Training contracts
From autumn 2022, we are recruiting trainee solicitors who can start their training contract in September 2025. We recruit our future trainee solicitors from our spring and summer vacation schemes only.

Our training contract provides an environment where junior lawyers can excel and be challenged, in a supportive environment. You will sit in four different practice areas, with a mix of partners and associates. You will spend six months in Litigation, Compliance, Investigations & Enforcement and six months in Private Equity.

In addition to the full programme of formal training, you will work alongside our partners and associates in small teams on real matters from day one. Our people work in small, nimble teams on high-quality matters, so it is important that you are motivated, collaborative and able to pick things up quickly as you will receive a great breadth of work from the outset.

We were delighted to be named winner of ‘Best law firm for quality of work’ at The Legal Cheek Awards 2022. We were also finalists for in the following categories: partner approachability, perks, working from home and law firm of the year.

Salary and benefits
Our trainees will be paid £55,000 in their first year and £60,000 in the second year. Our qualification salary is £145,000 per annum. We offer a full suite of benefits.

Vacation schemes
We are proud of our vacation scheme, which fully integrates candidates into working life in the London office. In every year we have recruited, 100% of those offered a training contract have accepted our offer.

We have up to 20 places (in total) on our paid spring and summer schemes. During your two weeks with us, you will share an office with a partner and an associate. You will undertake real, meaningful work and we will provide training that will enable you to showcase your potential. We hope that by the end of the two weeks, you will have met most of our people at our vacation scheme-specific workshops, seminars and social events.

You will be supported throughout your time with us, both by a partner mentor, your supervisors, a trainee buddy and our graduate recruitment team. You will be paid £500 per week.

Our spring vacation scheme will take place from Monday 27 March 2023 to Thursday 6 April 2023. Our summer vacation scheme will take place from Monday 19 June to Friday 30 June 2023. We offer places on both schemes to penultimate year Law undergraduates, all final year undergraduates (both Law and non-Law), all graduates, post-graduates and career changers.

Application information
We recruit our trainee solicitors via our vacation schemes only. Applications are open from 1 September 2022 to 20 December 2022.

We recruit our trainee solicitors via our vacation schemes only. You will hear from us within ten to fifteen working days as to the outcome of your application. We will not fill up places before the deadline. It is our strong recommendation that you only submit your application when you feel it is ready rather than submitting it as early as possible.

Our application process takes place in four stages. Please note only those successful at each stage go forward to the subsequent stage:

• Online application form;
• Video interview;
• Written analytical exercise: to ensure fairness, the written exercise is marked by at least two different people (associates/partners) from Willkie’s London office. Neither ‘marker’ would have seen, and will not see, any applications or video interviews and each exercise is marked on a name-blind basis; and
• CV-blind interview with partners and/or senior associates: our interviews are conducted on a CV-blind basis.

We welcome applicants from all universities and degree disciplines. We are looking for consistently strong academic achievement, with a 2.1 at undergraduate level. Willkie is proud to use Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System. Partnering with Rare means social mobility measures and educational data are embedded into our recruitment process. This means we will better understand your academic achievements.

Our people work in small, nimble teams on high quality matters, so it is important that you are motivated, collaborative and able to pick things up quickly as you will receive a great breadth of work from the outset. Willkie London has grown by 149% since 2017, and over 45 per cent from 2020 alone. With this in mind, we are looking for self-starters who want to contribute to a dynamic, growing workplace, and who have a genuine interest in Willkie and our clients.

To make an application, please click here.

Should you have any further questions, please contact Gemma Baker, graduate recruitment manager, at graduaterecruitment@willkie.com.

Our brochure gives more information on our practice areas in London, and contains videos with some of our partners and associates in London about life at Willkie.

Click here to view!

Law fairs and workshops

We will be attending a number of workshops and law fairs in autumn 2022. Should you wish to attend, and for more information, please contact the host directly where a hyperlink isn’t provided below.

