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  4. CMS Academy Programme 2022
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Learn the business of law. Meet clients. Work on live projects. Network with lawyers. Debate the future alongside thought leaders. All of this on a summer vacation scheme that results in, on average, 90% of participants receiving a training contract offer from us.

Your journey starts with an Open Day, where you’ll meet fellow participants and find out how best to prepare for the CMS Academy programme taking place in the summer.

Programme content

Your first week focuses on learning the business of law. You will experience a series of engaging and collaborative activities designed to enhance your development and prepare you for a career in law. These include:

  • An immersive simulation exercise
  • Client dialogue
  • Networking with lawyers at all levels
  • Wellbeing sessions
  • Strengths profiling
  • An innovation focused project

This is followed by a two-week internship in the CMS office you applied for. You will be assigned a supervisor, trainee buddy, and be exposed to practical work that provides real insight into life as a trainee with us.

What to expect

The CMS Academy is an innovative three-week programme, designed to build knowledge, skills, and provide insight into life at a global commercial law firm. The first week is dedicated to focusing on the business of law. The following two weeks are an internship that gives you experience of working life at CMS.

Client facing

You will engage with genuine CMS clients to build your understanding of the importance of strong professional relationships.

Supervisor and buddy

Get real insights into our firm from the people who work here, and get their support every step of the way.

Networking

Build your contacts with invites to work and social events attended by CMS lawyers and partners.

Fast track

On average, 90% of participants who complete the CMS Academy are offered a training contract.

Pay

You will receive £450 per week

When and where

First week: Business of law training in London.

Second and third weeks: Internship in a UK office of your choice – Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow, London, or Manchester and Sheffield. An overseas posting to Dubai is also available (assuming no COVID restrictions).

What’s the next step?

Successfully complete the CMS Academy and you will be offered a training contract—the final step to becoming a qualified lawyer. Before you start your training contract, we will sponsor you while you complete your Legal Practice Course (LPC). If you’re studying a non-law degree, we’ll sponsor your Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and subsequent LPC. From September 2022, we will offer the SQE as a route to qualification. We will be running our SQE programme prior to the commencement of the period of recognised training.

Eligibility

England and Wales: Law students in their penultimate or final year, and final year non-law students.

Scotland: Law students in their penultimate or final year. Accelerated LLB students: First or second year. Non-law and BA Scottish students are eligible to apply for programmes in an English office from their final year onwards.

International: Final year students and above.