Training Contract & Vacation Scheme - 2027 - Paul Hastings UK

Deadlines:

Vacation scheme 2 March 2025

Training Contract 30 June 2025

WHAT DO WE OFFER OUR TRAINEES?

Our position as a leading international firm is built on our ability to understand, manage and complete transactions by drawing upon resources of our globally integrated practice areas. Our state-of-art telecommunications infrastructure links each of the Paul Hastings offices to the others and to our clients, facilitating the coordination of our transaction teams around the world.

We will provide you with a first class training and development programme, combining on-the-job training and various professional courses. We will monitor your progress on a formal and informal basis to ensure you receive ongoing training and have the opportunity to give feedback on the programme itself and on those areas that you consider are of most interest to you.

Our trainee solicitors will spend time in four seats, including corporate, capital markets, real estate, real estate finance, structured finance, leveraged finance, private funds, technology, cybersecurity, employment, litigation, restructuring and tax.

Our firm offers a mentoring programme where an associate offers guidance to trainee solicitors through mentoring sessions and daily supervision. Mentors will seek to enrich and accelerate your professional growth by providing information about practices, as well as offering the personal guidance you will need to deal effectively with other lawyers and staff.

We offer a competitive salary whilst training and benefits including medical insurance, a fitness and wellbeing allowance, life assurance and 25 working days' holiday.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Personal Profile

There is no such thing as a "typical" Paul Hastings lawyer. We seek individuals with a wide variety of skills, who combine intellectual ability with enthusiasm, creativity and a demonstrable ability to thrive in a challenging environment. In addition, we expect you to show initiative and a willingness to make a positive contribution to the firm as a whole. People never thrive as individuals at Paul Hastings, only when they advance the common interest. When filling in the application form you should seek to demonstrate that you possess those qualities.

Academic Ability

We are looking for individuals with distinguished academic credentials. We expect candidates to have high level of achievement both at A Level (or equivalent) and degree level. This would normally mean an upper second or first class degree and a majority of A grades at A Level.

Analytical Ability

The exceptional depth and breadth of our practice means that we need to recruit those who can think clearly, identify the key aspects of a problem and apply sound commercial judgement and lateral thought. You will need to show that you can explain complex concepts in understandable terms, analyse the position and interpret the reaction of parties in complicated situations, anticipate risk and offer commercial solutions. We look for people who can see alternative ways of approaching and solving problems and who can identify key issues.

Determination

The career path you have chosen is demanding, but rewarding. It will be intellectually challenging and make multiple demands on you. We therefore need to select individuals who possess the desire and drive to succeed in all circumstances and who can focus and deliver first-rate solutions even when under pressure.

Flexibility

We encourage innovation and are therefore looking for bright and engaging individuals who make a valuable contribution from day one. To achieve this you will need to enjoy dealing with new ideas and be able to adapt to new challenges. We are not just looking for talented legal minds – we need people who can appreciate the detail whilst not losing sight of the bigger picture.

Interpersonal Skills

We are a close-knit yet diverse office in London. Teamwork is paramount to our success. You will need to demonstrate that you have excellent communication skills and can interact with a broad range of colleagues and clients.

Organisation

Our lawyers execute complex multi-jurisdictional transactions. It is essential to keep up with legal developments and understand our clients' businesses. You need to be able to manage, prioritise and not lose your cool when others might lose their's.

Commercial Acumen

Commercial sense and understanding usually develops with time and experience. However, we would expect you to demonstrate that you have the aptitude and potential to develop and apply business acumen as a lawyer.

Enriching Your Training Experience

Trainees are supported throughout the training period by an associate mentor and our Talent Management Team. They are encouraged to engage with Firm programmes and initiatives including charity and fundraising events, and affinity networks that promote diversity and inclusion.

WHEN TO APPLY

The application deadline for 2027 Training Contracts is 30 June 2025. All applications will be reviewed after this date (not before).

In June 2025 the firm will be offering Summer work placements. PHirst Steps placements will take place 16 - 27 June 2025. These placements are for those looking to gain experience in a City practice and will give participants experience of life at the firm and the work our lawyers do. Each placement is for one week and is paid. The deadline to apply is 2 March 2025.

Our opportunities are open for applications to penultimate and final year law students, final year non-law students, and graduates.

HOW TO APPLY

Click Apply to apply for our March and September 2027 Training Contract positions.
 
We will contact you by email to confirm receipt of your application. Please note that after this confirmation, we will only contact candidates who are invited to interview. Interviews for the March and September 2027 intakes will take place during August 2025. 

BROCHURE

To learn more about training contracts at Paul Hastings, read our brochure.