Withers - True Picture

Withers training contract review 2026

The Firm

Life is full of surprise pairings, from pineapple on pizza to Drake’s appearance in Ice Age: Continental Drift (yep, surprised us too). While not quite as unexpected, you probably wouldn’t immediately connect the dots between private client and international work when considering a legal career. Yet Withers integrates the two seamlessly: “I was particularly interested in the international side of the private client work,” one trainee told us, “And that’s what made the firm stand out a bit more from some of the smaller firms which don’t have international offices.”

As the firm’s training principal Natasha Stourton puts it: “We are a global private client firm, but the focus is really on the individual and providing a full service for that individual.” That service, Stourton adds, “goes beyond what some may understand private client to be, in that we also act for companies, financial institutions, charities and governments, but we are addressing their legal needs from that individual focus point.”

“…that’s what made the firm stand out a bit more from some of the smaller firms which don’t have international offices.”

Private client is undoubtedly where the firm’s reputation lies, with top Chambers UK ranked practices in charities and legacy disputes nationwide, along with agriculture & rural affairs and family/matrimonial finance in London. Chambers High Net Worth also categorises the firm as the crème de la crème for its private wealth disputes, private wealth law, and high value residential real estate work. The firm’s international presence is bolstered by a further 14 offices across Asia, Europe and North America.

The Seats

When it comes to seat allocation, trainees provide a ranking for all teams before each rotation and can provide a short rationale where “you can say things like ‘I really enjoyed the module on the LPC’, or ‘I’m drawn to the personal element’, or something to that effect.” While they were aware that there was a lot of work behind-the-scenes with balancing trainee preferences and business need, sources felt assured that “the firm makes the best effort they can to try and accommodate us as much as possible.”

The firm also have a corporate secondment regularly available in Milan, and interviewees were excited to share that “the clients you work with are very, very cool, and people have loved it. People have been saying: ‘you have to go!’”

“There’s always loads of work available in private client because it’s the backbone of the firm.”

As you might expect, Withers’ private client & tax team is the biggest at the firm and proved a popular destination for trainees looking for exposure to the kind of work that had drawn them to the firm. As one told us, “There’s always loads of work available in private client because it’s the backbone of the firm.” Work in the department tends to revolve around the likes of wealth structuring, cross border tax and planning. At the trainee level, this means work “drafting wills and trusts, tax planning, and writing advice papers and research notes.”

Applying that to a real scenario, “say a client splits their time between the UK and another jurisdiction, they’ll want to know what the implications for their UK tax obligations will be, especially with the huge changes to the non-dom rules recently.” One trainee explained that the seat was “a really good blend of technical and personal work. When it comes to tax status or how to mitigate tax, it’s really technical, but it comes against a backdrop of: what does this person want? What’s their relationship with their family? Transferring wealth between generations involves a lot of examination of family relationships.”

The family seat was another that was sought-after by trainees looking for a personal element to their work, as the practice covers legal work relating to divorces, prenups, children and surrogacy, among other family-related topics. Trainee responsibilities in the seat were described as a little more administrative than those available in other teams, but that wasn’t unexpected: “You do get warned before you join family that the trainee role is a little admin-based, mostly because the work is quite hierarchical and you’re doing tasks in the background to get the knowledge that way.”

“Day-to-day, one of the main things is bundling counsel papers or court papers,” one interviewee recalled, “and that can be a bit fiddly and frustrating, but it’s a good way to wrap your head around the case.” Another source was impressed that they’d regularly been able to attend court with the team: “It’s a great seat for going to court and seeing how it’s done. I got to witness cross-examinations, which was really, really exciting!”

“The work’s really interesting, it’s very personal, which is exactly what I came to Withers to do.”

A practice with plenty of crossover is trusts, estates & inheritance disputes (TEID). As you may have guessed from its name, the group’s work relates to wills and the issues that arise from disputes about them. “The work’s really interesting,” one trainee told us, “It’s very personal, which is exactly what I came to Withers to do. It feels like you’re helping people with their problems.” Another source told us that that work had a degree of excitement to it because “you’re working with the people at the forefront of this area of law, and people at the top of their game doing the real big-ticket pieces of litigation in that area.”

