FAQs

Please find below FAQs on:

If you have a question which has not been answered here, please contact the Early Careers Recruitment team via email or on 020 7090 4454. (Enquiries only - we do not accept applications by email).

Recruitment Privacy Notice

Applications (Training Contracts and Work Experience Opportunities)

We recommend that your CV is no more than two sides of A4. The information included should be factual – tell us what you have done, where and when.

You must demonstrate evidence of an interest in, and commitment to, a career in commercial law through, for example, open days, virtual internships, virtual or in-person law firm events/university events such as law fairs or firm presentations, or legal work experience.

You should include details of everything you have been involved with, whether or not these activities are related to a career in law. We want to understand your journey and how you spend your time outside of your studies.

You can find more tips on preparing your CV in this video.

Your cover letter should tell us about you, why you are interested in a career in law and why you are applying to Slaughter and May. You may like to reference virtual internships you have completed or law firm events/university events you have attended to support this.

You should also include any other information which you think may be relevant to your application.

Please ensure that your cover letter is no longer than one side of A4 and address it to Janine Arnold, Head of Recruitment. You do not need to include your address or the address of the firm on the cover letter.

You can find more tips on preparing your cover letter in this video.

You will be asked to provide some personal details and the following educational information on the relevant section of the application form:

A full breakdown of your GCSE and A-level (or equivalent) results
A full breakdown of completed module results for all undergraduate and postgraduate study you have completed to date (including first year results, even if they do not count towards your final degree classification)
An end of year average result (percentage) for each year of undergraduate and postgraduate study you have completed to date
If you have attended school and/or university outside of the UK and/or if your university doesn’t use a percentage grading system - an explanation of the grading system for the school and/or university you have attended.

If you are applying for our spring open days or Spring Forward programme, we appreciate that you may not have any completed module results yet. If that is the case, please mention this in your application and include any predicted grades, essay or coursework results you have received to date if you have them, or just put N/A for this section of the application form.

There is also space on each section of the application form for you to provide details of any extenuating circumstances you have experienced, including a disability or long-term health condition, which have materially affected your results.

Yes - please include all your academic results on your CV, as well as on your application form.

On your CV, you should list these in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent. This doesn’t need to take up too much space- you can list them horizontally.

You will also need to include all these results on the online application form that you’ll complete to submit your CV and cover letter. Please make sure that you include all completed module results for undergraduate and postgraduate study – even if they don’t count towards your degree.

We appreciate that many students will be in this position. Please mention this in your application and include any predicated grades, essay or coursework results you received during those years instead.

Please provide details of all equivalent exams taken. You may choose to provide this information in your CV instead. Please also provide an explanation of the grading system either as an additional attachment or in the relevant section of the application form.

No, you should input your marks as they appear on your academic transcript. Please also provide an explanation of the grading system either as an additional attachment or in the relevant section of the application form.

We appreciate that you may not have any results yet. Please mention this in your application and include any predicted grades, essay or coursework results you have received to date if you have them, or just put N/A for this section of the application form.

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be useful, however, we strongly advise you not to copy and paste AI-generated text into your application.

Your application should be written in your own words. AI-generated responses often lack the personal insight and authenticity that we value. Applications that feel generic and lack originality are less likely to be successful.

Please provide at least one academic referee. If you are currently in employment you can provide your employer as a second referee.

Please note that we do not require a referee for our work experience opportunities as we do not take up references for these.

We encourage applications as early as possible for all of our opportunities.

Training contract offers are made on a rolling basis, and the interview period will begin before the application deadline. We are therefore unable to guarantee the availability of places as we progress with interviews. If you are made a training contract offer following your interview, there is a possibility that this may be for a later intake.

Offers for all of our work experience opportunities are made after the application deadline.

Those who have had an unsuccessful training contract application are unlikely to be successful in a subsequent application unless there has been a significant development which alters their application. We do not tend to re-interview candidates for training contracts.

Candidates who have had an unsuccessful summer work experience application can still apply for a training contract.

Candidates who have had an unsuccessful application for either of our spring opportunities can also apply for a summer work experience scheme (and/or a training contract).

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to provide feedback following an interview.

Eligibility (Training Contracts and Work Experience Opportunities)

Good A-level grades are not a strict requirement. All applications are welcome and will be reviewed by our recruitment partners based on their own merits. If you have any mitigating circumstances that affected any of your academic results, we recommend that you include them in your application.

No. Although completing work experience with us will give you a greater insight into the firm, it is not necessary to have completed work experience with us, or indeed with any other firm, to have a successful training contract application.

However, if you do not have any legal work experience on your CV, you should demonstrate your interest in and commitment to a career in commercial law through, for example, open days, virtual internships, virtual or in-person law firm events/university events such as law fairs or firm presentations.

