Gowling WLG is a sector focused international law firm. With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 20 cities worldwide, we provide our clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad.

With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 20 cities across the UK, Canada, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Gowling WLG provides clients with top-tier legal advice at home and abroad in a range of areas – from complex cross-border transactions and intellectual property matters to high-stakes litigation and disputes.

Our clients have access to in-depth expertise and experience in key global sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, financial services, infrastructure, life sciences, natural resources, real estate and tech. We pair this specific industry knowledge with renowned service area expertise to meet each client's unique needs.

We see the world through our clients’ eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances. Our culture is, above all, about people and teams, based on our belief in the power of relationships in delivering tangible business results.

Learn more at gowlingwlg.com.

A vacation scheme is the perfect opportunity to get to know us and find out whether we're the right firm for you.

We offer a spring vacation scheme in our Birmingham office, for students in their penultimate year of a law degree, final year of a non-law degree, or graduates of any kind.

You’ll experience life at an international law firm first-hand, meet our people and clients, and gain an insight into our work and culture. One of our current trainees will help you settle in and is on hand to answer any queries you may have. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor who will ensure you receive quality work, support and constructive feedback. There will also be plenty of social events to help you network and build up professional relationships (while enjoying yourself too, of course).
 
We're optimistic and excited about the future, so we invest in our business to achieve our ambitions. This applies to our trainees too. We need people with a sharp mind and entrepreneurial spirit, who generate fresh ideas, make new connections and do things that have never been done before.

If you relish the chance to be involved in making change happen, you're who we're looking for.

Please note, candidates who are successful in obtaining a vacation scheme will be assessed for a training contract position at the end of the scheme.

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success.

Treated as a lawyer from day one, you’ll enjoy early responsibility, international opportunities and exposure to big-ticket work as you learn from legal experts across the globe. Our training contracts consist of four six-month seats and we’ll get you started with a full and comprehensive induction, designed to help you settle into life here.

Choosing from our broad-ranging practice areas, your programme will typically include a contentious seat, a non-contentious seat, a real estate seat and an optional seat (which could be an international secondment or working for a client). You’ll get involved in interesting casework for an exceptional scope of clients, enjoying top tier training in a high performing, hugely encouraging culture.

It’ll be a continuous learning journey with one-to-one guidance from a partner mentor, a dedicated supervisor, the graduate recruitment team and, of course, the strong support network of legal experts all around you.

Prior to your training contract, we'll sponsor you to complete the Postgraduate Diploma (law conversion course) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and 2), as applicable at The University of Law. Our grant provision covers your course fees, in addition to a maintenance grant offered per course, which is £7,000 if you study in London and £5,500 if you study in Birmingham.

We cover your Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) and Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) fees, as well as providing a maintenance grant for each course.

We offer all trainees the following: bonus scheme, gym membership/subsidy, life assurance, pension scheme with company contributions, private healthcare, season ticket loan, subsidised restaurant, income protection insurance, 25 days’ holiday (plus optional unpaid holiday), cycle to work scheme, an active social club, access to corporate rates and discounts, employee assistance programme, budget for staff entertainment, childcare vouchers and an interest free loan.

• Commercial development & investment
• Property litigation
• Specialist real estate services
• Housing development & regeneration
• Planning
• Commercial litigation
• IP
• EU law
• Trade & competition
• Construction & engineering
• Commercial IT & outsourcing
• Pensions
• Employment
• Projects & finance
• Corporate
• Public law & regulation

• Corporate & Commercial

• Abu Dhabi
• Beijing
• Birmingham
• Brussels
• Calgary
• Dubai
• Frankfurt
• Guangzhou
• Hamilton
• Leeds
• London
• Montréal
• Munich
• Ottawa
• Paris
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• Stuttgart
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Waterloo

• A4ID
• Amicus
• Collaborative Plan
• Kids in Need of Defense
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
• LandAid
• LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group)
• Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts
• Legal Advice Centres
• Pro Bono Connect
• The Death Penalty Project
• The Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau
• Thomson Reuters Foundation
• TrustLaw Connect
• University House Legal Advice Centre
• Working Families

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Black Solicitors Network
• Bright Network
• Business Disability Forum
• Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion
• Halo Code
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Legal CORE
• Mindful Business Charter
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• Stonewall
• Working Families