Becoming a trainee solicitor

Talking. Specifics.

Overview

Our application process is refreshingly straightforward: just an online form, including a cover letter and details of your grades and experience—no psychometric tests or unlikely heroics required. We want to get to know the real you, so focus on sharing your story and your motivation for joining Travers Smith.

Apply online at Travers Smith | Careers for Training Contracts starting from September 2028, with earlier start dates available. There are two ways to gain a Training Contract at Travers Smith.

  • Direct Training Contract Process – applications open on Friday 3 October 2025 and close on Friday 7 November 2025 (at midday)

  • Summer Vacation Scheme Process – applications open on Monday 3 November 2025 and close on Wednesday 14 January 2026 (at midday)

At Travers Smith, our Summer Vacation Scheme and Direct Training Contract offer two paths that lead to the same destination. Whether you immerse yourself in the firm on a Vacation Scheme or apply directly through our Recruitment Days, your chances at securing a Training Contract remain the same. Take the time to consider which process best suits your circumstances; you’ll find all the details below to help you make an informed choice.

  1. Eligibility
  2. Direct Training Contract
  3. Summer Vacation Schemes
  4. Salaries

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Eligibility

Our minimum criteria is AAB at A-level or equivalent and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or on track for this), however we take into account contextual information and mitigating circumstances.

The contextual information for an application is provided via Rare Recruitments Contextual Recruitment System (or CRS). This CRS highlights candidates to us who have achieved impressive results taking into account certain disadvantages they may have faced. We are keen to consider the potential offered by such candidates, so the above academic requirements are a guide only.

We take law and non-law students for our Vacation Schemes and Direct Training Contract Processes, with genuinely no preference for one over the other.

Direct Training Contract

  • Apply

    October

  • Virtual interview

    November

  • Recruitment day

    December

  • Final in-person Interview

    January

All interviews are held by Early Careers Recruitment Partners and Senior Counsel.

This year our Summer Vacation Schemes will run:

  • 15 June to 26 June 2026
  • 29 June to 10 July 2026

The scheme will follow our internal programme, which includes a number of talks, workshops, and a negotiating exercise. There will also be department insights and close contact with trainees. The week is designed specifically for students to be given an authentic taste of a City lawyer's work. There are also working lunches and informal evening events.

Vacation Scheme students will be paid £750 for completing each week. However, you must complete all three assessments on the scheme to be eligible for payment.

If you are a visa candidate please ensure your visa covers two weeks of paid work in London.

For a student visa this may mean checking on your University term times. If you need to apply for a visa to attend, we cannot sponsor these visa's, however we would recommend companies such as BUNAC to help you acquire a visa. 

Summer Vacation Schemes

  • Apply

    October - January

  • Virtual Interview

    February / March

  • Vacation schemes

     June / July

You'll begin with our usual online application and cover letter in October - January, before successful candidates are invited for a first-stage online interview in February/March. All interviews are held by Early Careers Recruitment Partners and Senior Counsel.

This year our Summer Vacation Schemes will run:

·       15 June to 26 June 2026

·       29 June to 10 July 2026

The scheme will follow our internal programme, which includes a number of talks, workshops, and a negotiating exercise. There will also be department insights and close contact with trainees. The week is designed specifically to give students an authentic taste of a City lawyer's work. There are also working lunches and informal evening events.

Vacation Scheme students are paid £750 for completing each week. However, you must complete all three assessments on the scheme to be eligible for payment.

If you are a visa candidate, please ensure your visa covers two weeks of paid work in London. For a student visa this may mean checking on your university term times.

If you need to apply for a visa to attend, we cannot sponsor these visas, however we would recommend companies such as BUNAC to help you acquire a visa.

Salaries

1st year salary: £55,000

2nd year salary: £60,000

NQ salary: £130,000 (basic) and discretionary bonus

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