Trainees were happy with the responsibilities they’d been given and whilst there could be “quite a lot of bundling and compiling correspondence clips,” they had also been given the chance to “go down rabbit holes learning about some fairly niche bits of law. Often a lot of the work is offshore, so you’re digging into research about different jurisdictions like the Channel Islands, Bahamas or Cook Islands.”

The firm’s real estate work is split between several sub-departments, which between them cover commercial, private property, as well as construction and real estate disputes. Those with experience in the private property team told us that “you’re working on matters relating to some of the most wonderful properties and estates in the country. The distinguishing thing about rural property compared to the other real estate seats is that there’s a lot of looking through hard copy deeds, so it all feels quite 20th century and a bit old-fashioned, which I really enjoy!”

On the commercial side of things, “I spend a good amount of time just me and a partner on a transaction, so I’m getting to do the first turns of each document, liaising directly with the other side, the surveyors, and the client.” If this area of law might usually pass you by, it could be worth listening to the advice of one trainee: “Commercial real estate is quite often overlooked as a seat, but it really shouldn’t be! It’s an underrated seat with a great team. It’s really interesting, and you get to do good work with cool people.” 

Corporate work at Withers covers a full range of traditional M&A and banking work, but you’d be mistaken to think that the firm’s private wealth expertise goes unused: “What the team does do well is that it handles that corporate or commercial spin to all of the private wealth elements that the firm is so focused on,” explained a trainee, “it’s a very different experience to one you might get at another corporate/commercial firm, because you’re dealing with people and their interests.”

Another agreed that whilst they’d been involved in some traditional M&A work, “there’s quite a lot of advisory work and that’s really enjoyable because you’re looking at nuanced and complex pieces of law, dealing with international aspects and liaising with foreign counsel.” Typical trainee tasks included “due diligence, reviewing company documents, and conducting legal research into various provisions like the Financial Services and Markets Act, and how that applies cross-jurisdictionally.”

Trainee Life

The general consensus among the current cohort was that the culture of the firm was one of the selling points: “All the way from paralegals up to partners, I don’t feel afraid to ask questions,” one trainee told us, “and the trainee cohort doesn’t feel super competitive, people are very willing to help each other out.” Trainees also flagged that Withers was “perhaps more varied that most firms. I don’t think there are many firms in the city that have both a rural real estate practice and also a banking & finance practice.” What this meant was that “there’s a really nice mix, and as a trainee that’s a great thing because you can find your people.”

There’s plenty of opportunity to socialise across the firm too, with regular sports tournaments in the summer, welcome drinks in departments, and events organised by the firm’s trainee club for the cohort.

We heard that with an international outlook and office network comes a “diverse and international culture.” A trainee involved in one of Withers’ affinity groups relayed that “they’ve given us a lot of funding to do events, and we have spaces to meet up.” Sources also shared that the firm have been working to improve social mobility, “and it’s one of the only firms that has nearly 50% female partners, which is super rare!”

Supervisors, trainees told us, are “very much there to support you, to answer questions, and to provide background knowledge on anything.” This support was added to via the trainee buddy newbies are assigned, and the partner mentor they have throughout their training contract to help with more big-picture questions and development. Insiders also told us they were given regular training, focused at the beginning of each seat: “Every seat I’ve been in has had a rigorous training program, mostly front-loaded at the start of the seat because you’re expected not to know anything about practicing that area of law.”

As Stourton tells us, “There’s a lot of support and knowledge training for the trainees because there’s a lot expected of them. They’ll be client-facing from day one, so for a litigation seat, going to client meetings, attending meetings with counsel, going to court, or drafting correspondence to the client or to the other side.”

“…it’s right opposite the Old Bailey, which is really cool. It feels like you’re in the buzz of the city.”

The firm’s expectations for office attendance vary from team to team, but trainees were generally happy to be in, telling us that “the location is great, and it’s right opposite the Old Bailey, which is really cool. It feels like you’re in the buzz of the city.” Sources were also impressed by the perks of the office, as they took advantage of “free barista coffee every day,” and food from ‘The Hub’: “The food there is really good, there’s a soup and sandwich station and you can get a really big bowl of noodles for £2.50, so you can get some really good deals there.”

