Application and selection criteria
How many trainees does each law firm recruit? How many applications does it get a year? Which firms require a minimum 2:1 degree? Which firms care about A levels? The answer to all these questions, and more, are below.
If you're interested in applying to a firm it's important to know the basics: what are its minimum degree and A level requirements? Does it offer a vac scheme? How about an open day? And how many vacancies and applications does it typically get? All that information is provided here.
The data below was either provided to us directly by firms or taken from their websites. While many set a minimum requirement of a 2:1 degree, extenuating circumstances may be taken into account. Firms' A levels requirements are usually less stringent. Recruiters are on the lookout for good academics overall and one extra B need not dent your chances if you've had other academic successes (e.g. a First).
Overseas applicants need not worry: firms are usually willing to accept applicants with equivalent overseas degrees, provided they are from a reputable institution (though foreign law degrees are not usually recognised as a qualifying law degree). If you have any doubt about the requirements a firm sets, please contact its graduate recruitment team.
|
Firm |
Training contract vacancies |
Number of applicants |
Closing dates for application |
Grade requirements |
A levels (desired) |
|
Addleshaw Goddard |
70 |
Undisclosed |
6th January 2026 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Akin |
8 |
Undisclosed |
4th January 2026 |
2.1 |
N/A |
|
Arnold & Porter |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Ashfords |
12 |
N/A |
31st March 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Ashurst |
40 |
1,169 |
27th March 2026 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Baker McKenzie |
40 |
3,196 |
1st March 2026 |
2:1 (mitigating circumstances considered) |
N/A |
|
Bates Wells |
6 |
Undisclosed |
3rd April 2026 |
Undisclosed |
ABB |
|
Bevan Brittan |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
17th March 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
N/A |
615 |
5th January 2026 |
2:1 |
120 UCAS Points |
|
|
Bristows |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
2nd January 2026 |
2:1 - mitigating circumstances considered |
N/A |
|
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner |
20 |
2,000 |
31st May 2026 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Burges Salmon |
1 |
Undisclosed |
22nd June 2026 |
2:1 |
BBB |
|
Charles Russell Speechlys |
20 |
N/A |
15th January 2026 |
02:01 |
AAB (mitigating circumstances are considered) |
|
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton |
16 |
1,400 |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
High 2.1 |
AAA |
|
Clifford Chance |
100 |
N/A |
19th November 2025 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Clyde & Co |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
5th January 2026 |
2.1 for trainees and vacation schemes |
AAB |
|
CMS |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Collyer Bristow |
4 |
352 |
25th June 2026 |
2:1 or above |
Good grades |
|
Cooley |
6 |
1,051 |
1st January 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Covington & Burling |
9 |
N/A |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2.1 |
ABB |
|
Cripps |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Davis Polk & Wardell |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Debevoise & Plimpton |
10 |
Undisclosed |
31st December 2025 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Dechert |
10 |
1,500 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Dentons |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
31st January 2026 [London & Milton Keynes]; 31st March 2026 [Central Belt] |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Devonshires |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
DLA Piper |
N/A |
N/A |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Dorsey & Whitney |
2 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Druces |
4 |
40 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 minimum |
AAA |
|
DWF |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Farrer & Co |
8 |
1,110 |
27th March 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Fladgate |
10 |
706 |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Forsters |
12 |
N/A |
5th January 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Fox Williams |
4 |
300 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson |
4 |
N/A |
22nd May 2026 |
2:1 and above |
AAB |
|
Gateley |
19 |
N/A |
11th January 2026 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Goodwin |
14 |
2,000 |
12th December 2025 |
2.1 preferred |
AAB preferred |
|
Greenberg Traurig |
20 |
450 |
19th January 2026 |
2:1 |
TBC |
|
Harbottle & Lewis |
6 |
923 |
31st January 2026 |
2.1 |
N/A |
|
Haynes and Boone |
3 |
437 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
HFW |
16 |
1,485 |
16th July 2026 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Hill Dickinson |
25 |
1,500 |
16th January 2026 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Hogan Lovells |
50 |
Undisclosed |
31st January 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Howes Percival |
8 |
353 |
