We're a leading sector-focused international law firm. But we're different. What sets us apart is a growing reputation for client experience, outstanding people and creative energy.

You'll find us in Canada, the UK and Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, focused on key global sectors, including real estate, energy, financial services, life sciences, natural resources, infrastructure, and technology.

We're a firm with momentum, making bold moves in the international legal market, where we've significantly increased our footprint and capability. And we have an appetite for further international growth.

Here are some fast facts about us:

1,500+ legal professionals

19 cities with international offices

3,000+ pro bono hours

To find out what it is like to work at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP read the firm's Meet the Lawyer profile.

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), Legal Practice Course, and/or 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 Legal Practice Course (LPC), 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 UK
• EU law
• Trade & competition
• Construction & engineering
• Commercial IT & outsourcing
• Pensions
• Employment
• Projects & infrastructure
• Corporate
• Banking & finance

• 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
• free@last Law Clinic
• Human Dignity Trust
• Kids in Need of Defense
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
• LandAid
• Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts
• PILnet (Public Interest Law)
• The Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau
• TrustLaw Connect
• UnLtd
• Windrush Justice Clinic
• Working Families

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Birmingham Law Society’s Diversity Inclusion Scheme
• BITC
• Bright Network
• Business Disability Forum
• Halo Code
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Legal CORE
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• Social Mobility Foundation
• Stonewall
• Working Families