Clifford Chance Training Contract | Job or placement at Uptree

Clifford Chance Training Contract In person placement

Important dates

Application deadline date:
Wed 19th Nov
Placement start date:
Mon 28th Aug

Placement locations

London

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 Clifford Chance's Training Contract

Joining Clifford Chance's Training Contract will mean that you are working alongside colleagues who are leaders in their field. You’ll learn from established experts whilst working in a stimulating and challenging commercial environment. One where your unique talents can be developed and make a real impact.

During the two-year Training Contract, you will experience the challenging high-performance world of commercial law and gain the breadth of experience you need to emerge as a confident solicitor in England and Wales. You will have four six-month rotations, giving you the opportunity to explore the firms practice areas. You will have to do at least one of your seats in Global Financial Markets, the firm's largest practice area. You may have the opportunity to undertake an international secondment, a client secondment or a split seat secondment with our Disputes team and our Pro Bono clients. Trainees receive a salary of £56,000 in their first year, £61,000 in their second year, and £150,000 as a newly qualified lawyer.

You can find out more about Clifford Chance by visiting their webpage.

The structure of the ACCESS programme

🎓 PGDL and LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 & 2):

Clifford Chance have partnered with the University of Law to deliver their PGDL conversion course for non-law graduates, and their bespoke, innovative, and dynamic SQE programme, for all their future trainees.

The SQE course content has been designed not only to prepare you rigorously for the academic aspects of the SQE, but you can also be confident that you will emerge with the fundamental skills and technical excellence required to meet the challenges of working as a lawyer at Clifford Chance.

Clifford Chance require all their future trainees to complete the SQE, even if they have previously passed the LPC.

⚡ Induction:

Clifford Chance's award-winning Trainee Induction Programme is an important part of ensuring that you start life as a trainee with the tools and techniques you need to succeed. This three-day programme has been designed with input from key stakeholders in the firm – from the UK Managing Partner, Michael Bates, to trainees who have been through the learning process themselves. The Induction will give you a clear idea as to how your role as a trainee fits into the London office and the wider Clifford Chance strategy by combining practical learning and skill development in a safe and supportive environment before you transition into your first seat.

📶 Career Development Meetings and Qualification

Regular feedback is vital to your growth and development. Meetings with your supervisors, monitoring partners and the Early Talent Development Team are built into the structure of your Training Contract to ensure that you are staying on track and receiving the support that you need along the way. A dedicated Early Talent Development Specialist assigned to your cohort will also meet with you at specific times during your SQE to understand your career aspirations, answer any questions you have, and to ensure all the necessary support is in place from your very first day at the firm. The qualification process can be a daunting one and it is important to the firm that you are aware of the support available from the outset. Conversations start early so you can start to take control of your future from the beginning of your Training Contract.

💺 Seat Allocation

During your two-year Training Contract, you'll gain experience in different practice areas and teams. The firm's points-based seat allocation system allows you to direct your Training Contract to the practice areas and specialisms you are most interested in. Every trainee is awarded 200 points at the start of their Training Contract, and it's up to you how you allocate them. Each seat, you'll enter points into our seat algorithm to select the practice area you would like to work in - the system is transparent, fair, and gives you control over your career direction. From Asset Finance to Corporate Antitrust, Tax to Private Equity, you could even allocate your points to one of the firm's many international and client secondments.

💪 Resilience Training & Support

As part of the firm's commitment to the health and wellbeing of their employees, they have developed a unique and award-winning resilience programme for our Clifford Chance trainees. Life can have its ups and downs but there is lots of support available, be it from colleagues at Clifford Chance or through services provided by the firm. It is important that many of these services take a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing and are complemented by the trainees who are chosen by their peers to act as inclusion and mental health champions.

🤝 Partner Sponsorship

Clifford Chance know the value of building strong professional networks and having mentors who are invested in your development. The firm's associates and partners are committed to ensuring you receive the very best learning opportunities and are exposed to the highest quality work. Not only will you be guided by a supervisor each seat, but you'll also be allocated a Partner Sponsor for the duration of your Training Contract. Your Partner Sponsor will be a sounding board, mentor and advisor who will be a key contact as you navigate the opportunities a career at Clifford Chance will offer.

💼 Client & International Secondments

Over a quarter of Clifford Chance trainees are on secondment at any one time. Thriving in a global law firm involves having a global mindset. International secondments provide a great opportunity to be fully immersed in the countries and cultures of the different clients you'll work with and to develop your understanding of how they work.

You may be moving halfway across the world, but there will be plenty of support to make sure the process is smooth throughout. Before you leave, the firm also offer language lessons should you need them and Clifford Chance's London Early Talent Development team will be in touch regularly to make sure you're getting the most out of the experience!

🎯 Training and Support

When you start each seat at Clifford Chance, you'll have access to The Clifford Chance Global Academy, a pioneering resource that offers in-depth training tailored to your practice area. The Global Academy helps their lawyers develop excellent legal, business, and commercial skills that will benefit you for life. This technical training is combined with a sharp business focus, delivered by expert trainers, and customised for Clifford Chance.

As part of the Training Contract, you'll also have access to the firm's global Tech Academy, which offers online training, resources, and a global programme of face-to-face workshops. These initiatives ensure you stay ahead of the latest technology trends and address the issues clients face.

Training Contract Salary and benefits

First-year trainee: £56,000

Newly qualified lawyer: £150,000

You can also expect to enjoy a comprehensive benefits package – one that includes:

Free gym membership
Pension scheme
On-site healthcare
Private healthcare scheme
Season ticket loan
Cycle-to-work scheme
Dental plan
International secondments
Concierge services
Free meals (after a certain time)

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

If you are applying for our London Training Contract and you have not studied a law degree then you will need to complete the PGDL prior to joining Clifford Chance as a Trainee. Please note that if you are a Scots or Irish law student or graduate you may be required to do elements of the PGDL.
All Future Trainees will also need to complete the SQE prior to joining as a Trainee, this is irrespective of whether you have already completed the LPC. All Future Trainees who have already completed the SQE will still need to complete the Clifford Chance Plus Programme, which is a bespoke course designed by their lawyers in collaboration with the University of Law. Both the PGDL and SQE are funded by Clifford Chance and we will provide a maintenance grant to use during your studies.
The Training Contract is open to penultimate year law students, final year law and non-law students and graduates. You must be eligible to start your Training Contract in August 2027 and/or February 2028. Your intake may be decided by the recruitment team. You must have achieved or be on track to achieve a 2:1 or above in your undergraduate degree.