Additional Programmes

Beginning Your Legal Career – United Kingdom

1L Opportunities for US Law Students

US 1L law students who have an interest in a career in our Capital Markets Practice Group and plan to practice in London long-term are encouraged to apply to attend our Student Diversity Leadership Academy; please note, no 1L summer positions are associated with this opportunity. This program is open to US 1L law students of all backgrounds with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applying to this program during your 1L year is the best way to express your early interest in the 2L summer opportunity for US law students, as described below. Applying will create more opportunities to engage with our network in London.

The Student Diversity Leadership Academy is a multi-day program focused on developing and empowering the legal industry’s future leaders. This program connects Latham lawyers from around the globe with talented first year law students to develop and empower future leaders of the legal profession.

Our office in London seeks US law students with a strong interest in building their careers abroad. US-qualified lawyers in our London office are members of the Capital Markets Practice Group, which is a key practice group in the office, encompassing high yield debt and equity capital markets offerings, financing for M&A transactions and liability management exercises. Lawyers in this practice gain exposure to a range of transactional work.

2025 Student Diversity Leadership Academy applications will open in the autumn; sign up to be notified when applications open. 

2L Opportunities for US Law Students

Latham’s London summer program is designed to give US law students the opportunity to experience life and work as a US-admitted lawyer in London. Latham’s summer program in London runs for 10 weeks.

The Practice

The London office seeks 2L law students interested in practicing exclusively in the US Capital Markets Practice. US-admitted lawyers in the London office focus on high yield debt and equity capital markets offerings. The practice consists of approximately 50 lawyers, and is fully integrated into the firm’s broader worldwide Corporate and Finance Departments. We work closely with our English-law trained colleagues in the London office and our Latham colleagues globally

The Program

The London summer associates will participate in a variety of work streams, including the review and drafting of the primary disclosure document in a US Capital Market’s transaction (the “offering memorandum” or “prospectus”), due diligence review (such as back-up and data room review), the comfort process (including liaising with auditors to verify the accuracy of financial information in company disclosures) and a wide range of other projects designed to provide a substantive and accurate representation of the work they would do as associates in the London office.

The London summer associates also participate in Summer Academy, which brings together the firm’s summer associates from around the world for three days of training, social events, and the opportunity to meet with lawyers and leaders across the firm.

2025 2L applications are now closed. 2026 2L applications will open next spring; sign up to be notified when applications open. Through Latham Early Action Days (LEAD), you can apply early to our summer program. By participating in LEAD, you can receive a decision earlier on in the process. This is a great approach if you have a strong interest in working at Latham.

Selection Criteria

The application process is open to all law students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school, regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable law.

Latham’s Recruiting Committee will evaluate all applications and consider the following factors:

  • Academic and leadership achievements
  • Life experiences that have shaped values and professional goals
  • Relevant experience (academic, clinical, externship, and/or employment)

General Application Requirements

A complete application package must include the following items:

  • Completed online application
    • Please only submit one application to your most preferred office. If you have additional offices of interest, you may include them in the additional information section of your application. Any subsequent application(s) will not be considered.
  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • Unofficial or official law school transcript (including your complete grades for your 1L year)

We strongly encourage you submit your application with your final transcript for a faster review. Your application is complete only after we receive your final transcript. If your spring grades are pending, submit your current transcript now and email your final transcript to AssociateRecruiting.Global@lw.com once available.

Information on how we process your personal information as part of an application is available in our recruitment privacy policy.

Job Simulations

Complete one of our Job Simulations, hosted on Forage, to better prepare for your application and interview. As a participant, you will complete simulated legal tasks created by our lawyers at Latham — allowing you to build practical legal skills, and learn about life at Latham and the work we do.

Latham Interview Prep

Explore our interview preparation site to guide you through each step of the application process, and provide you with helpful resources that will aid you in showcasing your skills and potential.

PRIME

Latham & Watkins is a founding member of PRIME, an organisation formed by various UK law firms committed to improving access to the legal profession. Our work experience programme is designed for Year 12 & 13 students who are interested in a career in law. 

Eligibility criteria

In order to apply for Latham’s PRIME work experience week, you must meet the following qualifying criteria:

You must meet both of the below criteria:

  • Year 12 or Year 13 (England & Wales) or S5 (Scotland)
  • You’re attending, and have attended from aged 11, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college

You must also meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You grew up in a household where no parent or guardian attended university
  • You are currently in receipt of, or have previously received, free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance, and/or 16 to 19 Bursary 
  • You have been, or are currently, in local authority care 
  • You are, or have been, a full-time or part-time carer 
  • You came to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker 
  • You are attending a state school or college with:
         a) below average A-Level or Higher point score and/or
         b) low rate of progression to higher education (PRIME Work Experience School Eligibility Criteria)
  • You grew up in a household where the occupation of the main earner is categorised as a routine or manual occupation. For further details please click here  

Application process

We welcome 16 students onto the programme each year.

2024 PRIME work experience applications are now closed.

Key Dates

PRIME week: 19 – 23 August 2024
Application window: 3 June – 5 July 2024

Please note, the London office does not offer work experience placements for secondary education students beyond the PRIME programme.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the vacancy or the application process, please contact the Graduate Recruitment team: AssociateRecruiting.Graduate.LO@lw.com.

Learn More About Our London Office