6 September 2022, Vantage Panel: Black Lives in Law (virtual)

8 September 2022, Legal Cheek: Law Fair (virtual) 

22 September 2022, Vantage Panel: LGBTQ+ Lives in Law (virtual)

29 September 2022, Vantage Panel: Social Mobility Lives in Law (virtual)

4 October 2022, All About Law Panel: Private Equity with Willkie partner David Arnold (virtual)

6 October 2022, University of Bristol Commercial Awareness Society: Private Equity Workshop

10 October 2022, University of Bristol Webinar: Strategies for Success in Training Contract and Vacation Scheme Applications with Gemma Baker (virtual)

11 October 2022, Legal Cheek: Law Fair (virtual) 

12 October 2022, Legal Cheek Exclusive Event with Willkie: a partner panel and breakout rooms with partners, associates, trainees and graduate recruitment

13 October 2022, All About Law: Digital Campus: Life at Willkie, a US firm: demystifying the myths with two Willkie trainees

13 October 2022, University of Durham Workshop: Life at the fastest-growing US law firm in London with two Willkie trainees (virtual)

18 October 2022, All About Law: Networking Blast (virtual)

19 October 2022, All About Law: Strategise for Success: an applications workshop with graduate recruitment manager Gemma Baker  (virtual)

19 October 2022, Cambridge University Law Fair (virtual)

19 October 2022, Cambridge University Law Society: Diversity & Inclusion Panel (virtual)

20 October 2022, All About Law Q&A: My vacation scheme & training contract at Willkie with two trainees (virtual) 

26 October 2022, LSE Careers in Law Recruitment and Networking Morning (in person)

26 October 2022, LSE Law Society Meet the Vacation Schemers Panel with Willkie trainees (virtual)

27 October 2022, King’s College London: Strategise for Success: an applications workshop with graduate recruitment manager Gemma Baker (virtual)

27 October 2022, University of Oxford Commercial Law Society: Private Equity Workshop with a Willkie associate and trainee (virtual)

27 October 2022, University of Bristol Unity & Diversity in Law Society: Applications & Video Interviews Workshop (virtual)

1 November 2022, Warwick University Webinar: Life at the fastest-growing US law firm in London with two Willkie trainees (virtual)

2 November 2022, All About Law: First Year Law Fair (virtual)

3 November 2022, University of York Law Society: Life at the fastest-growing US law firm in London with two Willkie trainees (virtual)

4 November 2022, University of Warwick Law Society: Application Skills Workshop (virtual)

8 November 2022, University of Cambridge Law Society: Private Equity Workshop (virtual)

10 November 2022, Vantage: events for second and third years (virtual)

10 November 2022, University of Warwick Law Society: Meet the Vacation Schemers Panel (virtual)

14 November 2022, King’s College London Diverse Lawyers Society: applications and video interview workshop (virtual)

16 November 2022, QMUL Student Advancement Society Open Event (in person)

17 November 2022, University of Bristol Unity & Diversity in Law Society: Applications & Video Interviews Workshop (virtual)

21 November 2022, Vantage: Life at a US law firm, and applications hints and tips

22 November 2022, Legal Cheek: Law Fair & Workshop (virtual) 

23 November 2022, University of Warwick Law Society: Application Skills Workshop (virtual)

24 November 2022, University of York Law Society: Open Day (in person)

29 November 2022, UCL Law Society: Applications Workshop & Networking (in person)

30 November 2022, LSE Law Society: Know the City panel (in person)

30 November 2022, All About Law: Digital Campus

6 December 2022, UCL Law Society: Diversity & Inclusion Socio-Economic Mobility Panel (in person)

8 December 2022, Vantage: First year event (virtual)

Open events at Willkie
Please note that all events will be held virtually.

We are holding several virtual events in autumn 2022.

Panels

Come and meet our London-based lawyers to find out more about life at Willkie London.

