Covington & Burling LLP |

Covington & Burling LLP was founded in Washington, DC a century ago. Today, Covington has more than 1,000 lawyers and advisers across our offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

We offer services across a wide range of practice areas, advising clients on their most challenging and complex matters. Most of the work has an international element, and all our practice groups operate across borders. Our distinctively collaborative culture allows us to be truly one team globally, drawing on the diverse experience of lawyers across the firm.

At Covington, you will have an opportunity to work on cutting-edge deals for international and UK corporates such as Microsoft, Astra Zeneca and Facebook, Fortune 100 businesses and leading technology, life sciences and media companies. We have represented Facebook, Inc in its US$22 billion acquisition of WhatsApp and its US$1 billion acquisition of Instagram. We also advised Illumina on a four-year project that will map genomes for breakthroughs into cancer and rare diseases. Most recently we have advised on a deal in which Pfizer & BioNTech have agreed to work together to develop a covid-19 vaccine.

As a trainee at Covington you will have early responsibility and exposure. Working within small teams and playing a significant role in complex substantive work, our trainees work closely with senior lawyers and partners, and have a chance to make a real impact on work that matters.

We offer trainees the opportunity to work on complex projects for clients such as Microsoft, Astra Zeneca and Meta, and engage in cutting-edge pro bono matters. We have advised pharmaceutical manufacturers on purchase and distribution agreements relating to manufacture and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, acted for ACWA Power in relation to the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project in Saudi Arabia, and represented Ukraine against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice.

Tailor your application

Do your research to gain an understanding of what trainee life at Covington would be like. Attend some of our events, and search the website to gain an understanding of what makes Covington unique and why this appeals to you. We want to hear about you, so make sure to tell us about both your legal and non-legal experience and how those transferable skills would make you a great trainee at the firm.

Show us you can write like a lawyer

Demonstrate strong written communication skills throughout your application form. As a lawyer you will need to communicate complex ideas clearly and succinctly, show us that you are already developing those skills throughout your application form.

Get the basics right

Do not copy and paste from one application to the next, and make sure that you proof read your application before submission. Small spelling and grammatical mistakes can let down an otherwise strong application.

Be a team player

Our trainee intakes are small so you will play a significant role in teams from early on and will be relied upon to deliver. Show us throughout the application process that you have the ability to work well in a team and can work towards a common goal.

Be yourself

We look for trainees who are well rounded, so don’t be afraid to let your personality and passions shine throughout the application process. Our trainees are all different, feel free to discuss your life experiences and interests to make yourself stand out.

Covington is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive firm, where all colleagues are supported and have access to opportunities. We recognise that diversity enriches our culture, enhances our work with clients, and strengthens the profession. Our efforts extend to traditionally underrepresented and historically excluded groups. We are intentional, deliberate, and focused, and implement a broad range of initiatives to support DEI within our firm while advancing these values in the legal profession.

Our approach includes the elements of a strong DEI program, including infrastructure, educational programs, communications, and events about the importance of DEI. We develop forward-looking initiatives and inclusive policies tailored towards strengthening the firm and celebrating the diversity of our colleagues, to ensure we provide equitable opportunities for everyone.

We also have diversity committees in each of our Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia offices, with which we partner to champion the integration of policies to support colleagues from our Firm Resource Groups. Senior lawyer leads work with local DEI committees in each of our EMEA offices who ensure we are progressing against our DEI goals at the local level. The committees host firm-wide educational heritage month programming to celebrate the histories, representation, and contributions of our colleagues.

Our Firm Resource Groups are a critical part of Covington’s inclusive approaches and practices. These groups support our colleagues who historically have been under-represented, excluded, and/or marginalised in the legal profession. All Firm Resource Groups are open to lawyers and professional staff, and many actively engage allies. The Firm Resource Groups foster community-building and member connections, promote broad firm education and awareness on the experiences of their members, and advocate for practices that enhance our inclusive workplace.

CovPride

The CovPride Resource Group creates an inclusive environment and community where LGBTQ+ colleagues feel safe, can bring their authentic selves to work, and can actively engage with and feel supported by members and allies. The group focuses on promoting community and belonging, supporting the growth of the LGBTQ+ community, fostering career growth (including providing members access to mentors and advocates), and championing education and advocacy.

