2025
Dear Janine Arnold
During year 12, I attended webinars by a student network - Young Professionals - that introduced me to the practice of commercial law, and some of the big players in the industry. Following this, I took part in Clifford Chance’s ACCESS programme for sixth form students, and I had the chance to learn about the practice areas typical of city firms, and how these firms make their money.
I am drawn to learning about a variety of businesses and the way in which they maximise revenues, which is why I studied A-level Economics. At the same time, I enjoy reading and writing compellingly, which is why I chose to study a degree in Law. My experience at Clifford Chance demonstrated that commercial law can incorporate both, which is why I am motivated to secure a training contract at a commercial law firm.
I became interested in Slaughter and May after attending their event with Legal Cheek, and hearing about the firm’s supportive and collegiate environment from a partner at the firm - Gayathri Kamalanathan. Off the back of this event, I decided to research the firm’s service offerings, and I was drawn to the Corporate and M&A practice given the firm’s Chambers Band 1 ranking for £800 million+ M&A.
My personal interest in M&A stems from the number of departments that are usually involved in a Corporate deal, as I prefer working as part of a team. At the moment, I am President of [redacted] Commercial Awareness Society: I enjoy learning about exciting news stories, alongside a large and diverse team of editors. This experience assures me that I would enjoy a similar dynamic in an M&A team, and also provides me with skills in legal research and written communication.
Looking at why Slaughter and May is the leading adviser on Corporate work, I found through Law.com that the firm advises the largest number of FTSE100 companies, servicing a growth-oriented clientele that will constantly need authority on future transactions. This gives rise to work like Slaughter and May’s advice on the establishment of a £2.5 billion for Rolls-Royce, and doubling down on blue-chip clients will help the firm fend off US and Magic Circle competitors. A big draw of commercial law for me has been the potential to work on headline transactions just like these.
Taking part in Aspiring Solicitors’ Commercial Awareness Competition this year provided me with a renewed skill-set, which I believe puts me in good stead for a career in commercial law. Passing the initial stage required a constant attention to current business affairs, which I supplemented via daily readings of the Financial Times. During a semi-final stage at Mayer Brown, I got to present an argument for a fictitious real estate developer conducting an IPO, collaborating with a group of diverse talents, and negotiating the steps the developer should take to enhance financial performance. I am proud to have been part of the top 5% of 2,000 initial competitors to make it to this stage.
Thank you for reading over my interests in commercial law and the firm, and I look forward to hearing back.
Yours sincerely,
2024
Janine Arnold
Head of Trainee Recruitment
Slaughter and May
1 Bunhill Row London EC1Y 8YY
Dear Ms. Arnold,
I am a final year Classics student at [redacted] and I am writing to apply for the 2026 Training Contract intake at Slaughter and May. Having attended a Slaughter and May Employability Workshop with my university law society, I was encouraged to apply for this opportunity.
In terms of my motivations, an experience at a small law firm specialising in tech start-ups sparked my interest for a legal career. When performing the due diligence for a biotech start-up, the breadth of knowledge necessary for a successful legal career became clear to me. Also, given the firm’s entrepreneurial client pool, I relished the client-facing nature of my role and the importance of concise communication when dealing with complex ideas. Also, the emphasis placed on language and attention to detail really appealed to my enjoyment of analytical tasks. During my vacation scheme at [redacted], I built on my intellectual property experience at [redacted] during my Commercial and IP seat. I found the challenges of mitigating risk particularly enjoyable and when sitting in on a client meeting involving a data protection query, I noted the use of both case law and the business’ unique commercial situation to solve the client’s issues. This combination of theoretical and problem-solving skills echoes my motivations for the multifaceted nature of a legal career.
