SPARK (London)

SPARK has developed from a simple one-week internship into a nine-month programme of events and opportunities that offer a window into our world and help to develop your legal knowledge, commercial awareness, and core business skills.

With both in-person and virtual content, the programme follows key pillars. It's designed to be fast-paced and full of opportunities to meet representatives from the firm and to learn about our business. You can find out more about the various pillars here.

You'll benefit from an unparalleled introduction to the high-performance world of commercial law, with a blend of classroom-based learning, dedicated skills development, time spent shadowing our lawyers and more. And best of all, it can lead straight to a Training Contract with the Firm.

What the programme involves

Your journey with the Firm will start in May with a reception event at our London office to celebrate your place on the programme and provide you with information and advice that will set you up for success. At this point, you'll also be introduced to a newly qualified lawyer buddy, and offered guidance on how to make the most of your relationship with them.

During the summer, you'll then spend two weeks with us. The first of these, is our insights week, and revolves around an intensive schedule of classroom-based learning that deep-dives into our business and the work we do. The second involves time spent shadowing a lawyer, and offers the chance to get a feel for what a Training Contract with us could be like as you work alongside your dedicated supervisor in one of our practice areas.

Throughout the programme, we are committed to providing you with dedicated skills training to aid your professional development. There will also be plenty of opportunities to get to know the community and culture at Clifford Chance, build bonds with your SPARK cohort, and gain insights into our global community outreach and pro bono work.

Unbeatable support and development

The Early Talent Acquisition Team will support you as you prepare for the scheme and throughout the time you spend with us.

Over the course of the programme, you will build your network and enjoy many learning and development opportunities with your newly qualified lawyer buddy, lawyers across the firm, our affinity networks, and your dedicated supervisor during the week of work shadowing.

Am I eligible?

SPARK is open to first-year law students, second-year law students on a four-year course and penultimate-year non-law students. And you need to be available for the following dates:

• Launch: 1 May 2025
• Insights Week : 30 June - 4 July 2025
• Job Shadowing : 7 - 11 or 14 - 18 July 2025
• Skills/Action: 9 -10 September 2025

Required experience and skills

Outside of our academic requirements, you do not need any specific experience or legal knowledge to apply for this scheme. What you will need, however, are:

• Astute business awareness and excellent problem-solving skills
• The ability to distinguish between legal and business issues
• An inquisitive mind and the ability to articulate and share knowledge and ideas
• The desire to provide exceptional service, and put clients at the heart of everything you do
• Outstanding leadership and collaboration skills and a natural enthusiasm for being part of a team
• The ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, high-pressure, high-performance environment
• Great oral and written communication skills.
• An eagerness to learn from those around you; to gain exposure within the Firm and beyond
• Pride in your work and a willingness to take responsibility for your own career.
• A genuine interest in the role, the Firm and its clients, and an understanding of how they align with your own skills and ambitions.

About the Firm

Clifford Chance is one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the Firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our One Firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

Our Firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part of an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Equal Opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our Firm, and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally, regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment, including pay, promotion, training, transfer, and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration, and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our Firm. Find out more on our website.

Apply now >

Please remember, you may only make one application to a scheme or role (either London Training Contract, Middle East Training Contract, or SPARK). Multiple applications will not be considered.

Please also be aware that we only review your application form . If you upload your CV, this will pre-populate some of your application; however, your CV will not be reviewed. Please do NOT upload a covering letter, as this will not be reviewed.