When it came to working hours, trainees told us that the usual was 9.30am to 7pm in most seats: “I did have busier days when it was longer than a 9-5, but then there are also days you can log off pretty promptly, and across the firm everyone has this work-life balance mentality, which is really nice.” Trainees felt they had autonomy there too, as “the firm cares more that you’re not late with anything. I’ve been feeling no expectation to stay late or arrive early.”

Trainees felt well compensated for the work they were doing: “The pay is relatively high, and we have good working hours and balance that with everything else.” We heard that the firm’s qualification process is relatively transparent as “people are fairly open to talk about it if asked.”

Trainees approaching qualification submit an early indication of their preferences, followed by a CV for the teams they’re interested in qualifying into. Trainees can submit up to three preferences, and the process then varies from team to team: “Last year some teams required written tests, some interviews, and some presentations – it just depends on the team.” In 2025, the firm retained 10 of 14 trainees.

How to get a Withers training contract

All Applications open: Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Open Day application deadline: Friday, 7 November 2025

Vacation Scheme application deadline: Friday, 9 January 2026

Training Contract application deadline: Friday, 27 February 2026

Applications

The online application form includes the standard 'why law?' and 'why Withers?' questions. Applicants can also expect to be asked an unusual question. Have a good think about that one; think outside the box and relate it to yourself. An online test (a strengths-based assessment, which aligns with Withers’ values and the behaviours and abilities needed to excel as a trainee at the firm) rounds off the initial application.

Interviews

Candidates who impress on paper and online assessment are invited to a proof-reading assessment. Those who are successful progress to a first interview, which takes place with a partner and a member of HR who will ask questions surrounding the application form and various competencies. From here, vac schemers are chosen.

Meanwhile, direct training contract applicants who are successful at the first interview go on to complete an assessment centre. Candidates are given a week to prepare for a ten-minute presentation on one of six topics. Jaya Louvre's (head of talent acquisition and diversity) advice for impressing? “Put the research in and make sure you're knowledgeable about your subject – the partners will grill you about it!”

Recruiters told us that Withers is looking for candidates who are “bright, enthusiastic and personable.” They also mention the firm warmly welcomes those with language skills – Italian, Russian and Mandarin speakers are especially in demand. And remember that “if you put language skills down on your application form, expect to be tested on them.”

Vacation scheme

Withers runs two one-week vacation schemes, usually in the spring and over the summer. Participants split their time between scheduled sessions and one department where they are assigned a supervisor. “You don't know what it's like to be a solicitor in practice before you actually spend some time in a firm, so it's a good opportunity to get an inside view,” reflected one recent trainee. “I was trusted with taking attendance notes and completing some research tasks.” The final day of the vacation scheme consists of an assessment centre, where participants are considered for a training contract.

Interview with training principal Natasha Stourton

Chambers Student: How would you describe the firm? How would you describe its position in the market?

Natasha Stourton: We are a global private client firm, but the focus is really on the individual and providing a full service for that individual. It goes beyond what some may understand private client to be in that we also act for companies, financial institutions, charities and governments, but we are addressing their legal needs from that individual focus point. As far as working with companies, we might be working with the founder of that company, but we’re working on corporate deals that you might usually find in more of a city corporate law firm. Our client base is very international, and we have 17 offices around the world which often work closely together to provide joined-up advice.  In terms of size, we are probably considered mid-size, but I believe we're the largest private client law firm globally, which makes us pretty unique. 

CS: Are there any highlights from the last year you think it would be helpful for our readers to know about?

Stourton: Withers continues to grow, looking for inspiring opportunities in new jurisdictions and practice areas.  Our trainees are still a core part of our firm's growth, with many partners being 'home-grown'.  We invest a huge amount in our trainees, giving them as much exposure and responsibility as possible right from their first day.  But that isn't new, so not really a highlight!

