Shoosmiths
Shoosmiths is a UK commercial law firm with offices across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and a Brussels presence. Its early-careers routes include trainee solicitor programmes, vacation placements, solicitor apprenticeships and insight events. Shoosmiths says its emerging-talent programmes are currently being reviewed and redesigned: applications are closed, existing trainee intakes will continue, and further programme details are expected ahead of a launch in Autumn 2027.
Firm overview
At a glance
A clear starting point for understanding the firm, its opportunities and the information students should check before applying.
Available routes
How can students join?
Student opportunities
Opportunities
Vacation schemes, training contracts, apprenticeships, insight programmes, work experience and other application routes.
United Kingdom - Legal Cheek × Shoosmiths Winter Vacation Scheme Workshop 2026
Type: Open Day / Event
Location: United Kingdom
- Application timing: Registration is open through the event page.
- Programme dates: 30 November 2026, virtual.
- Duration: Programme or event specific
- Status: rolling
Published application and programme dates
- Registration is open through the event page.
- Programme: 30 November 2026, virtual.
- Who can apply: School pupils, university students, graduates and career changers interested in Shoosmiths.
- Application process: Register through Shoosmiths’ official insight-events page.
- Progression: Better-informed application preparation.
- Disability support: Reasonable adjustments may be requested where the route involves Shoosmiths recruitment.
United Kingdom - TARGETjobs - Beyond City Law 2026
Type: Open Day / Event
Location: United Kingdom
- Application timing: Registration is available through the organiser’s event page.
- Programme dates: 30 October 2026, 10:30 am–5:00 pm, in person.
- Duration: One-day event
- Status: rolling
Published application and programme dates
- Registration is available through the organiser’s event page.
- Programme: 30 October 2026, 10:30 am–5:00 pm, in person.
- Who can apply: Students from all degree disciplines and year groups who are interested in legal careers outside London.
- Application process: Register through the TARGETjobs event page.
- Progression: Better-informed application preparation.
United Kingdom - LawCareersNetLIVE Manchester 2026
Type: Open Day / Event
Location: United Kingdom
- Application timing: The organiser accepts applications until 29 October 2026.
- Programme dates: 27 November 2026, 09:00–16:30, in person.
- Duration: One-day event
- Status: rolling
Published application and programme dates
- The organiser accepts applications until 29 October 2026.
- Programme: 27 November 2026, 09:00–16:30, in person.
- Who can apply: Aspiring lawyers eligible under the organiser’s event criteria.
- Application process: Apply through the organiser link on Shoosmiths’ official events page.
- Progression: Better-informed application preparation.
United Kingdom - Legal Cheek × Shoosmiths Exclusive Event 2026
Type: Open Day / Event
Location: United Kingdom
- Programme dates: 11 November 2026, 16:00, virtual.
- Duration: Programme or event specific
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- Programme: 11 November 2026, 16:00, virtual.
- Who can apply: Prospective applicants interested in Shoosmiths.
- Application process: Register through the current official event listing.
- Progression: Better-informed application preparation.
- Disability support: Reasonable adjustments may be requested where the route involves Shoosmiths recruitment.
United Kingdom - Legal Cheek × Shoosmiths Sixth Formers Event 2027
Type: Open Day / Event
Location: United Kingdom
- Application timing: Registration is available through the event page.
- Programme dates: 14 January 2027, virtual.
- Status: rolling
Published application and programme dates
- Registration is available through the event page.
- Programme: 14 January 2027, virtual.
United Kingdom - Solicitor Apprenticeship
Type: Apprenticeship
Location: United Kingdom: Birmingham, London
- Application timing: The redesigned solicitor apprenticeship programme is expected to launch in Autumn 2027; exact application dates have not been published.
- Programme dates: Programme timing has not yet been published.
- Duration: Six years
- Places: Birmingham and London opportunities; number of places not published
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- The redesigned solicitor apprenticeship programme is expected to launch in Autumn 2027; exact application dates have not been published.