In terms of Slaughter and May specifically, the firm’s multi-specialist approach offers holistic personal and professional development. In my previous experience, the way in which different teams of a full-service firm collaborate has been one of my central attractions to commercial law. Hence, a greater understanding of how the firm’s different aspects fit together will lead to more rounded legal development. This, coupled with the mixture of client work and skills courses through the training contract, represents the training experience I strive for. Slaughter and May’s unique international approach is another area which attracts me. The efficiency of the firm’s ‘best friends’ network is shown through its consistently high-profile multijurisdictional work; this ability to excel internationally without the weighty cost of offices is testament to the firm’s dependable connections. In Slaughter and May’s more human-sized approach, I feel that I could foster genuine relationships throughout all four offices, leading to more efficient collaboration. A final point of difference which attracts me to the firm is its consistent innovation. When meeting the firm at the Legal Cheek Law Fair, I was alerted to their Fast Forward tech incubation programme. During my experience at [redacted], I gained an insight into the challenges which start-ups face and the nuances of legal-tech services such as smart-contracts and blockchain. Therefore, the firm’s commitment to entrepreneurship particularly resonated with me.
Finally, I have developed a range of skills which will bring me success during the Slaughter and May Training Contract. My role as Student Lead of my departmental Gender Equality Initiative has shaped my teamworking ability by putting me outside of my comfort zone. As the only undergraduate member of the team, I built relationships with senior colleagues, allowing for candid insights about staff GE culture. In turn, I grew the confidence to construct and circulate a staff survey, a large step in the team’s Silver Athena Swan application. My role as Vice-President of the Non-Law Into Law Society has also developed my creativity and leadership skills. Having been voted in democratically, there is an onus to take responsibility for the society’s success. I have taken initiative through my active approach to the commercial awareness newsletter and positive interaction with over 30 brands and businesses. A final skillset which I have developed is a strong level of written and oral communication. When performing a practice M&A case study during my experience at [redacted], I impressed with my ability to collate logical arguments and display them succinctly. In terms of written communication, my D1 score at English Pre-U and projected First Class degree show my analytical aptitude.
Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[redacted]
January 2023
Dear Ms Arnold,
I am a penultimate year law with business student at X university. I am writing to apply for the Slaughter and May Summer Work Experience Scheme.
As an avid debater, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of scrutinizing complex information and articulating arguments by critically analysing the intricacies of the issues. I was recognised as the best speaker in the International Singhania Model United Nations 2019. Participating in several such debating and negotiation competitions whilst studying business management during my IB, sparked my interest for commercial law. As a law and business student at university, I picked optional modules like contemporary legal issues in business management and European business context, where I focused on the practical applications of law in the commercial world.
During my first year, I attended several open days with leading law firms like; Covington & Burling, Shearman & Sterling, Davis Polk and Linklaters. Understanding the work of a commercial lawyer through the open days furthered my interest in the field. The work experience programme with Fieldfisher was what motivated me the most to pursue a career in commercial law. I sat through the negotiations of a sustainability linked interest rate, helped review a secured term-loan facility agreement, and worked on corporate authorisations, for the financing of an M&A deal. I was intrigued to learn how upcoming market trends can impact standard transactions. Simplifying complexities and dealing with the evolving nature of work fascinates me most to the role of a commercial solicitor.
My interest in pursuing a career at Slaughter and May was sparked when I worked on the Slaughter and May virtual work experience programme which motivated me to look into the firm’s practice areas. I found the firm’s ground-breaking work in the Corporate and M&A sector extremely commendable. The Lawyer Awards 2022 recognised them as the Corporate Team of the Year for their work on the £3.1 billion reorganisation of Daily Mail General Trust. As an M&A power house, the firm has been a trusted advisor to the most number of FTSE 250 clients as compared to any other law firm in the UK. Having participated in M&A workshops during Open Days and Virtual work experiences, I am well versed with the stages of an M&A transaction from negotiations, due diligence, to financing, and restructuring. The firm’s multi-specialist approach would enable me to assist on all these steps and not restrict my training to specific practices. The multi-specialist approach is truly beneficial, shown by the firm’s strong prowess in several different practice areas. It has secured a Band 1 and Tier 1 ranking from Chambers UK and Legal 500 respectively for its work in Banking and Finance, Insurance, Litigation and, Tax for two consecutive years. This makes it a truly full service firm and is quite attractive for an aspiring solicitor like myself who is motivated to achieve a well-rounded training programme.
