How To Research a Law Firm

If you’re applying for vacation schemes or training contracts, you’re expected to research law firms. Most candidates do but only a few do it well.

That’s not because they lack effort, but because they misunderstand what “research” actually means in a legal recruitment context. Reading the firm’s website, memorising a few practice areas, and dropping in a deal name is not research. It’s repetition.

Strong applications are not built on volume but on insight.

This guide shows you how to research a law firm in a way that:

• helps you understand what the firm actually does,

• gives you material you can use naturally in applications and interviews,

• and separates you from candidates who all sound the same.

If you want broader context on how this fits into the overall recruitment journey, you can explore our Application Process hub.

The 9-step law firm research framework

Use the framework below as a checklist, not a script. You don’t need everything for every application.

1. Practice area strengths

Start with what the firm is genuinely known for.

Look beyond broad labels like “full-service” and identify where the firm is strongest or most distinctive.

Where to look

• Chambers & Partners

• Legal 500

This tells you the type of work trainees are likely to see and helps you avoid vague statements about interest.

2. Recent deals or cases

Choose one or two matters that genuinely interest you. Don’t only list the deals but try to explain why this work matters to you.

Where to look

• Firm press releases

• LinkedIn firm updates

3. Clients and industries

Look at who the firm acts for and in which sectors. Patterns matter more than individual clients.

Where to look

• Firm website are usually segmented via sectors or insights pages

This allows you to link commercial awareness directly to the firm’s client base.

4. Culture and training style

This is where most candidates stay superficial. Look for how trainees are developed and how teams actually work.

Where to look

• Open days

• Law fairs

• Podcasts

• Future trainee LinkedIn posts

5. Social media presence

What a firm highlights publicly reveals priorities.

Where to look

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Firm newsletters

It shows what the firm cares about now, not just historically. You will notice some of them are rather active on social media, whilst others not so much.

6. Strategic direction

Think about where the firm is going, not just where it’s been.

Where to look

• Partner interviews

• Annual reports

• Merger or expansion announcements

This shows forward thinking and commercial awareness.

7. Training contract structure

Understand how the training contract actually works.

Where to look

• Graduate recruitment brochures

• Trainee Q&A pages

• Firm websites

This helps you explain why you’d thrive in that environment.

8. Key people and voices

Identify individuals speaking publicly about the firm’s work or culture.

• Partner interviews

• LinkedIn posts

• Podcasts

• Chambers profiles

9. Pro bono and CSR focus

Only use this if it genuinely aligns with you.

Where to look

• Pro bono pages

• Responsibility or ESG reports

This is powerful when it connects to personal values or experience.

How to turn research into strong application answers

Research is useless unless you can use it.

A simple test before submitting any answer:

• Could this be sent to another firm with minimal edits?

• Have I explained why this matters to me?

• Have I linked the firm’s work to my interests, skills, or experiences?

If not, the research hasn’t done its job.

Quick Referencing Research Table