Linklaters LLP |

Linklaters is one of the world’s leading law firms. We are a high-performing, diverse team of exceptional, talented and highly motivated individuals who handle the biggest and most transformational mandates for the world’s leading corporates, banks and financial sponsors.

We are bold and ambitious. Our goal is always to deliver the best results for our clients and each other. We focus relentlessly on innovation, efficiency and agility to meet our clients’ commercial needs and deliver beyond their expectations. If you are a major corporate or financial services company undertaking complex deals globally, Linklaters is the firm for you.

Our people are creative, commercial and committed, working with you to crystallise your organisation’s opportunities and manage your risks. Their expertise and our reach, through 30 offices in 20 countries, will enable you to achieve your corporate goals. Your success is key to us. With almost 200 years of guiding business through historical, economic and commercial changes, we have a heritage of long-lasting relationships and groundbreaking work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the pulse of our firm, running through our global business strategy and firmly embedded in our culture and values. We are committed to using our position as a global business to create fairer systems and a more inclusive culture within our firm and beyond in accordance with all applicable local laws and regulations.

We know our differences make us a better and stronger law firm. Our mission is to use the power of our diversity to make a positive contribution to our clients, our communities and each other.

We take a global approach to delivering meaningful progress across our six priority focus areas, empowering our local teams to drive actions that make sense in a local context. That way, change is meaningful, sustainable and has impact.

We will continue to hold ourselves accountable to our commitments, celebrating what we’ve achieved together and being open about the challenges we still face on our journey.

Our Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes are the best route to gaining a Training Contract with us. Spend two or three weeks in our London office, gaining an in depth and realistic insight into the role of a trainee solicitor at Linklaters. Not only will you experience our work, culture and training, you’ll also be paid £500 per week.

The Work

Insight sessions: To support you gaining a well-rounded insight into the firm, we organise various sessions throughout the scheme. Expect to experience our DEI training firsthand, in-depth overviews into our core practice areas, and hear from our pro bono and innovation teams.

Real work: You’ll gain exposure to real work through sitting in a practice area of your choice. You’ll be fully integrated into the team working on live matters and interacting with our clients.

Projects and tasks: Throughout the scheme, you’ll be given assessed tasks, real work from your principal and the opportunity to collaborate with your cohort on a group client pitch exercise.

Culture, Socials and Support

Culture and Socials: Experience the firm culture through informal interactions, lunches and Silks coffee catch ups, and join our DEI networks, faith groups and sports clubs/gym. There will also be scheduled Vacation Scheme socials so you can network with your cohort and our lawyers.

Support: To ensure you are fully supported, you will have dedicated trainee buddy, sit with your principal (a qualified Associate) and a Trainee Recruitment contact on hand to answer questions and give advice.

Final Training Contract Interview: At the end of the scheme, you will have a guaranteed interview for a Training Contract with a Partner and Managing Associate.

Measuring your success: Training Contract decisions will be made based on your overall performance across the scheme, focusing on three assessed elements. These are: feedback from your principal, feedback on assessed tasks and performance in the final Training Contract interview. In-depth feedback will be provided on all of these elements.

London Training Contract

Over the two years, you’ll rotate around four six-month seats (placements) and get to work on the most complex transactions for the world’s leading banks, corporates and financial sponsors. There's no substitute for the depth and quality of insight that comes from spending six months in a department. Whilst you will be based in London, there will also be the chance to go on an international or client secondment. And at the end of your Training Contract, you'll be able to make a well-informed decision about where to start your career.

In each department, you'll sit with a Principal (a senior lawyer), who is on hand to train and supervise. A Group Trainee Solicitor Partner will also give you additional support. With ongoing feedback, you'll have ample opportunity to discuss progress with the Trainee Development Team and draw up a training plan. And as you define your interests, you'll also have the flexibility to change your preference as you go. You'll also benefit from world-class seminars and training modules that are specific to your seat and practice area.

Key Dates and Eligibility London Training Contract

Eligibility:

• Penultimate year and final year undergraduates, graduates and postgraduate students
• Open to law and non-law students
• Have between two-four weeks of continuous legal work experience (paralegal role, vacation scheme or legal internship)

Application window:

• 1 September 2025 – 3 December 2025

Start Dates:

• September 2028 and March 2029

Pathfinder is our flagship first-year insight and development programme, giving aspiring commercial lawyers a taste of life at a global law firm. Your journey with us will start with two days in-person at our London office, followed by a six-month virtual series of professional development sessions. Once completed, you’ll be ready to be fast-tracked to a Linklaters Vacation Scheme assessment centre.

Day 1 & 2

Day 1

Join your cohort in the London HQ for a Partner led introduction, a commercial understanding masterclass and an afternoon of work shadowing in a practice area of your choice. The evening will be spent socialising and networking with your peers and trainees, associates and Trainee Recruitment team.

Day 2

Return to Silk Street for a tailored Personal Brand Masterclass, more work shadowing and the opportunity to ask questions to lawyers of all levels. 

6-month development programme

We value ongoing development so after your initial two days with us, we will provide you with exclusive resources and sessions for you to hone your legal skills and develop your understanding of the legal sector. You’ll also be paired up with a lawyer from a practice area of your choice for a 1-1 coaching session.

Vacation Scheme Assessment Centre

All candidates who complete the programme will be in the best possible position to secure a Vacation Scheme with us and will be fast-tracked to an assessment centre.

Key Dates and Eligibility

Eligibility:

• First year students studying a three-year undergraduate degree
• Second year students studying a four-year undergraduate degree
• Open to law and non-law students at UK or Irish universities

Application window:

• Applications open 2 December 2025 and closes 4 February 2026

Scheme Dates:

• In-person dates: Scheme 1:7 April 2026 and 8 April 2026 / Scheme 2: 9 April and 10 April 2026
• Development series: one session a month from May – September 2026