Akin is a global law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors who pride themselves on dedication to their clients and their communities. With 17 offices worldwide, the firm is renowned for numerous market-leading practices, its strengths in complex transactions and restructurings, high-stakes litigation, public policy and regulatory matters, and its unyielding pro bono commitment.

Akin’s London office is the hub of the firm’s international offices, partnering with clients from established industries and cutting-edge markets to deliver creative solutions to business-critical issues, helping them seize opportunities and anticipate challenges. Driven by the firm’s forward-thinking leadership, Akin has built a strong culture of innovation and collaboration as well as a talented and diverse workforce committed to the success of its clients and each other.

What we do: Market-leading practices include financial restructuring, corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures), private equity, finance (including debt finance and project finance), energy including renewables, debt and equity capital markets, financial services regulatory, disputes, international arbitration, investment funds (including hedge and private equity funds and secondaries transactions), international trade – including in relation to the new national security and investment law – as well as EU/UK competition, share incentives and tax.

The firm is intentional about fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are supported and given the tools to succeed. Akin is focused on recruiting and nurturing the next generation of exceptional legal talent and is proud that its recruitment and professional development efforts are recognised as among the best in the industry.

Akin's two-week spring vacation scheme provides an excellent opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of the day-to-day work of trainees in an international law firm. Through training sessions, interactive workshops, mentoring and social activities, you will get to know our firm. Through working side by side with partners and associates on live deals, you will get to know our practices and clients. 

We welcome applications from penultimate-year law students, final-year students and graduates of any subject, looking to commence a training path in two years’ time. At the end of the scheme, participants will be offered the chance to interview for our two-year training programme

You’ll experience on-the-job experiential learning which will allow you to develop a keen commercial awareness and to take on responsibility and ownership of tasks for each practice area you work in. Examples of tasks you may be involved in during your training include, but are not restricted to, legal research, preparing client communications, attending client meetings, organising deal closing checklists and preparing trial bundles. You’ll receive supportive supervision from England and Wales-qualified practitioners with valuable ongoing feedback and two substantive evaluations during each seat.

You will attend regular practice group and office-wide training on relevant areas of law and practical skills. You will also join webinars and training sessions run by external consultants to aid your professional development throughout your two-year training programme and beyond.

Akin prides itself on a friendly, approachable culture and a strong support network. Our trainee development team and dedicated development partners will coach and guide you throughout the two years. We also have a buddy system, providing you with a peer mentor who can tell you things that formal training can’t and junior associate mentors to support you within each practice area. We have an in-house ‘Be Well’ counselling service which offers unlimited one-on-one support, as well as regular group training sessions.

With the introduction of the SQE, Akin will continue to provide an immersive, hands-on training experience. Our 2024 intake is the first to have completed the SQE route to undertake two years of qualifying work experience. We have partnered with The University of Law to provide an exceptional legal education and training programme, and will continue to provide financial assistance for these studies to those joining the firm. Applications from an LPC study route can still be given due consideration.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is in our DNA and we have a long-standing commitment to DE&I. We believe that the various perspectives and experiences of our lawyers and professionals enable us to identify creative solutions for our clients and enrich all aspects of our firm and communities. Read more about our commitment to DE&I here.

Successful applicants will be required to complete the PGDL (if applicable) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and 2) to equip them with essential skills prior to starting their qualifying work experience. Our legal education provider is The University of Law and studies will be funded by the firm. We provide a maintenance grant of £20,000 per year of study to our future trainees.

• Corporate/M&A
• Finance
• Financial restructuring
• Litigation
• Financial regulation
• Competition
• International trade
• Investment funds
• Tax/incentives

• Corporate & Commercial

• London

• City Year
• Hackney Community Law Centre
• Inspiring the Future
• Islington Law Centre
• Lawyers Without Borders
• Migrants Resource Centre
• Reprieve

• #10000BlackInterns
• Aspiring Solicitors
• Cityyear
• Mindful Business Charter
• Social Mobility Foundation
• Stonewall