2025

Cover letter (I believe they said that it is recommended to keep it to 2 pages but it was just a textbox on their application portal. No PDFs involved.)

[Note: I didn't include my/the firm's address in the cover letter]

Dear Training Principal, 

I am a penultimate-year Law student at [Redacted] University, writing to apply for the Spring or Summer Vacation Scheme and 2027 Training Contract at Vinson & Elkins’ (V&E) London office. 

My desire to become a solicitor stems from my internship at [Redacted]. The dual-faceted nature of commercial law allowed me to combine my legal knowledge with the practical responsibility of aiding clients through creative and collaborative problem-solving. My exposure to these interactions gave me the ambition of working in an industry unique in its client relationships. This drive was further fuelled during an internship at [Redacted], where researching laws across jurisdictions deepened my interest in how legal frameworks mirror social and economic influences. As a globally-minded individual, commercial law's increasing international presence and the chance to work with a diverse range of people motivated me to pursue a career in the industry. 

I am motivated to pursue a career at V&E because of the firm’s reputation for excellence in capital markets. I first became interested in this practice area whilst working with the Finance team at [Redacted], creating one-pagers for clients on IPO regulations. Interested in law firms' role in transactions, I supplemented this curiosity with various similar virtual internship schemes on Forage. I am particularly interested in V&E’s practice because the firm works with high-profile clients across industries. As a career goal, I aspire to make a tangible difference in some of the headline-capturing deals I see in the news. The firm’s work with major banks such as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and others ensures that I will have the platform to combine my interest in capital markets and drive to make a difference in the global markets. 

Furthermore, I am interested in cross-border work for the firm. Growing up in Hong Kong and studying in the UK exposed me to two unique yet excellence-oriented cultures. With most of the firm’s work coming from the US, I would have the opportunity to work on complex cross-jurisdictional transactions. The opportunity to tackle complex multi-jurisdictional problems appeals to me, having had exposure to Hong Kong, English, and offshore law. The integrated approach at V&E would also allow me to work with colleagues from diverse cultures, something I have particularly enjoyed in my international upbringing. 

I am also interested in the firm’s bespoke training contract. Having heard from the firm’s trainees at the [Redacted] law fair, I find that the smaller trainee intake would allow me to interact closely with my peers and learn on the job whilst receiving feedback from senior lawyers. At [Redacted], I became accustomed to working in slim teams, directly providing support to partners and associates. As the point person for support, I enjoyed taking accountability for my work and began to crave greater responsibility. Additionally, the non-rotational seats in the second year of the training contract would allow me to see cases out to the end, ensuring satisfaction in my work. As someone who relishes responsibility and constructive feedback, I believe V&E's bespoke training contract aligns with my career development aspirations and drive to engage with complex client work. 

I believe I have developed a foundation of the key skills required to succeed as a V&E trainee. Tenacity and determination are crucial skills in any industry, not least one with the inherent pressures from deadlines and client expectations in commercial law. When serving as captain of my under-18 football team, I suffered an ACL injury which set me out for the majority of the season. Despite setbacks during my recovery period, I diligently attended physiotherapy sessions and attempted to find satisfaction in other areas of my life, other than sport. Through my determination, I was able to recover a month before predicted and managed to guide the team to an unprecedented victory in the under-18 league and cup competitions. 

Throughout my internships at various law firms, I have been required to consistently pay attention to detail. At [Redacted], I amended and proofread the articles of association of a strata corporation that was liquidating and creating a new corporation with updated clauses. I noticed that various clauses would prove unnecessary because of the new structure of the corporation and highlighted these to my supervisor. My attention to detail led to the new articles being a completely accurate depiction of the corporation, and saved the client potential liability for clauses that were unnecessary. My awareness of the bigger picture of my work means I remain concentrated on seemingly rote tasks. 

A genuine passion for and interest in commercial law lays the foundation for a successful career. Over the Summer of 2024, I took part in three commercial law internships, demonstrating my desire to work in the industry. Also, in October, I founded a commercial news website, which provides students with the commercial awareness required to succeed in interviews. In doing so, I regularly research and write on financial trends and commercial issues, demonstrating my commitment to going the extra mile to stay updated on industry trends. Moreover, having established the website with a partner, it has since grown to a team of ten writers and 400 followers, demonstrating my entrepreneurial spirit. In honing my organisational skills, I presently oversee the editing and publishing for five legal-based writers. 

