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Penningtons Manches Cooper

Full-service firm formed from the 2014 tie-up of Penningtons and Manches, later joined by Thomas Cooper (shipping/international trade) in 2019 — a 300-year combined history.

London, United KingdomUK rank #47Official 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 London, United Kingdom
Locations 14 office records
Practice areas 6 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 - EMpower

Type: Access Programme

Location: United Kingdom

  • Closing date: 2026-01-09
  • Application timing: Applications closed 9 January 2026.
  • Programme dates: 14–17 April 2026.
  • Duration: Four days
  • Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications closed 9 January 2026.
  • Programme: 14–17 April 2026.
  • Who can apply: Black heritage or ethnic minority students meeting the published study-stage criteria.
  • Eligibility: positive action: true target group: Black heritage or ethnic minority students
  • Application process: Apply when the October window opens Complete programme-specific selection Attend the paid four-day programme
  • Progression: Vacation Scheme assessment-centre progression.
  • Funding: Paid four-day programme with mentoring and access to the Vacation Scheme assessment process; exact pay is not published.
  • Disability support: Applicants can discuss individual recruitment arrangements with the Early Careers team. The firm also describes tailored workplace adjustment plans for neurodiverse employees.
View United Kingdom - EMpower official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Trainee solicitor programme

Type: Training Contract

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

  • Applications open: 2026-01-12
  • Closing date: 2026-03-27
  • Application timing: Opened 12 January 2026; closed 27 March 2026.
  • Programme dates: March and September 2028 starts across the published office locations.
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Places: Approximately 12–15 trainees annually.
  • Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

  • Opened 12 January 2026; closed 27 March 2026.
  • Programme: March and September 2028 starts across the published office locations.
  • Who can apply: Penultimate or final-year law students, final-year non-law students, postgraduates and career changers.
  • Eligibility: career changers: true final year non law: true penultimate or final year law: true postgraduates: true
  • Academic requirements: Academic achievement is assessed contextually using Rare Recruitment CRS; no minimum A-level grade is published.
  • Application process: Online application when the next cycle opens Competency telephone interview Written assessment Partner and Early Careers interview Legal case-study presentation
  • Assessments: Competency telephone interview Written assessment Legal case-study presentation Final interview
  • Progression: Solicitor qualification and potential newly qualified role.
  • Funding: Eligible future trainees receive full PGDL and/or LLM SQE1 and SQE2 funding, plus published maintenance support. llm sqe1 and sqe2 full fees: true pgdl full fees: true sqe resit support: 1
  • Right to work: International trainee offer holders may receive work-visa sponsorship where required. international trainee offer holders: true
  • Disability support: Applicants can discuss individual recruitment arrangements with the Early Careers team. The firm also describes tailored workplace adjustment plans for neurodiverse employees.
View United Kingdom - Trainee solicitor programme official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Limitless

Type: Work Experience

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Closing date: 2026-02-27
  • Application timing: Applications closed 27 February 2026.
  • Programme dates: 13–17 July 2026.
  • Duration: Five days
  • Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications closed 27 February 2026.
  • Programme: 13–17 July 2026.
  • Who can apply: Year 12 or 13/S6 students from state-funded schools who meet at least one published social-mobility criterion.
  • Eligibility: social mobility criteria required: true state funded school: true
  • Application process: Apply when the next cycle opens Complete programme-specific selection Attend the five-day London programme
  • Progression: Future education and legal-career applications.
  • Expenses: Travel expenses covered in advance and lunch provided.
  • Travel support: Travel expenses covered in advance.
  • Disability support: Applicants can discuss individual recruitment arrangements with the Early Careers team. The firm also describes tailored workplace adjustment plans for neurodiverse employees.
View United Kingdom - Limitless official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Vacation schemes

Type: Vacation Scheme

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

  • Application timing: The latest scheme cycle has closed; the next application dates have not yet been announced.
  • Programme dates: One winter and two summer schemes are normally offered each year; next exact dates are TBC.
  • Duration: One week
  • Places: 12 places per scheme.
  • Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

  • The latest scheme cycle has closed; the next application dates have not yet been announced.
  • Programme: One winter and two summer schemes are normally offered each year; next exact dates are TBC.
  • Who can apply: Penultimate or final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, postgraduates and career changers.
  • Eligibility: career changers: true final year non law: true penultimate or final year law: true postgraduates: true
  • Application process: Apply when the annual September window opens Complete any pre-scheme assessment centre Attend the one-week scheme Complete scheme assessment and feedback process
  • Assessments: Possible pre-scheme assessment centre Written exercise during the scheme Supervisor and trainee-buddy feedback Final-round Training Contract interview
  • Progression: Automatic Trainee Solicitor consideration; no separate trainee application required.
  • Expenses: Daily lunch allowance.
  • Disability support: Applicants can discuss individual recruitment arrangements with the Early Careers team. The firm also describes tailored workplace adjustment plans for neurodiverse employees.
View United Kingdom - Vacation schemes 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.

Family

International Arbitration

M&A

Private Client

Shipping and International Trade

Via the 2019 Thomas Cooper tie-up

Employment

Offices

Locations

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

United Kingdom, London

Headquarters

United States, San Francisco

Office

Career paths

Roles

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

Trainee Solicitor

Two-year training contract, ~15 seats/year

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.

Verified information for this section is being checked.