Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents. The firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs. Our 200 London-based lawyers (including around 60 partners and 30 trainees) collaborate with their colleagues from Jones Day practices and offices across the globe to guide clients through their toughest challenges. 

In London's critical financial centre, our lawyers are perfectly placed to address the most demanding and complex global matters: including cross-border M&A, real estate and finance transactions (including banking, capital markets, investment funds, private equity, and structured finance), global disputes, and regulatory matters involving the UK, US, and other authorities. Additional specialist areas include business restructuring; competition/antitrust; corporate criminal investigations; corporate tax planning; employment and pensions; energy; intellectual property; and projects and infrastructure.

As leaders in cross-border M&A and global disputes, we look for extraordinary individuals who are committed to a legal career; want to be challenged on an international platform; and can become part of our future – not just qualify with us: nearly half our London partners trained with the firm. Successful candidates have a minimum 2.1 degree in any discipline; strong intellectual and analytical ability; good communication skills; and demonstrate resourcefulness, drive and dedication. Of our current trainees, 50% are non-law graduates and 30% were graduates or postgraduates when they applied to us.

The format of the vacation scheme mirrors our rare and distinctive training system and provides an opportunity to see how it works in practice. You will seek and receive work across all our practice areas at the same time and may well have opportunities to attend client meetings or conference calls as well as court hearings and training seminars. You will be responsible for managing your own workload and are encouraged to take part in the various social events on offer during the scheme. Meet our trainees and lawyers at one of our events before you apply. You will discover more about the work you will do and how we train to see if the Jones Day way might suit you, and you will learn more about our application process too. All are welcome to attend our events, whatever your year of study and degree discipline. 

Final-year student, graduate and postgraduate vacation opportunities

Two-week vacation schemes in each of the winter, spring and summer vacations as advertised on our website. Total of 50-60 places. Allowance: £500 per week. Apply online via our online application systeme after applications open on 1 September 2024. Individual vacation scheme application deadlines can be found on our website. 

Penultimate-year law student vacation opportunities

You are also eligible to apply for any of our two-week vacation schemes if (after this year) you still have one more year to complete of a qualifying English/Welsh law degree.

The firm operates a rare and distinctive, non-rotational system of training designed to provide early responsibility, faster development of potential and the opportunity to compare and contrast different disciplines alongside one another. 

From the beginning, you are encouraged to assume your own workload and to seek and receive work across our practice areas at the same time. Because you won't move to a different department every four or six months (as would happen in a traditional, rotational system) you won't miss the end of deals or trials you have been working on and can see them through to completion. Under our system, you do not 'belong' to one partner or practice. You can take work from any practice at any time and work with any of our lawyers, which means you have the flexibility to gain experience in a range of practice areas and from a wide range of colleagues. You also discover with whom you work best.

Work will vary from small cases which you may handle alone (under the supervision of a senior lawyer) to matters where you will assist a partner or associate solicitor. A partner mentor provides the first port of call for each trainee at all times. In addition, practice area checklists and regular appraisals with the training partner provide structured supervision over and above informal everyday contact.

Jones Day has a policy of paying competitive salaries to its trainees. Other benefits include private healthcare, personal pension, life assurance, season ticket loan, and ride to work cycle scheme. Assistance is also provided through law school. We recruit approximately 15 trainee solicitors each year mainly from our vacation scheme candidates.

Future trainees will complete the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and 2) as well as an additional SQE Plus programme at The University of Law. Fees are paid plus a £20,000 maintenance grant. Full details can be found on our website.

Law school fees paid, plus £15,000 maintenance grant for the PGDL and £20,000 for the SQE academic years.

• Global disputes
• Cross-border M&A
• Capital markets
• Private equity
• Investment funds
• Structured finance
• Banking & finance
• Restructuring & insolvency
• Commercial property
• Tax
• Intellectual property
• Employment & pensions
• Commercial contracts
• Competition/antitrust
• Financial regulation
• Corporate criminal investigations
• Projects & infrastructure
• Energy

• Corporate & Commercial

• London

• African Prisons Project
• Amicus
• City Year
• Free Representation Unit
• Lawyers Without Borders
• Reprieve
• Royal Academy
• The Bingham Centre
• Waterloo Legal Advice Clinic

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Muslim Lawyers Hub
• Rare Recruitment
• Social Mobility Foundation