Firm profile
At Linklaters, we create great opportunities for talented individuals from all walks of life. Unlike many law firms, we have consistent, market-leading global teams across the full range of practice areas within commercial law. Wherever our lawyers focus, they are involved in the most interesting and dynamic work.
Main areas of work
Rather than specialise in just one area, we’re proud to have best-in-class divisions across the board, in corporate, finance, and litigation, arbitration and investigations. And in practice, they frequently work together to advise clients. As a Linklaters colleague, our breadth of expertise means that, wherever you focus, you’ll be involved in the very best work, and benefit from continuous, tailored training from experienced lawyers.
Training opportunities
The Linklaters training programme offers the knowledge and support you need to hit the ground running. Non-law graduates spend a conversion year studying the Law Foundations Course (PGDL), and all graduates complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). We will support our future joiners through the SQE and are part of the City Consortium (made up of six leading law firms). Over two years you’ll take up four six-month seats (placements) in different practice areas and sometimes abroad, for the breadth and depth of knowledge you need to develop and qualify. Throughout your career, you’ll be supported with world-class training courtesy of the Linklaters Learning & Development team.
Vacation scheme
Our two-week Winter and Spring vacation schemes, and our three-week Summer vacation schemes are open to penultimate-year students, final-year students, graduates and postgraduates studying both law and non-law subjects at UK and Irish universities.
Other benefits
For the Law Foundations Course and SQE, Linklaters covers all costs, and we also offer maintenance grants. Other benefits include performance related bonuses, a contributory pension, private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, in-house healthcare, family friendly benefits, an in-house gym and subsidised restaurant, an interest free season ticket loan and holiday travel insurance.
Open days and first-year opportunities
For information on our events, keep an eye on our calendar (careers.linklaters.com/en/early-careers/-meet-us), or sign up to our mailing list.
Diversity, inclusion & wellbeing
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the pulse of our firm, running through our global business strategy and firmly embedded in our culture and values. We are committed to using our position as a global business to create fairer systems and a more inclusive culture within our firm and beyond.
We develop bespoke talent programmes to help us create a sustainable pipeline of diverse talent for leadership roles in our firm, including our flagship Women’s Leadership Programme, and our INspire Minority Ethnic Talent Programme. In July 2020 we signed the Race Fairness Commitment, committing to new concrete and data-driven measures taking structural action on race in the workplace. Our Diverse Voices: Reverse Mentoring scheme gives senior leaders in our firm an opportunity to build their awareness and understanding of different people’s perspectives and experiences. Finally, we have delivered 200+ Unconscious Bias training sessions globally, commenced our next wave of diversity training on Inclusive Culture and delivered Anti-Racism training to everyone at the firm.
The health and wellbeing of our people is recognised as being of critical importance and in the UK, we have an established programme structured around monthly topics. These cover areas such as mental health, healthy eating, exercise, sleep, as well as how to cope with the stresses of work and home life. Through our leading role in the City Mental Health Alliance, we are committed to breaking down the stigma and fear associated with discussing mental health in the workplace. We also have Healthy Minds, our confidential and free psychological support service which provides on and offsite support.
Recent achievements include being a Financial Times Leader in Diversity 2023, featuring in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the tenth year running in 2023, top 20 employer in the 2022 UK Social Mobility Index and featuring in the Stonewall 2023 Top 10 Employers for LGBT people in the UK.