Moreover, at a firm like V&E, where only the most challenging projects are taken on, problem solving skills are necessary. I founded my secondary school's first environmental awareness club, where I led a data-driven approach to tackle the school's low recycling rate. After conducting observations, surveys and focus groups, I coordinated with school leadership and oversaw the strategic repositioning of recycling bins in line with foot traffic. This led to overall increased recycling rates and greater environmental awareness at the school. In completing this initiative, I identified a problem, led a research based approach to finding its case, and diligently solving it, leading to greater sustainability at my school. I firmly believe that the capabilities outlined above demonstrate my suitability for the Vacation Scheme at V&E.

Thank you for considering my application. 

Yours sincerely,

2025

Training Principal

Vinson & Elkins

20 Fenchurch Street

London, EC3M 3BY

Dear Training Principal,

I am currently a penultimate year law student at UCL who is incredibly passionate about all aspects of commercial law. With the critical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills I have honed through various experiences, I believe I am the ideal candidate to become a trainee solicitor at Vinson & Elkins. 

My internship at Prime Solicitors solidified my decision to pursue a career as a commercial solicitor because I gained a genuine understanding of how the dynamic business landscape and economic factors we see at work daily interact with the law, which I already had a passion for. During this internship, I analysed an indemnity agreement and drafted a letter of negotiation for a client whose signature was forged to secure a federal loan for international investment. This exposed me to the exciting nature of multi-jurisdictional legal work in a corporate context. At a firm like Vinson & Elkins, which combines sector expertise with American BigLaw in London, and has 12 offices worldwide, I will be guaranteed the opportunity to continuously engage with similarly dynamic and impactful cases spanning several jurisdictions.

I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work at Vinson & Elkins because of its strong reputation in the Oil and Gas sector, which heavily relies on other major practice areas for its success. In turn, training at the firm guarantees me the opportunity for global and significant exposure regardless of the practice area, as many of the firm’s deals combine a variety, such as banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and several others. The interaction between various practice areas on a large scale, highly appeals to me because of the work I was exposed to during my recent vacation scheme at Sidley Austin. During this vacation scheme, I sat in the Competition team and prepared a presentation for both the London and Brussels Competition teams on the state of the Digital Markets Act which focused on the ongoing appeals by several key companies listed under the Act, helping both teams, across two different countries, better understand its current trajectory. In addition to this, I prepared a comprehensive research document for a client on the law on product safety liability in the UK as well as in the EU. This experience gave me a deeper insight into the way various practice areas cooperate seamlessly across jurisdictions, and I am keen to explore this further at Vinson & Elkins, where this cooperation occurs on such a significant scale.

The firm’s recent role in advising Equinor in the US$ 1.2 billion sale of its Nigerian subsidiary to Chappal Energies, highly stands out to me. Chappal Energies is an ESG-centred company focused on unlocking latent value in Africa’s oil and gas resources. With my Nigerian background, I fully understand the significance of this transaction in strengthening Nigeria’s key infrastructure. As oil is the country’s largest export, such projects are crucial to its economy which has recently been under significant pressure. I am eager to contribute to similar transformative matters that shape the commercial landscape in emerging markets.

Currently, I serve as the Social Secretary of the UCL Law Society, where I have been responsible for coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the smooth execution of social events throughout the academic year. This role has provided me with relevant negotiation experience and allowed me to hone my critical thinking skills. I came up with practical solutions to budgeting, which led to a £13,000 budget surplus and a profit of £9,180, the highest in the society’s history. This success allowed for a 20% reduction in the cost of tickets for UCL Law contextual offer holders.

I also possess excellent attention to detail. I employed this skill during my internship at Prime Solicitors where I analysed 11 audit reports to identify any potential discrepancies. In comparing the figures and summaries of each report, I discovered abnormal similarities which after a discussion with my supervisor and further investigation into the accounts, were deemed to be evidence of fraud by the auditors of the bank suing the firm’s client. This discovery was used as part of the foundation for the client’s case.

Furthermore, I am the founder of The Iwájú Welfare Foundation in Nigeria which provides underprivileged children with essential support, including food donations, educational sponsorship, and healthcare insurance. We currently work with an orphanage that houses 243 children. This experience has taught me how to navigate complex challenges and develop sustainable solutions to benefit communities in need.

Moreover, as the Secretary General of Model United Nations at my sixth form, I concretely developed my communication skills through drafting and refining resolutions, ensuring they were clear, persuasive, and addressed the concerns of all parties involved. The communication skills I developed in this position led me to win Best Delegate at two inter-school competitions. I have continued to utilise and develop my communication skills through debating, winning both the UCL x Manchester InterVarsity Debating Competition and the UCL x HSF ESG Debating Competition.

The unique training structure at Vinson & Elkins also highly appeals to me. Trainees being given the opportunity to assist in multiple practice areas at once, as opposed to only working in distinct seats, aligns with my desire to experience a wide variety of work across various practice areas, which would help me build a solid foundation that will undoubtedly be beneficial regardless of what seat I qualify in.

