Apply now!

Stephenson Harwood Graduate Careers

Welcome to Stephenson Harwood's law firm hub. Find out everything you need to know about the firm, and how to apply for one of their opportunities! 

Apply now!

The AllAboutLaw perspective on Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood trainees get the best of both worlds: the chance to work at an award-winning, multinational law firm but also the chance to work in small teams and be exposed to clients. With only a small cohort of trainees recruited annually, past trainees have praised the “extensive exposure to clients and stimulating cutting-edge projects.”

Throughout their training contract, trainees at Stephenson Harwood can get involved in a variety of different practice areas, ranging from standard employment and real estate to the more niche specialities of yachts and art law. With over 40 languages spoken by staff, every day, trainees get the chance to work with a different legal jurisdiction and provide advice to clients all over the world. Trainees can develop these skills further with an international secondment, with past trainees heading to Paris and Dubai.

Trainees are well supported within the firm, receiving informal and formal feedback throughout their training contract. Trainees are also mentored by a partner or senior associate. Past trainees have appreciated that “the partners treat trainees as a core element of the firm’s present and future” and, as a result, feel “as though I’m making an impact here.”

Aside from legal work, corporate responsibility is very important to the firm. Trainees provide free legal advice to the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau and raise money each year for a chosen charity. With a focus on environmental sustainability, projects have also included providing pro bono advice to a company working on a three-year marine expedition to find solutions to reduce plastic waste. 

What the firm says

At Stephenson Harwood, no two days are the same. Given the firm’s international capability, every day you’ll find yourself working on high-profile, multi-million pound cases. In the past, the firm has advised yacht owners on a 143m mega-yacht, and helped Great Western Developments on the financing of a £835 million development in West London. Stephenson Harwood even helped settle on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, ending one of the longest running cases in British legal history. The firm even works with a variety of household names, such as Hotel Chocolat and the Royal Bank of Scotland. This wide variety of clients as well as practice areas (life sciences, art law and real estate, to name but a few) allows trainees to learn about a wide range of industries and thus further develop their legal skills. 

Apply now!

Data

• 1st Year Trainee Salary£48,500
• 2nd Year Trainee Salary£53,500
• GDL Course Fees paidYes
• GDL Living Costs Grant£12,000
• LPC/SQE course fees paidYes
• Retention rate95%
• UK Offices1 (London)
• NQ Salary£95,000
• SQE Living Cost Grant£12,000

Sustainability

Sustainability is incredibly important to this law firm. The firm has signed up to the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance pledge, which is a movement committed to finding more sustainable ways to attract early talent.

Academic requirements

• UCAS points 320
• Degree 2:1

Firstly we look for a quick intellect. As well as at least a 2:1 in any subject area plus 320 UCAS points or equivalent, you'll need strong analytical skills, sound judgment, imagination and meticulous attention to detail. Also vital are the communication skills to be persuasive and build rapport, plenty of drive and determination, plus a keen interest in business.

Apply now!

Diversity interests

Stephenson Harwood is committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in the workplace, believing we work best when we work somewhere that values us for who we are.

• Hub home
• Jobs
• Applications
• FAQs
• People
• Video
• Diversity