targetjobs National Law Challenge

The National Law Challenge 2026 is one of the UK's most exciting legal skills competitions, designed to test the qualities that leading law firms value most in future trainees. Rather than focusing on legal knowledge alone, the Challenge puts your commercial awareness, business understanding and problem-solving skills to the test through a series of realistic scenarios inspired by the modern legal profession.

Compete against ambitious students from universities across the UK, gain valuable experience of legal assessments and showcase your potential to some of the country's leading law firms.

The National Law Challenge takes place across three stages, with students progressing through a series of increasingly challenging assessments.

Stage 1: Online commercial awareness assessment

Up to 300 students will complete a 30-minute commercial awareness assessment through the targetApply platform.

The assessment combines video, audio, and written questions and short business scenarios designed to test your understanding of current affairs, commercial issues, and legal business thinking.

Stage 2: Virtual case study challenge

The top 60 students from Stage 1 will progress to a live virtual assessment experience using our Assemble platform. You will be put into groups of 5 to complete Stage 2. 

Participants will complete a business-focused case study analysis, demonstrating their ability to interpret information, evaluate options, and make commercially sound recommendations.

Stage 3: National final

The top 30 students will be invited to compete in the National Law Challenge Final at Linklaters' London offices.

Finalists will take part in a series of advanced exercises and assessment activities designed to showcase the commercial and professional skills required to succeed within the legal profession. This will also be in groups of 5. 

Assessment formats may vary to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for all participants.

Success in law is about more than academic achievement. The strongest candidates understand business, can think critically under pressure, and are able to balance legal considerations with commercial realities.

The National Law Challenge is specifically designed to assess the skills law firms increasingly prioritise during recruitment, including:

• Commercial awareness
• Analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• Business judgement
• Communication skills
• Decision making
• Strategic thinking

The Challenge creates opportunities for students from a wide range of backgrounds to demonstrate their strengths through practical exercises rather than relying solely on traditional application methods.

Stand out from the crowd

Training contracts and vacation schemes are more competitive than ever. The National Law Challenge gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your commercial awareness and analytical thinking through a nationally recognised competition.

Develop commercial awareness

Commercial awareness remains one of the most important skills for aspiring solicitors. Through realistic business-focused challenges, you'll learn how legal advice supports clients' commercial objectives and how lawyers contribute to strategic decision-making.

Experience legal assessments

Gain first-hand experience of the types of exercises and assessment methods used by leading law firms throughout the recruitment process.

Build confidence

Develop your communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills while tackling real-world scenarios designed to reflect the challenges faced by modern lawyers.

Compete nationally

Join hundreds of students from universities across the UK and benchmark your skills against some of the country's most ambitious future legal professionals.

Meet leading legal employers

Finalists will have the opportunity to engage directly with sponsoring law firms and gain valuable insight into careers within the legal profession.

Commercial awareness is one of the most frequently assessed skills throughout legal recruitment, yet many students struggle to gain practical experience of applying it in realistic situations.

The National Law Challenge provides a unique opportunity to develop and demonstrate this crucial skill while gaining valuable insight into the commercial realities that shape modern legal practice.

Take on the Challenge

Do you have what it takes to think beyond the law and approach problems with a commercial mindset?

Register your interest today and compete against some of the UK's most talented aspiring lawyers in the National Law Challenge 2026.