Arnold & Porter - True Picture

Arnold & Porter training contract review 2025

The Firm

When doing your research on law firms, it’s always a good idea to find out what separates them. At Arnold & Porter, it’s undoubtedly the firm’s emphasis on all things life sciences. The firm even has its own blog, BioSlice, which covers updates and legal developments in the space all over Europe. In fact, it’s the firm’s prowess in the space that has tempted some of its trainees over from industry roles. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, then, that the firm bags top-tier Chambers UK rankings in life sciences regulatory and product liability (rankings which, it should be added, the firm has held for over a decade). We would be remiss not to also mention the firm's notable capabilities in financial crime, commercial litigation and public international law.

“It is deeply ingrained in the firm's culture, both here and in the US.”

Like some of the other US firms in London, pro bono in particular is “a priority” at Arnold & Porter: “It is deeply ingrained in the firm's culture, both here and in the US. Everyone does it on all levels and people are very enthusiastic about it.” Talking of the US, Arnold & Porter’s roots are in DC, but the firm has offices all over the States, from Boston, LA, New York, San Francisco and Chicago to Houston, Silicon Valley, Denver and Newark. There are also offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Seoul and Shanghai if that wasn’t enough for you. Arnold & Porter takes on up to four trainees each year, something that the current crop thought was an “attractive prospect,” as it was felt that a smaller head count allowed “more ownership over the work.”

The Seats

Trainees described the seat allocation process as “semi-formal,” where newbies are able to state their preferences ahead of joining the firm: “They made sure I got the seat I wanted right at the very beginning,” one told us, “which took out all of the uncertainty around whether or not I would get it.” We heard that there aren’t any compulsory seats at Arnold & Porter, and “with so few trainees, there is room to accommodate personal preferences according to business needs, so there is no inter-trainee competition for seats.” This enables trainees at the firm to tailor their training contract to their interests: “For example, you could make it very transactional or litigation-heavy if that’s something you wanted to do.” If business need allows, you may be lucky enough to land a regional secondment.

“It is rewarding to see that your work is being recognised in the news, that it is making a difference on some level.”

Given the firm’s focus, it’s not surprising that a life sciences seat is a popular choice for trainees at Arnold & Porter. Interviewees described it as “a nice balance of regulatory and life sciences work” where you will be given plenty of responsibility “to meet and advise clients about the risk of bringing a product to market. So, you end up with a good holistic view of this area of law.” The ‘clients’ mentioned here are worth highlighting too, especially when the firm’s list of previous collaborations include ones with the likes of Pfizer and AstraZeneca. In one recent case, the firm advised German biotech company Bayer on matters relating to the supply of blood products in the 1970s-90s – now the subject of the Infected Blood Inquiry. As one trainee put it: “It is rewarding to see that your work is being recognised in the news, that it is making a difference on some level.”

Another popular destination for trainees is white-collar, and the insiders were clear on why: “The whole firm has a fantastic culture, but the white-collar team stands out specifically,” one trainee explained. “They take extra care to maintain an extra positive environment, and the entire team is very diverse.” This diversity applies to the work, too: “The task variety is very high. You don’t only work on cases that might be litigated and go to trial; you also have the opportunity to take part in internal investigations.” These investigations give trainees the chance to “play detective” by conducting “fact-finding interviews with employees,” which in turn allow you to offer recommendations and determine whether there has been “risk exposure or any breaches.” The consensus among trainees was that white-collar is one of the more structured seats, where you “are able to see the life cycle of an investigation, from the initial stages through to the report.” To give some impression of the scale of the firm’s clients, Arnold & Porter has acted as specialist counsel to News UK in relation to the civil claims arising from the former News of the World phone hacking scandal.

“Busy” was the name of the game in complex litigation: “While I was there, we had several different matters at the same time that were all heating up. But that meant that I was allowed to do the first draft of letters and reach out to clients, so I also got to work on the juicy stuff!” There’s no getting past it – complex litigation can go on and on, but with several ongoing cases comes the chance to get a taste of a bit of everything: “I got lucky the department was so busy,” one commented. “It meant that they delegated a lot of the work. I got to learn all the parts of the case, from legal research to drafting memos, even discussing strategy with the partners.” A lot of the firm’s litigation work revolves around private clients, funds and international companies. In one recent case, the firm represented the ad hoc board of the Central Bank of Venezuela in the Commercial Court and its subsequent appeal in the Supreme Court against a Court of Appeal judgment concerning the Venezuelan gold dispute.

For those with half an eye on contentious experience, trainees spoke of a “nice balance of litigation and advisory work” in the competition & antitrust seat. A big selling point of the seat was the learning opportunities on offer: “The research allows you to look into different areas, and really connect the dots of competition law,” one told us. “The overlap between the law and economic theory was very interesting. I was liaising with economists, barristers and counsel, as well as clients, directly.” A&P has particular expertise in cartel work, with the firm’s client list including the likes of Heineken, WM Morrison Supermarkets and AT&T.

