FAQs

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 be sure to 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, we can only accept one application from you. It is not necessary to have completed work experience with us to have a successful training contract application. 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. If you would still like to apply for the winter workshop before applying for a training contract, please bear in mind that training contract offers will be made on a rolling basis and we are therefore unable to guarantee the availability of places as we progress with these interviews.

That is entirely up to you. As long as we have this information on the form, we do not insist that you repeat it on your CV.

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.

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.

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.

Strong applications will be authentic and personal to you. The use of generative AI to help you prepare your application may result in inaccuracies and a lack of originality and creativity.

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 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.

Yes, all applications are welcome. If you require an employment visa to commence work in the UK and you accept a training contract with us, we will provide sponsorship and will assist in co-ordinating the necessary immigration and visa assistance in collaboration with our immigration service providers. We cannot guarantee that a visa will be granted by the Home Office, however the eligibility requirements must be met in advance of a visa application.

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.

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 Lateral 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.

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

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 trainee recruitment team on the day if you would like to use the prayer and contemplation room.