📩 The approach that got 5 vacation scheme offers

Hey

Most candidates apply to as many firms as possible and hope something sticks.

Rachael Ward took a different approach, and walked away with five vacation scheme offers.

On 17 July at 12:00, Rachael is joining us to share exactly how she approached the process, what she did differently, and the thinking behind her decisions.

She'll cover why applying only to firms you genuinely like produces stronger applications, how to be specific in a way that actually lands with recruiters, and why firms aren't looking for candidates who already know everything.

We're recruiting our next group of EOC Campus Ambassadors for 2026/27. We are looking for students who will help us make career opportunities fairer by reaching more people on their campus.

As an ambassador, you'll bring EOC to your university, connect us with students and societies, work directly with our team, and be recognised and rewarded for the impact you make.

We’re looking to partner with law societies across the UK to provide members with free access to practical resources, events, and support designed to improve their chances of securing more opportunities.

This includes:

• Exclusive events with former graduate recruiters and future trainees, run specifically for your society/university;

• The Future Trainee Academy, including application frameworks, interview prep, assessment centre guidance;

• Unlimited Watson Glaser practice through our dedicated hub,

• and much more.

If you’re a part of a law society committee and would be interested in exploring a partnership, please fill out the form below.

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.

Ari Emanuel, a highly wealthy American business man, is in talks to acquire an international theatre group called ATG Entertainment for £4.5 billion through his media venture called Mari Group. At the moment, ATG is owned by a private equity firm called Providence that had itself acquired ATG for £350 million in 2013.

ATG Entertainment owns 70 venues across the UK, US, and Europe, having strongly recovered profits from pandemic-era closures. This includes popular West End theatres like the Lyceum and the Savoy, as well as major Broadway theatres in the US. The Mari Group was founded last year with $2 billion of equity, backed by institutional investors like asset management company Apollo.

Analysis

This deal reflects a novel recognition of live experiences as an asset class. As opposed to other entertainment options like streaming that is subject to audiences preferring film or television, live performances are resistant to digital substitution because of the unique experience they provide. More specifically, ATG Entertainment has built up established audiences and long-running productions that ensure a reliable source of profits.

The fact that Providence, the current PE owner of ATG, has held onto the group for over a decade even though PE investments tend to be exited within 5 - 7 years, attests to the consistent profits and returns that ATG has netted.

What does this mean for the sector?

• This deal signals a growing institutional appetite for live entertainment assets, an asset class that has been historically undervalued compared to media and sport

• Providence’s significant private equity exit, with substantial returns on its initial £350 million investment, encourages further buyouts of theatre groups

• UK policy may have to tackle the foreign ownership of iconic West End venues, delving into whether these venues may be considered heritage assets due to their long histories

How to Use This In Applications

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 Practise Hub where you can practise as much as you need to comfortably pass it!