Does it matter when I submit my training contract application?
updated on 26 November 2024
Dear Oracle
Does it matter if I wait until the deadline to submit my training contract application?
The Oracle replies
Reading time: two minutes
It’s important to complete your training contract application well before the law firm’s deadline for two reasons.
The first is to avoid the possibility of a technical problem making you miss the deadline. The second is that many law firms review training contract applications as soon as they come in or they review applications in the order that they were received, placing late applicants last in line for consideration.
The team at AllHires hears many agonising stories from candidates around training contract deadline time: “Many have missed the deadline, not completed applications fully or made mistakes. Often the reports we get are of a candidate's screen freezing, page not loading and/or internet connection dying, all at the last moment. By taking your time, and not writing an application in a last-minute rush before the deadline, these problems wouldn’t make you miss the deadline.
“We’re often asked, 'Can you reopen an application form for me to submit after the deadline?'. Law firms mostly say no to this. How would you feel if you and thousands of others had submitted on time, only to find out that firms were allowing candidates to submit past the deadline? There are exceptions but the overriding message is to submit on time to avoid disappointment.
“Another popular cry for help is, 'I spent so much time on this application in the weeks before the deadline, but I logged in to submit and missed the deadline'. We know it's frustrating, but if you're spending huge amounts of time on an application, it's worth logging in with plenty of time to preview your application form and to submit.
“If you’ve already submitted training contract applications, you can add supplementary information by logging in on the firm's application form homepage. For this, the message remains the same; don't wait until the last minute.
“So please don't make us (or, more importantly, you) sad by missing the deadline. There are many advantages to submitting well in advance."
There’s a perception that training contract applications submitted close to the deadline are often lower in quality than those completed early. Give yourself the best chance of securing a training contract by being organised and working on your applications well before the deadline.