I am confident that my skills and experiences will be an asset to the firm, and I would be honoured to contribute to its continued success.

Thank you for considering my application. 

2023

Word limit was no more than 2 sides of A4 paper

Vinson & Elkins LLP

20 Fenchurch Street

London

EC3M 3BY 

Dear Vinson & Elkins Training Principal,

I want to join V&E because of its excellent training, culture and record of working on the most interesting international transactions and disputes. For instance, I was impressed by V&E’s role in advising funds managed by Apollo in connection with the purchase of 11 LNG vessels from New Fortress Energy (NFE) for $2 billion for a new joint venture led by Apollo, with a minority stake held by NFE. The opportunity to work in a cross-border, multi-disciplinary team on market-leading transactions is a key reason why I want to join V&E. I found this transaction interesting as investment in LNG infrastructure is only likely to accelerate as Europe decouples its energy supply from Russia, with the US and Middle East being well-placed to benefit from this change. V&E’s highly rated Energy Transactions and Projects (ETP) team, and its presence in the US, London and Middle East, puts the firm on a good footing to secure the most complex and engaging transactions and disputes in this area.

Vinson & Elkins’s strength across several practice areas appeals to me. The London office is also recognised for the performance of its International Dispute Resolution and Arbitration team. I am eager to work on the most intellectually demanding and unprecedented matters. I was intrigued by the firm’s role advising Total Oil UK and Total E&P North Sea UK on their successful appeal concerning their tax filings. This dispute stood out because the implications of the decision for the concept of just and reasonable UK tax demonstrate how the firm is at the forefront of legal developments.

The most interesting transactions and disputes take place on a global scale. I have enjoyed collaborating with an international team of students at a start-up delivering impartial analysis on geopolitics. I want to continue working with colleagues across the world, which is why S&C’s strategically chosen global network of offices appeals to me. Training at V&E is exciting because its international secondment is a chance to confront new challenges, experience different cultures and meet new people.

Working across borders and practice areas requires collaboration. Building long-standing relationships is essential to clients and to the growth of a firm. Teamwork has been important in my work and committee roles. I want to train V&E because as it has a close-knit team reflecting the collegial culture of the firm. The series of webinars I host with [organisation], are at their most fruitful when my guest speakers (prominent authors from across Europe) discuss pertinent issues from different perspectives. V&E provides the opportunity to continue working in a diverse team, which specialises in finding innovative solutions to novel situations. 

Alongside studying for my master’s degree, I work as a [occupation]. A fulfilling aspect of this role is enabling clients to secure funding invest in communities. The legal sector will be central to guiding businesses through this period of unprecedented change and global economic uncertainty by securing investment. The firm’s growing corporate and M&A team is well-suited to help their clients navigate today’s challenges. A career at V&E would allow me to act as both legal and business advisor to find solutions that have a real, positive impact on clients and their sectors. 

I believe V&E would offer me the best training. The small trainee cohort allows for more tailored training and the ability to work alongside and receive feedback from senior associates and partners.   I find that I learn and progress quicker when I can get stuck in and take on responsibility, an entrepreneurial attitude V&E encourages. The firm takes a more generalist approach to training with its semi-rotational program, which is attractive to me because I want to fully understand the problems I am solving, rather than being siloed to one aspect of a matter. I am applying to V&E because it is a growing firm that provides an interesting training structure and the chance to take on the most challenging and high stakes matters from the outset.

Yours faithfully,

2023

Dear Mr Nealon,

Having attended the Vinson & Elkins (“V&E”) stand at Legal Cheek’s November Law Fair, I gained an introductory insight into the culture and unique qualities of the firm. This established a great desire to gain a more detailed and thorough understanding of the opportunities, support, and career progression that the firm offers to its trainees. Therefore, please accept this cover letter and enclosed information as application for the V&E vacation scheme commencing in 2022.

I am increasingly motivated to pursue a career in commercial law due to my legal extra-curriculars which have given me a greater understanding of the nature of the work undertaken by commercial lawyers. So far, I have completed two Virtual Programmes where I explored white-collar defence and corporate law more generally. I consolidated information from various documents into single summary pages and drafted emails tailored to supervisors and clients. In the second programme, I also gained insights into project finance, banking, and litigation and arbitration. I was intrigued by the multi-jurisdictional aspect of corporate law, particularly when exploring how lenders can mitigate counterparty credit risk when undertaking project finance transactions in emerging markets. I enjoyed these snapshot exposures to commercial law, which further developed my interest in international and issue-related cases, both areas which I believe a career at V&E would enable me to explore.

