Summer Vacation Scheme

Trowers & Hamlins offers around 50 paid summer vacation scheme places each year across its Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester offices.

The scheme provides students with the opportunity to experience life as a trainee solicitor and gain an understanding of how the firm's legal teams work with clients. Participants spend time in two departments and are given practical work to complete rather than simply observing lawyers.

The scheme is also an important route into the firm's training contract recruitment process. Candidates who attend the summer vacation scheme are assessed for a training contract based on feedback from the teams they work with during the placement.

The 2027 Summer Scheme

The 2027 programme is delivered over two separate two-week placements:

Scheme 1: Monday 7 June to Friday 18 June 2027

Scheme 2: Monday 21 June to Friday 2 July 2027

Candidates will apply for one of Trowers & Hamlins' four UK offices and complete their placement at that location.

The scheme is designed to give participants a realistic introduction to the work of a commercial law firm and the responsibilities involved in being a trainee solicitor.

Work Experience

During the scheme, participants sit in two different departments, providing exposure to different areas of legal practice.

Participants are given real, immersive work that can include:

• Drafting documents.

• Undertaking legal research.

• Attending meetings.

• Working with lawyers and other members of the team.

• Contributing to client matters.

• Developing an understanding of how legal advice is delivered.

The work provides an opportunity to see how legal knowledge is applied to practical problems and how solicitors work as part of wider teams.

Each participant is allocated a trainee buddy, who provides guidance and helps them settle into the scheme and understand the different departments they work with.

Participants also have a supervisor who provides support and guidance on the work they undertake.

Training Contract Opportunity

The summer vacation scheme is closely connected to Trowers & Hamlins' training contract recruitment.

Candidates attending the scheme are assessed for a training contract through feedback from the teams in which they work. This means the placement provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal, analytical and interpersonal skills in a practical working environment.

Trowers & Hamlins recruits around 25 trainees each year, with March and September intakes across Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester. Trainees work across a range of commercial seats and may have the opportunity to spend time in a Middle East office.

Who Can Apply

The summer vacation scheme is open to:

• Penultimate-year law students.

• Final-year law students.

• Final-year non-law students.

• Graduates and career changers.

A law degree is not required. Trowers & Hamlins accepts applications from candidates with non-law backgrounds and sponsors non-law future trainees to complete the PgDL before beginning their SQE preparation.

Candidates are normally expected to have achieved or be predicted to achieve at least 128 UCAS points (ABB) from their top three A levels or equivalent qualifications, together with a consistently strong predicted or achieved 2:1 degree.

Mitigating circumstances are taken into account, and candidates who do not meet the standard academic requirements can explain their circumstances within the application.

What Trowers & Hamlins Looks For

Trowers & Hamlins looks for candidates who can demonstrate the qualities needed to succeed as commercial solicitors.

These include:

Growth mindset: An openness to learning, feedback and development.

Adaptability: The ability to respond effectively to new circumstances and working environments.

Analytical ability: The ability to analyse information, interpret problems and exercise sound judgment.

Collaboration: The ability to build relationships and work effectively with colleagues.

Commercial awareness: An understanding of the business environment in which the firm and its clients operate.

Communication: The ability to explain complex issues clearly in writing and conversation.

Innovation: Curiosity about developments in the market, legal profession and wider industry.

Judgment: The ability to reach informed conclusions after considering the available information.

Personal responsibility: A willingness to take ownership of work and responsibilities.

Resilience: A positive and determined approach to challenges and change.

The firm also looks for initiative, organisation, teamwork and a willingness to contribute to the wider team.

Application Process

Online Application

Candidates begin by completing an online application form. The application asks for information about education and work experience, together with longer-form questions designed to assess suitability for the programme.

Candidates can apply to one UK office during each recruitment cycle.

Online Strengths-Based Assessment

After submitting the application, candidates are automatically invited to complete an online strengths-based assessment.

The assessment considers candidates' strengths in the context of a future trainee solicitor role. It is not timed, although candidates are advised to allow up to 110 minutes to complete it.

Candidates receive a feedback report following the assessment. Applications and assessment results are considered together after the closing date. Trowers & Hamlins does not recruit on a rolling basis.

Assessment Centre

Candidates who progress through the application and online assessment stages are invited to an in-person assessment centre at the office for which they applied.

The assessment centre includes:

• A written exercise.

• A strengths-based interview.

• A group exercise.

The assessment is designed to evaluate the skills and strengths required to succeed within the firm.

Pay

The summer vacation scheme is paid.

The current rates for the 2027 schemes are:

London: £520 per week.

Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester: £475 per week.

Trowers & Hamlins pays every candidate attending its summer vacation schemes.

International Opportunities

Trowers & Hamlins has offices in the Middle East and international work forms an important part of the firm's practice.

Trainees can have opportunities to undertake international secondments in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Dubai, subject to business requirements. The firm also works closely with its overseas offices on international matters, giving trainees exposure to cross-border work even when based in the UK.

Insight Events

Trowers & Hamlins also runs insight events for students interested in its graduate opportunities.

The firm's 2026 insight events are being held in Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester, with presentations covering topics such as applications, trainee life, practice areas and the firm's clients.

Trowers & Hamlins recommends attending an insight event before applying for a summer vacation scheme or training contract where possible.

Diversity and Inclusion

Trowers & Hamlins places emphasis on building a diverse and inclusive workforce and considers candidates from a wide range of backgrounds.

The firm supports candidates with disabilities, neurodivergence and long-term health conditions and can provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Candidates can request adjustments through the application form or contact the Early Talent team directly.

The firm's employee networks include groups covering gender, LGBTQ+, wellbeing, disability, international matters, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, social mobility and allyship.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Trowers & Hamlins Summer Vacation Scheme 2027 close at:

4 January 2027 at 11:59pm

Applications open on 1 October 2026. Candidates are encouraged to complete the online assessment after submitting their application rather than leaving it until the final day.