2027 Spring/Summer Vacation Scheme

London Vacation Scheme

We run two-week vacation schemes in spring and summer each year.

During the scheme, you will experience the day-to-day life of a lawyer at the firm and will have the opportunity to undertake real work rather than just observing or shadowing. This practical experience will be supplemented by a programme of presentations and workshops that will ensure you get to know as much about the firm as you possibly can during the placement.

There will also be some organised social events to help you get to know our current trainees.

Eligibility

You’re eligible to apply for the vacation scheme if you are a penultimate-year or final-year law undergraduate, final-year non-law undergraduate, or graduate.

If you have a visa to study in the UK, you will need to ensure that our vacation scheme falls outside of your term time.

If you require a visa to work in the UK, we offer visa sponsorship for successful vacation scheme applicants.

We are looking for applicants who:

• Have a minimum of AAA at A-level or equivalent

• Are anticipating at least a 2:1 degree or equivalent

• Are genuinely intrigued by the commercial world

• Can demonstrate a strong ability to analyse and learn

• Can work well with others and interact with clients

• Have perseverance and initiative

We consider mitigating circumstances and use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System to ensure a fair evaluation of candidates. Additionally, we review all application forms holistically to better understand each applicant’s potential and qualifications.

Application and Selection

All applications and reviewed on a rolling basis.

We ask all candidates to complete a short online application form sharing details of their academic background, extra-curricular activities, and work experience. Once submitted, the Early Careers team will review your application to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria. If you do, you will be invited to complete a situational judgment test and a video interview.

The situational judgment test helps us understand your strengths, your thinking and how you approach different scenarios. It is made up of scenario-based, numerical and verbal questions. Following this, you will move straight into a video interview, where you will be asked four questions. These questions focus on your commercial awareness, understanding of the legal landscape and knowledge of the firm and the work we do. During the interview, you will have two minutes to prepare for each question, and two minutes to respond.

If you perform well at the video interview stage, we will invite you to our London office for a 1:1 interview with two of our Senior Managing Associates or partners. This is your opportunity to build on what you have shared throughout the process and to find out more about life as a trainee at Sidley.