Solicitors

Travers Smith: During your two years’ training in London, you’ll spend six months in Corporate, Real Estate/Banking, Litigation/Employment and one of the other specialist departments. You might also get the chance to spend six months in the Paris office. They recruit 24 trainees a year.

Taylor Wessing: You will spend your two-year training contract in four different practice groups. Because of the importance of corporate work across the firm, you’ll definitely do a seat in one of the Corporate or Finance practice groups. Contentious experience is also a must, and can be gained in Commercial Disputes, Employment and Pensions, Trade […]

Ince & Co: You Spend six months with four different partners, and have the opportunity to get involved in and take responsibility on cases, both big and small – and from initial instruction to conclusion, depending on the length of the case. The cases you work on stay with you throughout your training period, so […]

Clyde & Co: During your training contract, you will complete four six-month seats. At Clyde & Co, they recruit for the firm as a whole. This means you will complete one of your seats in the London office and one seat in their Guildford office. You may then choose to complete the remainder of your […]

Skadden: The first year of your training contract will be divided into two, six-month seats where you will gain experience in corporate transactions and litigation and international arbitration. In your second year, you will be given the opportunity to discuss the remaining practice areas in which you would like to gain experience. In addition, there […]

White & Case: They recruit 25-30 trainees each year. From day one you’ll work alongside colleagues from around the world, and deal with many of their 38 global offices across five continents. One of your first decisions will be to choose where to go for your overseas seat – as they guarantee one for 6 […]

DAC Beachcroft: A large commercial law firm with offices in in London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Winchester, Newport, Edinbugh and Glasgow. They are also in Dublin, Madrid, Mexico City, Singapore, Auckland and Wellington and have associated offices in Brussels, Brazil, Chile and India. Currently their training contract is on hold while they create a new programme, […]

Langleys: They usually recruit 6 trainees each year; three in York and three in Lincoln. The training contract consists of 4 x 6 month seats and trainees usually stay in the same office (York or Lincoln) throughout this period. They consult with you about which seats you undertake before decisions are made and make every […]

Kingsley Napley: They offer 5 trainees each year in London. Trainees complete four six month seats, providing a wide range of practical experience and skills in contentious and non-contentious work. Practice areas include: Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury, Corporate & Commercial, Criminal Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family, Relationships, Divorce, Immigration, Private Client, Public Law, Real […]

Kirkland & Ellis International: They take c10 trainees each year into their London office. There may be opportunities to take up seats in their overseas offices (eg New York and Hong Kong) and gain experience of operating with colleagues in different jurisdictions. For the two years of your training contract, you will rotate between four […]

Irwin Mitchell: They offer two training contract streams covering their two main fee-earning divisions: Personal Legal Services and Business Legal Services. In the former, in the first year of your two year contract you will undertake three four-month seats, gaining experience of different teams within your chosen division. In your second year, it’s likely that […]

Kennedys: Their training contracts are for two years and are split into four seats. You will spend six months in each division, where they will get the opportunity to work with clients from a variety of industries. These divisions are: Insurance and reinsurance, Liability, Company and commercial and Workplace. You will be required to gain […]

Ashurst: You will complete four seats of six months each. One will be in the corporate department and another in the finance department. The other two seats can be in any from a broad range of practice areas. These include Dispute Resolution, Competition and EU Law, Employment, Energy, Transport & Infrastructure, Real Estate, Tax and […]

Pinsent Masons: Trainees move departments every six months, this gives you the necessary time to develop the legal and commercial depth of understanding required to take on real responsibility. During the second year of training you may also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment to either a client or an international office.  About 20% of […]

Davis Polk: 2 year training contract with this US firm in London. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment to the firm’s New York office. 1st year Salary is £50k. Davis Polk ranks among the leading law firms advising on European M&A and capital markets transactions. 

