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📩 You’re closer to an offer than you realise

📩 You’re closer to an offer than you realise

This is your sign to keep going.

Alin George Ilinca
December 14, 2025

Hey there

If you’re reading this, you’re not someone who lacks ability.

You’ve prepared and you’ve applied. You’ve shown up to the events, researched firms, rewritten answers, and still — nothing has landed yet.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re in one of the most competitive recruitment process in the UK.

Strong candidates don’t always get through on the first, second, or even third attempt. This is not because they lack ability, but because success depends on multiple filters working together: written applications, psychometric tests, interviews and assessment centres. You can be good at three and still fall at one.

What separates candidates who eventually succeed isn’t luck, but how they respond at this stage.

High-potential candidates don’t give up. They look for leverage. They use every available resource to improve their odds.

That’s exactly what we exist for: to support you across applications, tests, interviews, and assessment centres, so that your effort finally converts.

If you’re serious about this career and willing to take every opportunity available, the next step is simple. Sign up to our platform and get access to everything that helps strong candidates move forward:

📄Research for your applications
Access over 20 law firm profiles, complete with breakdowns, seats, secondments, and other requirements.
💼 Virtual Work Experience
Explore free virtual internships and DIY vacation schemes. Build real-world skills you can showcase on applications.
📚 Studying
First Class LLB Notes, Problem Question Model Answers, Essay Structures and more tips to ace your degree.
✍️ Application Writing & Tests
Application tracker, CV & Cover Letter guidance, psychometric tests guidance, interview answering guidance and more.
🏆 Personal Development
Resources to boost your confidence, communication, and professional skills.

14 December 1895 — Birthday of King George VI, who succeeded the throne when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. See 11 December.

15 December 1974 — Motorways Traffic (Speed Limit) Regulations 1974 came into effect. It established new speed limits, 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on all other roads.

16 December 1689 — Bill of Rights given Royal Assent. It placed limitations on the Monarch’s power, affirmed several rights for the subjects and emphasised the importance of free elections for Parliament members.

17 December 1903 — The Wright Brothers made the first successful sustained flight in an airplane. As a result, several years later, the Air Navigation Act 1920 was passed, which gave the British government the authority to control air navigation.

18 December 1998 — The Scotland Act 1998 came into effect. It established the Scottish Parliament, how Scotland was governed and represented a substantial devolution of powers from the UK Parliament.

19 December 1984 — Britain and China signed an agreement in Beijing, in which Britain agreed to transfer full sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

20 December 2018 — Civil Liablity Act 2018 came into effect. It made provisions about whiplash claims and the personal injury discount rate.

By Dylan Anton, Future Trainee @ Clifford Chance

Two interesting stories worth considering this week:

1) Partner Only Law Firm: Pierson Ferdinand

The Update

Pierson Ferdinand is a fully-remote law firm, founded in the US in 2024. This was the largest law firm launch to happen in the US, and only consisted of partners joining the firm.

How is this possible? Pierson Ferdinand is a ‘tech-enabled’ law firm, which means more junior level staff like associates are replaced by generative AI tools like Harvey. This involves the completion of first drafts and more admin-heavy work like due diligence.

The Implications

The biggest upside of this ultra-lean law firm model for fee-earners at the firm is financial. Due to the lack of overheads and labour costs, the firm is able to pay its partners very generously (even more so than places like Kirkland or Paul Weiss)

What does this mean for the business and competitors?

Partners at Pierson Ferdinand will have to be highly capable at driving business relationships
AI is being pushed to its maximum potential here - this is a good test case
The law firm pay war will only be further accelerated by this development
Other law firms will have to critically assess their business model on the basis of cost

How to Use This

In interviews, an increasingly common topic is that of the contrasting UK and US law firm business models. Bringing in this firm might allow for you to argue in favour of a UK-preferred approach which moves away from this sort of business model, or alternatively a US-preferred approach which is moving in this direction. Think about what value associates can bring that AI cannot.

2) Federal Reserve Rate Cut

The Update

The US’ central bank, the Federal Reserve, has cut interest rates by 0.25% to 3.5 - 3.75%. Three of the twelve Fed official voters were against the cut, a substantial disagreement. Whilst the cut still went ahead, this represents the core tension between tackling a weak job market and high inflation.

In terms of how lower rates help with a weak job market, businesses are able to borrow more when they have to pay back in interest, which allows them to hire more people and expand. However, lower rates also means normal consumers spend more money as products like mortgages and credit cards become more accessible, which leads to greater inflation (known as demand-pull inflation).

The Implications

Trump is a heavy critic of the Fed Chair - Jerome Powell - for being conservative with rate cuts. To Trump, more aggressive rate cuts (he wanted a 0.5% cut this time around) means a stronger economy. Stimulating economic growth in the short term is more politically preferable.

What are the implications of this rate cut?

The price of shares and bonds experienced a strong upward movement following the rate cut
Future rate cuts are unlikely in the short-term according to Powell
Inflation in the US is going to fall at a slower rate due to this cut
Consensus is fragile in the Federal Reserve, in light of the largest voting dissent since 2019

How to Use This

These rate cuts represent a 3-year low, so it is important to consider in your applications or interviews how low rates affect businesses. Similarly, consider whether rates will continue to fall (in line with Trump’s preference), or whether rates might instead rise again to meet other policy objectives like tackling a high inflation rate.