Slaughter And May

Slaughter and May has a global reputation for providing outstanding legal services. The strength of our practice is reflected in the multi-jurisdictional nature of our work and our international client base. The firm is a trusted adviser to some of the largest companies in the world, advising on complex cross-border deals every single day.

We advise on high-profile and often landmark international transactions. Our varied client list ranges from governments to entrepreneurs, from retailers to entertainment companies and from conglomerates to Premier League football clubs.

Our practice areas

We are a full service law firm to corporate clients and have leading practitioners across a wide range of areas including Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate and Commercial, Financing, Tax, Competition, Disputes and Investigations, Real Estate, Pensions and Employment, Financial Regulation, Information Technology and Intellectual Property.

A world of difference

There are clear differences between Slaughter and May and other global law firms:

• We train each of our lawyers to be a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters which at other firms would be handled by a number of different lawyers. This is hard work but our lawyers say it makes for a far more fulfilling career. It provides challenge and interest while allowing lawyers to develop deeper relationships with clients, because they get to know their businesses better, and we think that by broadening your training and experience, you will be a better lawyer.
• Much of our work has an international element and on average we work with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries annually. Our work is international and cross-border in nature; we go where our clients go. We never compromise on the quality and consistency for which we are widely recognised.
• At Slaughter and May we also take a different approach to time; there are no set billing or time targets. This means that our lawyers are free to work collaboratively, sharing expertise and knowledge, so that they can concentrate on what matters most – the quality of the work and client service.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is an integral part of how we do things as a firm. We believe that a supportive and inclusive workplace drives collaboration and enhances business performance. We are looking to employ the brightest minds regardless of what or where they studied. Traditional approaches to D&I are often skewed towards initiatives helping diverse individuals to “fit in” and succeed; we focus on examining and adjusting the system for greater acceptance of different leadership styles and ways of working.

Training Contract

Our training contract is designed to offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters. You will be given responsibility from an early stage and the opportunity to work alongside partners, who, together with other team members in the firm, provide mentoring and individual support.

During your two years as a trainee solicitor, you will spend time in different practice areas, which are referred to as 'seats'. In each seat you will share an office with a partner or associate (your ‘supervisor’) who will guide you and ensure that you are actively involved in their work and the work of the group. All trainees complete at least two six-month seats in our Corporate and M&A and Financing groups. Subject to gaining some contentious experience, you choose where to spend your remaining time. It can be divided into two or three specialist areas or focused on one.

Our overseas offices and close working relationships with market-leading law firms in other jurisdictions mean there are also opportunities for trainees to apply for a secondment in their second year. Recent trainee secondment destinations include: US (NYC), France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands. Spain, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong. We also offer opportunities for client secondments in and around London that eligible trainees can apply for.

All of our future trainee solicitors take the SQE path to qualification. We have collaborated with BPP Law School and 5 other global law firms to create the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (‘CCP’). The CCP is a 12-month course which includes SQE1 and SQE2 preparation as well the bespoke Plus Programme which focuses on key areas for our practice, as well as the additional knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours necessary to ensure that you are well prepared to undertake your training contract with us. You can read more about our route to qualification here.

Work Experience Opportunities

We offer open days, workshops and work experience schemes to enable you to gain an insight into life as a commercial lawyer. Full details of these opportunities can be found on our website.

What do we look for?

Our trainees come from a range of universities – it is the quality of the candidate, not the university that is important to us. Across all of our opportunities, we are looking for candidates with:

• a sharp intellect
• drive and an interest in commercial law
• commercial awareness
• communication and interpersonal skills
• resolve and resilience
• independent thought and curiosity
• a range of interests outside of the law
• a good sense of humour
• a willingness to take on responsibility

The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is designed for bright and motivated school leavers interested in a career in commercial law, and will offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist lawyer, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters.

During your first four years as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will rotate annually through a range of practice areas. This will allow you to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience whilst studying at university one day per week towards your undergraduate law degree.

During the final two years of the programme, you will join the trainee rotation, meaning that you will move into one of the above practice areas every six months. You will also attend university one day per week to study for the SQE. Secondment opportunities may be available to apprentices in the latter stages of the apprenticeship programme.

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is for applicants who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree.

You must have achieved 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English) and have achieved or be predicted to achieve AAB at A level. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account. You must have the right to work in the UK.

Applications opened on Monday 28 October and will close on Friday 3 January 2025. To apply, please complete the online application, which can be accessed here, and attach your CV. You will be asked to complete a situational judgement test within 2 days of submitting your application.

For more information on the application process, please visit our website at: Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme.

How to apply

We have approximately 95 vacancies for trainee solicitors each year. We look for candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds with a good 2:1 at undergraduate level from any university, and take law and non-law graduates.

We use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System for all of our opportunities. The system helps us to identify high potential candidates by putting applicants’ grades and achievements in the context of their social and educational background.

Applications for all of our opportunities should be submitted using the online form. You will be asked to provide some personal details (including a full breakdown of all your examination results) and to attach your CV and cover letter (or responses to three questions for the spring scheme).

You can find information on what to include in your cover letter and CV on our website.

We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible during an application window. Training contract offers are made on a rolling basis.

Meet us

To provide an insight into the firm, we host in-person events at a number of UK universities from September - December, and run a series of virtual presentations and Application Q&As throughout the year. To find out more and to register your place at these, please visit our website.

Please click here to sign up to our mailing list for updates on events and vacancies.