Stephenson Harwood: They take on 20 trainee solicitors per year. As a trainee solicitor you can look forward to quality global work across a range of sectors, a respectful, friendly culture, and the chance to prove yourself on an international secondment. They work in small teams, so every person is critical. You could also spend time […]

Pennington Manches :They recruit up to 10 trainees each year between their London and Thames Valley offices (Oxford). Trainees generally sit in 4 different seats for 6 months at a time under the supervision of either a partner or senior associate. We try, where possible, to take into account seat preferences. Practice areas include Commercial Property, Construction, Technology & […]

Taylor Vinters: Law firm specialising in technology, investment and private client. They provide strategic and technical legal advice to clients and pride themselves on their commitment to quality, and innovation. They want to change the view of what dealing with a law firm is like. They look for trainees who are bright, enthusiastic and driven to […]

Faegre Baker Daniels: You will obtain good general experience in all aspects of business law and will help to service the requirements of UK and overseas companies involved in such diverse areas as manufacturing, venture capital, leisure, retail, publishing, telecommunications, energy services, commerce and technology. The firm has six principal areas of practice: Corporate, Business […]

DMH Stallard: The programme normally consists of four six-month seats, which would be in the following areas: Corporate, Employment, Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury, Private Client, Planning, Real Estate, Real Estate Dispute Resolution, Technology and Media & Telecoms Dispute Resolution. They normally recruit c16 seats (5 in London and the reminder in Gatwick). Normally London Trainees […]

Reed Smith: They only handle commercial matters, both contentious and non-contentious and offer training in company, commercial and finance, commercial litigation, employment, media, energy & natural resources, shipping and property law along with the business skills essential to success as a solicitor. Trainees undertake 4 seats of 6 months duration and you will be able […]

Dechert: Your training contract at Dechert includes a rolling programme of training on everything from specialist legal knowledge to business skills. They offer a six-seat rotation system during your two-year training. Practice areas include; Corporate & Securities, Financial Services. Litigation, Employment, Finance & Real Estate, IP and Tax. Future trainees LPC course fees are paid in […]

Morgan Lewis & Bockius: A US firm specilaising in litigation, labour law, IP and corporate. Due to the London office’s close connection with the firm’s international offices, seats may be available in Dubai, Moscow, and Brussels. They have 28 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Sullivan & Cromwell: This is a US based firm, recruiting for their London office, which is the largest office after New York. Their practice areas include: M&A and private equity; capital markets; credit, leveraged and acquisition finance; project finance; competition law; criminal defence and investigations and tax. Training contracts with S&C will be divided into […]

Addleshaw Goddard: During this two-year training contract, you will complete four six-month seats and have the opportunity to choose from a broad range of practice areas across each of five Divisions (Commercial, Litigation, Corporate, Finance & Projects and Real Estate). The SRA stipulates that all trainees must complete at least three months’ contentious work, so litigation […]

Sherman & Sterling: During the two-year training contract, you have four seat rotations, with six months spent in each seat. At least two of these seats will be completed in the core practice areas of European Corporate, Global Finance and Project Development & Finance. The remaining two seats will be allocated based on your preference […]

Shakespeare Martineau: Offices in Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Stratford, Solihull, Milton Keynes. Recently merged with SGH Martineau, who also have offices in London and Brussels. 

Lexlaw: They specialise in complex commercial disputes, corporate insolvency and UK immigration matters.

Lathan & Watkins :They hire around 20 trainees each year. The training contract consists of four, six-month seats, including mandatory corporate, finance and litigation seats. There is also an opportunity to spend six months in one of the overseas offices such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Paris or Moscow. Lawyers in the London office handle work all […]

Thomson Snell & Passmore: They are based in Tunbridge Wells. The training contract is divided into four six-months seats, taking account of your preferred practice areas. They cover a range of services for both businesses and individuals.

Dentons: For training contracts in London, your two years of training will consist of four six-month seats. You must complete a seat in Banking & Finance and gain contentious experience. You may also have the opportunity to work abroad, or go on a client secondment. They have a presence on 43 countries. They have nine […]

RPC. During your two-year training period you will spend six months in each of four practice areas, such as Intellectual Property, Insurance, Employment and Corporate. There’ll also be opportunities to be seconded to a client as an in-house lawyer. They have offices in Bristol, London and Singapore.

