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AllAboutLaw
Charles Russell Speechlys

Charles Russell Speechlys

Next deadline

Open Days 2026 · 12 Nov 2026

(17 days)

Apply now
In their own words

We're only human. And we consider that our superpower, not a weakness.

Snapshot

Firm type

International

UK offices

London, Guildford, Cheltenham

International offices

16 including Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai

Training contract places

25

Vacation scheme places

40

First-year salary

London: £52,000, Guildford: £42,000, Cheltenham: £41,000

Second-year salary

London: £55,000, Guildford: £45,000, Cheltenham: £44,000

Newly qualified salary

London: £93,000, Guildford: £67,000, Cheltenham: £66,000

Trainee retention

Not disclosed

SQE support

Full SQE1 and SQE2 funding with a maintenance grant. The opportunity to study at any University of Law campus.

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

No

Recruitment route

Direct training contract and vacation scheme

Rolling recruitment?

No

Seat structure

4 six-month long seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Typically not, as we want to ensure you receive a breadth of training

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, they are taken into account

Trainee salaries review

Annually

Non-law applicants

Actively encouraged

Career-changer applicants

Actively encouraged

Remote working

Standard hybrid only (with at least 3 days expected in the office)

Minimum academic requirements

2:1 overall at University, AAB at A-level or equivalent

Typical start time

9:30am

Typical finish time

6:30pm to 7:00pm

Wellbeing support

Mental health first aiders, neurodiversity support and coaching, private health insurance, dental insurance, discounted gym memberships, cycle to work scheme, eye care, employee assistance programme, virtual GP access, health assessments, access to health and wellbeing apps

Minimum holiday

25 days

Additional leave

Long service days, study leave where appropriate, qualification leave, parental leave, volunteering days

% female partners

29.2%

% BAME partners

8%

SQE1 and SQE2 funding

Yes, full funding

SQE1 and SQE2 maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Yes, full funding

Retrospective funding

No

Diversity programmes

Gender; Disability and Neurodiversity; LGBTQ+; Religion, Belief and Ethnicity; Social Mobility; Mental Health and Wellbeing; Working Parents and Carers
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Do you know what you may want to practice? You can only choose one office to apply to for a Training Contract or Placement Scheme so ensure that your interests are aligned with the office’s departments, because some have different practice strengths. You can read more about the firm's offices on their website.

Is early, direct client contact important to you?

Next deadline

Open Days 2026

12 Nov 2026

(17 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

"We do this by creating rewarding relationships and adopting a personal approach with total focus on client needs. We do this with kindness, empathy, attention, and clarity. No jargon, no attitude."

What this could mean for you
You will be put in front of clients early and often, and the firm will be watching how you build relationships just as much as how you handle the law.

"We're a very strong private capital firm, by which I mean not just private client work and acting for high-net-worth individuals, but also acting for a much broader range of clients."

What this could mean for you
You can do commercial, real estate and private wealth seats in the same training contract without compromising on the quality and calibre of work.

Practice area strengths

Private client

This is a particular specialism for the firm, working with high and ultra-high net-worth individuals and families.

Real estate

Our Real Estate sector is central to our firm and is one of the largest dedicated teams in London. The firm works with exciting clients across a wide range of sectors, including 4 out of the top 6 UK housebuilders, international property investment and development businesses, a number of London’s Great Estates, and some of the most renowned names across retail, sport, and hospitality. The firm offers our specific insights programme ‘CRED Academy’ for those interested in the built environment.

Corporate and M&A

This is a Chambers Band 1 practice, working with a broad client base including PE investors, family offices, and private capital. Recently, the group advised The Sun Group on their acquisition of The Hundred cricket franchise, Sunrisers Leeds.

All practice areas

Private clientReal estateCorporate / M&ABanking and financeCharitiesCommercialConstructionCorporateContractDebt recoveryEmploymentFamilyFinancial services and regulationImmigrationIntellectual propertyInternational arbitrationCourt of ProtectionPlanningPropertyReputation managementResidential propertyRestructuring and insolvencyWills, trusts and inheritanceWealth management
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

  • Do you know what you may want to practice? You can only choose one office to apply to for a Training Contract or Placement Scheme so ensure that your interests are aligned with the office’s departments, because some have different practice strengths. You can read more about the firm's offices on their website.
  • Is early, direct client contact important to you?

This firm may suit candidates who…

  • Are comfortable being a client's direct point of contact and have strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
  • Want to work on high-calibre work, without necessarily needing to be based in London.
  • Want to work with longstanding clients throughout their career and build meaningful connections with them.

Things to consider

  • Trainees are required to sit a contentious seat, and it is likely that you will sit a seat in a property practice.
  • You apply to work in a specific office and there are some differences in the practices in each.
Work-life reality

Work-life balance varies by team, seat and transaction cycle. This section is designed to help you understand the pattern, not reduce the experience to a score.

Flexibility

Standard hybrid only.

Holiday allowance

25 days, plus long service days, qualification leave, volunteering days and study leave where appropriate.

Office attendance

Trainees are expected to be in the office three days a week.
Application process

Application form

(1 to 2 hours)

What happens

Submitted using the Rare Candid portal.

Video interview

(15-20 minutes)

What happens

Pre-recorded interview with 5 questions. You’ll have a short amount of time to prepare your answer and then record your response. We encourage candidates to use the Charles Russell Speechlys practice interview on the Shortlister Platform.

Placement scheme with assessment

(1 week)

What happens

A one week placement scheme including an assessment centre.

Assessment Centre

(Half day)

What happens

Stages: Commercial written test, Group exercise, Senior Fee Earner and HR interview, Role-play task
Events
Essential skills for future trainee solicitors
Hear from trainee solicitors across international offices about the skills they use every day, the challenges they face and what they've learned along the way.
Tuesday 3 November
Secure your place
Opportunities
Open Days 2026

Charles Russell Speechlys

Charles Russell Speechlys

17 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 12 Nov 2026

View job