Linklaters - Winter Vacation Scheme

Our Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes are the best route to gaining a Training Contract with us. Spend two or three weeks in our London office, gaining an in depth and realistic insight into the role of a trainee solicitor at Linklaters. Not only will you experience our work, culture and training, you’ll also be paid £500 per week.

The Work

Insight sessions: To support you gaining a well-rounded insight into the firm, we organise various sessions throughout the scheme. Expect to experience our DEI training firsthand, in-depth overviews into our core practice areas, and hear from our pro bono and innovation teams.

Real work: You’ll gain exposure to real work through sitting in a practice area of your choice. You’ll be fully integrated into the team working on live matters and interacting with our clients.

Projects and tasks: Throughout the scheme, you’ll be given assessed tasks, real work from your principal and the opportunity to collaborate with your cohort on a group client pitch exercise.

Culture, Socials and Support

Culture and Socials: Experience the firm culture through informal interactions, lunches and Silks coffee catch ups, and join our DEI networks, faith groups and sports clubs/gym. There will also be scheduled Vacation Scheme socials so you can network with your cohort and our lawyers.

Support: To ensure you are fully supported, you will have dedicated trainee buddy, sit with your principal (a qualified Associate) and a Trainee Recruitment contact on hand to answer questions and give advice.

Training Contract

Final Training Contract Interview: At the end of the scheme, you will have a guaranteed interview for a Training Contract with a Partner and Managing Associate.

Measuring your success: Training Contract decisions will be made based on your overall performance across the scheme, focusing on three assessed elements. These are: feedback from your principal, feedback on assessed tasks and performance in the final Training Contract interview. In-depth feedback will be provided on all of these elements.

Key Dates and Eligibility

Eligibility:

• Penultimate year and final year undergraduates, graduates and postgraduate students from UK or Irish universities

• Open to those from law and non-law backgrounds

Application window:

• Winter: 1 September 2025 – 1 October 2025

• Spring and Summer: 1 September 2025 – 3 December 2025

Programme Dates:

• Winter: 1 December – 12 December 2025

• Spring: 13 April – 24 April 2026

• Summer: 22 June – 10 July 2025, 20 July – 7 August 2026