Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2023-24 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)

Niyati Nagda

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Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jun 29, 2023
20
88
[FOR TRAINING CONTRACT DEADLINES, CLICK HERE]

Hey everyone,

Vacation Scheme application season is here! To make things easier for those of us preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates for the Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes. I will keep this list updated! Please feel free to drop any suggestions to better utilise this thread.

Thank you and all the best!


Here are the firms that have announced their application opening and closing dates for Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes 2023/24 so far:

(This list is dynamic and will be updated as firms release their application windows)

Winter Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2023/24:

August 2023​

Opening DateClosing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st August 202322nd September 2023Allen & OveryNon-Rolling
28th August 202329th September 2023 (noon)AshurstNon-Rolling

September 2023​

Opening DateClosing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st September 202313th October 2023Slaughter and MayRolling
1st September 202320th October 2023Jones DayRolling
1st September 20231st October 2023HSFNon-Rolling
1st September 202327th October 2023DechertRolling
4th September 202322nd October 2023Travers SmithNon-Rolling
4th September 20235th October 2023LinklatersNon-Rolling
7th September 202320th October 2023Covington & BurlingNon-Rolling
11th September 202315th October 2023White & CaseRolling
12th September 202313th October 2023Norton Rose FulbrightNon-Rolling
17th September 202315th October 2023 (noon)Sidley AustinRolling
18th September 202331st October 2023Hogan LovellsRolling
25th September 202325th October 2023Simmons & SimmonsRolling

October 2023​

Opening DateClosing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
2nd October 202323rd October 2023Stephenson HarwoodRolling but won't fill up places until after deadline
2nd October 202331st October 2023Burges SalmonNon-Rolling


Spring Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2023/24:

September 2023​

Opening Date Closing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st September 20231st December 2023Herbert Smith FreehillsNon-Rolling
1st September 202310th December 2023SkaddenRolling
1st September 202320th December 2023Willkie, Farr & GallagherRolling but won't fill up places until after deadline
1st September 202331st December 2023Jones DayRolling
1st September 202331st December 2023DechertRolling
4th September 20233rd November 2023Mishcon De Reya
Rolling
7th September 202315th January 2024Shearman & SterlingNon- Rolling
11th September 202314th January 2024White & CaseRolling
14th September 20231st December 2023Bird & BirdRolling
15th September 202315th December 2023Goodwin ProcterNon-Rolling
17th September 20237th January 2024Sidley AustinRolling
18th September 20233rd December 2023Latham & Watkins
Rolling
18th September 202320th December 2023Weil, Gotshal & MangesRolling
25th September 20235th January 2024MacfarlanesNon-Rolling

October 2023​

Opening Date Closing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st October 202331st January 2024Mayer BrownRolling
1st October 20231st December 2023Baker McKenzieRolling
1st October 20234th January 2024Addleshaw GoddardRolling
1st October 20237th January 2024MilbankNon-Rolling
2nd October 202314th December 2023LinklatersNon-Rolling
2nd October 20235th January 2024Slaughter and MayRolling
2nd October 202312th January 2024Burges SalmonNon-Rolling
2nd October 20238th January 2024Reed SmithRolling


Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2023/24:

September 2023​

Opening DateClosing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st September 20231st December 2023Herbert Smith FreehillsNon-Rolling
1st September 20238th December 2023Slaughter and MayRolling
1st September 202310th December 2023
Skadden
Rolling
1st September 202320th December 2023Willkie Farr & GallagherRolling but won't fill up places until after deadline
1st September 202314th January 2024BCLPRolling
1st September 202316th January 2024Gibson DunnRolling
1st September 202331st January 2024
Jones Day
Rolling
1st September 202321st January 2024DechertRolling
4th September 202327th October 2023Allen & OveryNon-Rolling
4th September 20235th January 2024Mishcon De ReyaRolling
7th September 202312th January 2024Covington & BurlingNon-Rolling
7th September 202315th January 2024Shearman & SterlingNon- Rolling
11th September 202314th January 2024White & CaseRolling
14th September 202322nd December 2023Bird & Bird
Rolling
15th September 202315th December 2023Goodwin ProcterNon-Rolling
17th September 20237th January 2024Sidley AustinRolling
18th September 20233rd December 2023Latham & WatkinsRolling
18th September 2023
20th December 2023
Weil, Gotshal & MangesRolling
25th September 20235th January 2024MacfarlanesNon-Rolling

October 2023​

Opening DateClosing DateFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1st October 20231st January 2024Baker McKenzieRolling
1st October 20237th January 2024MilbankNon-Rolling
1st October 202331st January 2024Mayer BrownRolling
1st October 20234th January 2024Addleshaw GoddardRolling
2nd October 202314th December 2023LinklatersNon-Rolling
2nd October 20235th January 2024 (noon)AshurstNon-Rolling
2nd October 202312th January 2024Burges SalmonNon-Rolling
2nd October 202331st December 2023Simmons & SimmonsRolling
2nd October 20238th January 2023Reed SmithRolling

 
Last edited by a moderator:

futuretraineesolicitor

Legendary Member
Forum Winner
Dec 14, 2019
998
462
Hey everyone,

Vacation Scheme application season is here! To make things easier for those of us preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates for the Winter Vacation Schemes. I will keep this list updated! Please feel free to drop any suggestions to better utilise this thread.

