Cooley (UK) LLP |

Cooley is a global law firm that partners with many of the world’s most innovative companies. From startups taking their first steps to established public companies operating on a global scale, we help clients navigate critical moments throughout their growth journeys. We are particularly known for our work in the technology and life sciences sectors, advising clients on transformative transactions, complex intellectual property and regulatory matters and high-stakes disputes.

Founded in the US in 1920, Cooley has grown into an international firm with offices across the US, Europe and Asia. In 2015, we opened our London office to support our expanding global client base and strengthen our international platform.

Cooley in London
Today, our London office is home to more than 200 lawyers and business professionals who work together to support clients across a broad range of industries and matters, including venture capital and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, technology transactions, intellectual property, employment, tax, competition, data privacy, investigations and complex disputes. Working closely with colleagues across the firm’s global network, our lawyers regularly advise on cross-border matters for innovative companies at every stage of growth.

Spring and Summer Programmes

Our spring and summer programmes (vacation schemes) are the gateway to becoming a trainee at Cooley and designed for those who want to build a legal career and gain early exposure to legal practice.

Designed to give you a genuine insight into life at a US law firm, these programmes combine meaningful work experience, professional development and opportunities to build connections across the firm.

Working alongside our lawyers on active client matters, you’ll gain exposure to the innovative companies, investors and founder-led companies that Cooley is known for advising. Depending on the work taking place during your programme, you may attend meetings, participate in conference calls, assist on transactions, conduct legal research, support litigation matters or contribute to wider client and business projects.

What you’ll experience:

• Two weeks of work experience, receiving £550 per week in compensation.
• Real work within one of our key practice areas.
• Direct exposure to clients and high-quality work.
• A range of skills‑based training, workshops, presentations and networking events that will help you develop your commercial awareness, legal skills and understanding of Cooley’s culture.
• Continual feedback and coaching from your supervisor.

With approximately seven participants on each programme, you’ll benefit from a highly personalised experience. You’ll be supported throughout by a supervisor, a trainee buddy and our graduate recruitment team, who will help you make the most of every opportunity and provide guidance as you explore a career with us.

Dates
Spring programme: 5 April – 16 April 2027
Summer programme: 28 June – 9 July 2027

Eligibility
We can consider only one application from each candidate in a recruitment year.

Candidates may apply to either the spring or summer programme, but we are happy to consider you for both programmes if you are successful in receiving an offer.

 

Diversity Fellowship

As part of Cooley’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, we are proud to offer the UK Diversity fellowship to outstanding university students intending to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.

The UK Diversity fellowship supports talented aspiring solicitors from underrepresented backgrounds with a unique opportunity to gain early, meaningful exposure to life at an international law firm.

Participating fellows will join up to two of our UK-based programmes, starting with the 2027 summer programme in the London office, this gives you a head start in developing your skills, confidence and understanding of the solicitor career path. Fellows may then return for a second programme the following year. This provides additional time to build confidence, develop practical skills, form relationships across the firm and prepare for the trainee recruitment process. 

Financial support for our fellows includes:

• A paid position in the UK summer programme, receiving £550 per week worked.
• A bursary of up to £12,000, paid in three instalments:
  
  • £4,000 upon completion of the first UK summer programme and securing a place on the second-year programme. Any fellow who does not receive an offer to join the second year of the programme will receive 50% of this bursary.
  • £4,000 upon completion of the second UK programme.
  • £4,000 upon joining the firm as a trainee solicitor.

Eligibility
We welcome applications from outstanding university students who:

• Are enrolled full‑time at a UK university, with an anticipated graduation date from a UK law school no later than 2029.
• Demonstrate a commitment to promoting inclusion.
• Will not receive an inclusion award from another law firm between 1 April and 31 August 2027.
• Can participate in the 2027 UK summer programme (28 June – 9 July 2027).

Cooley has a very small intake of 6 trainees a year and recruit exclusively through the Spring and Summer programmes as well as the Diversity Fellowship. 

