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The application cycle opens soon, and every event we run from here is a chance for you to get closer to a training contract.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring dozens of future trainees from different law firms, sharing exactly how they got there. If there’s a particular firm you’d like us to feature, let us know and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

First up on September 18 is Aneesa Williams, who secured multiple vacation schemes and is now a future trainee at Clifford Chance.

Join us as Aneesa walks through her background and route into law, how she approached applications and researched firms, and how she prepared for assessment centres and interviews.

The session will close with a live Q&A where you can ask Aneesa anything about her experience.

A Hong Kong court has ruled that the liquidators of Evergrande - a collapsed Chinese property developer - can legally pursue PwC for audit negligence (failure to properly examine the company's financial records). This legal pursuit can happen against the umbrella company PwC International and PwC’s Hong Kong / China affiliates. Specifically, close to $6 billion is being pursued against PwC by the liquidators.

Evergrande defaulted back in 2021, with around $300 billion in liabilities, and it was found that the company had fraudulently inflated its revenues in the years prior to this collapse. Whilst PwC’s Hong Kong / China affiliates have already paid out large sums to settle regulator claims due to staff that had concealed or condoned the stated fraud at Evergrande, the current Hong Kong ruling allows pursuit of PwC International now too.

Analysis

This is significant because a network structure of companies like the way PwC is arranged is purposefully done so to ensure national operations are kept separate, ensuring that liability arising from one jurisdiction does not affect the rest of the network. That has clearly not held up in this instance, and PwC International disagrees with the ruling, evaluating its legal options.

This could have consequences for PwC's UK and US operations, as PwC International does not hold significant assets, so mandated damages could mean the liability flows through to PwC’s UK/US operations.

What does this mean for the sector?

• Companies with a similar network structure, especially professional firms, will be reviewing this structure to see whether the planned legal separation holds up anymore

• This ruling increases the attractiveness of pursuing umbrella organisations like PwC in the future, since this gives liquidators and lenders a strong option in insolvency / business collapses

• International regulators may use this case to discuss the implications of network structures on audit quality

How to use in applications

Applications

1. Research for your applications

   Access over 20 law firm profiles, complete with breakdowns, seats, secondments, and other requirements.

2. How to research a law firm

   A 9-step law firm research checklist that shows you what to look for, where to find it, and how to use it.

3. Magic Circle Analysed Deals

   This breaks down recent transactions and explains how to move beyond simply mentioning a deal, towards demonstrating real commercial understanding and relevance.

4. Written Application Framework

   How to structure your answers, apply the rule of three and build a compelling narrative for your applications.

5. 15 Applications Sample Bundle

   15 real application answers samples from major firms along with an explanation of what worked and why

6. Securing a Vacation Scheme

   What to do if your efforts still aren’t converting, despite trying everything.

7. Application tracker, CV & Cover Letter Guidance

   Track your applications, access CV and Cover Letter templates, and more.

Psychometric Tests

1. Watson Glaser Cheat Sheet

   A clear breakdown of the key skills tested in critical thinking tests, along with where to practice, mistakes and red flags to watch out for.

Interviews

1. Commercial Awareness Starter Pack

   Guidance on how to develop your commercial awareness and a worked example showing what a strong answers looks like.

2. The Interview Question Bank

   Over 80+ interview questions asked by leading law firms.

3. Video Interview Guide

   Covering common formats, how firms assess answers, and how to communicate clearly and confidently on camera.

Work Experience

1. How to gain Legal Work Experience

   This covers six avenues you could explore to gain relevant legal work experience.

2. Virtual Work Experience

   Explore free virtual internships and DIY vacation schemes. Build real-world skills you can showcase on applications.

3. Opportunities in Law

   80+ opportunities across law firms, chambers, early-careers programmes and paralegal roles.

Studying

1. First Class LLB Notes

   Includes proven tips for managing time, revision, and exams.

2. First Class Problem Question Model Answer

   How to structure a problem question answer and showcase your legal reasoning.

3. Essay Structures

   Covers how to open with impact, write clearly and finish with a focused conclusion.

4. Oscola Referencing Cheat Sheet

   A simplified guide to OSCOLA referencing, covering how to cite cases, legislation, books, journal articles, and more.

Want a clearer route to securing a training contract?

The Future Trainee Academy brings the full recruitment process into one place, with guidance from a recruiter who assessed 10,000+ candidates and examples from future trainees at top firms.

It covers applications, interviews, assessment centres, and more. You’ll also get a certificate you can add to your CV and LinkedIn.

When you join, you will also gain access to the Watson Glaser Practice Hub where you can practise as much as you need to comfortably pass it!