I believe I would thrive in the firm’s commitment-focused, collaborative and diverse culture.
I contributed long hours leading several clubs and societies during high school and university. As the Marketing Head of Girl Up Singhania, I had created a work culture similar to that of Slaughter and May to incentivise members to provide better quality work. During a donation drive, aimed to help improve sanitation for children in orphanages, I designed a scheme where members would receive non-pecuniary benefits for bringing in higher number of collections instead of completing higher number of hours, much like the no-hours target approach that the firm employs. This policy enables lawyers to provide efficient and cost-effective service to its clients. I am also appreciative of the firm’s lock-step compensation model which commends loyalty and commitment. I have been passionate about music since childhood and I went on to learn and practice Indian classical music for 4 years. I am a truly committed individual and I take on opportunities with the motivation to achieve my fullest potential. I believe, this work ethic would be appreciated at Slaughter and May, a firm where long-standing relationships are valued and employee retention is important.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
2022
Slaughter and May
One Bunhill Road
London
EC1Y 8YY
Dear Mrs. Mel Binks
My name is [redacted] and I am a second year student at the University of Durham. I am writing to apply for a training contract at Slaughter and May.
Having carried out both legal and non-legal work experience, attended several open days and firm presentations and conducted substantial research into the profession, I am certain that I wish to pursue a career in commercial law. One of my primary reasons for this is because it offers the opportunity to work alongside talented and able individuals. I believe that this will be incredibly motivating, inspiring me to work to my best ability and continually develop my skills. Moreover, I enjoy my degree and therefore am eager to have a career connected with law which is engaging and intellectually stimulating. Additionally, through studying Economics at A-Level and keeping up-to date with financial news, I have developed a keen interest in current economic issues. Therefore I know that I would enjoy working in a commercially focused environment where my advice could have an impact on the decisions taken by the major companies who make up the client list. Furthermore, I am attracted by the international nature of much of the work undertaken by City law firms. I think that this would add a fascinating extra dimension to my work and be an ideal environment for developing my language skills. Above all, I believe that the work I will carry out as a commercial solicitor will be both interesting and rewarding.
I am applying to Slaughter and May because of its reputation for the highest quality work in an environment that is collegiate and congenial. Having carried out work experience at Bird & Bird and Travers Smith, I find both the size and focus of Slaughter and May very appealing. I believe that I will receive the best training at a City firm where I will have the opportunity to take on a large amount of individual responsibility in a multi-specialist environment in which I am not forced into a niche area of practice. The presentation by Slaughter and May at Durham University stood out and presented a very favourable image of a firm where lawyers take their work, but not themselves, seriously. In addition, I am drawn by Slaughter and May strategy of organic growth whilst other firms pursue mergers and international expansion. From my research, it seems clear that this approach has not stopped the firm from completing excellent cross-border work in cooperation with its international partners and has preserved the firm's friendly and supportive culture.
I believe that my experiences at university will ensure that I am well prepared for a career with a City law firm. My time management skills, organisational ability and interpersonal skills have been significantly improved by combining my academic studies with a position on Durham Law Society's executive committee and a part-time job.
I hope that you will consider interviewing me for a training contract at Slaughter and May. I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience
Yours sincerely,
[redacted name]
2021
Dear Mrs Mel Binks,
I am writing to apply for the 2019 summer work experience scheme at Slaughter and May.
Having been invited to a dinner at Slaughter and May for a few members of UCL’s Law Society Committee, I noticed a particularly strong camaraderie among both partners and trainees concentrated in a friendly, enthusiastic and thriving setting. One of the most encouraging and promising qualities I noticed at Slaughter and May was this strong collegiate atmosphere and I instantly drew a comparison to my experience at university.
What I most enjoy about studying law at UCL is this same family culture contained in the Law Faculty and the pride we take in having a wide variety of intelligent and independently minded students. This encouraged me to become involved in Law Faculty activities in addition to my academic degree.In particular, representing UCL in both Mooting and Debating has strongly developed my advocacy, research and problem-solving skills as well as providing me with significant experience of working as part of a team.
