Case Study: White & Case – From ABB at A‑Level to a $234k Training Contract
- hassan2990
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 7
At a Glance
95% offer‑rate benchmark; 24 months to contract; Frameworks: STAR‑3™, PEAL‑3™
NQ salary track: $234k; projected lifetime uplift £4m+
Before
International graduate from a non‑target; four cycles of rejections; no structured network.
After
White & Case Vacation Scheme converted to Training Contract on $234k NQ track; confidence 4 → 9/10.
Problem
Jack came from a Ugandan background, held IB 34 (ABB), and studied Law at a non‑target UK university. Despite a first‑class degree, four years of rejections followed: elite US outfits never granted interviews. With acceptance rates under two percent, even minor narrative flaws are punished. Brand coherence was missing, the network was dormant, and the TC maze felt impenetrable. Imposter syndrome compounded the problem.
A complete strategy overhaul was required to rival Oxbridge peers and command partner‑level attention.
Solution
Re‑positioned profile with bespoke legal narrative; irrelevant roles removed → screen‑score +35pp.
Redrafted 8 applications per firm (≈ 320 edits each) with PEAL‑3™, PEAL‑X™,→ 80% screening pass‑rate.
20 HireVue & partner mocks → 90% first‑round pass‑rate; vocal gravitas marked “partner‑ready.”
Result
Within 24 months Jack converted a White & Case Vacation Scheme to a Training Contract on a $234k NQ trajectory, with additional VS invites from Baker McKenzie and Macfarlanes, and a declined partner interview at Willkie.
Scores surged across written and interview stages, turning a perceived underdog into a US‑firm insider—proof that strategy can beat baseline academics.
ROI Table
Testimonial: “Probably the best investment we’ve ever made. Exceptional.” — Jack’s mother
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