20th June 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Irwin Mitchell |
44 |
5,157 |
Undisclosed |
No minimum required |
No minimum required |
|
K&L Gates |
8 |
Undisclosed |
31st July 2026 |
2:1 predicted or equivalent (or the relevant academic equivalent) |
128 UCAS or equivalent |
|
Kennedys |
N/A |
N/A |
28th November 2025 |
2:1 |
120 UCAS |
|
Kingsley Napley |
8 |
Undisclosed |
4th January 2026 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Kirkland & Ellis |
Undisclosed |
1,000 |
14th December 2025 |
At least 2.1 (or equivalent) |
At least AAB (or equivalent) |
|
Latham & Watkins |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Lewis Silkin |
10 |
N/A |
14th January 2026 |
N/A |
NA |
|
Linklaters |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
3rd December 2025 |
2.1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Macfarlanes |
33 |
4,548 |
26th June 2026 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Marriott Harrison |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
9th February 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Mayer Brown |
15 |
1,253 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
McDermott |
6 |
N/A |
31st October 2026 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Michelmores |
12 |
419 |
January |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Mills & Reeve |
35 |
2,000 |
1st January 2026 |
N/A |
Undisclosed |
|
Mishcon de Reya |
30 |
3,901 |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius |
6 |
588 |
19th June 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Morrison Foerster |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
2:1 (or equivalent) |
AAB (or equivalent) |
|
Northridge Law |
2 |
Undisclosed |
30th January 2026 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Norton Rose Fulbright |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
30th April 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Osborne Clarke |
35 |
2,500 |
15th January 2026 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Paul Hastings |
12 |
Undisclosed |
30th June 2026 |
2:1 |
Majority of A grades |
|
Penningtons Manches Cooper |
15 |
511 |
27th March 2026 |
Upper 2:1 |
N/A |
|
Reed Smith |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Ropes & Gray |
15 |
Undisclosed |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
RPC |
15 |
N/A |
16th March 2026 [Bristol Training Contract]; 22nd June 2026 [London Training Contract] |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
Russell-Cooke |
10 |
242 |
2nd June 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
RWK Goodman |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
Sidley Austin |
19 |
2,958 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
AAA |
|
Simmons & Simmons |
N/A |
36 |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
BBB |
|
Skadden, Arps, Meagher, & Flom |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
1st December 2025 |
2:1 or above |
Undisclosed |
|
Slaughter and May |
85 |
Undisclosed |
28th November 2025 [Law and non-law finalists and graduates], 3rd July 2026 [Penultimate year law students, law finalists and graduates] |
2:1 |
Good A levels |
|
Squire Patton Boggs |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
5th January 2026 |
2:1 |
N/A |
|
25 |
Undisclosed |
27th March 2026 |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
|
|
Stevens & Bolton |
10 |
Undisclosed |
31st January 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Sullivan & Cromwell |
12 |
Undisclosed |
12th June 2026 |
Minimum 2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Taylor Wessing |
20 |
Undisclosed |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 |
AAB or equivalent |
|
Travers Smith |
35 |
Undisclosed |
7th November 2025 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Trowers & Hamlins |
25 |
1,200 |
1st May 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Vinson & Elkins |
5 |
1,213 |
Recruits solely through vacation schemes |
2:1 (achieved or expected) and 60%+ average across first-year modules |
AAB (or equivalent qualifications) |
|
VWV |
1 |
Undisclosed |
14th January 2026 |
Minimum 2:2 |
3 A Levels at grade B and above in any subject |
|
Ward Hadaway |
18 |
Undisclosed |
31st January 2026 (Training Contract & Vacation Scheme), 30th April 2026 (Training Contract only) |
2:1 or above preferred |
AAB or equivalent preferred |
|
Watson Farley & Williams |
19 |
1,400 |
24th June 2026 |
2:1 |
ABB |
|
Wedlake Bell |
8 |
Undisclosed |
1st May 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Weil, Gotshal & Manges |
15 |
Undisclosed |
14th December 2025 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
White & Case |
50 |
Undisclosed |
12th July 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Wilkin Chapman Rollits |
10 |
125 |
31st January 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Willkie Farr & Gallagher |
6 |
1,396 |
Undisclosed |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Wilsons |
6 |
Undisclosed |
30th April 2026 |
2:1 |
Undisclosed |
|
Winckworth Sherwood |
N/A |
468 |
28th February 2026 |
N/A |
Undisclosed |
|
Withers |
12 |
935 |
28th February 2026 |
2:1 |
AAB |
|
Womble Bond Dickinson |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
January |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |