CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

CMS is the leading organisation of European law firms, which includes CMS Cameron McKenna.

Industry focus

Anyone can claim to be truly client focused. At CMS Cameron McKenna, we’ve launched one of the legal sector’s most comprehensive client-feedback programmes to measure just how focused we are. We ask for feedback regularly, often using an independent interviewer to talk to clients face to face. Acting on this feedback we have adopted a Sector approach to provide clients with an industry-specific service and deep sector expertise. Working alongside our traditional Practice Group structure, Sector Groups enable us to build teams taking an industry, rather than a purely legal, perspective – something that we know our clients value highly. Our Sector Groups are: Consumer Products; Energy & Utilities; Financial Institutions & Services; Hotels & Leisure; Infrastructure & Project Finance; Lifesciences; Real Estate & Construction; and Technology, Media & Telecoms (TMT).

Opportunities abroad

Our European presence successfully combines local and European resources to offer a full range of legal services to our clients and some exciting career opportunities to our graduate trainees.

It is expected that graduates who join the firm will spend one seat outside our London offices. This may include time in the UK at other regional offices, such as Aberdeen, Bristol or Edinburgh, or on a UK-based client secondment. Outside the UK, we have numerous opportunities for graduates to be seconded to one of our leading CEE offices, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. Increasingly, there are opportunities across CMS, which operates in more European cities than anyone else in the legal services industry.

Vacation schemes

We offer undergraduates the opportunity to spend two weeks at CMS Cameron McKenna in London to find out more about our firm, and gain an insight into the life of a trainee solicitor. The two week scheme allows you to spend one week in two different practice areas and undertake various presentations, workshops and social events.

Our vacation schemes run over spring and summer, and are open to anyone who is interested in pursuing a legal career. We also run schemes at our Bristol and Scottish offices; please refer to our website for further details.

Salaries and Benefits

Holidays start at 25 days, increasing to 28 with service. With our flexible holiday allowance you can buy or sell up to five days' holiday a year in exchange for your salary.

You'll enjoy a variety of benefits in addition to your salary including a pension and an annual bonus scheme. There's dental insurance, life assurance, private medical insurance, and "Well Person" screening. We offer a gym subsidy too. Working hours can be long in this industry, but we believe in striking the best work/life balance we can for everyone. That's why we've set up a range of initiatives like flexible working, childcare vouchers, enhanced maternity and paternity schemes, an employee helpline and sabbaticals.

As of August 2011, our London salaries begin at £37,500, rising to £42,000 in your second year. On qualification salaries then rise to £60,000. This is reviewed every July.