No. For the purposes of our application process, candidates who have already completed, or who are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to complete some or all of the modules of the law conversion course, should apply for the non-law intake.

Yes, all applications are welcome. If you are part-way through a law conversion course, you may continue your studies at that institution. However, if you have not yet begun a law conversion course, we will ask you to study the Law Conversion Course (PGDL) at BPP Law School. If you are part-way through an LPC or SQE prep course at another institution, we will need to discuss this with you should you receive an offer.

Please provide details of all equivalent exams taken. You may choose to provide this information in your CV instead. Please also provide an explanation of the grading system either as an additional attachment or in the relevant section of the application form.

For our purposes, if you have at least 2 years’ experience in a common law jurisdiction, you can usually apply for a qualified lawyer position with us. For any queries regarding qualified lawyer positions, please visit the qualified lawyers page or contact the Recruitment team via email.

If you do not have 2 years’ experience in a common law jurisdiction, you will need to apply for a training contract. For our purposes, if you accept a training contract with us, you will still be required to complete the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (‘CCP’) (and usually the Law Conversion Course (PGDL) if you studied your undergraduate law degree outside of England and Wales). Please visit the route to qualification page for further information.

No, we will not interview anyone who has accepted a training contract with another firm.

Yes, you can. We will review all applications for our Spring Forward programme, although priority will be given to successful applications from candidates from an ethnic minority and/or lower socio-economic/social mobility background.

If you are a non-law student, you can apply for a training contract in the autumn of your final year. You can also apply as a graduate but, as we typically recruit two - three years in advance, this could result in a gap before starting the City Consortium Solicitors Training Programme ('CCP').

If you are a second-year student on a four-year degree, you are eligible to apply for the spring open days.

If you are a second-year law student on a four-year degree, you are also eligible to apply for the Spring Forward programme.

If you are in your first year of a two-year accelerated degree, you are eligible to apply for the summer work experience schemes.

No, the summer work experience scheme is restricted to those in the penultimate year of their undergraduate degree. You should consider the virtual insight afternoons which are aimed at finalists and graduates. Alternatively, if you already have legal work experience and/or you feel ready to apply directly for a training contract, we would encourage you to do so.

You would be considered a first-year student and would therefore be eligible for the spring open days and spring scheme (if you are studying for a law degree).

If you are a law student, you can apply for the Spring Forward programme and spring open days in your first or second year.

If you are a non-law student, you can apply for the spring open days in your first or second year.

You can apply for summer work experience schemes in your penultimate year.

You can register for the virtual insight afternoons in your final year.

Yes, all applications are welcome. If you studied your undergraduate law degree outside of England and Wales, we may require you to complete some modules of the Law Conversion Course (PGDL) and you would be considered a non-law student for the purposes of our application process. Please visit the route to qualification page for further information.

Training contract offers are subject to you having the legal right to work in the UK. Where a visa is required, the firm will provide sponsorship and our immigration advisers will support you through the Skilled Worker visa application process.

No, if you do not hold a British or Irish passport, any offer to attend our work experience scheme will be conditional on you having permission to enter or remain in the UK with an immigration status that permits work. If you are an international student studying in the UK, you must hold a Student visa that allows work outside of your university’s official term dates.

Work experience opportunities

If you are a first-year law student or a second year law student on a 4-year degree, you can apply for both the Spring Forward programme and a spring open day. If you can attend more than one spring open day, please apply for your preferred date and mention in your application which dates you can attend.

No, our work experience schemes are not formally assessed by the Early Careers Recruitment Team. For those who complete a summer scheme, your supervisor will provide us with some written feedback on your time with us.

Our summer work experience scheme and Spring Forward Programme students are paid £550 per week which is intended to cover your expenses during the scheme. If you will be relocating to London for the scheme and require accommodation, we will assist you with the arrangements for this and cover the cost. There is also a professional clothing grant available for those who require it.

This payment will be classified as income by HMRC and therefore if you are earning over your tax-free Personal Allowance, this payment will be subject to income tax. The firm will cover your national insurance contributions as part of the scheme.

Yes, we offer training contract interviews at the end of our summer schemes.

If you are in Year 12 at school and looking for work placements and insight opportunities, we have two schemes available: Lead in to Law and Excellerators. You can find out more about both schemes here.

It is not necessary to have completed work experience with us to have a successful training contract application. You should consider the virtual insight afternoons which are aimed at finalists and graduates. Alternatively, if you already have legal work experience and/or you feel ready to apply directly for a training contract, we would encourage you to do so.

No, the virtual insight afternoon is not linked to a training contract application. However, we hope that you will decide to apply for a training contract after attending this.