I am very proud to be a member of UCL’s Law Society Committee as the Speaker Secretary. Although I am personally responsible for all debating activities, the success of our society lies in the total responsibility given to each member and the fact we are all expected to go above and beyond our individual positions. This has meant I have been involved with everything from participating in pro bono charity events to organising the Christmas Ball. It is this ability to work in a team where your own individual talents are promoted which I believe is one of the most important strengths of Slaughter and May, and an area in which I would hope to flourish.
My employment experience has given me a first-hand understanding of working as part of a large business and appreciating that, although there may be many solutions to a problem, only one may be the most effective commercially. In the same way, Slaughter and May is driven by its clients and their commercial goals. Therefore, its success lies in this combination of individually intuitive teamwork with an understanding of broader business objectives. I believe I could contribute as an individual to the firm whilst also having an awareness of clients’ commercial needs.
I hope you consider me for a summer work experience placement.
Yours sincerely,
[redacted]
[Name]
Education
2016-2019 University College London LLB Law
First Year Upper Second-Class Honours
Public 70 – First
Property 67 – 2.1
Contract 63 – 2.1
Criminal 62 – 2.1-+
2011-2016 [redacted] School, London
A-Level - English (A*) Politics (A*) History (A)
AS-Level - Physics (A)
GCSE - English Literature (A*); English Language (A*); History (A*); Mathematics (A*); French (A*); Spanish (A*); Art (A*); Science Double Award (A*A*); Geography (A*)
Japanese One-Year Qualification (Distinction)
Legal Experience
Pinsent Masons LLP 06/06/18 – 10/06/18
- Selected for Pinsent Masons’ First Year Vacation Scheme, working at their Head Office in London.
- Received the highest mark on their Aptitude Test out of all Vacation Scheme students (testing attention to detail and document analysis) and placing me in the top 5% of students who have ever taken the test.
Matrix Chambers 21/10/16 –23/10/16
- Worked under Clare Montgomery QC analysing skeleton arguments and briefs for extradition cases.
- Gained first-hand experience with client negotiation and research prior to trial at the Supreme Court.
Lee & Thompson LLP 20/07/16 – 24/07/16
- Worked under partner Jeremy Gawade, analysing media contracts and clients’ commercial targets.
- Focused on using different legal means to efficiently meet a client’s business, as well as legal, concerns.
Employment
Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group 11/07/18 – 19/09/18
- Worked at the Odeon Richmond, and saw how a large international business works at a consumer level.
- Received an offer to work in the flagship Odeon on Leicester Square for exemplary customer satisfaction.
- As my father works in a commercial capacity in the film industry it was informative to be involved first hand in a front-line exhibition business, which relies on commercial film production and distribution for business.
Creativebrief 20/09/17 – 24/09/17
- Worked as a researcher at the marketing relations company Creativebrief at their offices in London.
- Sought out agencies in South Africa with which the company could build business relations.
- Greatly developed my research skills focusing on analysing companies’ commercial viability.
Achievements
UCL Laws Debating 2017-2018
- Won the finals of the internal Debating Competition and the annual debate against King’s College London.
- Elected as the Speaker Secretary for the Law Committee (highest single number of votes for any candidate).
UCL Laws Mooting 2017 – 2019
- Semi-finals of the Herbert Smith Mooting Competition and Simmons & Simmons Negotiating Competition.
- Won the annual Hogan-Lovells Cup against King’s College London and was awarded ‘Best Advocate’.
- One of four students across all years representing UCL in the London Universities Mooting Shield (LUMS).
- Top of the LUMS leader board , with wins over LSE and KCL and mooting in the Old Bailey and Supreme Court.
Expeditions 2016 – 2018
- Trekked in South Africa with the Wilderness Foundation and completed a home stay in Mabandla.
- Raised over £3,000 for guide training and completed a building project at a local school with my team.
- Organised an expedition to Fulufjället, Sweden, navigating for two weeks in a team of five without a guide.
Martial Arts 2004 – 2018
- Achieved a black belt, second Dan, in Shukokai Karate after eleven years of training, allowing me to teach.
