Dentons

We are Dentons. The world’s largest law firm. With more than 12,500 people in 80+ countries around the world, we have unique breadth, depth and diversity. Alongside our award winning global work, we are committed to a culture of innovation, giving back and inclusion.

Dentons is designed to be different. The landscape we work in is changing at an accelerating pace. We embrace this change, and are looking for trainees and apprentices to join us in redefining what is possible and in shaping the future of law.

Your career at Dentons can shape up to be something extraordinary. It’s a place for those who are driven to challenge. To question. To break tradition. To put your career firmly into fast-forward. This could be the start of something big.

Main areas of work

Trainees and apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats to work with experts across our practice areas: banking and finance, competition, corporate, dispute resolution, ETI (energy, transport and infrastructure), PRM (people, reward and mobility), real estate, tax and TMT (technology, media and telecommunications).

Work is also about more than just work here. It's about the environment too, and the feeling you get from your team, office and beyond. Our teams are focused on inclusion, giving back, and on looking forward with innovation.

Who Should Apply?

There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ trainee or apprentice at Dentons and that’s the way we like it. Our expertise within the Firm is as diverse as the needs of our global clients. What we have in common is the ability to contribute to our growing success.

We generally look for a strong academic performance, but consider every application we receive in context and holistically. If you feel you can submit a strong application even if you do not meet these grades, we encourage you to apply.

We also encourage you to include mitigating circumstances if relevant.

We have also implemented the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System, to give us additional context to every candidate’s application.

Training Contract

The business of law is changing, and we want you to be right there with it. To take us from largest to leading, we're looking for our trainees to think big and see the future of law in a new way.

Our two-year, four seat Training Contract is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future.

On top of our award-winning trainee development programme, our training contract includes three additional modules: legal project management, innovation and resilience.

Alongside seats in our practice groups, trainees have the opportunity to work in one of our global offices, or directly with one of our clients on a six-month secondment.

Our modernised training contract marks the first stage in your journey from lawyer to leader. The lawyers of the future start here.

SQE

The Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE) is a new route to qualification which replaces the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and the Professional Skills Course (PSC). Anyone wanting to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales will need to complete the SQE. Dentons will cover SQE course and exam fees for our future trainees. SQE will apply to all our London and Milton Keynes trainees starting from August 2024 onwards. Our Scottish trainees will continue to complete the Diploma.

Our Training Contract in England will last for two years. There may be an opportunity to use six months previous relevant QWE to reduce the Training Contract to 18 months. This will be discussed on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed.
Everyone on our Training Contract will need to complete 18 months minimum, regardless of how much QWE they have already achieved. The training contract will continue to include four seats alongside our bespoke development modules.

Vacation scheme

Deciding where to start your career is a big decision. Balance real work with training and networking on our schemes to see what your career at Dentons could look like. Our two week scheme will give you, and us, an insight into whether we’re a good match.
In each week of the scheme you will experience a different practice area, working closely with a supervisor and buddy.

By attending our Vacation Scheme, you'll automatically be assessed for our Training Contract. This could be the start of something much bigger.

Our schemes run in Spring (London only) and Summer (all UK offices).

Solicitor Apprenticeship

University isn’t for everyone. Don’t let anyone tell you it is. If you want to train to become a solicitor, you just need a spot on the Dentons' Solicitor Apprenticeship.

You’ll start working towards your LLB university degree alongside your day job. No student debt. No eye-watering loans. Just an opportunity to learn and build your career.

The six-year programme aimed at school leavers combines eight seats of work-based learning and part-time study with BPP University.

Locations: London

For more information please visit here.

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

At Dentons, inclusion and diversity is not just a core value – it is an integral part of our strategy. Building a more inclusive and diverse law firm is core to our strategy because it leads to better business outcomes for our clients, our communities and for Dentons.

We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the Firm.

Examples of our inclusion strategy include a focus on allyship program, access initiatives, mentoring programs, and a series of events and conversation focussed on equity and inclusion.

Our Affinity Groups also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include GLOW (LGBTQ+), Fusion (Asian Professionals), BPN (Black Professionals), Inspire (Gender Equality), Accessibility (Disability), and our Parents and Carers network.

Experience Dentons

Experience Dentons is our innovative virtual work experience program, designed to give you an insight into life as a commercial solicitor at the world’s largest law firm.

Experience Dentons starts by providing an introduction to law, the commercial world and to Dentons as a firm. Then, as you progress through the program, you will complete work related to each of our key practice areas, honing both your technical and commercial skills. By the end of Experience Dentons you will have completed a range of meaningful activities, gained insight to insider information from Dentons and will receive a certificate to help boost your LinkedIn profile and CV.

Now to Next Scholarship

The Now to Next Scholarship is a national student scholarship scheme for students of Black, African or Caribbean heritage (including applicants of mixed-race with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage).

Each year, students across the UK will be provided with a scholarship of £2,500 per annum during their three year UK undergraduate law degree.

Alongside the financial support, scholars will be guaranteed a place on Dentons insight events, gain access to mentoring and regularly meet with our Early Careers team and trainees.

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