All applications are to be submitted through the online application system. We do not recruit on a rolling basis, so all decisions and next steps will be communicated after the closing date. 

The minimum academic requirements for our spring and summer programmes are a 2.1 degree classification in any discipline and 128 UCAS points, equivalent to ABB at A level, excluding AS levels and general studies. Candidates who do not meet these requirements may still be considered where there are clear mitigating circumstances and evidence of excellence elsewhere.

Stage one: Online application form

Our initial application stage consists of two parts:

1. An application form, which you will submit with details of your academic commitments and previous work experience opportunities.

2. A Bright Apply chat-based interview. Instead of writing a long application form restricted by a word count, you’ll take part in a short AI-powered virtual interview (Bright Apply) where you can expand on your experiences, motivations and why Cooley is the right fit for you. This stage should take around 35 minutes to complete.

Stage two: Online Watson Glaser Test. 

Throughout the assessment, we will be looking at your ability to think critically and apply judgement to a series of statements.

Stage three: Zoom interview. 

Candidates who progress beyond the application stage will be invited to attend a 30-minute interview.

The interview is designed to help us learn more about you, your experiences and your motivation for pursuing a career at Cooley. It is also an opportunity for you to expand on your application and demonstrate the skills and qualities that are important to success as a trainee solicitor.

During the interview, we may explore topics such as your motivation for applying to Cooley, your experiences and achievements, as well as how you approach challenges, teamwork and problem-solving.

The interview is conducted by two associates and typically lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Stage four: Assessment centre

During our in-person assessment centre, candidates will participate in a number of assessments and activities across the day. These have been designed to assess a range of skills and behaviours relevant to a successful legal career, including communication, collaboration, commercial awareness, critical thinking and judgement. We are interested not only in candidates’ answers, but also in how they approach challenges, work with others and articulate their ideas.

Application link: Cooley (UK) LLP | Careers at Cooley (UK) LLP

Deadline 5pm on 3 January 2027

Cooley is a firm that has the concepts of diversity, inclusion, equality and justice woven tightly into the centre of our identity, our culture, our brand and our core business. We are dedicated to maintaining a truly diverse workplace that values and celebrates differences – from the way we relate to and support each other to the way we work together to meet our clients’ needs.

We must not just build a substantially more diverse and inclusive enterprise, but also articulate and deliver on our commitment as an institution to oppose racial injustice and address its deleterious effects on our people and our firm.

Cooley also has several affinity groups which are open to all Cooley lawyers and were formed to be a forum and resource for support and awareness within the firm. The groups work to enhance recruiting, retention, training and promotion initiatives; sponsor professional and business development programs; and identify client and community partnering opportunities. Cooley's affinity groups include:

• Alternative Work Schedule Attorney Affinity Group
• Asian Pacific Islander Attorney Affinity Group
• Black Attorney Affinity Group
• Black Professional Staff Affinity Group
• Caregivers Attorney Affinity Group
• Cooley Inclusion Alliance
• Latinx Affinity Group
• LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Social Mobility Group
• Veterans at Cooley Affinity Group
• Women's Initiative

Cooley is intent on maintaining its standing as one of the world’s greatest law firms, but also on keeping its reputation as a great place to work. We fundamentally believe that the two can, indeed must, go hand in hand. We know that simple things matter – like being thanked and appreciated for your hard work.

We invest heavily in preserving our culture as we grow. This is reflected in our dedication to hiring the candidates who demonstrate the traits and values we have identified as central to success at Cooley, such as creativity, entrepreneurial, savvy, and commitment to collaboration.

It is also reflected in how we create the space and time for people to come together to talk, share, celebrate or interact. In London, staff members are invited to regular catchups with Justin Stock, London managing partner. There have also been numerous planned and impromptu officewide socials, including summer and winter events, a festive quiz, and monthly relax and unwind time, in addition to tennis, netball and football matches.