- Solely instructed children’s classes of up to thirty and oversaw belt gradings of over 200 students of all ages.
- Aikido Captain at [redacted] School, raised over £2,000 for a trip to the International Championship in Kyoto.
Climbing 2012 – 2016
- Junior Test certified at the Westway Climbing Centre having trained for four years, specialising in Bouldering.
- Organised two trips to Fontainebleau, France, training in Bouldering with my climbing partners at Westway.
Responsibilities
Kaplan Team Debating Competition 27/09/18 – 24/01/18
- Organised a team debating competition for all years, securing sponsorship from Kaplan Law School.
- Hosted an ‘Introduction to Debating’ Workshop with James Wakefield, head of the Bar course at Kaplan.
- Secured over 100 competitors and negotiated to hold the final at Kaplan’s prestigious Caer Rhun Hall.
Magic Circle Debate 02/11/18
- Organised, promoted and chaired the annual UCL Magic Circle Debate open to all students at UCL.
- Secured representatives from all five magic circle law firms and Herbert Smith, attracting over 200 students.
- Organised a £2,000 reception following the debate to provide the largest networking event of the year.
UCL Muay Thai Society Committee 2017 – 2018
- Elected as the Equipment Secretary for the Muay Thai society, the largest martial arts society in UCL.
- Responsible for organising the society’s £2,500 budget to procure the necessary equipment for training.
- Organised inter-club competitions between LSE, KCL and Imperial, and compete as part of the UCL team.
2020
Dear Graduate Recruitment Team at Slaughter and May,
I am writing to apply for the Slaughter and May 2022 Training Contract. I initially became aware of this opportunity through the London Law Tour, which I attended last year. Further, having met the Graduate Recruitment Team at [university name] Law Fair, I have been eager to apply.
My career goal is to acquire a commercial solicitor role within Slaughter and May, specialising in either Corporate or Banking Litigation (I enjoyed working in these areas during my previous internship with [law firm]). Like commercial solicitors, I have the ability to remain commercially aware of current political, social and economic frameworks. I am an active user of LinkedIn and subscribe to ‘Finimize’ and ‘The Lawyer.' I also enjoy listening to podcasts such as The News Briefing, Business Daily, and The Economist whilst in the car on my way to university.
One of the main reasons I am applying for a training contract with Slaughter and May specifically, is due to how flexible your seat allocations are. The opportunity to select where to spend my final year of training is very appealing, and I already know that I would prefer Intellectual Property and Competition (I have chosen to specialise in these areas within my degree). Further, I believe that your approach to trainee supervision and guidance is unique. The chance to share an office with a partner/ associate during each seat will undoubtedly ensure that I will never feel intimidated or nervous to ask questions, or to seek help.
I am a member of the [university society] which has shaped my understanding of the key drivers behind business success, and how I, as a future lawyer can contribute. I enjoy the fact that the economic environment is constantly changing and that the most successful businesses are those which anticipate change and adapt their business accordingly- the rise of new technology such as artificial intelligence is pushing the legal sector in new directions, and I believe that Law Firms must adapt and innovate. Slaughter and May has already begun this, through creation of your Fast Forward Programme, which supports the work of UK-based technology entrepreneurs and innovators.
One of the major reasons I am applying to Slaughter and May, is because your approach to pro bono work parallels the volunteer work which I am currently involved in. Like Slaughter and May, I too act as an Ambassador for AMICUS LJ. I am the [name of university] Brand Ambassador, and part of my role is to promote the work that this charity does for those facing the death penalty in the USA. Although I have researched a variety of law firms in the past, Slaughter and May is one of the only firms I have found, which is proud to support Amicus. Additionally, I admire the firm’s Legal Essentials for Charities toolkit. At [university name], I am a dedicated member of the [name of programme]. This program involves educating school aged children on their legal rights, as well as how to positively get involved with the Law, through tailored workshops and information sessions. It appears that Slaughter and May has very similar values to me, in terms of where we believe we should utilise our legal skills for social impact.
Thank you for taking the time to read my cover letter; I am looking forward to receiving a response.
Yours Sincerely,