Uptree

Placement details

About Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, they strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

You can find out more about Clifford Chance by visiting their Company Profile page.

About the SPARK programme

SPARK is Clifford Chance's award-winning opportunity for exceptional students in the early stages of their first undergraduate degree. It’s your chance to gain an insider's view into a career in law and to secure a Training Contract.

SPARK has been developed from a one-week internship into a nine-month programme delivered across two academic years to give you deeper insights into the firm's work and to develop your legal knowledge, commercial awareness, and core business skills. With both in-person and virtual content, the programme follows key pillars designed to be dynamic and full of opportunities to meet representatives from the firm and to learn about their business.

Benefits of the SPARK programme

You'll benefit from an unparalleled introduction to commercial law, experiencing a blend of classroom-based learning, dedicated skill development, time spent shadowing our lawyers and more. It can also lead you straight to a Training Contract. Elements of the programme are paid at £500 per week.

You can find out more about Clifford Chance's SPARK programme by visiting their webpage.

---

The structure of the SPARK programme

🚀 SPARK Launch: Your journey on SPARK begins with an offer reception event at Clifford Chnace's London office, where you'll celebrate your acceptance into the programme. Clifford Chance's Early Careers team will outline what you can expect, and some of their trainees who completed the scheme will share their experiences of becoming a Clifford Chance trainee. This event is a fantastic opportunity to start building your network, meet your buddy, and connect with our lawyers across all levels of the firm.

💬 SPARK Buddy: You'll have access to a dedicated lawyer buddy as well as support and training on how to make the most out of this relationship. Your buddy will be on hand to provide invaluable advice throughout the programme to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience. The firm appreciate that your questions will be varied and may change over time, and believe this relationship will provide you with a unique insight into what a career at Clifford Chance could look like for you.

💡 SPARK Insights: Over the course of a week, you'll experience an intensive schedule of classroom-based learning at the firm, taking a deep diver into our business. This will include presentations on Clifford Chance's practice areas, case study workshops and seminars to develop your legal knowledge, commercial awareness, client focus and personal brand. It'll be fast-paced, dynamic, and packed full of networking opportunities where you will meet representatives from all levels within the firm. You'll receive a £500 per week salary too.

👥 SPARK Shadowing: This is the stage of the programme where you'll spend a week work shadowing with one of the firm's lawyers. You'll have a range of people to turn to for support, including a dedicated supervisor and trainee buddy who will allocate you work and provide you with hands-on insights into life as a trainee solicitor. You'll also receive a £500 per week salary.

🔗 SPARK Community: You will be involved in the firm's community and culture at Clifford Chance across the nine months. Throughout the programme you'll receive invites to in-person and virtual events taking place at the firm so you can gain authentic insights into your opportunities. This is a brilliant chance for you to build quality connections with your peers and employees across the firm. The events are exclusive to SPARK students and Clifford Chance employees.

🌎 SPARK Action: Here, you'll have the chance to make an impact and gain insights into the firm's global community outreach and pro bono work at the firm through a dedicated project for your SPARK cohort. You'll learn from the skills and expertise of our community and pro bono team who deliver positive and sustainable contributions to communities around the world where we do business. This element of the programme will be paid.

🎯 SPARK Skills: Clifford Chance are committed to providing you with dedicated skills training days to ensure you're career ready. Internal and external providers will lead seminars, workshops, and innovative courses that will include fun, competitive and team-based simulations designed to develop your commercial awareness and business acumen. This element of the programme will be paid.

---

In order to apply to Clifford Chance SPARK, you must meet the following qualifying criteria:

• First year law students of a three-year degree 
• Second year students of a four-year law degree 
• Penultimate year non-law students
• This should also be your first undergraduate degree

You will also need to be available for the dates listed below:

• Launch: 1st May 2025
• Insights:  30th June to 4th July 2025
• Shadowing: 7th to 11th July 2025 or 14th to 18th July 2025
• Skills/Action: 9th to 10th September 2025

Next steps: 

• Complete the online application form by clicking 'Apply' at the top of this page.
• Take the Watson Glaser critical reasoning test.
• If you pass the Watson Glaser test, your application form will be reviewed by the Clifford Chance recruitment team.
• Successful candidates at application review will be invited to a video interview with a member of the Early Talent Acquisition Team.

View further details and apply by clicking 'Apply' at the top of this page!