DWF

United Kingdom - Northern Ireland Training Contract

Type: Training Contract

Location: United Kingdom: Belfast

• Application timing: DWF confirms this as a current Belfast trainee route. Exact next application dates are not published on the current firm page and are directed to the application portal.
• Programme dates: Two-year practical training in Belfast combined with study at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies; exact next intake dates are not published.
• Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

• DWF confirms this as a current Belfast trainee route. Exact next application dates are not published on the current firm page and are directed to the application portal.
• Programme: Two-year practical training in Belfast combined with study at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies; exact next intake dates are not published.

• Who can apply: Applicants seeking to qualify through the Northern Ireland solicitor route in DWF Belfast.
• Eligibility: Minimum 2:1 degree (or predicted) and a conditional offer to study at IPLS; applicants must have applied or be in the process of sitting the IPLS entrance examination.
• Funding: DWF pays Institute of Professional Legal Studies course fees and provides additional financial support. The Northern Ireland study route is structured so candidates receive a monthly wage covering office and full-time study periods; the current official page does not publish the amount.

United Kingdom - English Vacation Scheme

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester

• Application timing: DWF continues to run its English Vacation Scheme. The 2026 scheme has completed; the current official firm page has not yet published the next application opening or closing date.
• Programme dates: Two-week summer Vacation Scheme. The next scheme dates have not yet been published on DWF’s current official page.
• Duration: 2 weeks
• Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

• DWF continues to run its English Vacation Scheme. The 2026 scheme has completed; the current official firm page has not yet published the next application opening or closing date.
• Programme: Two-week summer Vacation Scheme. The next scheme dates have not yet been published on DWF’s current official page.

• Who can apply: Candidates able to progress to a future training contract
• Eligibility: audience: Candidates seeking a commercial-law career office locations: Birmingham Leeds Liverpool London Manchester right to work: Proof of UK right to work is required for DWF early-careers employment routes study stage: Penultimate-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates, subject to the current vacancy
• Academic requirements: Academic requirements are not published on the reviewed programme master page unless stated below.
• Application process: Online application form Timed video interview Assessment centre group exercise Strengths-based interview Attention-to-detail or proof-reading exercise Informal networking with assessors Online application Approximately 20-minute timed video interview using the Shortlister platform Assessment centre Offer
• Assessments: Timed video-interview questions Group exercise Strengths-based interview Attention-to-detail or proof-reading exercise
• Progression: Participants may confirm that they wish to be considered for a DWF training contract.
• Funding: DWF describes the Vacation Scheme as formal work experience and uses it to assess candidates for Training Contracts. The current Vacation Scheme page does not publish a pay figure.
• Right to work: Applicants must have proof of their right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship must not be assumed.
• Disability support: Reasonable adjustments can be requested during the application, video interview and assessment centre.

United Kingdom - DWF Solicitor Apprenticeship 2027

Type: Apprenticeship

Location: United Kingdom

• Applications open: 2026-09-07
• Closing date: 2026-12-13
• Application timing: Applications opened 7 September 2026 and close 13 December 2026.
• Programme dates: Employment starts in September 2027. The apprenticeship combines work with an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications opened 7 September 2026 and close 13 December 2026.
• Programme: Employment starts in September 2027. The apprenticeship combines work with an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

• Who can apply: Sixth-form and college leavers
• Eligibility: Open to eligible school and college leavers, and people without a law degree, who can start in September 2027 and have the right to work in the UK. Law graduates are not eligible.
• Academic requirements: Three A levels or equivalent at grade ABB or higher by September 2027.
• Application process: Online application; personal statement; approximately 15-minute video interview; office assessment centre with interview, group exercise and written task; offer.
• Assessments: 15-minute video interview Strengths-based interview Group exercise Written task
• Progression: Progression through the apprenticeship toward solicitor qualification.
• Funding: Employer-funded apprenticeship training leading to an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and SQE qualification. DWF publishes a Real Living Wage starting salary for apprenticeship opportunities (currently £23,400 based on a 37.5-hour week, with a higher London Living Wage where applicable).
• Right to work: Applicants must have proof of the right to work in the UK. DWF states that the Solicitor Apprenticeship currently does not meet visa-sponsorship requirements.
• Disability support: Reasonable adjustments can be requested for the application, video interview, assessment centre and written task.

United Kingdom - Scottish Vacation Scheme

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: Edinburgh, Glasgow

• Application timing: DWF requires Scotland Training Contract candidates to apply through the Scottish Vacation Scheme. The next application opening and closing dates are not yet published on the current firm page.
• Programme dates: Two-week Scottish Vacation Scheme in Edinburgh/Glasgow; next exact programme dates are not yet published.
• Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

• DWF requires Scotland Training Contract candidates to apply through the Scottish Vacation Scheme. The next application opening and closing dates are not yet published on the current firm page.
• Programme: Two-week Scottish Vacation Scheme in Edinburgh/Glasgow; next exact programme dates are not yet published.

United Kingdom - Ethnic Minority Programme

Type: Work Experience

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester

• Application timing: The programme is current and recurring. DWF directs candidates to its application portal for deadlines; the current official programme page does not publish the exact next opening or closing date.
• Programme dates: Mentoring and skills sessions followed by two weeks of paid legal work experience mirroring the Vacation Scheme. Exact next programme dates are not published on the current firm page.
• Duration: Mentoring and skills sessions plus 2 weeks paid work experience
• Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

• The programme is current and recurring. DWF directs candidates to its application portal for deadlines; the current official programme page does not publish the exact next opening or closing date.
• Programme: Mentoring and skills sessions followed by two weeks of paid legal work experience mirroring the Vacation Scheme. Exact next programme dates are not published on the current firm page.

• Who can apply: Black, Asian or other ethnic minority candidates eligible to commence a DWF Training Contract in 2028 under the current published criteria.
• Eligibility: audience: Black, Asian or other ethnic minority candidates locations: Birmingham Liverpool Leeds London Manchester right to work: UK right to work required training contract intake: Candidates must be able to start the relevant published training-contract intake
• Academic requirements: Academic requirements are not published on the reviewed programme master page unless stated below.
• Application process: Online application Video interview Assessment centre group exercise Strengths-based interview Attention-to-detail or written assessment Offer Online application Video interview Assessment centre Programme offer
• Assessments: Video interview Group exercise Strengths-based interview Attention-to-detail or written task
• Progression: Accepted candidates can be considered for a DWF training contract in their chosen location.
• Funding: Two-week paid work experience, plus one-to-one mentoring and skills support. The current official page does not publish the pay amount.
• Right to work: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
• Disability support: DWF directs applicants to ClearTalents and invites candidates to identify adjustments or additional support needed during recruitment.