Mishcon de Reya LLP - True Picture

Mishcon de Reya training contract review 2025

The Firm

If the first impression is the best impression, then Mishcon de Reya have certainly made the most of that opportunity. Even the firm’s name seems to hint at the promise of a cosmopolitan career, and interviewees indeed explained that they had “applied to Mishcon because it seemed a bit different and more interesting.” Others were keen to be a part of a firm that “really has its own identity,” which, according to real estate partner Daniel Lipman, is largely due to the fact that “we’re one of the few firms left of our size that’s truly independent.” Family partner Antonia Felix adds: “we’re a full-service firm and strong across all our areas making it a brilliant place to train and find your specialism," with the aforementioned areas split into six core categories: corporate, dispute resolution, employment, innovation, private and real estate. More specifically, Mishcon is awarded the highest of accolades from Chambers UK for its national financial services work, in family & matrimonial in Cambridge, and in London for employment, real estate litigation and corporate/M&A. Mishcon also picks up top marks in more niche areas such as art & cultural property law and gaming.

“...a collection of interesting and eclectic people.”

Ultimately, this broad scope of work mixed with “a collection of interesting and eclectic people” and a focus on “intellectual values rather than a City bro culture” proved to be a winner for many of our sources. “It’s a very special place!” Lipman adds. “The most important thing to us is our culture. It's our core values that drive the firm. We are involved in high quality cases and transactions which are inevitably hard work and stressful at times, but not a day goes by when we don't support each other and have a laugh about something." As such, "people arrive in the office in the morning with a spring in their step!" So, who’s got what it takes to make it at Mishcon? According to Lipman, that’s “highly talented individuals selected from a diverse talent pool who first and foremost will fit our core culture." He adds, "a ‘Mishcon person’ will certainly be able to get on well with everyone at the firm and lawyers at other firms too, to ensure the best possible results for our clients." However, Felix also points out, “we have people in each cohort who got in after applying for a second time. Stick with it and don’t give up!”

The Seats

Once newbies have formally arrived at the firm, they are asked to provide a list of seat preferences using a traffic light system: the top five are ‘green’ choices, the lower five are ‘amber,’ and one final, undesired seat (“that we absolutely don’t want to do”) is ‘red.’ Most felt that this was a fair system, especially since “your previous choices aren’t held against you.” What’s more, a chat with the Early Careers team over a coffee seemed to be the best way to indicate “where your interests are, where you’d like to sit, and what you hope to get out of things.”

“They paid for my flight tickets, and a chauffeur was waiting for me when I arrived!”

Clientsecondments are also on offer at Mishcon, and were described as “a great way to get experience and build relationships.” In particular, a spot in the firm’s IP secondment called Global proved to be a hit amongst newbies. There is also a highly sought after international secondment available in Hong Kong with Karas So LLP, and the application process is “like an internal interview scheme. You’re asked about why you want to go and what you can offer.” The successful few get a view into an entirely different world, as voiced by one such trainee: “I felt like I was living the dream. They put me up in lovely accommodation which was just a five-minute walk away from the office. They paid for my flight tickets, and a chauffeur was waiting for me when I arrived!”

Insiders explained how a seat with Mishcon’s fraud group involves seeing “the sharpest edge of litigation,” such as injunctions and freezing orders. For example, the team has represented London Capital & Finance in multiple civil fraud matters, most recently advising the company on claims that it operated as a Ponzi scheme. According to trainees, the work is “quite fast, which gives the department a real sense of buzz and excitement.” Asset dissipation and crypto matters make up a large portion of the work, and clients include companies, individuals and other typical corporate clients. Trainees get their fair share of more administerial tasks, but sources still appreciated how “they always have the patience to let you do things, even if it’s something high-calibre.” Though the seat certainly comes with its fair share of hard work, one trainee noted that catching “legitimate fraudsters” only serves as motivation: “It can be quite cool going through things and seeing how dodgy and deceitful people have been!”

Mishcon’s real estate group houses three separate subgroups: financial real estate, commercial real estate, and property litigation. Sources explained that the former is newer to the firm, and focuses on financing agreements in the lead-up to transactions. Partner contact was highlighted as a particular benefit of this subgroup. Meanwhile, commercial real estate covers the more standard construction and planning aspects of real estate. For example, Mishcon recently advised the Olayan Group on the redevelopment of the global enterprise’s Knightsbridge estate. Trainees here engage in a variety of matters, such as planning disputes, and work with or opposite local counsel. As such, site visits are typical trainee tasks as “it’s our job to look at issues and build up client relationships.”

“Working with early-stage clients is so interesting – the passion really shines through.”

