers fail. Name things that are true of this firm and not every other: its main practice areas, the kind of clients it acts for, recent deals or cases, its training structure, or something a trainee told you. Then link each one to you. Our guide to why do you want to work here has a method that works for law firms too.
Commercial awareness
Commercial awareness questions test whether you understand how businesses work and how legal advice fits in. A strong answer does three things: explains the development briefly, says why it matters commercially, and shows how it could affect the firm's clients and what lawyers would be advising on.
1. The development, in two sentences: what happened and when. 2. Why it matters: the commercial pressures behind it, like costs, regulation, competition or technology. 3. Who it affects: the types of clients the firm acts for, by sector. 4. What lawyers would do: the legal work it creates, like contracts to renegotiate, regulatory advice, financing or disputes. 5. Why it interested you: one or two sentences linking it to the firm's practice areas.
- Shows understanding, not just that you read the news
- Links straight to the firm's clients and work
- Easy to adapt for each firm by changing steps 3 to 5
Competency answers
Law firms use competency questions like any graduate recruiter. Use the STAR method, keep to the word limit, and pick examples that show skills a trainee needs: attention to detail, working under pressure, client care and teamwork. Our competency questions guide lists the common ones.
Attention to detail
Many firms say a single typo can cost you a place. Read every answer aloud, check the firm's name is right everywhere (an easy mistake when adapting answers), and stick to the word limit exactly.
Keep each finished answer, tagged by question type. When the next firm asks "why law?" in slightly different words, you'll find your best version straight away and only need to tailor the firm-specific parts.
Frequently asked questions
- How many training contract applications should I make?
- Quality beats quantity. A smaller number of well-researched applications usually does better than many generic ones.
- Can I reuse answers between firms?
- Yes, for why law and competency answers, with care. Why this firm and commercial awareness need real tailoring each time.
- Do I still need a law degree?
- No. Since the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) was introduced, you can qualify with any degree, and many firms recruit non-law graduates.
- How long should my answers be?
- Follow each form's limit, often between 150 and 300 words. If there's no limit, aim for something you could read aloud in a couple of minutes.