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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! 

London Training Contract

  • Employer Stephenson Harwood
  • Salary(1st Year) £48,500
  • Salary(2nd Year) £53,500
  • Location London, Dubai
  • Vacancies 25
  • Deadline31/07/2024

The AllAboutLaw perspective on Stephenson Harwood

Stephenenson 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 25 trainees recruited at a firm that has over 500 lawyers worldwide, 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 the 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.

With 57% revenue growth in the last five years, the fact that the firm won Law Firm of the Year in London at the Magic Circle Awards is no surprise. However, don’t think that this means the firm doesn’t focus on supporting its trainees. Trainees receive informal and formal feedback throughout their training contract, and receive mentoring from 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. The firm’s Paris team is even 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. 

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Academic requirements

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.

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.

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