Leathes Prior: They aim to compile training programmes to meet the wishes of individual trainees. Four six-month seats in different teams is the normal pattern, but you may spend more time in one team than another. You will work directly with the firm’s partners and will gain excellent hands-on experience of contentious and non-contentious work. […]

Michelmores: They have offices in Exeter, Plymouth & London. Each trainee is expected to spend six months in four different practice areas and also get a mixture of experience across different offices. The training contract is based in Exeter and they take on average six trainees each year. There are 15 seats to choose from […]

Linklaters: The training contract is usually built around six-month ‘seats’ in four different practice areas – often including a seat in one of the international offices or on a client secondment. You will have the opportunity to express the kind of experience that you want, through seats and secondments. Over two-thirds of trainees go on […]

Bristows: They offer a mixture of 6 month and 3 month seats so you do 5 or 6 seats during your training contract in London. You will have the opportunity to be seconded to one of their  clients for a 3 month period. Trainees at Bristows do seats in the core areas of corporate, real […]

Paul Hastings: The trainee solicitors will spend time in four seats, including banking, capital markets, corporate, employment, litigation, real estate, immigration, restructuring and tax. Paul Hastings is a US law firm with offices throughout the US, Europe and Asia. The London office is a natural focal point for cross-border European transactions.

Bird & Bird: They encourage you to participate in their summer placement programme, as this is their primary means for selecting future trainees. As a trainee you will take on responsibility from day one and enjoy varied and challenging work for industry-shaping clients. There is a specialist department who organises legal, technical and business skills […]

K & L Gates: A US firm with a London presence. Their training contract will involve working in 4 different areas from: Corporate & Transactional, Energy, Infrastructure  & Resources, Finance, Financial services, IP, Litigation, Policy & regulatory and Real Estate. 

Herbert Smith Freehills: Their corporate practice is their largest international practice, with a particular strength in energy and equity capital markets. Their disputes practice is recognised as the leading practice in Europe and Asia, with a real strength in arbitration and an award winning in-house advocacy unit. You are likely to spend time in corporate and dispute resolution as well as finance or […]

Forsters: Every year Forsters takes on six trainees in London. The training contract is divided into six four month seats, not the traditional four. Your first year will be split between three of the main groups which are Commercial Property, Residential Property, Corporate, Litigation and Private Client. In the second year in addition to these […]

Mills & Reeve: They pair you with a partner or senior solicitor who will act as a mentor during the course of your two-year training contract. You will be working in one of the Birmingham, Cambridge or Norwich offices, undertaking six four-month seats. These seats are in a wide range of areas. However, if you want […]

Royds Withy King: Your training contract will include experience of four different areas of practice, both contentious and non-contentious. A typical seat will last for six months and you will be asked at recruitment stage what areas of law interest them most. You will be based in either, Oxford, Bath and Swindon. The practice includes […]

Ashfords: Training Contracts are carried out in the Bristol, Exeter, Taunton, Tiverton and Plymouth offices. As a Trainee with Ashfords, you may spend your Training Contract in more than one office, subject to your personal circumstances. The Training Contract is divided into four six-month seats. You will spend time in at least three of four core […]

Morrison Foerster: The training contract in London comprises four six-month seats, rotating between departments. All trainees will take seats in Corporate and Technology Transactions, plus a contentious seat in either litigation or employment law—with a fourth seat in Tax, Capital Markets or Financial Transactions or a return visit to one of the earlier seats. We […]

Veale Wasbrough Vizards: They are based in Bristol and have offices in Bristol, Birmingham and Watford. You will undertake four seats of 6 months each. You are able to request a preference for the last three. Their work spans Business and private client. Practice areas include: Banking & Finance, Central government, Commercial, Construction, Corporate, Cross, […]

DWF: They were awarded ‘Top Law firm for training contracts’ in 2014/15. The training contract is divided up into six four-month seats, which gives you the opportunity to experience more practice groups than traditional training contracts. You’ll get a real taste of the variety of work on offer and can make an informed decision about your future career […]

BDB Pitmans: They have 7 training contracts and approximately 20 summer placements available each year so if you are interested in a training contract you should consider applying for their summer placement. After a comprehensive induction programme, you’ll experience legal training over four six-month seats. You’ll also receive training in other skills vital to your […]

