Vacation schemes
Applications for our Vacation Scheme and Training Contract opportunities are now open and will close on 18 November 2026
Apply for a vacation schemeYour future starts here
Choosing your career and where to start it can be a hard decision. Whether you're currently studying, a recent graduate, or considering a career change, our vacation scheme is the perfect opportunity for you to explore whether a career in law is right for you.
What's involved?
We've designed our vacation schemes to give you an immersive experience, showing you first-hand what it takes to succeed in the legal world. Held annually, our schemes take place at both our London and Birmingham offices. You will get to sit in one of our core practice areas and be immersed in a range of legal work. You will learn from experts and discover what makes for an outstanding client experience. Plus, you'll hear from senior leaders at the firm about what drives us, who we are, and our future goals. If you secure a spot on the vacation scheme, you will also be assessed for a training contract, giving you the chance to train with us and qualify as a lawyer.
We're trainees at Gowling WLG, and today we've got two exciting things to share with you. If you're interested in a career in commercial law, you've come to the right place. We're delighted to let you know that applications for our vacation scheme and training contract programs are now open.
To help you decide whether Gowling WLG would be the right firm for you, we're also launching our virtual Discover Gowling WLG sector series.
It's a great way to learn more about our sector focus, understand the industries our clients operate in, and gain an insight into the commercial side of being a lawyer. One thing that makes Gowling WLG unique is our sector focus. As trainees, we're aligned to a sector each year of our training contract, helping us build commercial awareness and gain a deeper understanding of our clients' industries. It helps us better understand our clients' opportunities and challenges and the wider commercial context in which they operate. To help you learn more about this, we'd love you to join our virtual Discover Gowling WLG sector series, launching on the 6th of October. The series showcases a range of our sectors and gives you the chance to hear like Gowling WLG was somewhere I could genuinely see myself building a career. That experience played a big part in my decision to apply.
When I applied, I was looking for a firm where I could learn from great people, challenge myself, and get involved in meaningful work from the start.
Since joining, I've been trusted with real responsibility whilst always having the support I need to learn and develop. From the Trainee Enrichment Series to our training program, there are plenty of opportunities to build your skills and broaden your experience. You're encouraged to challenge yourself, keep learning, and continue developing throughout your training contract.
And it's not just about the work. The culture here is genuinely collaborative, friendly, and supportive. I've met brilliant people across the firm who have been generous with their time, and it's been a fantastic place to start my career. We'd love for you to join us at our Discover Gowling WLG sector series and hear directly from our lawyers and trainees. Follow the early talent team on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our latest opportunities, events, and insights. Best of luck with your applications, and we hope to see some of you at Gowling WLG in the future.
Take your pick
Whether it's property deals or corporate ventures, we've got you covered. As an international, sector-focused law firm, we've got expertise in four key practice areas to get you started: Real Estate Group (REG), Corporate, Finance & Tax (CFT), Risk & Disputes Group (RAD) and Commercial, Employment & Pensions (CEP).
Our scheme is designed to help you get a taste of what it's like to work in a variety of areas. We've picked out quite a few to ensure that everyone has what they need to grow and flourish in their area of choice. Some of the current areas available include:
- Housing Development and Regeneration
- Commercial Development and Investment
- Planning
- Banking
- Corporate
- Financial Services and Funds
- Public Companies and Capital Markets
- Commercial Disputes and Risk Advisory
- Intellectual Property
- Non-contentious and Contentious Construction
- Energy Transition and Infrastructure Projects
- Pensions
- And many more!
Who can apply?
We believe that everyone brings something different to the table and understand that not all journeys start the same. That's why our vacation scheme is open to graduates, penultimate year law students, and final-year non-law students, and there are no minimum A-Level or degree classification entry requirements, because we know that talent comes in all shapes and sizes.
The important stuff
We recruit for our vacation scheme places annually, with applications opening every October and closing in November. Our application process consists of four stages.
- Application form
- Online task-based assessment
- Video interview
- Immersive assessment centre
Our assessment centres take place in January and February, giving you the chance to secure a spot in our vacation scheme for the upcoming spring or summer.
