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Shoosmiths

Shoosmiths

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In their own words

Shoosmiths brings together legal excellence, fresh thinking and innovative solutions to help clients succeed and people thrive.

Snapshot

Firm type

National

UK offices

Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Manchester

International offices

Brussels

Training contract places

16

Vacation scheme places

22

First-year salary

London: £45,000, Regions: £35,000, Scotland: £31,000

Second-year salary

London: £45,000, Regions: £35,000, Scotland: £31,000

Newly qualified salary

London: £105,000, Regions: £67,000, Scotland: £60,500

Trainee retention

Not disclosed

SQE support

Yes - full funding

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

No

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

No

Typical secondment locations

UK client offices

Office attendance policy

3 days minimum

Recruitment route

Direct training contract and vacation scheme

Solicitor apprenticeship places

2

Recruitment screening

Non-rolling

Seat structure

4 six-month long seats

Can trainees repeat seats?

Sometimes (case-by-case)

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes (not guaranteed)

Salary review

Fixed for the duration of the training contract

Non-law applicants welcome?

Yes

Career changer applicants welcome?

Yes

Training contract academic requirements

A minimum of CCC at A-level (or equivalent), and a degree (or working towards one)

Solicitor apprenticeship academic requirements

5 GCSEs at A-C (or equivalent) including English and Maths, a minimum of CCC at A level (or equivalent)

Remote working

Standard hybrid

Typical start time

9:00am (team dependent)

Typical finish time

17:30 (dependent on workload)

Average working hours per week

37.5 hours typically

Holiday allowance

25 days

Pro bono

Formal pro bono programme

Parental leave

The firm offers a comprehensive enhanced parental leave package, which applies to trainees as employees of the firm. This includes a co-parent leave policy and enhanced neonatal care pay. Employees are also supported on return to work through flexible working arrangements.

Wellbeing support

Employee assistance programme (EAP), mental health & wellbeing champions, wellbeing hub, thrive mental wellbeing app, HealthHero / wellbeing app support, worklife central resources, Bupa private medical insurance, dental cover, health assessments and healthcare cash plan, discounted gym and fitness membership, cycle to work scheme, financial wellbeing tools, LawCare support, HR advisory support for wellbeing queries, inclusion networks

SQE1 and SQE2 funding

Full

SQE maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Yes

Retrospective funding

No
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Are you happy working predominantly with UK companies?

Do you prefer working within smaller teams, with a smaller trainee cohort compared to other national firms?

Is the opportunity of an international secondment something you’re willing to sacrifice?

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

Recognised as one of Europe’s most innovative law firms, it continuously challenges how legal services are delivered by blending legal, consulting and digital solutions.

What this could mean for you
Lawyers at Shoosmiths advise clients on more than just black-letter-law, helping with entrepreneurial decisions and general business advice. Trainees will be expected to understand their clients’ industries and learn about the operational challenges to help in providing this bespoke business advice.

Practice area strengths

Corporate

Your team might be advising: technology and AI companies raising investment or scaling their business; energy and infrastructure clients developing or acquiring renewable projects; consumer and retail brands expanding into new markets or being bought or sold.

Infrastructure

Your team might be advising: mobility, logistics and manufacturing clients developing warehouses, logistics hubs or EV infrastructure; consumer and retail clients with large property portfolios, including retail parks and multi‑site estates; or energy and infrastructure clients securing land for solar, wind or other major projects.

Litigation

Your team might be advising: financial services clients involved in lending or regulatory disputes; technology and AI businesses dealing with contractual or data‑related issues; or mobility, logistics and manufacturing clients facing supply chain or operational disputes.

All practice areas

CorporateInfrastructureLitigationDispute resolutionIntellectual propertyData, privacy and cybersecurityReal estateRegulatory and complianceCommercialTaxHealthcarePeople and rewardHousebuildingEnergyContract
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

  • Are you happy working predominantly with UK companies?
  • Do you prefer working within smaller teams, with a smaller trainee cohort compared to other national firms?
  • Is the opportunity of an international secondment something you’re willing to sacrifice?

This firm may suit candidates who...

  • Want to work with UK companies as they expand and become multinational companies.
  • Are looking to live outside of London whilst still working with major corporate players.
  • Have particular interests in the firm’s specialist sectors: tech and AI, retail, logistics, financial services and energy.

Something to consider

  • With offices dotted around the UK, the firm offers trainees the chance to work in industries other law firms are less proficient in, working with large household retailers and fledgling companies beginning to expand internationally.
What trainees do

Corporate

What it involves:

Advising technology and AI companies raising investment or scaling their business; helping energy and infrastructure clients develop or acquire renewable projects; and advising consumer and retail brands expanding into new markets or being bought/sold.

Example trainee tasks:

Carry out due diligence on target companies and summarise key risks; draft supporting documents such as board minutes and shareholder resolutions; manage transaction checklists and help keep deals on track; support the team on client calls and document signing processes.

Litigation

What it involves:

Advising financial services clients involved in lending or regulatory disputes; technology and AI businesses dealing with contractual or data‑related issues; and mobility, logistics and manufacturing clients facing supply chain or operational disputes.

Example trainee tasks:

Carry out legal research and draft short notes to support case strategy; review documents as part of disclosure and identify key evidence; prepare court bundles and assist with filings; draft basic correspondence and support the team ahead of hearings or mediations.

Real estate

What it involves:

Advising mobility, logistics and manufacturing clients developing warehouses, logistics hubs or EV infrastructure; consumer and retail clients with large property portfolios, including retail parks and multi‑site estates, and energy and infrastructure clients securing land for solar, wind or other major projects.

Example trainee tasks:

Draft leases, licences to occupy and agreements for lease; carry out title searches and review property documents to identify risks; support on reports on title and prepare summaries for clients; liaise with clients, agents and local authorities to progress transactions.

Application process

Online application

(1-2 hours)

Strengths-based assessment

(Up to 60 minutes)

What happens

Provided by Cappfinity

Assessment centre

(Full day)

What happens

Two group activities, verbal presentation with preparation time, interview.
Insights
Working at Shoosmiths
#ShoosmithsLIVE: Becoming a Trainee Solicitor at Shoosmiths
#ShoosmithsLIVE: Five Skills You Need to Work in a Law Firm
#ShoosmithsLIVE: Client Secondments on a Training Contract
#ShoosmithsLIVE: 2019 | Training Contract Tips and Q & A
We are Shoosmiths