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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance

Next deadline

Trainee Solicitor or Vacation Scheme Intern · 18 Nov 2026

(22 days)

Apply now
In their own words

Global reach. Early responsibility. Exceptional training. Outstanding colleagues.

Snapshot

Firm type

Magic Circle

UK offices

London, Newcastle

International offices

30, including New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore

Training contract places

90

Vacation scheme places

60

First-year salary

£56,000

Second-year salary

£61,000

Newly qualified salary

£150,000

Trainee retention

76%

SQE support

Full funding for SQE 1&2 and PGDL, plus maintenance grant

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

No

Non-law applicants

Actively recruited

Career changer applications

Welcomed

Seat structure

4 seats, 6 months each

Rolling recruitment

No

Solicitor apprenticeship

Not offered

Minimum academic requirements

2:1 minimum. Strong A-levels expected but assessed contextually through RARE's Contextual Recruitment System. No required degree subject or university.
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Are you comfortable competing against your own cohort for seats? You get 200 points for the whole training contract, and trainees who spend 180 on one seat take whatever is left for the other three.

Would you move abroad at short notice, or would you rather stay in London for the full two years? Over a quarter of trainees are on secondment at any given time.

Do you want to be one of ninety trainees a year, or would you rather train somewhere with a smaller intake? Trainees describe departmental cultures rather than a single firm culture.

Next deadline

Trainee Solicitor or Vacation Scheme Intern

18 Nov 2026

(22 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

“We set the bar high and expect our people to reach even higher.”

What this could mean for you
This recognises that the culture of the firm values high intensity and high performance. You may feel out of your comfort zone in week one; however, this can accelerate your professional development faster than firms with a different approach.

“Today we remain a fully-integrated partnership – one team collaborating across borders and disciplines.”

What this could mean for you
Clifford Chance is incentivised to collaborate and share clients meaning that cross-border work can be both common and seamless. As a trainee you may deal with many cross-border matters, meaning that you may be involved in international calls, working with international local legal counsel and already have connections at other offices if you choose to go on secondment.

“With AI adoption across the firm above 90%, these investments are driving greater efficiency, deeper insight and faster execution, helping to create value for clients at scale.“

What this could mean for you
AI use and performance is embedded into the billable hour infrastructure. The initial “grunt work” that a trainee may receive becomes far more limited as the tech handles that side, rather you may use that time to work on more stimulating aspects of the profession.

All practice areas

Banking and financeCapital marketsCorporateMergers and acquisitions (M&A)AntitrustData centresEnergy transitionFinanceFundsInvestment managementIntellectual propertyLitigationDispute resolutionPensionsReal estateSustainabilityESGTaxTechnology
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself

  • Are you comfortable competing against your own cohort for seats? You get 200 points for the whole training contract, and trainees who spend 180 on one seat take whatever is left for the other three.
  • Would you move abroad at short notice, or would you rather stay in London for the full two years? Over a quarter of trainees are on secondment at any given time.
  • Do you want to be one of ninety trainees a year, or would you rather train somewhere with a smaller intake? Trainees describe departmental cultures rather than a single firm culture.

This firm may suit candidates who...

  • Want international work and are prepared to move for it.
  • Are comfortable in a large cohort and can make their own opportunities.
  • Want top-of-market pay and accept the expectations that follow.

Things to consider

  • An international secondment competes for the same 200 points as your seat choices.
  • Around 200 trainees at once; trainees describe departmental cultures rather than one firm culture.
  • £150,000 on qualification, with 50 pro bono hours a year expected on top of Magic Circle expectations
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.

Seat variation

Four six-month seats, allocated by a 200-point bidding system. One contentious seat is compulsory. Most trainees do a Global Financial Markets seat as it is the largest group.

Support

On-site gym and health services, private GP, private medical cover, mental health champions, sports and social clubs, "life, work and wellbeing" service.

Holiday allowance

25 days minimum

Office attendance

60% in office
Application process

Online application form

Watson Glaser Test

(30 minutes)

What happens

40 questions. Link issued within 2 working days of applying. Pass banked for two recruitment cycles. AI use prohibited.

Video interview

What happens

Live video interview

Assessment Day

(Full day)

What happens

The assessment day takes place in person in London.

Assessing

Combined case study and competency interview with a partner and a senior associate, plus a written task and a group exercise.

How to prepare

A preparation webinar is offered beforehand.
Opportunities
Trainee Solicitor or Vacation Scheme Intern

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance

22 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 18 Nov 2026

View job
Trainee Solicitor

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance

23 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 19 Nov 2026

View job
Insights
The Real Contract
Application Process: 5 ways to ace your application
Application Process: 5 FAQs about a London assessment day
Student & Graduate Opportunities: 5 FAQs about the London Training Contract
Student & Graduate Opportunities: 5 things to know about SPARK
Student & Graduate Opportunities: 5 things to know about ACCESS
About the Training Contract: 5 things you'll benefit from after securing your Training Contract offer
About the Training Contract: 5 FAQs on achieving SQE success