Trainee Life

When asked about the culture at the firm, trainees' eyes lit up (seriously!). Because of the firm's small trainee intake, “everyone knows everyone, and you get to interact with people before working with them and build rapport.” Trainees subsequently have ample opportunity to mingle with partners and associates and the current cohort reassured us that “there are no inter-level distinctions.” One source explained to us how the high levels of pro-bono work within the firm fostered “a culture of reaching out” and being able to work across seats. “It gives American law firms a good reputation,” they explained; “there is a notable absence of internal rivalry, everyone is forthcoming and welcoming.”

“It gives American law firms a good reputation…”

We are also told there are excellent summer and Christmas parties which are “big fixtures” in the firm’s social calendar. In addition to this, there are plenty of trainee specific events such as breakfasts or lunches. “There are always plenty of things going on socially and different activities to get involved in” one trainee told us. The office is furnished with social spaces such as the ‘Garden Room’, where every Thursday, drinks, canapes and pizza are served. For those prospective candidates who may enjoy the opportunity to work from home, you’re in luck, as the firm operates on a hybrid system where all employees are expected to come in three days a week. “It is very flexible and customisable; you can coordinate it with your team.” But make sure to go in on a Thursday if you want some pizza! Working hours vary per department but the general consensus was that they are “pretty reasonable” with most trainees reporting leaving at around 6.30/7pm.

Arnold & Porter are also said to take diversity and inclusion“very seriously,” running different affinity groups, which can give you the chance to work with those in both the UK and US. “We certainly have a lot of things in the calendar for wellbeing and mental health,” one source added. “I find these events quite helpful and insightful.” Additionally, the firm employs a group of fully trained mental health first-aiders. As a trainee, there is also the opportunity to offer mentorship to interns over the summer. In terms of salary, there were no complaints: “It is on the upper end of the trainee salary scale; we get handsomely paid.”

“You are recognised as an individual, and that kind of recognition comes with all the support that you need early on.”

Come qualification time, Arnold & Porter are “very transparent.” For those interested in staying on, it’s a good idea to make the most of “a lot of discussions with the training principal and partners in the group you want to qualify into.” When asked if they wanted to stay on, it was a resounding ‘yes’: “I feel like it is a great place to learn as a trainee and to practise as an NQ and beyond. You are recognised as an individual, and that kind of recognition comes with all the support that you need early on. It is a place where the culture and the size of the firm allow for support. I wouldn't ever worry about qualifying and being left alone.” In 2024, the firm retained three of its trainees.

How to get an Arnold & Porter training contract

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• Insight day deadlines (2024): 31st December 2023 and 1st March 2024
• Summer vacation scheme deadline (2024): 14th January 2024
• Training contract deadline (2025): 31st May 2024

Applications

The firm generally receives around 500 applications for the ten vacation scheme places available, with 500 candidates applying directly for a training contract.

Both applications (training contract and summer vacation scheme) begin with the same form. It includes standard questions like 'Why law?' and 'Why Arnold & Porter?' and candidates are also asked competency-based and situational questions. There are no specifically commercial-based questions.

Insight Day

This is aimed at first-year university students. Throughout the day 15 students will participate in several interactive sessions and skills workshops to gain practical legal experience. There will also be an opportunity to network with A&P lawyers and current trainees who will provide students with an insight into what it’s like to work at the firm, as well as an introduction to the firm's core practice areas alongside advice from the graduate recruitment team.

Interviews for Vacation Scheme

Following an application screening, the firm invites around 25 vacation scheme applicants to interview. They carry out a timed written exercise and are then interviewed by two senior fee earners. The task is considered alongside the interview process. Although there is a legal theme, what the firm is really interested in is seeing how the candidate approaches the problem and how they communicate their response. Interviewers discuss the candidate's application and expectations for a training contract at A&P. Typically, ten candidates are chosen to attend the two-week vacation scheme (see below).

All vacation scheme applicants are also deemed to have applied for a training contract. Following the vacation scheme, other candidates who have applied for a training contract but not the vacation scheme are evaluated on paper and some may be invited for interview. The interview follows a similar format to the vacation scheme interviews, but may be slightly longer. Applicants are asked to allow up to three hours for this interview. Following this, shortlisted candidates will have a final interview with the managing partner and training principal before the firm makes its offers.

The firm now takes between three and four trainees a year.

Vacation Scheme

A&P’s vacation scheme is two weeks long and takes place in the summer. Training and inductions take up the first day. Then follows a series of daily workshops, one of A&P’s tools for assessing vacation scheme participants. Each practice group within the London office gives a workshop, which acts as an introduction to its practice and gives the participants relevant tasks to do.

Alongside these workshops, each vacation scheme participant will be given other tasks to work on that tests their drafting skills, capacity for meeting deadlines and ability to follow instructions. They sometimes get involved in pieces of live work lawyers around the firm have on; they aren't tied to a specific team or department. At the beginning of the two weeks, the vacation scheme participants are given a topic and are asked to prepare a short presentation to be given to colleagues in the office at the end of the fortnight.