Writing this with a lot of anguish, frustration, and confusion. I had applied to SCAM by mailing the HR and keeping my reference, who is a PA at the firm, in copy. The PA even forwarded my application to HR with the note: “Could you please consider this?”

Two days later, I got a rejection mail from HR. While I didn’t have high expectations given SCAM’s reputation for primarily taking people through client referrals I was curious how my application got rejected so quickly. So, out of curiosity, I sent the same application and cover letter again to the same HR. Within a few hours, I received the exact same rejection email, word-for-word.

Seeking insights from my seniors. ;-;

Smarter thing to do would have been to ask for feedback. Why did they reject you? Any chance they could give you reasons? What could you improve on your application for next time? That sort of thing. Forces them to stop being a bunch of lazy buggers. At least when the British reject someone from something, whether it's a training contract/law firm position application, a university application for a degree course of some kind or whatever, they have a standard almost save-get type of thing (if they don't wanna give feedback) which they use, that runs along the lines of: we had so many awesome applicants who were just so bloody over-qualified, we just didn't know what the heck to do with all of them; there are more over-qualified applicants in the talent pool than places on this training contract/vac scheme cohort/university degree/pupillage cohort at a particular chambers; you, too, were hugely qualified, but perhaps not as overqualified as some of the people who applied. Even giving that requires a level of hard work, because while most of that is usually included in a standard British rejection, they do sometimes exclude some of it or put some other things in, to give a hint, if they are trying to put off requests for more detailed feedback. If S/CAM HR isn't even doing that, then get them to do it or do something, at the very least!

You shouldn't be holding on to so much frustration for being rejected when you were a referral candidate. If you had applied on merit and been rejected, then the anguish would be justified.

Referrals are generally looked down upon in SCAM, and now SAM has even made a hierarchy of internship timelines (4 weeks>3 weeks>2 weeks) where even if you did get the internship through the referral, you would only be in for 2 weeks. Not only is that lower than the stipulated internship period by the BCI, it also leaves a bad impression in the team you're working with cause you get labelled immediately, and amongst your co-interns as well. So don't be too frustrated since not much would come out of the internship other than just an addition to your resume.

"Labelled immediately"? I disagree. I don't think anyone in my team really knows or cares how long an intern is around for. People only give a shit about a specific intern if they come back with a good work product and you know you can reach out to them the next time you need help. I've sought extensions on behalf of tons of interns who've cared about the work they're putting out and who've been a huge help with urgent filings etc. To younger folks who are applying, good luck. Just do your best and be professional, that's all that any reasonable person expects from interns.

Well young man, I have zero knowledge about the Firm you speak of but I can give you the example of my firm. In the first three months of 2025, we received 25,000 applications for internships. Do the math. Your rejection seems to be a pure outcome of numbers and the sheer lopsided nature of demand and supply. All the best.

This has to be CAM, considering I got at SAM with an SA referral.

"Could you please consider this?” actually asks the HR to follow proper procedure to offer the position, based on merit alone.

I would advice you to apply elsewhere, and not repeat the same with the firm.