A corporate seat, meanwhile, has its trainees working on a range of deals, including M&A, general corporate, private equity and venture capital fundraising. The corporate department works with groups across the firm and also spans sectors such as hospitality, gaming, life sciences and technology. In one recent matter, the team advised fine dining company Dream International Cooperatief on the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of its shares to a Luxembourg-based investment fund. Newbies on such matters might typically handle the due diligence side of things. However, trainees can also get involved in fundraising for startup clients and, for one, this was an especially enjoyable part of the job: “Working with early-stage clients is so interesting – the passion really shines through.”

Commercial disputes covers the likes of banking, corporate finance and private equity, and falls under the wider contentious regulatory and enforcement department. Trainees get access to a broad spectrum of work, including private wealth and patent disputes. The team also has a broad range of clients, having worked with Telefonica UK, Bonnier Books and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Though trainees might get up to similar tasks across different areas of litigation, insiders pointed out that certain types of matters still require their own special set of skills. For example, “wills, shareholder and partnership disputes all require a personal and sensitive approach.” It also has its own “bespoke department,” Mishcon Purpose, which is dedicated to ESG matters and involves a mix of contentious and advisory work. We heard that much of the work involves emerging areas of law, such as AI, but also intersects with other departments like ESG and ties into charities and social ventures. Trainees who had worked with the team mentioned that it was a great way to develop their litigation skills through increased client contact, drafting advice and liaising with counsel.

Trainee Life

Mishcon’s London office is nestled centrally in Holborn, and our interviewees raved about its location. “It’s right by the station and the courts – sometimes you have to run down there at short notice!” an insider explained. The facilities and space itself received equal praise: “Mishcon is known for its nice client floors, which is a great selling point when people come to visit. It’s really impressive.” Interestingly, each floor retains its own unique flavour, with different setups and lighting – “some have lots of plants,” an insider revealed – but the firm has “fully embraced” its new open-plan, hot desking system. There’s also a café in the basement, and plenty of local spots to hit up for food. We’re assured the firm’s Cambridge office fits the bill, too.

Though you’d be forgiven for thinking the swanky facilities may be a way to get trainees back into the office, “there’s no hard and fast rule” when it comes to hybrid working at Mishcon. Some suggested that four in-office days is typical for a trainee, yet emphasised that it’s completely team-dependent. Day-to-day hours also vary by team. While later nights were common in busier teams such as fraud, most found themselves working from around 9.30am to 7 or 8pm in the evening. “The hours are generally quite long,” one trainee explained, but assured that “it’s not brutal.” Instead, trainees felt supported as “you’re not expected to stay in the office for the sake of it. It really doesn’t feel like people are watching you at all times.” However, those that do stay late are rewarded with subsidised dinner and a cab home, and can come in much later the following morning.

Trainees felt that fed into the culture of the firm, which is characterised by the fact that “everyone can authentically be themselves.” Additionally, the adjectives “friendly” and “relaxed” also popped up in our research, particularly when discussing the trainee cohort: “We’re all friends, so there’s a real sense of camaraderie.” Interestingly, many were quick to point out the age diversity of trainees, which “ranges from 22 to 35 years old. It’s really inclusive!” This sense of inclusion was also visible throughout the firm, as sources noted that “the firm makes a point to celebrate all different religions, genders and sexualities.” More specifically, there’s a Social Mobility Committee, a strong LGBTQ+ community and various events, such as a recent talk on early career progression hosted by female partners for International Women’s Day. One interviewee was also keen to add: “As a woman and person from a diverse background, I definitely don’t feel like an outsider and don’t get any kind of imposter syndrome, which you think could easily be the case at a firm of Mishcon’s size.”

“…we’re slowly but surely completing the Spice Girls!”

The firm has its fair share of events, but trainees more generally appreciated how there’s “an effort for people to come together.” Firm-wide events include a celebration at the end of the financial year, summer and Christmas parties, and twice-monthly drinks in the client lounge, as “there’s always some networking or social event going on down there.” Departments organise their own social events, too, and the commercial real estate team has its own sports day, where everyone gets to play football with clients! Mishcon also has its own star-studded lineup of external speaker events, which has featured the likes of Green MP Caroline Lucas, historian Mary Beard and even “Mel C and Mel B – we’re slowly but surely completing the Spice Girls!”

Pro bono at Mishcon is “pretty serious,” and trainees can put at least 50 hours a year towards it. In fact, “they always encourage us to dedicate the same amount of effort and attention to pro bono as we would a paying a client. It’s firmly ingrained in the culture.” The family department has paired with Pink Law, an LGBTQ+ rights clinic, and the firm also works closely with the SPITE project, which offers legal advice to victims of image-based sexual abuse. Trainees have also been involved with Elevate, where “we’re partnered with a school in Lambeth North and given a mentee who you chat to for half an hour before school.”

