Uptree

Placement details

About Clifford Chance's Training Contract

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 firm's Global Product Groups.

You will complete at least one of your seats in one of the following five Global Product Groups: Capital Markets, Debt Finance, Project Development and Finance, Restructuring and Insolvency, or Structured Finance. You may have the opportunity to undertake an international secondment, a client secondment or a split seat secondment with the Disputes team and Pro Bono clients.

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Training and Development

At the start of each seat, you will receive specialised training in that sector and have a dedicated supervisor. Throughout your Training Contract, you will be closely supported by the Early Talent Development team, your Supervisor, Resource Manager and your Monitoring Partner. They will all be available to act as mentors and advisors on a full range of subjects.

You will have access to learning and development support from the Clifford Chance Academy, the legal sector's leading in-house learning and development facility. When you start each seat, you'll have access to The Clifford Chance Global Academy, a pioneering resource that offers in depth training tailored to your practice area. This technical training is combined with a sharp business focus, delivered by expert trainers and customised for Clifford Chance.

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.

Clifford Chance is committed to best in class learning and development opportunities for Future Trainees. During the SQE, the firm hosts a number of Global Product Group presentations that help Future Trainees to make informed seat choices. Each Global Product Group delivers a skills session to explain key trainee tasks and ensure trainees are best placed to add value from day one. In week one at the firm, you will take part in the Trainee Induction programme.

Client and 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.

Before you leave for a secondment, the firm offers language lessons should you need them and Clifford Chance's London Early Talent Development team will be in touch regularly to ensure you're getting the most out of the experience. You will receive plenty of support to make sure the process is smooth throughout.

What You Will Do

Whilst your experience in each seat will be very different, in all of them you will develop your legal and business skills, gain insight into high profile clients and enhance your commercial awareness. The tasks you undertake could include drafting and proofing documents, conducting due diligence on a client's acquisition target, attending client meetings, preparing documents for a court hearing, researching titles and leases on a real estate portfolio or creating a data room ahead of a major transaction. You may even run some smaller transactions for clients. These are just some examples of the breadth of work you may be involved in as a trainee.

Training Contract Salary and Benefits

• First year trainee: £56,000
• Second year trainee: £61,000
• Newly qualified lawyer: £150,000

You can also expect to enjoy a comprehensive benefits package which 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

Eligibility and Qualifications

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 2029 and/or February 2030. 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.

If you are applying for the London Training Contract and you have not studied an England and Wales qualifying law degree, then you will need to complete the PGDL prior to joining 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.

If you have already completed the PGDL, you must have achieved a commendation (60% or more) overall and achieved a completion (a pass or better) on all modules at first attempt.

All Future Trainees will need to complete the SQE prior to joining as a Trainee, irrespective of whether you have already completed the LPC. If you have already completed the SQE, you must have passed all modules on first attempt.

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 the firm's lawyers in collaboration with the University of Law.

Both the PGDL and SQE are funded by Clifford Chance and the firm will provide a maintenance grant to use during your studies. For further information on eligibility and the qualifications required, please visit the firm's website or contact the recruitment team.

How to Apply

The recruitment process consists of the following stages:

• Complete the online application form
• Take the Clifford Chance Immersive Online Assessment and 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 for a recorded video interview
• If successful at the video interview stage, you will be invited to an in person assessment day which is typically no more than 3 to 4 hours in duration

The in person assessment day will consist of a case study exercise (inclusive of a written exercise), a combined case study and competency based interview with a Partner and Senior Associate, and a group exercise.

Required Attributes and Skills

Outside of academic requirements, you do not need any specific experiences or legal knowledge prior to applying. However, you will need to demonstrate the following attributes and skills:

• Business awareness and problem solving with commercial insight and an ability to identify legal and business issues
• An inquisitive mind and ability to articulate and apply knowledge creatively in a solution focused manner
• An ability to understand clients' needs and provide exceptional client service
• Leadership and collaboration skills with a natural enthusiasm for being a team player
• An ability to multi task, remain organised and thrive through challenges in a fast paced, high pressure and high performance environment
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including being reliable and responsive
• An ability to demonstrate a real desire to learn from those around you and with ambition to progress
• The ability to take pride in your approach to work and work output, including seeking feedback proactively
• Knowledge of and genuine interest in the role, firm and clients with an understanding of how this aligns with your skillset and career ambitions

Equal Opportunities

At Clifford Chance, inclusion is good for the team and their families, the firm and society. The firm is committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

Clifford Chance has a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks provide colleagues with a place to share experiences and advocate for change wherever opportunities for improvement are identified. The firm's goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in Clifford Chance.

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

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.

Next steps: 

• Complete the online application form.
• 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!