Hey friends!
We have put together a list of firms currently recruiting trainees via the direct training contract application route. We hope this makes things easier for those of you looking to apply, especially if you aren’t able to do a vacation scheme.
The list below is mainly for training contracts starting in 2027, but some firms are opening applications for earlier intakes (this will be reflected next to the firm’s name). It’s a dynamic list, so we’ll be updating it as firms confirm their application windows. If you have any suggestions on how we can make this thread more useful, feel free to share!
Good luck with your applications, and please keep us updated on your progress!
We have put together a list of firms currently recruiting trainees via the direct training contract application route. We hope this makes things easier for those of you looking to apply, especially if you aren’t able to do a vacation scheme.
The list below is mainly for training contracts starting in 2027, but some firms are opening applications for earlier intakes (this will be reflected next to the firm’s name). It’s a dynamic list, so we’ll be updating it as firms confirm their application windows. If you have any suggestions on how we can make this thread more useful, feel free to share!
Good luck with your applications, and please keep us updated on your progress!
Training Contract Deadlines 2024/25:
| Firm Name | Opening Date | Closing Date | Rolling/Non-Rolling | Additional Notes |
| A&O Shearman | 30th September 2024 | 18th November 2024 | TBC | |
| Ashfords | 1st November 2024 | 31st March 2025 | TBC | |
| Ashurst | 6th January 2025 | 28th March 2025 | Non-rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| B P Collins | 1st October 2024 | 31st March 2025 | TBC | |
| Baker McKenzie | 1st February 2025 | 1st April 2025 | TBC | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Bird & Bird (2025/2026 intakes) | 19th September 2024 | 17th October 2024 | Rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Bristows | 31st October 2024 | 2nd January 2025 | TBC | |
| Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner | 1st September 2024 | 31st May 2025 | Rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Charles Russell Speechlys | 1st October 2024 | 15th January 2025 | ||
| Clifford Chance | 4th September 2024 | 20th November 2024 | TBC | |
| CMS | 30th September 2024 | 22nd November 2024 | Rolling | |
| Dentons | 16th December 2024 | 6th June 2025 | Rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| DWF | 2nd September 2024 | 6th January 2025 | Non-rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Farrer & Co | 1st November 2024 | 30th March 2025 | Non-rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Fox Williams | 5th December 2024 | 2nd February 2025 | TBC | |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 1st October 2024 | 23rd January 2025 | Non-rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a training contract in the same cycle. |
| Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson | 1st December 2024 | 23rd May 2025 | TBC | |
| Goodwin | 16th September 2024 | 16th December 2024 | TBC | |
| Hogan Lovells | 16th September 2024 | 31st January 2025 | Rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a training contract in the same cycle. |
| Hill Dickinson | 1st October 2024 | 31st May 2025 | TBC | |
| Irwin Mitchell | 7th October 2024 | 2nd December 2024 | TBC | |
| K&L Gates | 1st November 2024 | 31st July 2025 | Non-rolling | |
| Lewis Silkin | 14th October 2024 | 15th January 2025 | Non-rolling | |
| Linklaters | 2nd September 2024 | 12th December 2024 | TBC | |
| Mayer Brown International | 1st September 2024 | 31st March 2025 | Rolling | |
| Norton Rose Fulbright | 3rd February 2025 | 16th March 2025 | Non-rolling | |
| Pinsent Masons | 2nd September 2024 | 6th November 2024 | TBC | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| RPC | 17th March 2025 | 23rd June 2025 | TBC | |
| Russell-Cooke | 8th November 2024 | 7th February 2025 | TBC | |
| Slaughter and May | 2nd September 2024 | 29th November 2024 | Rolling | |
| Sullivan & Cromwell | 1st May 2025 | 11th July 2025 | TBC | |
| Travers Smith LLP | 3rd October 2024 | 1st November 2024 | Non-rolling | |
| Trowers & Hamlins | 1st October 2024 | 6th January 2025 | Non-rolling | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| Watson Farley & Williams | 10th October 2024 | 24th June 2025 | TBC | Applicants cannot apply for a direct training contract if they’ve already applied for a vacation scheme in the same cycle. |
| White & Case | 9th September 2024 | 13th July 2025 | Non-rolling | |
| Wilkin Chapman | 1st November 2024 | 31st January 2025 | TBC | |
| Winckworth Sherwood | 2nd December 2024 | 28th February 2025 | TBC |
