How Do I Prepare for a Training Contract or Vacation Scheme Interview?

Key facts

The specifics, before the explanation.

• Most City and large regional firms fill the majority of training contracts through vacation schemes; direct training contract applications are a smaller route
• Application windows for winter 2026 and spring and summer 2027 schemes mostly close between October 2026 and January 2027
• The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is now the standard route; firms typically fund SQE preparation and exams for future trainees
• Interviews commonly include a Watson Glaser critical thinking test, a case study on a business scenario and a partner interview
• The Legal Services Board and SRA require firms to reasonably adjust assessments, so disclose any adjustment needs early

What this actually means

Commercial awareness is what separates candidates at the interview stage, because by then everyone has the grades. Pick two or three live stories you can discuss properly: a merger, a regulatory change, an interest rate move, a tech company dispute. For each, know what happened, who the parties were, what the legal work would involve, and how it affects the firm's clients. A partner will push beyond the headline, so one story you understand deeply beats five you skimmed.

Motivation questions need specifics. "Why this firm" should reference practice areas, a deal they ran, their training structure or an office you want, not their website values. "Why law" should connect to something you did: a vacation scheme, a pro bono clinic, a mooting competition, a part-time job in a solicitor's office. Firms are alert to candidates applying to 30 firms with the same answer.

Case studies test how you think under time pressure. Read the whole document before writing, identify the client's commercial goal, list the legal and practical issues, and give a recommendation. You are not expected to know the law in detail; you are expected to be structured and to notice the risks.

Rehearse the partner interview out loud with someone who will interrupt you. Partner interviews are conversational and probing, and candidates who have only prepared written answers often lose the thread when asked "and why does that matter to the client?". Practising the follow-up is what makes the difference.

What to actually do

Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.

• Choose three current commercial stories and prepare each to partner-level depth: parties, legal work, client impact
• Write firm-specific "why this firm" answers that name a practice area, a recent matter and a training feature
• Practise a case study under time pressure using a real annual report or news story and give a recommendation
• Rehearse your answers out loud with a friend playing a partner who interrupts with "why does that matter?"
• Track winter, spring and summer scheme deadlines in one calendar; most close between October and January

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a training contract without a vacation scheme?

Yes, but it is the smaller route at most large firms. Smaller and regional firms, in-house teams and the SQE apprenticeship route offer alternatives.

Do I need a law degree?

No. Non-law graduates are widely recruited and the SQE route no longer requires the GDL, although many firms still fund a conversion course.

How much commercial awareness is enough?

Enough to discuss a story for five minutes with follow-up questions. Depth on a few stories beats breadth across many.

Sources

Referenced for this guide:

• SRA: Solicitors Qualifying Examination