Summer Vacation Scheme 2026

Summer Vacation Scheme 2026 — Slaughter and May, City of London

Slaughter and May is offering its prestigious Summer Vacation Scheme in 2026 for students and graduates considering a career at the firm. The vacation scheme is the primary route to securing a training contract at Slaughter and May, and the vast majority of the firm's trainees are recruited through this programme.

Participants spend three weeks embedded in the firm's practice areas at One Bunhill Row, working on real client matters alongside trainees, associates, and partners. The scheme provides an authentic experience of life at one of the most exclusive law firms in the world.

Vacation Scheme Details

• Duration: 3-week Summer Vacation Scheme
• Dates: Summer 2026 (June/July)
• Location: One Bunhill Row, City of London
• Remuneration: Competitive weekly stipend
• Conversion: High conversion rate to training contract offers

Eligibility: Open to penultimate-year and final-year LLB/GDL students, as well as non-law students with a genuine interest in corporate law. Applications from career changers and mature students are welcomed.

• Spend three weeks working in the firm's practice areas on real client matters
• Work alongside trainees and qualified lawyers on transactional and advisory work
• Attend training sessions, partner presentations, and social events
• Complete practical exercises and receive structured feedback from supervisors
• Gain insight into the firm's culture, values, and approach to legal practice
• Participate in the training contract interview process during or after the scheme

• Penultimate or final-year undergraduate (any discipline) or GDL student
• On track for a minimum 2:1 degree
• Outstanding academic record and evidence of intellectual curiosity
• Genuine interest in corporate and commercial law
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Commercial awareness and engagement with business current affairs
• Right to work in the United Kingdom for the duration of the scheme