DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services, operating across eight key sectors in over 30 global locations with over 4,000 people. Our purpose is to deliver positive outcomes with our colleagues, clients and communities.

The legal market has changed profoundly in the last decade and the speed of change continues to increase. There is a clear and growing desire for legal services to be delivered in an easier and more efficient way. So we’ve listened to our clients and designed a range of services to meet these needs.

Our vision is to deliver integrated legal and business services on a global scale through our three offerings; Legal Advisory, Mindcrest and Connected Services. Our ability to seamlessly combine any number of these services to deliver bespoke solutions for our clients is our key differentiator. This Integrated Legal Management approach delivers greater operational efficiency, price certainty and transparency for our clients. Without compromising on quality or service.

We are excited to be introducing the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) from 2022 for all applicants who have not commenced or completed the LPC at the point of offer. 

The 32-month training contract will start with full-time study at BPP University Law School to prepare for and sit the SQE 1 assessment and to practice and develop legal knowledge and skills.  

Once the full-time study is complete, our trainees will begin the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) where they will have the chance to experience our four global practice groups of Real Estate, Insurance, Dispute Resolution and Commercial Services. Many DWF trainees will also have the opportunity to undertake a client secondment. 

Applicants who have already commenced or completed the LPC can still apply for the training contract and will complete the two-year training contract alongside an appropriate level of additional training.   

In addition to the training and development provided, our trainees get a high level of responsibility in terms of legal work and exposure to business development, innovation and CSR.

The DWF summer vacation scheme takes place in June, dates of which depend based on location. If you are in your penultimate or final year of a law degree, final year of a non-law degree or a graduate of any discipline then you are eligible to apply. 

Applications are open from September until January, and you must make an online application. The business recruits the majority of its trainees through the vacation scheme, so it’s a good opportunity to get ahead and see why DWF is the right business for you.

The two-week vacation scheme gives you the chance to work with partners, associates and trainees across two different practice groups. You’ll work on live legal matters and will be given responsibility right from the start. This is combined with a variety of internal workshops and presentations, helping you understand DWF as a business.

All apprentice roles are advertised through the DWF website.

Please refer to the graduate recruitment brochure and website for further information regarding rewards/benefits.

We require bright, flexible and open-minded individuals, who are excited at the prospect of having exposure to our four global practice groups; Corporate Services; Insurance; Real Estate and Dispute Resolution. In terms of academics, we have adopted a contextual assessment and look for good A-Levels/Scottish Highers (or equivalent qualifications), and a 2.1 at undergraduate degree level in any discipline (either expected or obtained).  

We are proud to be using Rare Recruitment's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS), which allows us to consider your academic achievements in the context in which you gained them. We understand that not every candidate's achievements look the same on paper and we want to recruit the best people, from all backgrounds.

Vacation Scheme/Training Contracts

The online application form is accessible via the DWF website. We accept applications for the vacation scheme and for training contracts from September each year. Please visit https://dwfgroup.com/en/careers/graduate-recruitment/trainee-solicitor-programme for more information.