Your Route to a Training Contract
Our Vacation Scheme is designed to give you an authentic insight into life as a trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher and is the primary route into a Training Contract commencing in September 2029. The scheme combines real work experience, skills development, networking opportunities and assessment, allowing you to experience first-hand what it is like to work at a leading European law firm. Candidates who perform strongly during the scheme will be invited to attend a Final Partner Interview for a Training Contract offer.
At Fieldfisher, we focus on potential, curiosity and how you learn – not simply what you already know. Our aim is to provide meaningful exposure to commercial law while helping you develop the skills, confidence, and relationships needed for a successful legal career.
What You'll Experience
During the scheme, you will:
- Complete real work within a legal practice area.
- Gain exposure to clients, transactions and international work.
- Attend commercial awareness, skills and development workshops.
- Receive feedback and coaching from supervisors and colleagues.
- Learn about our culture, values and collaborative way of working.
- Build your professional network across lawyers, trainees and business services teams.
- Develop key skills including communication, teamwork, analysis, and commercial awareness.
To apply, you should:
- Be in your penultimate or final year of university (or have already graduated).
- Have achieved a minimum of ABB at A-Level (or equivalent).
- Be on track to achieve, or have achieved a 2:1 in any degree discipline.
- Demonstrate a genuine interest in commercial law.
- Be motivated to pursue a Training Contract at Fieldfisher.
- Be eligible to work in the UK (for the duration of the scheme, we do offer visa support for successful Training Contract candidates).
We recruit individuals with potential and recognise that achievements should be considered within the context of a candidate's personal circumstances. Applications are reviewed holistically, and contextual information is taken into account where appropriate.
Recruitment Process
Stage 1: Online Application
Applications open on 14 September 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.
Stage 2: Online Strength Assessment
All eligible applicants will automatically be invited to complete an online strengths assessment. This assessment helps us understand your natural strengths, preferences, and potential. No legal knowledge or preparation is required.
Stage 3: Video Interview
Successful candidates will be invited to complete a video interview exploring motivation, commercial awareness and interest in Fieldfisher.
Stage 4: Assessment Day
Candidates who pass the video interview will attend an in-person Assessment Day, which will include a team exercise, individual assessment and interview.
Stage 5: Vacation Scheme
Successful candidates will be invited to join our Vacation Scheme in March/April 2027.
Stage 6: Final Stage Interview
At the end of the scheme, participants complete an end-of-scheme appraisal and a final stage interview for Training Contract consideration. Training Contracts will commence: London - September 2029, Birmingham and Manchester - September 2028 or 2029.
Accessibility and Inclusion
At Fieldfisher, we are committed to delivering an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience. Accessibility adjustments are available throughout the application process. If there is anything we can do to support you, please let us know as early as possible.
We are guided by the social model of disability and are committed to removing barriers so that everyone has the opportunity to perform at their best.
A Career, Not Just Two Weeks
The Vacation Scheme is designed to help you make an informed decision about a career in commercial law while demonstrating your potential to become a future trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher.
If you are ambitious, collaborative, curious, and excited by solving complex challenges for clients, we would love to hear from you.