V&E stands out to me because of its commitment to its warm, Texan sensibility which uniquely combines with its excellence across complex areas of law. Associate, Afzaal Abidi, highlighted that this rare combination leads to a supportive, high-performing atmosphere which goes to the heart of the firm’s culture. It also enables a route to authenticity allowing individuals to be people, as well as lawyers. As an ambitious elite rower who prises symbiotic teamwork to achieve personal and collective goals, I am keen to work in an environment that aligns with these values, and I believe V&E is singularly placed to achieve this.

I am also drawn to the global nature of the work available at V&E, highlighted by partner, Alex Msimang, who emphasised the consistent challenges of enabling every client from jurisdictions around the globe to understand and benefit from deals. The high calibre of worldwide expertise is reflected in the firm’s ranking within the Global Investigations Review 100. Impressively, this independent guide to the world’s best firms for international investigations has ranked V&E every year since its inauguration in 2015. This appeals to me as I thrive on challenges, which is a skill I have honed over time in response to difficult situations, such as achieving excellent academic results despite caring for a critically ill younger sibling.

I am further interested in V&E because of its expertise in the energy sector. Having worked at BP plc (a client of V&E), I am eager to explore how the firm interacts with its clients in the energy industry and how it is also developing its practice alongside the transition to green energy. The firm’s recognition as “Energy Group of the Year”, by Law360 from 2010 to 2020 is a great testament to their impressive work in this industry. Recent evidence of this is the firm’s involvement in Osaka Gas’ acquisition of Sabine Oil & Gas, the first time that a Japanese company has purchased a US-based shale gas developer. The success of this transaction is seen in its recognition as “Best Oil and Gas Acquisition – Upstream” by IJInvestor in their 2020 Acquisition Awards. Considering this alongside COP26 highlights the difficulties of balancing energy security with environmental and business sustainability, and I am keen to see how the firm adapts to this changing environment and, as a result, the needs of their clients.

Furthermore, the firm’s dedication to diversity is hugely appealing. As a woman with [redacted African country] and [redacted Asian country] heritage, it is important for me to join a firm that actively seeks to prevent discrimination and promote diversity of thought. This not only enables more creative solutions to problems, but also helps to foster a more comfortable working environment. V&E’s commitment to diversity and inclusion (“D&I”) is clear through their compulsory D&I training for juniors, associates, and partners as well as affinity groups including the Women’s Initiative and LGBTQ+ alliance. As of October 2021, 17% of the firm’s trainees were ethnically diverse, and I am eager to see how that translates to partner level in the future.

The firm’s small, non-rotational seat system is also hugely appealing. The possibility of working on matters from beginning to end ensures trainees can experience the different stages of a deal and understand how transactions are structured in greater holistic detail. By working in smaller teams, a more collegial environment can be fostered promoting a more productive work environment, thus enabling the firm to provide clients with timely and innovative solutions. The strength of this system was evident during “An Evening with V&E” event, where Nadine Amr confirmed that it directly correlated to the high quality of training that she received at V&E along with other trainees.

Working as a director at [redacted organisation which works to improve access to law] has reinforced my motivation to be part of a small team. I was an integral part of a team seeking to innovate the well-established negotiation competition format with an additional client interview element. Preparing for this developed my emotional intelligence and social skills as well as reinforcing my entrepreneurial mindset, all key skills for lawyers who must adapt and grow to provide a greater client service. This role has also enabled me to maintain my commercial awareness, as I regularly contribute to the network newsletter, summarising current news and assessing its relevance to the legal industry. This is a particularly important skill for lawyers as it allows them to keep abreast of issues that could affect clients, enabling them to give more relevant advice.

In addition to the above, I am confident I would be suited to being a commercial lawyer because of my resourcefulness and research skills. I further developed these skills working at [redacted retail company], as a marketing assistant where I took the initiative to teach myself to use graphic design software and technology monitoring broad-spectrum customer demographics, enabling me to work with managers to better provide for client needs. This required a strong analytical ability to retain and understand new information quickly, a crucial skill when working in fast-paced legal environments where clients expect both speed and quality in the solutions offered to them.

My passion for corporate law and my subsequent pursuit for a career at V&E has been greatly developed by my legal and non-legal work experiences. Moreover, my positions of responsibility such as being Health Secretary of [redacted society at Russell Group university] in 2020-21 and being elected as Secretary of [redacted Russell Group university] University Boat Club twice between 2019-2021, highlights my desire for greater responsibility and the ability to contribute to executive decision-making. My role involved organising logistics with rowing coaches and other sports staff, where I learned to vocalise various issues succinctly and professionally, a vital attribute for lawyers.

As someone who thrives on learning and development, I hope the above demonstrates my desire to work at a firm which corresponds with my ambition and to recognise my ability to thrive within it. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,