Top tips from a future trainee
As the summer draws on, the 2026-27 training contract application cycle draws ever closer. With firms opening their applications as early as 1 September, now is the time to start gearing up to hit the ground running in the autumn. Whether this is your first year applying, or whether you’re a seasoned (and perhaps a little jaded!) candidate, Legal Cheek has the insider advice that will make this year your year.
Having spent years working closely with graduate recruitment teams, Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge reveals the common commercial awareness mistakes that candidates make and how to “stand out” in your applications without overdoing it. He explains the importance of meeting firms, whether virtually or in-person, and how best to use these interactions to demonstrate your engagement and interest in their work.
As a future trainee solicitor who has been through it all, LC writer Lydia Fontes reflects on her first (failed) cycle of applications and the changes she made before securing a training contract last year. She discusses the best time to start applications, how many firms to apply to and how to play the graduate recruitment “game” to give yourself the best chance, as well as sharing tips on building commercial and business knowledge that you actually feel confident discussing in application forms and interviews.
The pair also talk about how to stay motivated when dealing with rejection. As something almost every candidate will encounter, the LC podcast team suggest seeing rejection as part of the process and trying (as best you can!) not to take it personally.
Feeling ready to kick into gear? Sign up to The Legal Cheek September Virtual Law Fair, taking place on Wednesday 2 September, 2-5pm. Over fifty top law firms will be attending and you will have the chance to chat to lawyers, trainees and graduate recruitment to hear about the work they do and what they’re looking for in new trainees.
You can listen to the podcast in full via the embed above, or on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible
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