Trowers & Hamlins: They offer between 15-20 training contracts each year split between a September and March intake respectively.  The training contract is made up of four six-month seats offering you the opportunity to gain real contentious and non-contentious experience within the firm’s various practice areas.  Practice areas include Banking & Finance, Commercial Property, Corporate, Litigation, Employment, Housing Projects, International, Projects and Construction, […]

Brian Cave Leighton Paisner: Your training contract begins before you start during the LPC+. The course is geared towards BCLP’s specialisations and during the course future trainees have regular contact with the firm and are integrated into it. As a trainee at BCLP, you will receive in-depth department training at the beginning and during each […]

Taylor Walton: They have offices in Luton, Harpenden and St Albans. They have practice areas in Commercial Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial, Employment, Commercial Litigation, Conveyancing, Wills, Probate & Tax and Family.

Blandy & Blandy: Each trainee spends six months in four of the eight departments – wherever possible, individual preferences are catered for. These include Private Clients, Charity, Education & Third Sector, Family, Employment, Corporate, Commercial Property and Planning & Environment. Their offices are in Reading.

SAS Daniel: During your two year Training Contract, you will complete four six-month seats and have the opportunity to choose from a range of service areas across the full range of business groups which include corporate, dispute resolution, employment, property, personal injury and personal and family law. They have offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton. 

Debevoise & Plimpton: A US law firm with European presence. They focus on cross-border M&A, private equity, insurance, capital markets, finance and restructurings, tax planning and dispute resolution. You can apply up to 2 years ahead. 

Eversheds Sutherland: Their training contracts consist of four seats of six months each over two years. At least one seat must be in a contentious area. As part of your training contract, you can also apply to do a secondment at a client office or at another Eversheds office in the UK or internationally. Once you […]

FootAnstey: With a portfolio of regional, national and international clients, FootAnstey offers specialist legal advice to businesses, public sector organisations and individuals. This enables you to experience different disciplines across different offices (Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton, Truro). Practice areas include: Banking & Finance, Clinical Negligence, Commercial, Construction & Engineering, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family, Inward […]

Shoosmiths: They are a full service UK law firm offering you an experience in a variety of areas including commercial contracts, banking & finance, corporate, litigation & disputes and real estate. In addition to these they have other practice areas which may offer seats on a slightly less regular basis and may include IP, EU […]

Locke Lord: A US law firm with international reach including a Uk office, offering London Trainee contracts. 

Farrer & Co: Each year they take between 8-10 trainees. They divide up your time between six different seats of four months each.  The last seat is usually spent in the area in which you wish to qualify, being a repeat of one of the five previous seats. There is a wild card seat which […]

Collyer Bristow: As a trainee, you will spend six months in four of five key practice areas working with a range people from senior partners to more recently qualified solicitors. Practice areas include Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Tax & Estate Planning, Family, Employment and Property.

Rosenblatt: They are an independent city law firm with international reach. You will undertake training in at least four of the firm’s core practice areas, namely commercial; construction; corporate; employment; dispute resolution; regulatory and funds; and real estate.

Capsticks: They encourage all prospective trainee solicitors to participate in their vacation scheme, as this is their primary means for selecting future trainee solicitors. They have offices in London, Birmingham and Leeds and a total of 7 training contracts, 5 of which are in London. Trainees at Capsticks undertake six four months seats, which gives you […]

Baker & Mckenzie: They recruit 38 trainees each year, in March and September. During your two-year training contract, you spend time in four key practice areas each lasting six months. In each seat you have a supervisor who acts as your work provider and mentor. The seat rotation policy ensures you experience at least three […]

Gordons :They usually have four or five trainees ‘on the go’ at any one time, along with seven or eight paralegals.  Generally, they prefer to see how you get on as a paralegal before awarding a training contract.