Monday 21 November, 6 pm to 7 pm: Panel for Black & Black heritage aspiring lawyers

Monday 28 November, 6 pm to 7 pm: Panel with members of our LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Monday 5 December, 6 pm to 7 pm: Panel for Asian & South Asian heritage aspiring lawyers

Virtual Webinar: How to make a successful application, hosted by Gemma Baker, graduate recruitment manager. This webinar is 90 minutes long, including time for questions. To register your interest, please click on the links below. Please note that you can only attend one applications webinar. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will close when the webinar is full.

• 14 September 2022, 4 pm to 5.30 pm: click here to register
• 5 October 2022, 10 am to 11.30 am: click here to register
• 7 November 2022, 7 pm to 8.30 pm: click here to register
• 1 December 2022, midday to 1.30 pm: click here to register

Virtual Open Day
Our open day takes place on 2 November 2022 from 3 pm to 6 pm. You will hear from partners, associates and trainees about our practice areas at Willkie, our hands-on approach to training, working in small teams and the opportunities you will be given. You will also learn about pro bono and community work in London. Our open day provides a fantastic opportunity to learn more about life at Willkie.

Please click here to register. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will close when the open day is full.

Rare Recruitment & Vantage
Willkie is proud to partner with Rare Recruitment on two initiatives: Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System and Vantage. Partnering with Rare means social mobility measures and educational data are embedded into our recruitment process. This means we will better understand your academic achievements.

10000 Black Interns
We welcomed our first two interns in summer 2022 and look forward to our continued partnership with 10,000 Black Interns in 2023.

GROW
Willkie London is delighted to work with GROW, a registered charity which works with aspiring lawyers (67% of whom are socially mobile and 51% from an ethic minority background) through one-to-one mentoring. Some 20 per cent of our London partners, associates and trainees have volunteered to mentor one or two GROW candidates.

Affinity Groups

• In London, we have an active LGBTQ+ Affinity Group and Diversity & Inclusion Committee, as well as the London Chapter of the Women’s Professional Development Committee (WPDC). The WPDC was established more than a decade ago to offer professional development programmes and guidance to ensure that Willkie provides a rewarding and empowering experience to women at the firm.
• Our lawyers and business service staff are also members of Willkie’s firm-wide Diversity and Inclusion Committee, established approximately thirty years ago. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee continues to host its highly successful Diversity Speaker Series, with external speakers including Dr Angela Neal-Barnett and Dr Tyrone Howard. Topics covered have included strategies for handling the impact of racism, trauma, stress, and anxiety; inclusion and anti-racism (including rules of equity, allyship and building an inclusive workplace); and race and immigration in the UK

Pro Bono
Willkie regularly partners with a number of clients to support myriad nonprofit organisations. These organisations are dedicated to a wide array of causes, including education, immigration and providing support to underprivileged communities. Our London office encourages our lawyers to introduce new pro bono matters to the firm.

Partnerships include:
Imperial College/Bloomberg Cleantech Accelerator Programme, for which Willkie was shortlisted in the “Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership” category for the LawWorks 2021 UK Pro Bono Awards; Stop Hate UK, A4ID and the QMUL Legal Advice Centre.

Sustainability
Our London graduate recruitment team partners with Willkie Green, our firm-wide social impact group for all things sustainable, to look for new ways to both reduce our environmental impact and improve our graduate recruitment process sustainably. Our efforts have recently been recognised at the TargetJob Awards 2022 as the winner of the Sustainability in Early Talent Recruitment Award.

In London, we rethought each stage of our graduate recruitment strategy, developing transformative changes that align with Willkie’s sustainability commitment and create a better experience for applicants.

Applications

How do I make an application for a vacation scheme and a training contract?
Please complete the online application form here. The application process will open on 1 September each year and the deadline for both our spring and summer scheme is 20 December 2022. We do not accept any applications after the deadline. Please note that we only recruit via our vacation schemes and do not accept direct training contract applications.

