Dorsey & Whitney LLP - True Picture

Dorsey & Whitney training contract review 2025

The Firm

If you're thinking of joining a US firm in the City, chances are you've sussed that their training cohorts are typically small. But there are few so exclusive that it can be counted on just one hand. In fact, despite opening its doors in London more than 30 years ago, Minnesotan megastar Dorsey & Whitney has always kept things cosy for trainees - The firm takes on two to three lucky newbies a year, who work alongside the 15 partners and seven associates. So, it's fair to say a Dorsey trainee is one that is very much in the limelight, and this was much of the appeal to our interviewees. One source reflected that “It was the small intake which was the number one factor for me. I knew it would provide a comfortable environment with the support you get in a smaller firm, but with a large exposure to work. I didn’t want to work in a gigantic office where no one even knows your name.”

"...I didn’t want to work in a gigantic office where no one even knows your name.”

But Dorsey is by no means a small firm when it comes to the global stage. It has a cool 15 US offices, two in Canada and outposts in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai too. Back on home soil, the firm gets top marks from our colleagues in Chambers USA for their work in corporate/M&A. It's this practice strength that the firm brought over to the London scene; In Chambers UK, the firm picks up nods for its Corporate/M&A (£10-100million) work in the capital. As one newbie surmised: “it is more corporate leaning, so you definitely need to have an interest in that space.” Current training principal, Joseph Lewin, explains that while there is definitely a strong focus on corporate, “we have got an excellent disputes team, and have all of the specialisms like real estate, tax and finance to provide a full service. We are a US firm, with all of what that brings.”

The Seats

Each trainee will spend time in four six-month rotations in a seat of the firm’s choosing. There is not a formal picking process because of the small training cohort. However, one trainee told us that everyone needs to complete at least one corporate seat, one litigation seat, and one of either real estate or IP, then the others are allocated per business need. “But with me they have been very accommodating. It is such a small office, so people get to know you very quickly and pick up on your interests,” one source noted. We are told that IP and real estate tends to be more of a 'float seat' between departments. There's good news if you are keen on doing a seat in both corporate and litigation, as trainees are able to undertake as many of these seats as they please. We even heard of some trainees ending their TC with three-out-of-four seats in corporate.

Dorsey does not currently offer any client secondments or the option to spend time in one of their overseas offices. However, the current cohort did highlight that “it would be welcomed if they did. I know in the past they offered trainees the chance to go and spend time in the US, but I think it is just for associates now.”

“You get treated more like an associate in the work that you’re given.”

Starting off with Dorsey's main focus in the City, the corporate seat: trainees were delighted at the amount of responsibility they got. “You get treated more like an associate in the work that you’re given,” one insider told us. The general tasks that you can expect to be given as a newbie can vary depending on experience, but there is lot of drafting ancillary matters and documents, running disclosure as well as managing processes. “I was surprisingly pleased by the work I was given,” noted one trainee, they added that “I was encouraged to take ownership over my own work streams and doing other things like having a go at marking up a contract. I would also do a fair bit of due diligence, review contracts and summarise any red flags I found.” The chance for some client contact came up regularly throughout the seat: “I was able to be on calls every day and get very good exposure.” Despite being pretty hands on, there’s a healthy system of checks and balances in place, as trainees explained associates were on call to check all work before it goes out to a client. Though, newbies are still given full responsibility to draft “without handholding.” This is the approach to training at Dorsey, with Lewin telling us that they cultivate a supportive and open-door culture, “we want people to ask questions if they need to, but we expect them to have a go first; we are looking for self-starters who hit the road running.” The team recently represented DWF Group Limited on the takeover by Inflexion, a private equity firm based in London. 

“You are able to pitch potential clients and sometimes even present with a partner to them.”

The other principal seat available to trainees is in commercial litigation. This seat required our sources to “work directly with partners, doing a lot of research for them, as well as document reviews.” The firm added litigation partner, Aymen Khoury, back 2022, who has experience working across Asia and the Middle East. Joseph Lewin himself was also promoted to partner in 2022, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to expanding its litigation offering. Because much of the work is highly confidential, “there is somewhat less work to do as a trainee than in corporate. However I got to spend time on some business development work.” Trainees got a good dose of partner access in this seat: “There is the unique experience in litigation to work directly with a partner, with no associate sandwiched in between, you are able to pitch potential clients and sometimes even present with a partner to them.” In one of the most recent cases Dorsey worked on, they represented the Watchstone Group in a claim against a Big Four accountancy firm.

For trainees who want to get stuck into the firm’s supporting practice areas like real estate  and IP, there is a ‘float’ seat where you can dip in and out of these departments. Because there are fewer partners in departments such as real estate, “they will trust you do all the client contacting and handle queries, as well as responses to letters, and lease-owner licences.” This float seat also gave some trainees the opportunity to work on corporate finance matters, which is not offered as a seat on its own.