We’ve just launched a new marketing campaign with the Financial Times to promote some of our clients and their personal interests in terms of things like environmental effects. It’s called ‘The Pioneers’ and we’ve worked with people like the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK talking about investment in life-saving research. That’s an interesting way of getting an insight into the people we’re working with and what their focus points are. We’re providing legal support in order for them to be able to do what they’re passionate about and giving them the legal frameworks to pursue the fascinating things they’re seeking to achieve with their own businesses and interests.

CS: How would you describe the training environment/culture that you have aimed to create at the firm?

Stourton: It’s a relatively small trainee intake and that means that a trainee cohort tends to form quite a close-knit group and support network, which is really nice to see as they go through the firm. Beyond that, in each of their seats, a trainee will have a supervisor, and also a trainee buddy who will be junior associates providing support outside of day-to-day work. Trainees also have partner mentors to give them guidance on career progression more broadly. 

The London office is open plan, with even senior management on the floor, which makes for a very friendly and connected environment with quite a flat hierarchy.  Questions are welcomed and we'll always try to make time to talk around a matter.  We see ourselves as a team, all pulling in the same direction regardless whether you're a trainee, partner or support.

From a legal knowledge perspective, each rotation trainees are given an ‘introduction to the team’, so they start with the tools to be able to hit the ground running. They then join their teams' legal update meetings, so they’re at the forefront of what their team’s doing, and they’re able to contribute. There’s a lot of support and knowledge training for the trainees because there’s a lot expected of them. They’ll be client-facing from day one, so for a litigation seat, going to client meetings, attending meetings with counsel, going to court, or drafting correspondence to the client or to the other side. You really are hands-on from the first moment you join the team.

CS: What’s the current set up with remote working for trainees? Is there a set number of days where trainees are expected to come into the office?

Stourton: We ask trainees to be really communicative with the teams they’re in. Every team works slightly differently, so there are teams where trainees need to be in more than others for one reason or another. It’s about being adaptable and present for the opportunities to learn and collaborate. I usually come in four days a week and in my team there are some people that come in every day and others that come in less, but it’s just about making sure that there’s a seamless service to the client wherever you are. We are very conscious of the benefits of being in the office in terms of 'learning by osmosis’, but at the same time we are a firm where we trust each other and if you are responsible and pro-active, you can have a certain amount of freedom to do what works for you.

CS: What sort of person thrives at the firm? How can a candidate really impress at interview?

Stourton: In terms of impressing at the interview, we are really keen to learn about the candidate. We see it as a two-way street, we’ve got to be the right fit for the candidate and the candidate’s got to be the right fit for the firm. There are certain questions where I think people can over-prepare and then their answers seem too rehearsed and they don’t really share what’s special about them, so I would prepare enough such that you can then speak freely and show your personality through the interview. In terms of who will thrive, I think when you are dealing with such a wide variety of different practice areas and clients from all over the world that have different focus points and different backgrounds, you need to be adaptable, open-minded, hardworking, and someone who is going to say yes when opportunities arise. The type of client that comes to Withers, comes to us because they have a complex situation that needs to be thought through, so you need to have that inquisitive mind and to have the business acumen and commerciality to be able to use your legal knowledge to work out a solution.

CS: Does the firm have any set recruitment targets around diversity?

Stourton: We don’t. We don’t really see that diversity comes from quotas. However, we are very conscious that we are an international law firm and our clients' successes come from various backgrounds, and therefore we want a firm that reflects our clients' values.

CS: And finally, do you have any advice for those thinking about pursuing a career in law? Either at your firm or more generally?

Stourton: I think there’s so much more to a legal career than what you learn at law school. Law school gives you the foundational knowledge, but then being a lawyer is really about applying that to your clients’ needs and characteristics. So my advice would be to concentrate on learning the law, but also seek opportunities to improve your communication and negotiation skills, understand how a company ensures profitability, build your resilience and make sure you understand what it's like to be a lawyer before applying for a training contract.

I appreciate it can be difficult to get formal work experience in a law firm, but many other experiences can give you these other skills.  Be pro-active, creative and hard-working and you'll likely have a successful career in law.