Simmons & Simmons is an international law firm. Partnering with the world’s leading organisations you will work on inspirational and thought-provoking projects, using your influence to create positive impact for our clients. Alongside other ambitious and talented individuals you will collaborate across borders to innovate and deliver smarter solutions for tomorrow's most complex challenges. 

Our lawyers are specialists in four highly regulated sectors; asset management and investment funds; financial institutions; healthcare and life sciences; and technology, media and telecommunications. Using their specialist skills to understand business, and the forces at play around it. All grounded in exceptional knowledge of the legal detail.

From day one, irrespective of job title, qualification, or background, you will be encouraged to have an enquiring mind and share ideas that can drive the firm forward. You will be part of a diverse and vibrant team with a mix of personalities, cultures and mindsets, but all with the same unwavering commitment to quality. A shared trust and respect of those differences will enable you to work collaboratively across levels and functions to create the best outcomes.

Through innovative learning and development opportunities, you will be provided with a platform to excel, enabling you to exceed your career ambitions.

You will be professionally challenged every day, equipping you with the skills to think creatively, grow personally and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that allows you to deliver quality work, that defies your expectations. 

Discover what it’s like to be a trainee lawyer with one of our vacation schemes. Over one, two or four weeks in London, Bristol or Dublin, you’ll experience the work, the reach and the day-to-day buzz of our international firm. Throw yourself into this full programme of social events and work experience, and you’ll get a taste for our firm and the work we do, from research to drafting, and meetings to departmental training. 

Winter vacation scheme (London): A one-week scheme aimed specifically at final year university students and graduates of any degree subject. Applications open 25 September 2024 and close 25 October 2024.

Spring insight scheme (London): A two-day workshop for first year university students of any degree subject, as well as penultimate year non-law students. Applications open 10 December 2024 and close 31 January 2025.

Summer vacation scheme (London): A two-week scheme open to penultimate and final year university students and graduates of any degree subject. Applications open 1 November 2024 and close 6 January 2025.

Summer vacation scheme (Bristol): A two-week scheme open to penultimate and final year university students and graduates of any degree subject. Applications open 2 October 2024 and close 15 February 2025.

Summer internship (Dublin): A four-week scheme open to penultimate and final year university students and graduates of any degree subject. Applications open 15 October 2024 and close 15 December 2024.

About the trainee programme

We offer training contracts in London and Bristol, where you’ll spend two years discovering the innovation and collaborative approach we’re known for. Ideally placed to build a long-term career, you’ll uncover a world of high-end clients and gain immediate exposure to some of their most complex challenges. As well as moving through four six-month seats across our practice areas, you’ll also benefit from the Compass programme; our unique and progressive trainee skills academy that offers a combination of practical learning and online tools designed to support your journey through to qualification.

We also offer training contracts in Dublin. Our trainee programme will see you complete your PPC course at Blackhall as well as 24 months’ work experience rotating through various practice groups. Through these seat rotations, you’ll soon find out where your interests lie. With dedicated support and training, you’ll work your way up to qualifying as an associate with us. Our Dublin programme is open to graduates of any degree discipline who have passed all eight FE1 exams. We are recruiting for trainees to join us from May 2025 onwards.

Trainee profile/who we are looking for

We want to hear from ambitious and curious future lawyers, who are ready to leave their mark. We’re looking candidates who have around 120 UCAS points (BBB or equivalent) and are on course for a 2.1 in any degree subject. That said, academic performance isn’t everything: that’s why we look for raw talent and potential throughout our assessment process.

Our training contracts have transitioned to the SQE route. Those who have completed the LPC prior to gaining a training contract will only need to complete SQE2 and our Essentials for Practice course.

We offer a solicitor apprenticeship and are recruiting for apprentices to join our Bristol and London offices starting in September 2025.

Qualify as a solicitor and earn while you learn through our six year solicitor apprenticeship programme. From day one, you’ll be immersed in life at Simmons and have a dedicated support network. Four days a week will be spent gaining practical work experience and one day a week studying with BPP University. By combining work and study, you’ll be able to put want you learn into practice through a variety of tasks and projects. You’ll spend time across multiple practice groups discovering the innovation and collaborative approach we’re known for.

During your studies, you’ll complete your LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and go on to study towards the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). On successful completion of the SQE, you will qualify as a solicitor at the end of the programme.

We want to hear from ambitious and curious future lawyers, who are ready to leave their mark. School/college leavers require GCSE grades 4 or above with at least a 6 in Maths and English, plus A-level grades at ABB (or equivalent).

Applications open 1 December 2024 and close on 15 February 2025.

Sponsorship (UK)

On becoming a Simmons & Simmons trainee lawyer we’ll cover your full tuition fees for law school and provide you with a maintenance grant. Those joining our Bristol office will be offered the option of studying in Bristol or London and those joining the London office will study in London.

Non-law graduates will study BPP University’s Law Conversion Course (previously known as the Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PDGL), for which we will provide a maintenance grant of 11,000 in Bristol and £13,000 in London.

Trainees will complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route to qualification. The SQE involves a one year preparatory course. The course is designed to support you through the SQE exams and ensure you have all the skills you need to hit the ground running during your training contract. During the SQE course we provide a maintenance grant of £13,000 in Bristol and £17,500 in London.

Sponsorship (Ireland)

All future trainees in our Dublin office receive reimbursement for the cost of their remaining FE1 exams. On becoming a Simmons & Simmons trainee lawyer in Dublin, we'll provide sponsorship and a salary while completing the PPC course at Blackhall.

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