Training Contract - September 2028/March 2029 (Law and Non-Law Finalists and Graduates)

Our training contract is designed to offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters. You will be given responsibility from an early stage and the opportunity to work alongside partners, who, together with other team members in the firm, provide mentoring and individual support.

All of our trainees complete at least two six-month seats in our Corporate and M&A and Financing groups. Subject to gaining some contentious experience, your remaining time can be divided into two or three specialist areas or focused on one. 

Our overseas offices and close working relationships with market-leading law firms in other jurisdictions mean there are also opportunities for trainees to apply for a secondment in their second year; this can either be an international secondment (to destinations such as Paris,  Amsterdam, New York and Hong Kong), or a client secondment located in and around London. 

Find out more about our training contract here.

What do we look for?

For our training contracts, we are looking for law and non-law candidates with a good 2:1 at undergraduate level.  Our trainees come from a range of universities – it is the quality of the candidate, not the university that is important to us.

Across all of our opportunities, we are looking for candidates with:

• ·        a sharp intellect
• ·        drive and an interest in commercial law
• ·        commercial awareness
• ·        communication and interpersonal skills
• ·        resilience and resolve
• ·        independent thought and curiosity
• ·        a range of interests outside of the law
• ·        a good sense of humour
• ·        a willingness to take on responsibility

Who can apply?

For this vacancy, we are looking for law and non-law finalists and graduates. Applications for our September 2028/March 2029 Law intake for penultimate year law students, law finalists and law graduates will open in June 2026.

We have approximately 85 vacancies for trainee solicitors each year.

How to apply

To apply, you will be asked to complete an online application form and attach a CV and cover letter. You can find out more about the application process here. 

 

Applications close on 28 November 2025. We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible during an application window – training contract offers are made on a rolling basis.

About Slaughter and May

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised for our exceptional legal service and our commitment to clients.  The firm is a trusted adviser to some of the largest companies in the world, advising on high-profile, complex and often ground-breaking transactions. Our forward thinking, innovative approach to legal services complements the best-in-class advice on which our reputation is built. Excellence is deeply ingrained in our culture and absolutely central to everything we do at the firm.

We thrive on original thinking and novel approaches. Our inclusive culture gives rise to a unique diversity of thinking, which is critical to our success and helps maintain our position as a true market leader.  

Our practice areas

We are a full-service law firm and have leading practitioners across a wide range of areas including Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate and Commercial, Financing, Tax, Competition, Disputes and Investigations, Real Estate, Pensions and Employment, Financial Regulation, and Technology, Digital, Data and Intellectual Property. 

A world of difference

There are clear differences between Slaughter and May and other global law firms:

·        We train each of our lawyers to be a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters which at other firms would be handled by a number of different lawyers. This is hard work, but our lawyers say it makes for a far more fulfilling career. It provides challenge and interest, while allowing lawyers to develop deeper relationships with clients, because they get to know their businesses better.

·        Much of our work has an international element and we work with the very best law firms across the globe, hand-picked to meet the needs of each matter, to support our clients. On average we work with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries annually.  We never compromise on the quality and consistency for which we are widely recognised.   

 

·        Our inclusive culture is built on intentional collaboration and support. With no set billing targets, our lawyers are free to share expertise and knowledge, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – delivering exceptional work and outstanding client service.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is an integral part of how we do things as a firm. We believe that a supportive and inclusive workplace drives collaboration and enhances business performance. We are looking to employ the brightest minds regardless of what or where they studied. Traditional approaches to D&I are often skewed towards initiatives helping diverse individuals to "fit in” and succeed; we focus on examining and adjusting the system for greater acceptance of different leadership styles and ways of working.  

We welcome applications irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, belief or marital status.