Placement
Discover your future in law with Shoosmiths
Discover is Shoosmiths’ vacation placement and mentoring scheme, designed to support talented aspiring solicitors from under-represented backgrounds. It’s more than just work experience—it’s your first step into a career with purpose.
Over one impactful week, participants gain real legal exposure, professional mentoring, and the chance to showcase commercial awareness through a business development project. From live case files and client meetings to networking and social events, Discover offers a true taste of life at Shoosmiths.
Locations: Edinburgh, Birmingham, London, Leeds, Manchester
Duration: One week (paid placement)
When: April 2026
What you’ll experience:
• Work on live legal matters and attend client meetings
• Receive one-to-one mentoring before, during and after the placement
• Complete a business development project to demonstrate creativity and insight
• Network with colleagues and experience Shoosmiths’ inclusive culture
Who can apply:
The Discover Vacation Placement & Mentoring Programme is a diversity access scheme which is part of our recruitment for the 2027 training contract.
To apply for the Discover placement & mentoring programme opportunity, you must:
- Be an aspiring solicitor interested in qualifying in England or Scotland.
- Be a penultimate year law undergraduate, or a final year law or non-law undergraduate student. GDL, LPC and SQE students are welcome to apply, as are graduates and career changers.
- Not have accepted a training contract with any law firm or legal team
- Be eligible to work in the UK
You should also be from at least one of our under-represented groups:
- Black, Asian or minority ethnic
- LGBTQ+
- Disabled, neurodivergent or have a long-term health condition
- Socially mobile (given this is not a defined characteristic in the Equalities Act 2010, there are multiple variations of this meaning but we consider this to include (but not limited to) candidates who:
i) attended a non-selective state school comprehensive educated and first generation of their family to attend university
ii) spent time in local authority care
iii) came to this country as a refugee