Slaughter & May: Each seat lasts either three or six months and together they give you the opportunity to experience both contentious and non-contentious work. During each seat you will share an office with an experienced lawyer. Most trainees spend at least two six-month seats in the multi-specialist Corporate and Commercial and Financing groups. Subject […]

PWC Legal: An independent member of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) international network of firms. Based in London, they have more than 20 partners and employ over 220 people. As a trainee solicitor, you’ll enjoy exposure to client work and the chance to take on early responsibility. Your legal training contract is divided into four periods of […]

FieldFisher: You will get a choice for each of the seat rotations and the ability to prioritise which area you would like to work within. Opportunities are available in Commercial and Finance, Public Regulatory, Real Estate, Corporate Technology, Employment, Financial Services and Funds, IP and Technology Dispute Resolution, Commercial IP, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence. You […]

Watson Farley & Williams: You will undertake six four-month seats, one overseas in either Paris, Singapore, Piraeus or Bangkok. In each you’ll join a team led by a partner and see complex and high value transactions first hand. Their practice areas include Corporate, Finance, Tax, Dispute Resolution, Employment & Regulatory. They work in Finance & […]

Womble Bond Dickinson: Womble Bond Dickinson have offices in London, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Plymouth, Southampton, Tees Valley and Aberdeen. They have an array of secondments across most sectors and areas of expertise. Training programmes are taliored to individual requirments. Half their current trainees are non law graduates and have a range of backgrounds.

Macfarlanes: As a trainee you will spend six months in four different practice areas, in London: typically it is one seat in Corporate and M&A, two seats in either Commercial Real Estate, Private Client, Litigation or Tax & Structuring and then a seat in one of the specialised corporate practice areas.  The precise allocation of seats is […]

Withersworldwide: Over the two year training contract trainees undertake four training seats, each of six months’ duration. Training seats are allocated following consultation with you to ensure that consideration is given to your career aspirations alongside the firm’s business needs. Possible Training seats include: Charities, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, Employment, Contentious Trusts, Estates, Family, IP, Real […]

Weil: They offer up to 10 training contracts each year. They specialise in Corporate (particularly private equity), Finance, Dispute Resolution, Restructuring and Competition. They aim to offer secondments to their overseas offices, including New York, Silicon Valley and Paris. Trainee secondments are awarded based on merit and performance, and the candidate’s ability to be an […]

Field Seymour Parkes: Trainees can expect to gain experience in three or four different departments in the firm with a view (usually) to spending their last six months in the department where they wish to qualify.  A training contract may include any of the main teams of private client (wills, estates and trusts), commercial property, […]

Winkworth Sherwood: You will rotate through four departments in six month placements or ‘seats’. They specialise in Charities & Social Enterprise, Church of England and Roman Catholic Church, Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Education, Employment, Family, Leisure & Hospitality, Local and Central Government, Private Client and Real Estate, Social Housing, Telecoms and Transport.

Simmons & Simmons: During your training contract, you’ll do four six-month seats in different practice areas. They require you to undertake a seat in Corporate & Commercial, Financial Markets and Litigation. Alongside this, if you’re set on specialising in a particular area of law, they will endeavour to accommodate you. As well as seats in […]

Clifford Chance: Over the two years of your training contract, you will complete four rotations in a variety of practice areas. As part of the SRA requirements for qualification, you must gain experience in at least three different areas of law during your training contract, including one that involves contentious work. In addition to the […]

CMS Cameron McKenna: They recruit 60 trainee solicitors a year. Training contracts last for two years. During this time you will have four six-month placements or ‘seats’, gaining experience in different practice areas. You could also be seconded to one of their regional or international offices or even spend time on secondment with a client. […]

TLT: There are 26 possible seats to rotate round. None are compulsory. TLT’s full service legal offering spans the financial, leisure, retail, housing, technology and media, renewables and public sectors and their core legal specialisms are real estate, banking and finance, commercial, corporate, employment and litigation. They have offices in London, Bristol, Northern Ireland and […]

Allen & Overy: The training contract is based on three or six month rotations through a number of departments or practice areas, where you will sit with a partner or an associate. You are able to create a seat plan tailored to your interests and aspirations and explore the possibilities of international or client secondments.  […]

Lewis Silkin: After the induction, you will rotate through four six-month seats, working in the firm’s two divisions – EIR (Employment, Immigration & Reward) and CMI (Creators, Makers & Innovators) and possibly on client secondments. The aim is for you to gain a mixture of contentious and non-contentious experience and real responsibility at an early stage so […]

Jones Day: They recruit approximately 15 trainees every year and operate a non-rotational training system unique among City firms. Under their system, you do not ‘belong’ to one partner or practice. You can take work from any practice at any time and work with any lawyer, which means you have the flexibility to gain experience in a […]

SA Law: Offices in St Albans and London. 