Thank you and all the best!



Here are the firms that have announced their application opening and closing dates for Winter Vacation Schemes 2023/24 so far:

(This list is dynamic and will be updated as firms release their application windows)

August 2023​


1st August, 2023 - 22nd September, 2023: Allen & Overy

28th August, 2023 - 29th September, 2023 (noon): Ashurst

September 2023


1st September, 2023 - 13th October, 2023: Slaughter and May

1st September, 2023 - 20th December, 2023: Willkie Farr & Gallagher

7th September, 2023 - 20th October, 2023: Covington & Burling

17th September. 2023- 15th October, 2023 (at noon): Sidley Austin

September 2023: Herbert Smith Freehills
This is great, Niyati. I was wondering if you could please share a similar compilation for Direct TC deadlines as well. Thanks in advance.
 

Niyati Nagda

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Jun 29, 2023
20
88
This is great, Niyati. I was wondering if you could please share a similar compilation for Direct TC deadlines as well. Thanks in advance.
Thank you for reaching out : )

We will be creating a similar tracker with updated dates for Training Contracts shortly.

Stay tuned!

Best regards
 

Aspiringlawyer792

Standard Member
Aug 3, 2023
5
1
Hi, is anyone in my position or can you direct me to the best option? I was a covid student so my A-level grades were cancelled so when I got BCC I was just happy with not sitting the exam not realising the impact it could make in the future. Then I went to uni to do LLB Law and really struggled with family issues in 2nd year and landed with a 57% 2:2. I got a first-class in my dissertation and I would really love to aspire to a career as a corporate solicitor. Any tips or advice on what I can do to stand out in applications as they are opening, which firms I should consider applying and anyone in a similar position?
 

M0M007

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Apr 6, 2023
175
147
Hey everyone,

Vacation Scheme application season is here! To make things easier for those of us preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates for the Winter Vacation Schemes. I will keep this list updated! Please feel free to drop any suggestions to better utilise this thread.

Thank you and all the best!



Here are the firms that have announced their application opening and closing dates for Winter Vacation Schemes 2023/24 so far:

(This list is dynamic and will be updated as firms release their application windows)

August 2023​


1st August 2023 - 22nd September 2023: Allen & Overy

28th August 2023 - 29th September 2023 (noon): Ashurst

September 2023


1st September 2023 - 13th October 2023: Slaughter and May

1st September 2023 - 20th December 2023: Willkie Farr & Gallagher

7th September 2023 - 20th October 2023: Covington & Burling

17th September 2023 - 15th October 2023 (at noon): Sidley Austin

1st September 2023 - 1st October 2023: Herbert Smith Freehills
Hi this is very helpful! Is it possible to know which is rolling and which is non-rolling? Thank you!
 

LHitchens1

Active Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Oct 28, 2022
11
12
Hi, is anyone in my position or can you direct me to the best option? I was a covid student so my A-level grades were cancelled so when I got BCC I was just happy with not sitting the exam not realising the impact it could make in the future. Then I went to uni to do LLB Law and really struggled with family issues in 2nd year and landed with a 57% 2:2. I got a first-class in my dissertation and I would really love to aspire to a career as a corporate solicitor. Any tips or advice on what I can do to stand out in applications as they are opening, which firms I should consider applying and anyone in a similar position?
Fellow Covid student (uni edition) and low grades panicker here! Backstory: I had a similar thing this year in my final year. I did two exam while in severe pain and turned out I was experiencing one of my organs slowly rupturing! I got barely a 2:2 in the two module but got firsts in my favourite module (Law Clinic). First off, yes, grades do matter and to some firms they matter a LOT - do your research now and look at the requirements of each firm. You can tend to tell which firms prefer first class degrees (the ones I think this relates to include Slaughter, FBD, Akin Gump, Milbank, etc.) but there are some firms that do understand situations like this (looking at Hogan Lovells, Latham & Watkins, Mishcon...). Research is your biggest weapon right now!

Email the firms you are considering applying to ASAP - the earlier the better as you can get ahead of the influx of students that will tend to start in September, and have a quicker response time than you would when it's prime application season time. I've started doing this now with A&O and a couple others.

Explain in the email something like "in my second year, I was experiencing family issues that affected my university work and led to a 2:2 overall. However, I was able to improve in my final year and achieved first class grades. If I were to apply, how would my extenuating circumstances be considered in lieu of my situation?" You can elaborate on the situation if you want, but don't feel that you have to - family issues can be sensitive and they will know that.