Disability and Neurodiversity Network

The Disability and Neurodiversity Network is a community that focuses on support of persons with disabilities (visible and non-visible) and neurodivergences. The network welcomes colleagues who are disabled and/or neurodivergent, as well as allies who are interested in supporting disability and neurodiversity-related issues. The network aims to cultivate a culture of accessibility and inclusivity at Covington by providing support for members, advocating for inclusive firm practices, and hosting learning programs to help educate colleagues, often in celebration of observances such as Disability Pride Month and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Multicultural Network

The Multicultural Network (MCN) is a network for members of our Asian Pacific Islanders, Black, Latino, and Middle Eastern and North African Firm Resource Groups and allies. The MCN promotes DEI within our EMEA offices, through idea sharing and organised events and activities that focus on ethnic and racial diversity matters.

Social Mobility and First Generation Professionals

The Social Mobility and First Generation Professionals Resource Group provides a support network for those already at the firm from socially mobile backgrounds. The network aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those from socially mobile backgrounds and reduce barriers.

Women’s Forum

The Women’s Forum fosters greater interaction among women at all levels of the firm. Through regularly scheduled programs and initiatives, the Forum provides an opportunity for our women lawyers and professional staff to develop their internal network and address issues of common interest, such as career growth, mentoring, business and professional development. The Women’s Forum has chapters in each of our 14 offices globally.

Examples of firm-wide DEI initiatives and programs, include:

Inclusive Leader Training , firm leaders participate in inclusive leadership programmes, focused on strengthening their DEI fluency and competency. We developed Covington's Inclusive Leadership program with the knowledge that inclusive skills and behaviours practiced by leaders promote greater engagement and retention.

DEI Goals in Practice Group plans and Senior Lawyers Annual Commitments , all senior lawyers at the firm are required to include a DEI goal in their annual commitments. Senior lawyers meet with leadership to review their commitments. In addition, DEI goals are required in our practice group and industry group annual business plans. The Management Committee meets quarterly with each group and reviews progress against plans, including their DEI goals.

Women’s Mentoring Programme , connects junior women associates across the EMEA region with senior women lawyers, enabling junior associates to have connections across offices and in person with their mentors.

DEI Billable Hours Credit policy , enabling associates and counsel to include up to 50 hours of DEI-related activities toward bonus eligibility.

Covington Connected , our biennial DEI Summit, in Washington, D.C. The summit brought together more than 350 lawyers and advisors who are racially or ethnically diverse and/or identify with the LGBTQ+ community. This event provided a forum for colleagues to strengthen relationships with each other through programming designed to advance inclusion at Covington. Attendees heard from leadership experts and participated in activities centred around the primary theme of “Leading with Purpose," exploring ways in which we can connect ourselves, our work, and our organisations to a deeper sense of meaning – all of which leads to a stronger firm.

In recognition of our comprehensive DEI efforts, Covington has received the following external awards and accolades:

• Human Rights Campaign “Corporate Equality Index” Survey: scored 100 for 15 consecutive years.
• Law 360 Pulse’s 2023 Social Impact Leaders: ranked 4th among the 100 largest law firms.
• Law 360 Pulse’s 2024 Diversity Snapshot: ranked 19th among firms with 600+ lawyers, based on representation of attorneys who identify as racial/ethnic minorities.
• Mansfield Rule Certification Plus achieved every year since 2018.
• Seramount’s 2024 Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity: ranked among the top 20 firms and has been ranked amongst the top 50 firms for the past three years.
• Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF): achieved U.S. and UK Gold Standard Certification in 2023, representing the ninth year the firm has been recognized in the U.S. and the fourth year it has been recognized for both countries.
• 2023 Chambers Student Survey: scored 100% on efforts to recruit and promote lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Memberships

• Black Solicitors Network (BSN)
• Charta der Vielfalt
• East Asian Lawyers Organisation (EALO)
• InterLaw Diversity Forum
• IntoUniversity
• Legal Diversity and Inclusion Alliance (LDIA)
• NOTICED
• Social Mobility Pledge