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Mills & Reeve

National law firm formed from an 1880 merger, with a "best friend" alliance with French firm Fidal.

Birmingham, United KingdomUK rank #38Official website (opens in new tab)

Firm overview

At a glance

A clear starting point for understanding the firm, its opportunities and the information students should check before applying.

Head office Birmingham, United Kingdom
Locations 14 office records
Practice areas 11 listed

Available routes

How can students join?

Student opportunities

Opportunities

Vacation schemes, training contracts, apprenticeships, insight programmes, work experience and other application routes.

United Kingdom - Summer placement scheme

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich

  • Applications open: 2026-09-01
  • Closing date: 2026-12-07
  • Programme dates: 14–25 June 2027.
  • Duration: Two weeks
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2026-09-01; Close 2026-12-07
  • Programme: 14–25 June 2027.
  • Who can apply: Penultimate/final-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates of any discipline.
  • Eligibility: graduates: true law students: true non law students: true
  • Academic requirements: No published minimum grade on the checked page.
  • Application process: Online application Online blended assessment Assessment centre Two-week Summer Placement Training Contract decision
  • Assessments: Group exercise Individual exercise Written exercise Partner and principal-associate interview
  • Progression: Sole route to the 2029 Training Contract intake.
  • Expenses: Competitive allowance towards accommodation, travel and other expenses.
  • Travel support: Allowance intended to assist with travel costs.
  • Accommodation support: Allowance intended to assist with accommodation costs.
  • Right to work: Applicants must have the right to participate in the placement.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Summer placement scheme official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship

Type: Apprenticeship

Location: United Kingdom: Manchester

  • Applications open: 2026-10-12
  • Closing date: 2027-02-18
  • Programme dates: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Duration: Six years
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2026-10-12; Close 2027-02-18
  • Programme: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Who can apply: School leavers committed to qualifying as a solicitor.
  • Eligibility: a levels: ABB gcses: Five at grade 4+ including Maths and English
  • Academic requirements: ABB at A-Level and five GCSEs at grade 4+ including Maths and English.
  • Application process: Application Assessment Assessment centre Offer Online application Online assessment Assessment centre Offer
  • Assessments: Group exercise Individual exercise Interview
  • Progression: LLB, Level 7 apprenticeship and solicitor qualification.
  • Funding: Apprenticeship training and academic study are employer funded. training and study funded: true
  • Right to work: Apprenticeship right-to-work rules apply.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - M&R Insight Event

Type: Open Day / Event

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester

  • Programme dates: Manchester: 19 October 2026; Leeds and Birmingham: 29 October 2026.
  • Duration: Event-specific
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

  • Programme: Manchester: 19 October 2026; Leeds and Birmingham: 29 October 2026.
  • Who can apply: Prospective applicants.
  • Application process: Registration Attendance Register through the official events page
  • Progression: Improved route understanding and application preparation.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - M&R Insight Event official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

M&R Virtual Law Fair

Type: Open Day / Event

  • Programme dates: 26 November 2026.
  • Duration: Event-specific
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

  • Programme: 26 November 2026.
  • Who can apply: Prospective applicants.
  • Application process: Registration Attendance Register through the official events page
  • Progression: Improved route understanding and application preparation.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View M&R Virtual Law Fair official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Broadening Horizons

Type: Access Programme

Location: United Kingdom: Manchester

  • Programme dates: SMBP Work Insight and Skills Experience Week ran in July 2026; the Mills & Reeve Insight Week runs in the October 2026 half term.
  • Duration: One year
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

  • Programme: SMBP Work Insight and Skills Experience Week ran in July 2026; the Mills & Reeve Insight Week runs in the October 2026 half term.
  • Who can apply: Sixth-form students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Eligibility: social mobility: true
  • Academic requirements: Programme-specific socioeconomic and school eligibility.
  • Application process: Application Programme participation Programme application or partner nomination
  • Progression: Improved confidence, skills and legal-careers awareness.
  • Travel support: Travel and lunch are covered for in-person events.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Broadening Horizons official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship

Type: Apprenticeship

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham

  • Applications open: 2026-10-12
  • Closing date: 2027-02-18
  • Programme dates: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Duration: Six years
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2026-10-12; Close 2027-02-18
  • Programme: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Who can apply: School leavers committed to qualifying as a solicitor.
  • Eligibility: a levels: ABB gcses: Five at grade 4+ including Maths and English
  • Academic requirements: ABB at A-Level and five GCSEs at grade 4+ including Maths and English.
  • Application process: Application Assessment Assessment centre Offer Online application Online assessment Assessment centre Offer
  • Assessments: Group exercise Individual exercise Interview
  • Progression: LLB, Level 7 apprenticeship and solicitor qualification.
  • Funding: Apprenticeship training and academic study are employer funded. training and study funded: true
  • Right to work: Apprenticeship right-to-work rules apply.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Training contract

