Penningtons Manches Cooper

United Kingdom - EMpower 2027

Type: Access Programme

Location: United Kingdom

• Applications open: 2026-10-05
• Closing date: 2027-01-04 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications open 5 October 2026 and close 4 January 2027.
• Programme dates: 6–9 April 2027.
• Duration: Four days
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications open 5 October 2026 and close 4 January 2027.
• Programme: 6–9 April 2027.

• Who can apply: Undergraduates, postgraduates and career changers from Black heritage or ethnic minority backgrounds who would benefit from preparation before applying for a vacation scheme.
• Eligibility: Applicants must meet the programme’s published background and study-stage criteria.
• Academic requirements: On track for, or holding, a 2:1 degree or equivalent; no minimum A-level grade requirement.
• Application process: Online application through the official early-careers route.
• Progression: Skills development, legal-sector insight and continuing mentoring.
• Funding: The programme is paid.
• Expenses: Travel and accommodation costs can be covered, and lunch vouchers are provided.

United Kingdom - Trainee Solicitor Programme - 2029

Type: Training Contract

Location: United Kingdom: Basingstoke, Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford, London, Oxford, Reading

• Applications open: 2027-01-05
• Closing date: 2027-03-12 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications open 5 January 2027 and close 12 March 2027.
• Programme dates: Training contracts begin in March or September 2029.
• Duration: Two years
• Places: 10–15 trainee positions across the annual intake.
• Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

• Applications open 5 January 2027 and close 12 March 2027.
• Programme: Training contracts begin in March or September 2029.

• Who can apply: Undergraduates, postgraduates and career changers of any degree discipline who can begin a training contract in 2029.
• Eligibility: Candidates must be able to complete the required legal study before beginning the programme.
• Academic requirements: On track for, or holding, a 2:1 degree or equivalent in any discipline; no minimum A-level grade requirement.
• Application process: Online application and contextual recruitment survey; voice-based interview; competency interview; written exercise; final partner and early-careers interview with a case-study presentation.
• Assessments: Voice-based interview, competency interview, written exercise and final case-study interview.
• Progression: Four-seat trainee solicitor programme leading towards qualification.
• Funding: The firm funds PGDL tuition where required, LLM SQE 1 & 2 tuition and SQE examination fees. Maintenance grants are £6,000 for the PGDL, £8,000 for regional LLM SQE study and £10,000 for London LLM SQE study. Retrospective funding is not provided.
• Right to work: Visa sponsorship may be available to successful candidates who receive a trainee solicitor offer. The firm does not sponsor vacation-scheme or paralegal placements and does not normally pay student-visa costs for law-school study.
• Disability support: Individual arrangements and reasonable adjustments are available through the early-careers team.

Disability Open Day - 24 November 2026

Type: Open Day / Event

• Closing date: 2026-10-30 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme dates: 24 November 2026, 16:00–18:00, in London.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme: 24 November 2026, 16:00–18:00, in London.

• Who can apply: Students and graduates exploring the firm’s early-careers opportunities.
• Eligibility: The official event listing does not publish additional academic eligibility requirements.
• Application process: Apply or register through the link on the official early-careers events page.

Guildford Open Day - 1 December 2026

Type: Open Day / Event

• Closing date: 2026-10-30 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme dates: 1 December 2026, 16:00–18:00, in Guildford.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme: 1 December 2026, 16:00–18:00, in Guildford.

• Who can apply: Students and graduates exploring the firm’s early-careers opportunities.
• Eligibility: The official event listing does not publish additional academic eligibility requirements.
• Application process: Apply or register through the link on the official early-careers events page.

United Kingdom - Limitless 2027

Type: Work Experience

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Closing date: 2027-02-12 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications close 12 February 2027; the exact opening date is not separately published.
• Programme dates: 12–16 July 2027.
• Duration: Five days
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications close 12 February 2027; the exact opening date is not separately published.
• Programme: 12–16 July 2027.

• Who can apply: Year 12 or 13 school and college students who meet the published PRIME social-mobility criteria.
• Eligibility: Applicants must attend a state-funded, non-fee-paying school or college, live within commuting distance of London and meet at least one published PRIME criterion.
• Application process: Online application through the official early-careers route.
• Progression: Legal-sector insight, practical sessions, skills workshops and guidance on routes into law.
• Expenses: Travel expenses are covered in advance and lunch is provided.

United Kingdom - Vacation schemes 2027

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford, London, Oxford

• Applications open: 2026-10-12
• Closing date: 2027-01-04 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications open 12 October 2026 and close 4 January 2027.
• Programme dates: Spring: 12–16 April 2027. Summer: 28 June–2 July 2027.
• Duration: One week
• Places: 12 places on each scheme.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications open 12 October 2026 and close 4 January 2027.
• Programme: Spring: 12–16 April 2027. Summer: 28 June–2 July 2027.

• Who can apply: Penultimate or final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, postgraduates and career changers.
• Eligibility: Open to eligible penultimate- and final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, postgraduates and career changers.
• Application process: Online application; voice-based interview; online assessment centre with a one-to-one interview, written exercise and simulated client interview.
• Assessments: Online assessment centres run between January and March 2027.
• Progression: Automatic consideration for the 2029 trainee solicitor intake, with a possible final-round interview after the scheme.
• Expenses: London participants receive £485 and participants in other UK locations receive £445, paid in advance, plus a daily lunch allowance.
• Disability support: Individual arrangements and reasonable adjustments are available through the early-careers team.

Birmingham Open Day - 17 November 2026

Type: Open Day / Event

• Closing date: 2026-10-30 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme dates: 17 November 2026 in Birmingham; the official page does not publish an event time.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme: 17 November 2026 in Birmingham; the official page does not publish an event time.

• Who can apply: Students and graduates exploring the firm’s early-careers opportunities.
• Eligibility: The official event listing does not publish additional academic eligibility requirements.
• Application process: Apply or register through the link on the official early-careers events page.

Virtual Open Evening - 8 December 2026

Type: Open Day / Event

• Closing date: 2026-10-30 Europe/London
• Application timing: Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme dates: 8 December 2026, 16:00–18:00, online.
• Status: open

Published application and programme dates

• Applications close 30 October 2026; no closing time is published.
• Programme: 8 December 2026, 16:00–18:00, online.

• Who can apply: Students and graduates exploring the firm’s early-careers opportunities.
• Eligibility: The official event listing does not publish additional academic eligibility requirements.
• Application process: Apply or register through the link on the official early-careers events page.