Applying to White & Case? ABC, 2:1 Non RG.

[Optimistic1111]

Hi all,

I was looking onto to find a kind of academic profile for white & case trainees. From what I have seen on LinkedIn, it appears that associates who work at the firm and are Non RG are only considered if they have obtained a first.

I have a range of grades in my uni degree during my first year which were 2:2, 2:1, for the penultimate year it was 2:1 and then for my last year it was high 2:1s and 1sts.
I graduated with a high 2:1 (68%).

During my a levels & uni I had a range of mitigating circumstances which impacted me: I broke my back at university which meant I had to take 2 years out to recover, I grew up in foster care from the age of 8 and had to work full time hours in jobs throughout my A Levels & University to support myself.

Presently I am completing my LLM at RG uni and striving to graduate as high as I can. Additionally, I am completing my remaining LPC exams at BPP.

Is it worth me applying or will I most likely be rejected?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi @Optimistic1111

First of all, I wanted to say that I really admire the resilience you’ve shown — juggling full-time work, facing serious health challenges, and navigating the foster care system and managing a solid academic record is truly impressive. The fact that you’ve achieved a high 2:1 in your final year and now completing your LLM speaks a lot about your determination and focus, which I think many firms (including White & Case) will absolutely take notice of. Make sure to mention all of this in your mitigating circumstances section, because it will be taken into account when assessing your application.

I don't think anyone can say at the outset whether your application is more likely to be rejected. Recruiters are not nearly as stringent about any particular requirement as you might initially think. Firms are increasingly moving towards a more holistic assessment of candidates. While academic performance is still considered, many firms, including those in the Magic Circle and US firms in London, look beyond grades and recognise the value of life experiences and applicants' own personal growth. In fact, I know trainees with similar journeys to yourself who are thriving at these firms, so please don’t let concerns about grades hold you back—your resilience and performance to date will count for a lot. I would still encourage you to apply to White & Case despite what you've seen or heard so far based on your initial research. At the same time, I'd also say that it's important for any candidate to apply to a wider range of firms. This is because applicants can sometimes overlook other firms that offer supportive cultures and great training programmes.

I think the key thing to remember here is that most firms want well-rounded candidates, and there’s room to bring your unique background to the table. Keep going! The worst thing that happens is you get rejected, but that's very much an important part of learning how to write good and convincing applications. In the end, I have no doubt you’ll find a firm that recognises your hard work and potential. Best of luck!

 

[Optimistic1111]

Hi @Optimistic1111

First of all, I wanted to say that I really admire the resilience you’ve shown — juggling full-time work, facing serious health challenges, and navigating the foster care system and managing a solid academic record is truly impressive. The fact that you’ve achieved a high 2:1 in your final year and now completing your LLM speaks a lot about your determination and focus, which I think many firms (including White & Case) will absolutely take notice of. Make sure to mention all of this in your mitigating circumstances section, because it will be taken into account when assessing your application.

I don't think anyone can say at the outset whether your application is more likely to be rejected. Recruiters are not nearly as stringent about any particular requirement as you might initially think. Firms are increasingly moving towards a more holistic assessment of candidates. While academic performance is still considered, many firms, including those in the Magic Circle and US firms in London, look beyond grades and recognise the value of life experiences and applicants' own personal growth. In fact, I know trainees with similar journeys to yourself who are thriving at these firms, so please don’t let concerns about grades hold you back—your resilience and performance to date will count for a lot. I would still encourage you to apply to White & Case despite what you've seen or heard so far based on your initial research. At the same time, I'd also say that it's important for any candidate to apply to a wider range of firms. This is because applicants can sometimes overlook other firms that offer supportive cultures and great training programmes.

I think the key thing to remember here is that most firms want well-rounded candidates, and there’s room to bring your unique background to the table. Keep going! The worst thing that happens is you get rejected, but that's very much an important part of learning how to write good and convincing applications. In the end, I have no doubt you’ll find a firm that recognises your hard work and potential. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for the support!

 

[yasmars]

I have the exact same a levels as you and asked w&c the same question. Their response was really positive. You should go for it and you have mitigating circumstances to support your application

 

[AlarmedBookkeeper448]

Just coming to echo what @yasmars has said above as I have similar grades
Apply to law firms with the same audacity they use when they reject our applications

 

[yasmars]

Just coming to echo what @yasmars has said above as I have similar grades
Apply to law firms with the same audacity they use when they reject our applications

LOVE this response haha!