Vacation scheme / Training Contract - 2025 & 2027 - Covington

Deadline: 17 January 2025

Summer Scheme – The Summer Scheme will take place from 23 June 2025 – 4 July 2025.

We recruit trainees exclusively through our vacation schemes. All vacation scheme attendees will be interviewed and assessed for a Training Contract/QWE.

Over our two-week Vacation Schemes, students have the opportunity to become integrated into the London office and gain an insight into the work of a Covington lawyer.

Students have the opportunity to participate in:

• a series of interactive presentations from practice groups and international offices;
• a group activity;
• networking sessions with trainees, associates, and partners;
• an independent research project focusing on a practice area of interest; and
• social events to help you get to know the firm.

Candidates are eligible from their final year of a non-law degree or penultimate year of a law degree. We also welcome applications from graduates and career changers.

Training Contract

As a trainee at Covington you will have early responsibility and exposure. Trainees play a significant role in complex substantive work, and have a chance to make a real impact on work that matters.

We offer trainees the opportunity to work on complex projects for clients such as Microsoft, Astra Zeneca and Meta, and engage in cutting-edge pro bono matters. We have advised pharmaceutical manufacturers on purchase and distribution agreements relating to manufacture and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, acted for ACWA Power in relation to the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project in Saudi Arabia, and represented Ukraine against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice.

The candidates we choose are sharp, articulate, and quick thinking. They have confidence and composure, but also honesty and humour. We look for candidates to be on track for a 2.1 degree with a strong academic record.

We also like to see:

• energy and enthusiasm
• team spirit
• a range of interests outside of the law (extra-curricular activities, voluntary or paid work)
• independent thought
• communication and influencing skills
• commercial awareness
• resolve and judgement
• a creative approach to problem solving
• resilience under pressure
• a good sense of humour

All trainees complete a transactional and contentious seat. Trainees are able to choose two seats from five practice areas.

Trainees are able to sit within the following specialist areas:

• Corporate
• Dispute Resolution
• Employment
• Life Sciences Regulatory
• Technology Regulatory
• Project Development and Finance
• Life Sciences Transactional
• Secondments