Meet the Recruiter - Anna
Applications:
What really stands out in an application form?
The applications which stand out are those where the candidate has clearly taken the time to research us and develop an understanding of who we are. As a global law firm, we often read references to our ‘multijurisdictional complex deals’, but the strongest applications go a step further than that – explaining what they find particularly interesting about those deals from their research and why they are commercially significant.
What are the main reasons you reject a training contract or vacation scheme application?
Attention to detail is so important and as an aspiring lawyer, you want to ensure that you demonstrate this skill from the outset. That’s why proofreading your application to ensure it’s free from spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes is particularly important! I’ve seen a fair few ‘White & Chases’ in my time!
How can candidates get across their commercial awareness in an application?
Commercial awareness is assessed throughout all stages of our recruitment process. To provide effective legal advice, lawyers need to understand the commercial context in which their clients operate and the external developments that may affect a client’s business, investment or project.
Candidates can demonstrate commercial awareness by keeping up to date with business news, identifying developments relevant to our clients and practice areas, and explaining why those developments matter. For example, they might consider how political, economic or regulatory events could affect a client’s project, investment or financing across several jurisdictions. This could include supply-chain disruption, changes in energy policy or increased market uncertainty.
We do not expect candidates to have all the answers. Instead, we are looking for candidates who can form a reasoned view based on their research and explain how a lawyer could help a client respond. This may involve coordinating advice across jurisdictions, identifying and managing legal risk, adapting transaction structures and helping clients make informed commercial decisions in a changing environment.
Vacation schemes and other work experience:
What do the vac schemers who go on to get a training contract at your firm do on the scheme to show they’ve got what it takes to be a successful solicitor? / How do you assess vacation scheme students?
On the vacation scheme, we assess participants through a mix of formal exercises and their day-to-day contribution. Across the two weeks, they complete assessed tasks, a group exercise, a timed written exercise and an interview with two partners, including a short commercial presentation.
They are also paired with a trainee buddy and an associate supervisor, who involve them in client work, meetings and, where possible, hearings. This gives participants a realistic sense of trainee life and gives us the chance to see how they approach new tasks, work with others and respond when they are outside their comfort zone.
The people who tend to do well are not necessarily those who arrive with all the answers. They are the ones who show genuine curiosity about the work and a real willingness to learn. That might mean taking the time to understand an unfamiliar issue before starting a client memo, asking thoughtful questions about why a contract is structured in a particular way or using feedback from one task to improve their approach to the next.
We also notice when participants go beyond the immediate task. For example, they may read around a topic raised in a meeting, follow up with their supervisor afterwards and use that research to have a more meaningful conversation. That shows both a genuine interest in the career and the ability to develop quickly.
Ultimately, we are looking for people who are engaged, approachable and proactive, who can work well with others and who are keen to understand the client and commercial context behind the legal work.
How can people make up for the fact that they haven’t done any work experience at a law firm?
What impresses us most isn’t necessarily a long list of legal internships, but candidates who can explain how they’ve developed transferable skills through their part-time jobs, volunteering positions or extracurricular activities. You don’t need prior legal experience to make a strong application. What matters most is your ability to reflect on your experiences and show how they’ve prepared you to succeed as a trainee solicitor.
Assessment days and interviews:
What skills and competencies do you look for candidates to demonstrate on assessment days?
We run assessment days for our direct training contract vacancy. Candidates complete a group exercise, a written assessment and an interview with two partners, including a pre-prepared commercial presentation.
You do not need any specific legal knowledge to complete the written assessment. We are more interested in how you analyse information, identify the key issues and communicate your conclusions clearly and concisely. We also look at commercial awareness: whether you can recognise the wider context around a client’s business or transaction and explain why a particular development may matter.
For example, a political, economic or regulatory change can affect the timing, cost, funding or risk profile of a cross-border project or investment. We do not expect candidates to have a perfect answer or detailed technical knowledge. What matters is being able to form a sensible view based on the information available and think about the practical questions a client may need to consider.
The interview is an opportunity for us to learn more about your experiences, motivations and interest in joining White & Case. Candidates often find that it is conversational, so it is helpful to be ready to discuss what has interested you in your research and why. It is also a good opportunity to ask questions. Thoughtful questions about the firm’s work, clients or the experiences of the interviewers can show that you have engaged with your research and are genuinely interested in the career.
Thinking about your assessment day, what skills are you looking for from the group exercise?
The group exercise is a great opportunity for candidates to really demonstrate the skills our lawyers use in practice; collaborating effectively, analysing information accurately and helping their team reach a sensible commercial outcome. At White & Case, our lawyers are constantly working with multiple individuals all over the world with different working styles and perspectives, and so the ability to work constructively with others is particularly important.
What kind of questions should candidates ask at interview? What shouldn’t they ask?
Getting to the interview stage of any assessment process is a real achievement and is a great opportunity for you to ask questions you are genuinely curious about. For that reason, we would always recommend asking questions that you cannot find out on our website! For example, you might want to ask our lawyers about their experiences working on specific transactions or how what is happening in the world is affecting their practice area.
STEM students:
Law firms tell us that they try hard to encourage STEM students to apply for training contracts. The link between law and science may not be an obvious one. Why do scientists make good lawyers?
Here at White & Case, we believe that STEM degrees are becoming increasingly valuable to a career in commercial law, especially in today’s world. That’s why we run a STEM Open Day each year, designed to highlight to STEM students how their analytical and problem-solving skills can help them to navigate complex legal matters across the variety of practice areas.
One of our IP associates who studied Chemistry at University mentioned how ‘the logical approach I developed during my degree translates well to understanding the frameworks of laws and contracts, whether in M&A, finance, or any other legal practice areas. Having a STEM foundation means I can better understand the technical side of the pharmaceutical and software deals I work on, which makes the work even more engaging.’
Our STEM Open Day this cycle will be taking place on 26 November 2026, with applications closing on 1 November. Apply via our website to find out more about the growing intersection between law and STEM!
