Construction, Real Estate & Disputes Academy 2026

Our Construction, Real Estate & Disputes (CRED) Academy is an interactive insights programme for undergraduates and graduates interested in the commercial property, construction and disputes sector.

Apply to our Construction, Real Estate & Disputes Academy – the CRED Academy - to immerse yourself in the commercial property, construction and disputes world, network with leading lawyers in the industry, and boost your applications for training contract opportunities.

What does the CRED Academy involve?

The CRED Academy consists of 3x in-person interactive workshops, which will help you build an understanding of the legal and commercial issues at play.

The first 3 sessions will cover each area of the Construction, Real Estate and Disputes division. You will be given the opportunity to:

• Learn about and discuss commercial and legal challenges
• Meet the wider team and build your network with leading property lawyers.
• Work as a group to navigate an exciting case study where you can build your legal skills and wider understanding of clients – see more information below. 

Our CRED Academy will follow the purchase and construction of ‘Eastmeadow’, an exciting (fictional) new retail and leisure centre. You will have the opportunity to advise a client on the whole property lifecycle and try your hand at advising the landlord and tenants on issues that arise once the centre is up and running.  

As part of Academy, the Early Talent team will tie your learning together and discuss how you can showcase your learnings if you go on to apply for training contracts or graduate schemes in the legal or property sector.

The CRED Academy dates are as below and we would expect candidates to attend all 3 sessions:

• Session 1 - 29 September 2026
• Session 2 - 20 October 2026
• Session 3 - 17 November 2026

Sessions will be in person at our London office – 5 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RD. Reasonable travel expenses will be covered, and refreshments will be provided. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we recommend where possible for candidates to travel via public transport.

Application process

We have 20 places available on the CRED Academy Scheme.

Applications will open on 29th June 2026 and close at midday (UK time) on 27th July 2026.

You’ll submit an application form through our Candid Application Portal.

Applications are open to anyone currently studying at university (1st years included), anyone studying a post-graduate course, or anyone who has already graduated.

Please note - you don’t need to be studying law or have confirmed your interest in a career in law. We are looking for individuals with a sector interest in property and construction.   

Eligibility

Do you have minimum grades?

Yes, we have minimum A-level and University grades. Please look at the below pages and FAQ pages to see these.

International students: We accept international grades and courses. Please include your grades gained in your international studies from the age of 16 – 18 at school and your university grades as well.

What if I don’t meet the minimum grades? You can still apply. We will look at the whole application. Please include any mitigating factors in the application form which affected your exam results. There is space in our form to include this within our online application form to do this under the ‘additional information’ section under the Education page, or under the ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ section).

We do not recruit on a rolling basis for our Open Days, Apprenticeships, CRED Academy, Placement Scheme or Training Contracts.