When it comes to supervision, trainees really valued the pastoral support that comes from it. Newbies do get work from their supervisors as well, but we heard that the firm prefers its trainees to “work with and receive feedback from everyone on the team.” Supervisors, therefore, handle weekly catch-ups and informal chats. The Mishcon Academy – an internal training function used for inductions, general updates, changes in law, career development and much more – offers further support, which is reportedly “one of Mishcon’s major strengths. It makes you feel like you have an extra string to your bow as you get to know what goes on at the firm.”

“There are people who have been here for 20 or 30 years.”

Starry-eyed trainees were already picturing their futures at the firm, and were more than happy to tell us: “I think I’d like to stay and qualify here because it’s such a great place to learn.” Some looked even further into the future, explaining: “There are people who have been here for 20 or 30 years.” But before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s worth noting that the qualification process involves submitting a CV and completing an interview, which is “more of an informal chat in some departments, while others might do a formal case study.” The firm did not disclose the number of qualifiers this year.

How to get a Mishcon de Reya training contract 

Spring Vacation Scheme Deadline: 06 November 2024

Summer Vacation Scheme: 08 January 2025

Applications 

Mishcon de Reya recruits trainees solely through its vacation schemes, typically receiving around 1,500 – 2,000 applications each year. The firm is hosting three vacation schemes in 2025, each lasting one week in the office, on the following dates: 

• 07 April 2025 – 11 April 2025
• 23 June 2025 – 27 June 2025
• 07 July 2025 – 11 July 2025

There are four stages to the application and recruitment process: initial application, video interview, case study, and the final interview. 

The process kicks off with an online form asking about academics, work experience, and extracurricular activities. A source from the firm’s early careers team explains: “Candidates who have been involved in a range of extracurriculars that showcase other passions within and outside of a career in law” tend to do well here. “We’d like to see your personality come across and understand you as a person!” You’ll also need to answer some free-text questions which may involve a commercial awareness angle: “These questions will give you the opportunity to share your knowledge around topics of interest and will allow you to demonstrate the wider implications of these subjects,” early careers tells us. 

Mishcon typically asks for applicants to have a 2:1 degree minimum and ABB at A-Level, but there is some wiggle room for the right candidate. “Please don’t be deterred if your grades are lower than this; we are looking for people who have a strong application form across the board,” the firm tells us. All types of extracurricular activities are valued, including participation in sports, work experience, and legal and non-legal volunteering. 

Video interview 

The next step involves a one-way recorded video interview where you’re shown a number of questions and have a set amount of time for you to record your response. “We’re looking for the ability to think on your feet and be able to showcase your skill set, achievements and knowledge in a limited amount of time,” says early careers. “There will be opportunities for you to demonstrate and draw on your commercial knowledge as well as sharing your knowledge of the firm.” 

Assessment Day

The firm has previously conducted their final two assessments, a case study and an interview, in their London offices where you will meet with several senior fee-earners, members of the firm's People Team, and have time to meet their current trainees. But note that this year the firm is consolidating their case studies and interviews into a single assessment day.

Case study 

The case study will require candidates to read through provided materials and prepare to have a discussion about the study with an assessor. “We’re looking for candidates with strong commercial knowledge and ability to understand the issues presented during the case study. In line with our core values, we are looking for those who are able to think creatively when coming up with innovative solutions to the issues posted in the case study,” early careers details. They go on to explain that applicants who have performed particularly well at this stage are “those who are able to understand the key points from the scenario given and be able to discuss this in depth with the assessor. Ensuring that you are answering all elements of the question and providing a detailed analysis with evidence from the facts of the case study will allow you to have a detailed discussion with your assessor.” 

Final interview 

The interview is a chance for interviewers to learn more about the candidate and their reasons for wanting to train at Mishcon. You’ll meet with two fee earners to discuss your online application and answer some competency and situational based questions. Early careers tells us: “Applicants who can provide strong reasons for why they want to train at Mishcon specifically” tend to do well here. It’s about “understanding what makes Mishcon different and being able to convey this during your explanation of why you want to work here, which will allow you to provide strong reasons for why you want to train with us!” It’s also an opportunity to showcase your personality and explore other themes in your application. “Not only are we looking for the potential to provide our clients with the highest quality legal services in an efficient, professional and business-like manner, but we are also looking for those who are able to place the highest value on teamwork and mutual support to thrive in a collaborative working environment,” they add. 

Vacation scheme 

Vac schemers at Mishcon do real work-related tasks and learn more about the firm’s legal departments by speaking to current trainees, training principals, and other fee-earners. You’ll sit with a practice group and have a supervisor, as well as attend sessions with the early careers team and undergo individual and group assessments. The Academy Tech and Knowledge Service teams will also host training sessions on core technologies and how to conduct legal research. To top it all off, you’ll get to enjoy an evening out with your fellow vac schemers! 

And finally, the firm adds, “we aren’t looking for students who are able to ‘ace’ an interview. We really want to get to know students, on the job, over a couple of weeks to ensure that they are the right fit for us and equally that we are the right fit for what they are looking for as well!”