Build your career with the firm that does Big Law better. More than 1,400 lawyers strong McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law with an award-winning culture. We are a firm that celebrates excellence, collaboration and community. We have been named a top workplace by The American Lawyer, Working Mother Magazine, Vault and the Human Rights Campaign.

Our offices are in major financial hubs across the world to help clients address their most pressing challenges wherever they do business. Our lawyers handle a variety of matters in their home countries while collaborating closely with firm colleagues across practices and borders.

We have had a presence in London for more than 25 years and deliver a full-service European offering integrated with our France, Germany, Italy and Belgium offices.

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we pride ourselves on being the number one career accelerator – your future is our priority. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office, with lawyers receiving personalized guidance, structured mentorship and confidential career coaching from our award-winning career services team.

With us, you’ll find:

A firm where everyone belongs. We encourage you to be yourself. Our culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity.

Enthusiasm for diverse perspectives. We believe we’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we offer opportunities for you and your career to thrive. 

Support so you can feel your best and therefore do your best. Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental and financial health and emphasizes work/life balance and our firm actually offers billable hours credit for wellness, and diversity as well as professional development. We’re proud to be the first firm to offer billable hours for wellness.

Real rewards for real work. We offer generous compensation packages on qualification that are top of market and recognize hard work and excellence and the wider contribution to being a firm citizen.

Our approach to on-the-job training and small associate class sizes let you grow your skills and take on meaningful work. From our partners to junior associates, all lawyers provide you the guidance and mentorship you need to fuel career success, integrating you into the firm’s excellent culture and giving you all the tools to thrive.

Throughout your career here, you’ll find exceptional opportunities for growth, thanks to our best-in-class professional development program.

Benefits include: private medical and dental insurance, life assurance, permanent health insurance, pension, season ticket loan, gym membership discounts, ride to work scheme, employee assistance programme, employer sponsored back up care, 25 days' holiday.

Who should apply

The firm is looking for the brightest, best and most entrepreneurial trainees. You will need to convince the firm you have made a deliberate choice to apply to McDermott Will & Emery.

When and how to apply

Candidates applying for training contracts only must apply online by 29 November 2024 to begin a training contract in September 2026.

If required, the firm will sponsor you through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) with BPP in London.

PGDL and SQE funding and £20,000 maintenance grant.

• Private equity
• Corporate
• Finance
• Litigation/white collar
• Real estate
• Tax
• Healthcare
• Structured finance & restructuring

• Corporate & Commercial

• London

• Free Representation Unit
• LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group)
• Lawyers Without Borders

• Lawyers in Schools
• Young Citizens