Hogan Lovells: The two-year training contract is split into four six-month periods. As a trainee, you will move around the firm during this time, They have a wide range of practice areas for trainees to choose from which include; Corporate, Finance, Government Regulation, IP, Litigation, Arbitration & Employment. They will help you make informed decisions […]

Squire Patton Boggs: You can choose to work in Birmingham, Leeds, London or Manchester offices. The programme comprises of six four-month seats during your training contract. The key to the training contract is “involvement and responsibility” which is achieved through the choice and number of seats which can be undertaken during the programme, including secondments to […]

Gowling WLG: You complete four six-month seats: real estate, contentious, non-contentious, and a fourth one of your choice. This could be a client secondment, which gives you the chance to step into the shoes of a client, work in their legal team and understand what they expect from their lawyers. There are also opportunities to complete a […]

Sidley Austin: They take 10 trainees into their London office in September. They are a US law firm advising on domestic and cross border affairs. The London office is Sidley’s largest office in Europe. Their work is corporate in nature and includes; corporate, competition, corporate reorganisation, deby & equity capital market, debt finance, employment, financial services […]

Fletchers: A law firm that specialises in personal injury.  

Knights: As a Trainee you will spend either 24 or 18 months (depending on your previous legal experience) with the legal teams where you gain extensive experience with Knights lawyers.

Mayer Brown: You will undertake four ‘seats’ during your two year training contract. During each seat you will share a room with either a partner or a senior associate who will be responsible for supervising your work and continuing development throughout your seat. You can tailor your training contract from a range of different seats, […]

Gibson Dunn: A leading global law firm with a London practice established over 30 years ago.  The London office handles all aspects of corporate work including public and private M&A, private equity, finance, capital markets, tax, commercial real estate, funds and restructuring and insolvency.  The office also has an extensive dispute resolution practice, handling commercial litigation, […]

Brethertons: Training contracts only given to current paralegals at Brethertons. 

Clarkson Wright & Jakes: Trainees will generally complete four six-month seats. During each seat, where possible, trainees sit with a partner, associate or senior solicitor. You are involved in client work from the outset and are given as much responsibility as they are comfortable with. Areas of work which might be covered in a training contract […]

Stevens & Bolton: They are based in Guildford and take 4 trainees each year. You will undertake six four-month seats. Seats include: Corporate/Commercial, Real Estate, Tax & trusts, Dispute Resolution/IP, Employment and Family. They will cover the fees for your LPC or GDL and a maintenance grant.

Hill Dickinson: You will do four seats and will be able to select your preferences from around 18 different areas of law, dependent on your office location. They take c18 trainees each year. They have five UK offices in Liverpool, Manchester, London, Chester and Sheffield, and two international offices in Singapore and Piraeus. They are […]

Charles Russell Speechlys. They recruit trainees each year, into London, cheltenham and Guildford and you will train in four six-month seats, and can choose from the following practice areas: Banking & finance, Construction & engineering, Contentious trusts, Corporate finance , Corporate tax, Employment, Family, Financial services, Corporate recovery & restructuring, Intellectual Property, Technology & data, […]

WilmerHale: A Us law firm with a presence in London. Their London Intern Programme is with the Arbitration Group in Park Lane. You will gain exposure of a wide range of international commercial disputes and work on factual and legal assignments stemming from current cases, as well as the opportunity to further academic interests with involvement on […]

McDermott Will & Emery: An International law firm, based in the US, with offices in London. They offer a training contract in London for bright students – you will work in several areas of the Firm’s practice with four six-month seats in the key practice groups. The main areas of their business include: Energy & Commodities Advisory; […]

DLA Piper International: They offer approximately 90 training contracts a year across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Sheffield offices. Training contracts at DLA Piper consist of four six-month seats. Although they do not have compulsory seats, training contracts must consist of at least one contentious and one non-contentious seat. Being a commercial firm, a […]