Do you run open days?
Yes, we run virtual open days and webinars. Please see our Meet Us! page for information.

What are your academic criteria?
We welcome applicants from all universities and degree disciplines. We do not have an A Level (or equivalent) grade requirement, but we are looking for consistently strong academic achievement, with a 2.1 at undergraduate level. Willkie is proud to use Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System. Partnering with Rare means social mobility measures and educational data are embedded into our recruitment process. This means we will better understand your academic achievements.

I studied a non-Law degree, does this put me at a disadvantage?
Not at all. We welcome applications from all degree disciplines.

What adjustments can be made to the application process if I have a disability or long term health condition?
We are happy to make adjustments to a candidate’s individual requirements, in regards to any part of our application process. Please contact Gemma at graduaterecruitment@willkie.com to discuss, in confidence, your individual circumstances.

I have mitigating circumstances. Where can I include them?
There is a mitigating circumstances section on the application form. If you prefer, you can email Gemma at graduaterecruitment@willkie.com instead.

How long will it take to hear from you?
We will review your application and get back to you within ten to fifteen working days (two to three weeks). Please note over the Christmas period, this may be a little longer.

Interviews and assessment centres

What is your application process?
Our application process takes place in four stages. Please note only those successful at each stage go forward to the subsequent stage:

• Online application form; 
• Video interview;
• Written analytical exercise: to ensure fairness, the written exercise is marked by at least two different people (associates/partners) from Willkie’s London office. Neither ‘marker’ would have seen, and will not see, any applications or video interviews and each exercise is marked on a name-blind basis; and
• Interview with partners and/or senior associates: our interviews are conducted on a CV-blind basis.

What is CV-blind interviewing?
It means that during the interview, you are assessed solely on your performance on the day. Interviewers will not know anything about you, other than your name. This includes which university or school you attended, or the subject of your degree.

Will you reimburse my expenses for travelling to an assessment centre?
Yes, we will send you details of reimbursement claims once you’ve been invited.

Vacation Schemes

What are the dates of your spring and summer schemes?
Our vacation schemes will be confirmed in due course. We offer places on both schemes to penultimate year Law undergraduates, all final year undergraduates (both Law and non-Law), all graduates, post-graduates and career changers.

How much will I be paid on the vacation scheme?
You will be paid £500 per week. We can provide additional funds if there is a financial need.

Do you offer any other work experience, other than the vacation schemes?
We run informal work experience to those in Years 12 or 13. Please see here for details.

The training contract

SQE/LPC/GDL
SQE
For those who have accepted a training contract with us, we offer full sponsorship of the GDL and SQE (as appropriate) which covers course fees in full and a £12,500 maintenance grant, pro-rated.

We will ask future trainees onwards to complete the SQE (if they have not already completed the LPC). We are partnering with University of Law to deliver market-leading qualifications that we believe will prepare our future trainees for practice. All future trainees will study the LLM Legal Practice, which incorporates preparation for SQE 1 & 2 as well as the SQE Plus, an enhanced programmed designed to go beyond the standard SQE syllabus to ensure our trainees can be confident in their ability to hit the ground running.

Future trainees who have not studied law in England and Wales will take the nine-month Postgraduate Diploma in Law, before the LLM Legal Practice, to ensure they have a solid academic foundation in law.Yes, if you accept an offer of a training contact with us, we will pay for your course fees in full and provide a maintenance grant of £12,500 per annum (pro-rated).

How many trainees are in each intake? When do they start?
We take up to five trainees each year and our trainees will start in September of each year.

Can I contact the graduate recruitment team?
Yes, please email Gemma, our graduate recruitment manager, at graduaterecruitment@willkie.com.

Will I be able to go on secondment to client or to another Willkie office?
We hope to be able to second our trainees to one of our offices, this will be confirmed in 2023.

Can I get involved with pro bono work?
Yes, absolutely! There are many ways to get involved, please see our brochure for more details.