Yes, we have a prayer and contemplation room in our London office which is open for all to use. There are prayer mats and a small variety of prayer clothing available in the drawers of the room. Ablution (wudu) facilities are also available nearby. Please speak to the Early Careers Recruitment team on the day if you would like to use the prayer and contemplation room.

Interviews (Training Contracts and Summer Work Experience Schemes)

Our training contract interviews take place in person at our London office.

We conduct our summer work experience scheme interviews virtually, through Microsoft Teams.

There are no interviews for our spring open days, spring work experience scheme or virtual insight afternoons.

Yes, we have a prayer and contemplation room in our London office which is open for all to use. There are prayer mats and a small variety of prayer clothing available in the drawers of the room. Ablution (wudu) facilities are also available nearby. Please speak to the Early Careers Recruitment team on the day if you would like to use the prayer and contemplation room.

Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will achieve an LLB Law and Legal Practice degree from BPP.

All our solicitor apprentices and future trainee solicitors take the SQE path to qualification so you will also complete SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses with BPP. You can find more information on the SQE route to qualification on the SRA website.

No, we look for AAB or A*BB (or above) in any subjects.

No, EPQs don’t contribute to the minimum grade criteria. However, you should still include them in your application as they can be useful to discuss during interviews.

No, we understand that legal work experience can be difficult to access at this stage, so it is not a requirement.

However, we are looking for candidates to demonstrate their interest in, and understanding of, a career in commercial law, so we would recommend that you include a legal work experience and events section on your CV. This section can include relevant events you’ve attended and virtual internships you’ve completed. You can also reference these in your response to the application form question.

Yes, you can. Please include your original grades and your updated predicted grades on your application form and CV. There is space on the application form for you to explain this.

Yes, we accept qualifications that are equivalent to A-Levels, including BTECs and T-Levels.

Please provide details of all equivalent exams taken.

Please also provide an explanation of the grading system either as an additional attachment or in the relevant section of the application form.

No, the solicitor apprenticeship programme is not open to those who have already started studying at university or hold a degree.

Please visit our training contract and work experience pages for more information on the opportunities you may be eligible to apply to.

No, we will not interview anyone who is already a solicitor apprentice at another firm, or who has accepted a solicitor apprenticeship programme offer with another firm.

Your CV should include the following:

A breakdown of your GCSE and A-level grades (please state if these grades are actual or predicted)
Legal work experience and events (this can include virtual programmes)
Non-legal work experience
Paid employment
Extracurricular activities.

You should include details of everything you have been involved with, whether or not these activities are related to a career in law. We want to understand your journey and how you spend your time outside of your studies.

Please click here to view an example CV. Please note that this should be used only as an example of how to structure your CV and should not be used as a template.

Watch these videos from Kevin Howes, our solicitor apprenticeship partner, on what to include on your CV and application form.

You will be asked to provide some personal details and a full breakdown of your academic information, including your GCSE and predicted or achieved A-level (or equivalent) results.

There is also space on each section of the application form for you to provide details of any extenuating circumstances you have experienced, including a disability or long-term health condition, which have materially affected your results.

Yes - please include all your academic results (including your predicted A-level results) on your CV, as well as on your application form.

On your CV, you should list these in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent. This doesn’t need to take up too much space - you can list them horizontally.

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be useful, however, we strongly advise you not to copy and paste AI-generated text into your application. AI-generated responses often lack the personal insight and authenticity that we value. Applications that feel generic and lack originality are less likely to be successful.

If you choose to use AI tools, we recommend limiting their use to the following:

Brainstorming ideas: Use AI to help you think about relevant topics, skills, or experiences you might want to include.
Structuring your response: AI can suggest ways to organise your writing logically.
Checking readability: AI can help you refine your draft by suggesting clearer or more concise phrasing — but the content should remain your own.

Please provide at least one academic referee who will be able to verify your GCSE and (predicted) A-level or equivalent grades. This should preferably be your Head of Year. If you changed schools for your A-levels, please provide an academic referee for each school.

If you are currently in employment, you can provide your employer as an additional referee.

Yes, you can. However we would be looking for a significant development which alters your application, for example additional exam results and/or relevant work experience.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to provide feedback following an interview.

Interviews for our solicitor apprenticeship programme take place in person at our London office during a fixed interview period. You can find the dates on our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme page.

Before applying, please ensure that you are able to attend an interview during this time.

Yes, we have a prayer and contemplation room in our London office which is open for all to use. There are prayer mats and a small variety of prayer clothing available in the drawers of the room. Ablution (wudu) facilities are also available nearby.

Please speak to the Early Careers Recruitment team on the day if you would like to use the prayer and contemplation room.

No, you must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 6 year solicitor apprenticeship programme to be eligible.