Vacation Placement - Belfast

Your gateway to Pinsent Masons

Our vacation placement programme is the perfect introduction to Pinsent Masons and a pathway to securing a training contract at the firm. We meticulously design, structure, and develop the programme to provide you with an experience that is both practical and enjoyable, while genuinely reflecting the trainee solicitor experience.

Navigating your vacation placement journey

Our two-week vacation placement programme often serves as the first opportunity for many individuals to work in a professional setting. We ensure this initial step is a smooth one through a UK-wide induction, welcoming you to the firm and encouraging you to seize every opportunity. You will gain comprehensive exposure to one specific practice area which will allow you to build strong relationships, engage deeply in the team's work, and enjoy a significant level of responsibility. You will be paired with a dedicated supervisor and a buddy who will guide you throughout the placement, assign hands-on tasks, provide constructive feedback, and address any questions you may have about the firm.

Building professional skills

The primary goal of our programme is to give you the chance to experience what it means to be part of the Pinsent Masons team and to develop transferable professional skills, boosting your confidence along the way. Additionally, this is an excellent opportunity to understand the social dynamics, forge friendships, and begin constructing a valuable network of contacts for your future career.

Vacation placement to training contract

If you are offered a placement, it signifies that we already recognise you as a potential trainee. During your time with us, we will strive to give you every opportunity to validate our confidence in you. This is why our vacation placement students are not required to submit a separate application for our training contract programme; in our perspective, you are already being considered. Throughout your placement, we will facilitate your development of knowledge, skills, and confidence, gathering feedback from your team to assess the outcome of your training contract application.

Candidates typically make applications for our vacation placement programme in the penultimate year of their degree, seeking to commence their training contract the following year.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Our firm is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, partnering with organisations such as the 10,000 Interns Foundation, Aspiring Solicitors, and Bright Network to promote and support applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Eligibility Requirements:

120+ UCAS points or above from your best three A-levels or equivalent

2.1 degree or above already gained or predicated to achieve

You must intend to apply to the Institution of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) for a place on the Solicitors Course or to be completing the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) to enable you to commence a training contract in September 2027.

You must also meet one of the following:

• You have reached the penultimate year of a qualifying law degree or beyond and are seeking a training contract starting September 2027

• You are currently enrolled on a Law Conversion Course and are seeking a training contract in 2027

• You have already graduated with a qualifying law degree and are seeking a training contract starting September 2027

If you don’t meet the above minimum academic criteria but you have mitigating circumstances, there’s an opportunity for you to include this information in your registration form.

Key Dates:

• Applications open: 01 September 2025

• Applications close: 28 January 2026 at 12pm

• Assessment centre: Between February and March 2026

• Programme start: 01 June 2026

• Programme duration: 2 weeks

We do not offer ad hoc placement opportunities, so you must make sure you're available for the full placement during the above dates.