Also, if you've graduated already, get a job in a related field - it doesn't have to be a legal job! I've started in a role relating to interpreter/translator sourcing and while it has nothing to do with law, it is improving a lot of skills needed to be a solicitor like attention to detail and being very well organised. Having a job and being able to relate it to the competency questions will be more beneficial than just coming out of uni and applying. It adds a little more to your application to show that, yes, you have these grades, but you're working and achieving great things in your job that has transferable skills.

I hope this helps? It's what I'm doing anyway, and so long as I stick to my schedule of applying, editing and contacting firms (and also applying to evets/webinars/networking opportunities), I think I'll have an okay shot.
 

Aspiringlawyer792

Standard Member
Aug 3, 2023
5
1
Fellow Covid student (uni edition) and low grades panicker here! Backstory: I had a similar thing this year in my final year. I did two exam while in severe pain and turned out I was experiencing one of my organs slowly rupturing! I got barely a 2:2 in the two module but got firsts in my favourite module (Law Clinic). First off, yes, grades do matter and to some firms they matter a LOT - do your research now and look at the requirements of each firm. You can tend to tell which firms prefer first class degrees (the ones I think this relates to include Slaughter, FBD, Akin Gump, Milbank, etc.) but there are some firms that do understand situations like this (looking at Hogan Lovells, Latham & Watkins, Mishcon...). Research is your biggest weapon right now!

Email the firms you are considering applying to ASAP - the earlier the better as you can get ahead of the influx of students that will tend to start in September, and have a quicker response time than you would when it's prime application season time. I've started doing this now with A&O and a couple others.

Explain in the email something like "in my second year, I was experiencing family issues that affected my university work and led to a 2:2 overall. However, I was able to improve in my final year and achieved first class grades. If I were to apply, how would my extenuating circumstances be considered in lieu of my situation?" You can elaborate on the situation if you want, but don't feel that you have to - family issues can be sensitive and they will know that.

Also, if you've graduated already, get a job in a related field - it doesn't have to be a legal job! I've started in a role relating to interpreter/translator sourcing and while it has nothing to do with law, it is improving a lot of skills needed to be a solicitor like attention to detail and being very well organised. Having a job and being able to relate it to the competency questions will be more beneficial than just coming out of uni and applying. It adds a little more to your application to show that, yes, you have these grades, but you're working and achieving great things in your job that has transferable skills.

I hope this helps? It's what I'm doing anyway, and so long as I stick to my schedule of applying, editing and contacting firms (and also applying to evets/webinars/networking opportunities), I think I'll have an okay shot.
Hello, Thank you so much for your response. As a follow-up to this, due to your grades do you think you would be at a disadvantage so would it be better to apply for firms' branches outside of London as they may be a less competitive and potentially better success or does it not work like that? I'm currently researching firms of my interest and doing things that make me stand out to them. I am also thinking of funding the SQE myself and using that as a platform to network and get better at applications. Let me know your thoughts
 

Niyati Nagda

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Premium Member
Jun 29, 2023
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lawapplicant

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billybroughton

New Member
Aug 9, 2023
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Thank you for providing this list it is very helpful.

I have however a general query about the differences and benefits of Winter vs. Summer vacation schemes when it comes to securing a training contract offer. I've done some research but could use some insights from those in the know.

Specifically, I'm curious if there's an advantage to participating in summer schemes over the winter ones in terms of enhancing the likelihood of obtaining a training contract offer. I've noticed that summer schemes tend to be longer in duration and are more commonly offered across firms, which leads me to wonder if they might hold a higher priority.

I've also come across information suggesting that winter schemes are often more tailored to third-year/ older students. As a second-year student, I'm wondering if this could potentially reduce my chances of receiving an offer through a winter scheme and whether it might be wiser to aim for the summer schemes instead, especially considering the limitation of being able to apply for only one scheme.

Given these factors, as a second-year student, when applying to a firm that offers both winter and summer schemes, which one would you recommend I apply for? I apologize for bombarding you with questions, but I'm finding it a bit challenging to gather relevant information online.

Any wisdom and insights on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)
 
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Deleted member 3712

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2 VI Qs with untimed prep that is done after you complete the SJT. 2 mins to answer. The SJT Is untimed, but you must have a camera on when completing.
When you say you must have a camera on, does that mean that the light is on and you can’t see what they are seeing, or is there a window that shows you their view? They can see you when you are doing the untimed prep?
 

lawapplicant

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Jan 19, 2023
314
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When you say you must have a camera on, does that mean that the light is on and you can’t see what they are seeing, or is there a window that shows you their view? They can see you when you are doing the untimed prep?
The camera light is on yeah. You cannot see what they see when doing the SJT. You can for the VI prep.

The whole thing is a long recording of you? That they can play back?
Yes it must be I guess. It is supposed to be an anti-cheating measure. A few other firms require camera on when doing their test. I believe Simmons is one. But no one is gonna watch it back lol.
 

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