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AllAboutLaw
RPC

RPC

Next deadline

Summer Scheme (London) 2027 · 11 Jan 2027

(77 days)

In their own words

Small intake, complex client work, early responsibility, close partner contact and a genuinely friendly culture.

Snapshot

Firm type

National

UK offices

Bristol, London

International offices

3 offices including Hong Kong, New York and Singapore

Training contract places

16

Vacation scheme places

28

First-year salary

London: £50,000; Bristol: £43,000

Second-year salary

London: £55,000; Bristol: £45,000

Newly qualified salary

London Corporate & Commercial / Disputes: £100,000; London Insurance: £85,000; Bristol Corporate & Commercial Disputes £70,000; Bristol Insurance: £60,000

Trainee retention

84%

SQE support

Full SQE and PGDL funding

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Not disclosed

Recruitment route

Both Vacation Scheme and direct Training Contract

Rolling recruitment?

Yes

Seat structure

4 six-month seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

No

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are considered

Trainee salaries basis

Reviewed annually

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career-changer applicants

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Standard hybrid working policy

Minimum academic requirements

Achieved or predicted 2:1 degree in any discipline

Typical start time

9:00am

Typical finish time

6:30pm

Retrospective funding

Yes
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Would you thrive in a relatively small trainee intake where you can take on meaningful responsibility early and become a visible member of the team?

Do you want close access to partners and clients, rather than working within large teams with several layers between trainees and senior lawyers?

Are you interested in RPC's particular strengths, including Insurance & Reinsurance, Disputes, and Technology, Media & Entertainment?

Would you value international and client-side experience, with potential secondments to Hong Kong, Singapore or client offices in the UK?

Does a friendly, down-to-earth and individualistic culture appeal to you, where RPC says people are encouraged to be themselves while delivering complex client work?

Next deadline

Summer Scheme (London) 2027

11 Jan 2027

(77 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

Small intakes, big responsibility

What this could mean for you
You could become a visible member of the team and take ownership early, while responsibility develops according to your ability and experience.

Close partner access from day one

What this could mean for you
You could have regular access to senior lawyers for questions, feedback and development, rather than interacting with partners only occasionally.

Early exposure to clients and complex work

What this could mean for you
Early exposure to clients and complex work

Practice area strengths

Insurance & Reinsurance

RPC has a longstanding heritage in Insurance & Reinsurance. The practice covers complex insurance and reinsurance matters, including claims and coverage issues, with trainees exposed to both the legal questions and the wider commercial realities of managing claims.

Disputes

RPC's disputes capability spans complex commercial and corporate litigation alongside areas including banking disputes, fraud, competition litigation, tax disputes and international arbitration. The firm's trainee description particularly emphasises understanding clients' commercial and reputational objectives alongside the legal issues.

Technology, Media & Entertainment

RPC advises technology, media and entertainment businesses on fast-moving commercial, regulatory and contentious issues. The practice encompasses areas including digital content, advertising, publishing, video games, technology, data and emerging regulatory developments.

All practice areas

CommercialCompetitionConstructionCorporate / M&AData, privacy and cybersecurityDispute resolutionEmploymentFraud, financial crime and investigationsInsuranceIntellectual propertyInternational arbitrationMedia and entertainmentReal estateRegulatory and complianceReinsuranceTaxTechnology, media and telecommunications
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself

  • Would you thrive in a relatively small trainee intake where you can take on meaningful responsibility early and become a visible member of the team?
  • Do you want close access to partners and clients, rather than working within large teams with several layers between trainees and senior lawyers?
  • Are you interested in RPC's particular strengths, including Insurance & Reinsurance, Disputes, and Technology, Media & Entertainment?
  • Would you value international and client-side experience, with potential secondments to Hong Kong, Singapore or client offices in the UK?
  • Does a friendly, down-to-earth and individualistic culture appeal to you, where RPC says people are encouraged to be themselves while delivering complex client work?

This firm may suit candidates who…

  • Want a relatively small trainee intake where they can take on meaningful responsibility and become closely involved in matters early.
  • Want close access to partners, associates and clients while working on complex matters.
  • Are particularly interested in Insurance & Reinsurance, Disputes, or Technology, Media & Entertainment.
  • Value international and client-side opportunities as part of their training.
  • Want a friendly, individualistic working environment with relatively flexible hybrid arrangements.

Things to consider

  • A smaller intake can make trainees more visible within teams, so you should be comfortable taking ownership as your skills develop rather than expecting to remain in a purely supporting role.
  • RPC says responsibility increases according to ability, so the level of responsibility and client exposure you receive may develop as you demonstrate that you are ready for it.
  • RPC's training structure reflects its practice strengths: London trainees complete at least one Insurance seat and one Corporate & Commercial or Disputes seat, so consider whether that practice mix genuinely appeals to you.
  • International and client secondments are available, including opportunities in Hong Kong, Singapore and UK client offices, but allocation varies by type and these opportunities should not be assumed to be guaranteed.
  • RPC's formal office requirement is a minimum of two days per week, but working arrangements still need to balance individual preferences with team and client requirements.
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.

Predictability

Working hours are generally manageable, although predictability varies by practice area, workload and client deadlines.

Busy periods

Workloads can increase around transaction completions, litigation deadlines and other time-sensitive matters. Some seats experience greater fluctuations between quieter and busier periods.

Late finishes

Later finishes occur occasionally, with some trainees working beyond 8pm during busier periods. The frequency varies between teams and practice areas.

Weekend work

Weekend work is generally uncommon, although urgent matters and significant deadlines may occasionally require additional availability.

Seat variation

Trainees complete four six-month seats, including at least one Insurance seat and one Corporate & Commercial or Disputes seat. Working patterns and responsibilities vary between departments.

Support

Includes Unmind, in-app workouts, Work+Family Space, Employers for Carers, Peppy, Employee Assistance Programme, private medical insurance and discounted gym memberships.

Flexibility

RPC operates a flexible hybrid-working policy, allowing teams to agree arrangements that balance individual preferences with client and business needs.

Holiday allowance

25 days

Office attendance

The formal expectation is a minimum of two days per week in the office.
Culture & support

Supervision style

Trainees have a structured support network including a Supervising Partner and Associate for day-to-day guidance, alongside a mentor and the Early Talent team. RPC says responsibility is tailored to ability and increases as trainees develop.

Relationship with partners

RPC positions close partner access as a defining feature of its smaller trainee intake. Its open-plan, non-hierarchical office structure is intended to give trainees regular proximity to partners and associates.

Open plan or traditional offices

Open plan
Application process

Online application form

(1-2 hours)

Cappfinity online assessment

(40 minutes)

Assessment centre

(Half day)

Events
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