My London Trainee Experience
Training with Latham & Watkins opens up a world of opportunity. Follow four of our London trainees on their training contract journey across our London, Dubai, D.C., and Singapore offices.
Our Programmes
Vacation Schemes
Our spring and summer vacation schemes offer you the perfect opportunity to get your foot in the door at Latham and for us to get to know each other.
These schemes allow you to engage in real, client-facing work alongside your peers, providing a taste of life as a trainee lawyer.
You’ll work closely with experienced lawyers, helping you to start thinking about the kind of lawyer you want to be.
Upon completion, you’ll have the chance to interview for a training contract.
First-Year Spring Scheme
Over three days, learn about life at a global elite law firm and determine if a training contract at Latham is right for you.
Gain insights into our complex, high-profile, cross-border work, global team collaboration, and law firm operations while networking with Latham lawyers across different areas of the firm.
Open to all first-year students.
Key Dates
- First-Year Spring Scheme: 7 — 9 April 2026. Application deadline 25 January 2026.
- Spring Vacation Scheme: 13 April — 24 April 2026. Application deadline 7 December 2025.
- Summer Vacation Scheme: 22 June — 3 July 2026. Application deadline 7 December 2025.
Applications for Vacation Schemes will open on 1 September 2025. Applications for the First-Year Spring Scheme will open on 6 October 2025.
Training Contract
The training contract you choose will help shape your career as a lawyer.
Seats
Over two years, you will rotate across different “seats” or practice areas, including corporate and finance, experiencing a breadth of interesting areas from litigation to fintech.
Receive in-practice group training, attend practice retreats, and build your network with partners and associates.
Post-Qualification Guidance
Our trainee development team ensures exposure to areas and projects that interest you. Receive practice group guides, attend practice area talks, and get one-to-one guidance to make informed choices.
International Secondments
Depending on business demand, you may go on secondment to Latham offices in Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, and the US.
Full Support Along the Way
Your associate mentor and supervisor will guide you, providing regular feedback and support.
Our Trainee Development Team will assist you throughout your training programme. We offer extensive professional development opportunities, including post-graduate courses and in-house training.
Learn more about our training and support.
Salary & Benefits
Starting salary: £60,000, increasing to £65,000 in your second year. See the full overview of our benefits.
Open Days
Our open days, which are open to all interested students, offer a chance to experience Latham culture and meet our team.
Participate in panels, case studies, and networking sessions.
We cover travel costs for those who live outside London.
Key Dates
- Graduate Recruitment Open Day — 22 October 2025 (deadline to apply 5 October)
- Black Lawyers Group Open Day — 6 November 2025 (deadline to apply 19 October)
- Graduate Recruitment Open Day — 13 November 2025 (deadline to apply 19 October)
- LGBTQ+ Open Day — 27 November 2025 (deadline to apply 19 October)
Applications for the 2025 Open Days will open on 1 September 2025
On Campus
We visit campuses across the UK and have brand ambassadors at several universities. Look for us at law fairs, virtual events, and in your careers services.
This year, we will attend events at: Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, King’s College London, Leeds, Liverpool, LSE, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen Mary, UCL, Warwick, and York.
Register for our events.
Sign up to receive updates about our upcoming graduate events and opportunities.
Contacts
For queries related to graduate opportunities, contact: associaterecruiting.graduate.lo@lw.com.