Type: Training Contract

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich

  • Applications open: 2026-09-01
  • Closing date: 2026-12-07
  • Programme dates: 2029 start; exact date not published.
  • Duration: Two years
  • Places: Approximately 30
  • Status: no_application

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2026-09-01; Close 2026-12-07
  • Programme: 2029 start; exact date not published.
  • Who can apply: Successful 2027 Summer Placement participants.
  • Eligibility: offices: Birmingham Cambridge Leeds London Manchester Norwich route: Summer Placement only
  • Academic requirements: No separate published academic threshold on the checked page.
  • Application process: Online application Online blended assessment Assessment centre Two-week Summer Placement Training Contract decision
  • Assessments: Group exercise Individual exercise Written exercise Partner and principal-associate interview
  • Progression: Solicitor qualification in England and Wales.
  • Funding: PGDL funded for eligible non-law candidates; SQE preparation funded; maintenance grant available per sponsored course. maintenance grant: true pgdl: true sqe: true
  • Right to work: Right-to-work and immigration requirements apply. sponsorship: Not expressly published on checked pages
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Training contract official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Spectrum development award

Type: Scholarship / Bursary

Location: United Kingdom

  • Application timing: The next Spectrum Development Award application deadline has not been published.
  • Programme dates: One-week work experience, a £1,000 bursary and lawyer mentoring; next programme dates have not been published.
  • Duration: One-week placement plus mentoring
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

  • The next Spectrum Development Award application deadline has not been published.
  • Programme: One-week work experience, a £1,000 bursary and lawyer mentoring; next programme dates have not been published.
  • Who can apply: Eligible students under the programme criteria.
  • Eligibility: award gbp: 1000
  • Application process: Application Selection Placement Mentoring Apply through the official programme route
  • Progression: Work experience, mentoring and financial support.
  • Funding: £1,000 development award. bursary gbp: 1000
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Spectrum development award official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship

Type: Apprenticeship

Location: United Kingdom: Norwich

  • Applications open: 2026-10-12
  • Closing date: 2027-02-18
  • Programme dates: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Duration: Six years
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2026-10-12; Close 2027-02-18
  • Programme: September 2027 start; exact day not published.
  • Who can apply: School leavers committed to qualifying as a solicitor.
  • Eligibility: a levels: ABB gcses: Five at grade 4+ including Maths and English
  • Academic requirements: ABB at A-Level and five GCSEs at grade 4+ including Maths and English.
  • Application process: Application Assessment Assessment centre Offer Online application Online assessment Assessment centre Offer
  • Assessments: Group exercise Individual exercise Interview
  • Progression: LLB, Level 7 apprenticeship and solicitor qualification.
  • Funding: Apprenticeship training and academic study are employer funded. training and study funded: true
  • Right to work: Apprenticeship right-to-work rules apply.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View United Kingdom - Solicitor degree apprenticeship official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

M&R Apprenticeship Virtual Insight Event

Type: Open Day / Event

  • Programme dates: 24 November 2026; the official page also lists a further event on 12 January without stating the year.
  • Duration: Event-specific
  • Places: Not published
  • Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

  • Programme: 24 November 2026; the official page also lists a further event on 12 January without stating the year.
  • Who can apply: Prospective applicants.
  • Application process: Registration Attendance Register through the official events page
  • Progression: Improved route understanding and application preparation.
  • Disability support: Mills & Reeve invites candidates to request reasonable adjustments and can support disability, impairment, neurodivergence, cultural or other individual needs during recruitment.
View M&R Apprenticeship Virtual Insight Event official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom support

UK Visa and Funding

UK qualification funding, maintenance support and published visa-sponsorship or right-to-work information for joining the firm in the United Kingdom.

Areas of work

Practice areas

The legal services and capabilities listed by the firm.

Health

Insurance

Private Wealth

Real Estate

One of the firm's largest departments

Sport, Media and Entertainment

Food and Agribusiness

Technology

Education

Agriculture

Charities

Corporate and Commercial

Offices

Locations

Office locations and the student opportunities available in each location where confirmed.

Career paths

Roles

Early-career routes, legal careers, knowledge and innovation roles, legal support and specialist leadership titles.

Access and inclusion

EDI

Recruitment adjustments, disability support, disability-specific programmes, mentoring, networks, partnerships and wider inclusion work.

Community and legal access

Pro bono

The firm’s published pro bono work, community projects, access-to-justice programmes and official partnerships.

Verified information for this section is being checked.

Firm research

Firm highlights

Published awards, sectors, notable work, clients and other information that helps students understand the firm.

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