Trainee Life

“It’s not your typical US law firm culture...it’s a family vibe.”

Despite feeling like a US firm in terms of cohort size, “It’s not your typical US law firm culture, it’s a bit more mid-market in London, and it’s a smaller office, so it’s a family vibe,” one trainee clarified. They added that “for a US-based firm, it is not as intense as you may think, there is a lot of guidance and support available.” Trainees really appreciated the ability to work one-on-one with partners: “I know people at other firms who never speak to partners. We constantly work with partners directly and I even share my office with one. They are very open, welcoming and patient.”

In fact, partners even rotate once a month to host an end-of-the-month drinks: “Everyone comes along and has drinks and we all go to the pub after; it’s nice to have a whole office event scheduled in the diary once a month.” When asked about the hierarchy, “I think it is as flat as it can get,” remarked one trainee: “You can definitely pick up the phone and call a partner with a question. It is very partner-heavy, so you work with them all the time.”  Trainees get feedback as often as they seek it out: “There is a more formal end-of-seat review, but associates and partners are happy to give you direct feedback whenever you want it.” On a wider scale, the firm offers in-house lunch and learns, and legal update sessions across the two years.

When it comes to work-life balance, trainees are expected to go into the office four days a week, with Tuesday being the compulsory day, “which is nice because you get to see everyone.” The office is located a stone’s throw away from Spitalfields: “It’s such a good location in the city, so we are always keen to go out for a drink after work.” In the area, you are surrounded by other massive law firms, like A&O Shearman, Paul Hastings, etc, “which is a big perk. I feel really in the midst of it all.” The office was also recently refurbished, “so it’s a much bigger space to spend time in.” Sources said that colleagues were pretty social at the firm. As when it comes to ad hoc pub trips, trainees are very much up for it, and there is a group “who try to go out to the pub quiz every Tuesday if we can.” 

Trainees found it hard to give an average view of the weekly hours at Dorsey, though we were told that people usually log off and leave around 7pm if they aren’t busy. “I have only had to stay late a couple of instances when there’s a big deal on, like 1 or 2am.” Overall, “I have had to give up very few weekends, like three, two full weekends, and one was just a few hours on a Sunday,” noted one trainee, “but the partners do make a note of it and say thank you.” Dorsey sweetens the deal with their £45k trainee salary: “The salary for the work-life balance is good, and we know it.” The firm also backpays newbies' LPC fees from before they had started at the firm, “which is not advertised, I don’t think.”

Come qualification time, sources noted the process was relatively straightforward. It is a more informal conversation which takes place at the beginning of your fourth seat, and trainees tend to qualify into either corporate or disputes. According to insiders, you are usually informed around May or April time after there has been US sign-off. In 2024, the firm retained its sole qualifier.

How to get a Dorsey & Whitney training contract

Training contract deadline: 30 June 2025

Initial applications 

Dorsey receives around 200 applications for its two training contract spots each year. The first phase is simple: applicants need only submit a covering letter and CV. “You have to be quite succinct nailing down your experience and how it’s relevant to the firm,” according to trainees. “Ideally, we are looking for candidates who have a 2:1 from a reputable university,” according to training partner Joseph Lewin. 

Given the nature of Dorsey’s London office, applicants tend to be individuals who “want the best of both worlds: to work for a major international firm but also to be part of a smaller intake, where they can take on more responsibility and get more experience from the very start.” Historically, the firm has preferred trainees with paralegal experience, although this is not essential. Of the most recent cohort, both have paralegalled at other firms before joining Dorsey. Lewin confirms that “paralegal experience is certainly helpful, but it is not the only thing that we are looking for. What we really want is well-rounded and self-motivated people who are going to make a real impact during their time at the firm.”

The interviews 

A group of lawyers combs through every application and invites around 20 candidates to a first-round interview. “The first stage is really a chat with one or two partners or a senior associate so we can get an understanding of you as a person,” Lewin says. “We are really looking for somebody who has a clear interest in the firm: someone that knows who we are and what we do.” 

Eight to ten strong performers then progress to round two. This involves writing a reply to a practical legal problem, giving a five-minute presentation on a topic of the applicant’s choice, and a final interview with two Dorsey partners. Lewin explains that "we are looking for people who are confident on their feet, and who can analyse legal problems and present them in a clear and methodical way."

As for what not to do, Lewin advises that “candidates who haven’t done their research on the firm are the ones who often come off least well.” Fit is also very important at this stage, and applicants get to chat with a couple of the firm’s current trainees to see if they gel. Dorsey makes offers to the two candidates who perform best overall.