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.

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.

Virtual insight programme

In this programme, you will be introduced to some of the types of work our trainees and lawyers do every day. The programme encourages the development of important skills and commercial awareness which will give you a better understanding of what a lawyer does and what a career at Slaughter and May entails. 

Our programme is open to all students – no legal knowledge or previous work experience is required. Tasks one to four cover aspects of a fictional transaction. Task five is a typical trainee task – as a trainee you can expect to be pulled in to assist on other matters at short notice!

To find out more please visit our website.

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. (https://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers/trainee-solicitors/meet-us/)

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

Virtual internship afternoons 2024

The aim of our virtual insight afternoons is to give finalists and graduates an insight into a career as a lawyer at Slaughter and May.

During the event, you will have the opportunity to hear from partners and trainees about their experiences of working at the firm, learn about one of our recent deals and find out more about what we are looking for in our training contract application and interview process.  

Our 2024 insight afternoons will take place on 9 October 2024 (2:00pm – 5:00pm) and 6 November 2024 (2:00pm – 5:00pm).

To register – please complete this form. Please note that the programme for 9 October 2024 and 6 November 2024 will be the same, so you will not need to register for both.

Registrations will close on 2 October 2024 (for the 9 October 2024 event) and 30 October 2024 (for the 6 November 2024 event). 

The open afternoons are open to all final year students and graduates. There are no tests or interviews.

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 five 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.

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.

Who can apply? 

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.

How to apply

Applications are 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 two days of submitting your application.

For more information on the application process, please visit our website at: solicitor apprenticeship programme.

Please refer to: Diversity And Inclusion UK Statistics 2023 (slaughterandmay.com).

SQE, GDL and LPC fees plus maintenance grant.

• Competition
• Corporate & M&A
• Disputes & investigations
• Financial regulation
• Financing
• Intellectual property/technology
• Pensions
• Employment & incentives
• Real estate
• Sustainability & climate change
• Tax

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial

• London
• Beijing
• Brussels
• Hong Kong

• Amicus
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Islington Law Centre
• Legal Advice Centres

• Excellerators
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• Social Mobility Business Partnership
• The Access Project