- Programme: Programme timing has not yet been published.
- Who can apply: Applicants aged 16 or over, living in England, not in full-time education and without a university degree.
- Eligibility: age: 16+ degree: Must not already hold a university degree education: Not in full-time education residence: Living in England staff: Open to eligible new and existing staff
- Academic requirements: Current exact school-grade criteria are not stated on the checked official page; applications are assessed holistically.
- Application process: Online application Online strengths-based assessment In-person assessment centre Offer
- Progression: Solicitor qualification in England and Wales, subject to completion and regulatory requirements.
- Funding: Current published rates effective from 1 April 2026. London: £27,000, £29,000, £31,000, £36,000, £45,000 and £47,000. Regions: £24,000, £26,800, £27,500, £28,500, £35,000 and £37,000. Future rates may change before the September 2027 intake. salary london years: 27000 29000 31000 36000 45000 47000 salary regions years: 24000 26800 27500 28500 35000 37000 tuition: Apprenticeship tuition is employer funded
- Right to work: Applicants must satisfy apprenticeship residence, funding and employment eligibility. No separate apprenticeship sponsorship promise is published.
- Disability support: The same reasonable-adjustment and Disability Confident commitments apply; apprenticeship candidates use the same assessment-centre format where applicable.
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.
UK visa sponsorship and right to work
Shoosmiths permits international applications and has a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK. The firm states that it has recently been granted a licence to sponsor successful applicants for a Skilled Worker visa.
View official source for UK visa sponsorship and right to work (opens in new tab)
Postgraduate funding
Required English postgraduate tuition and exam fees are funded and living-cost sponsorship is provided.
View official source for Postgraduate funding (opens in new tab)
Areas of work
Practice areas
The legal services and capabilities listed by the firm.
Employment
Litigation
People & Reward
Personal Injury
Real Estate
Commercial
Corporate & Banking
Disputes
Offices
Locations
Office locations and the student opportunities available in each location where confirmed.
United Kingdom, Belfast
Office
2-14 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQ, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Belfast official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Birmingham
Office
103 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3AG, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Birmingham official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
Office
9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh EH3 8RY, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Edinburgh official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Glasgow
Office
The Garment Factory, 10 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1RE, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Glasgow official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Leeds
Office
9th Floor, New Station Street, Leeds LS1 4JB, United Kingdom
United Kingdom, London
London office
1 Bow Churchyard, London EC4M 9DQ, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, London official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Manchester
Office
The XYZ Building, 2 Hardman Boulevard, Manchester M3 3AZ, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Manchester official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Milton Keynes
Office
100 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 1FH, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Milton Keynes official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Northampton
Office
View United Kingdom, Northampton official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Nottingham
Office
Waterfront House, 35 Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3DQ, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Nottingham official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Reading
Office
View United Kingdom, Reading official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Sheffield
Office
View United Kingdom, Sheffield official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Whiteley
Office
Russell House, 1550 Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire PO15 7AG, United Kingdom
View United Kingdom, Whiteley official page (opens in new tab)
Belgium, Brussels
Office
31 Rue du Commerce, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Career paths
Roles
Early-career routes, legal careers, knowledge and innovation roles, legal support and specialist leadership titles.
Senior Associate
Experienced solicitor role.
Location: United Kingdom and Brussels
View official information for Senior Associate (opens in new tab)
Discover Placement Student
Paid one-week positive-action placement.
Location: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester
View official information for Discover Placement Student (opens in new tab)
Solicitor Apprentice
Six-year Level 7 apprenticeship.
Location: Birmingham and London
View official information for Solicitor Apprentice (opens in new tab)
Partner
Senior firm-owner role.
Location: United Kingdom and Brussels
Associate
Qualified solicitor role.
Location: United Kingdom and Brussels
Legal Director
Senior legal role.
Location: United Kingdom
View official information for Legal Director (opens in new tab)
Trainee Solicitor
English Training Contract role.
Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester
View official information for Trainee Solicitor (opens in new tab)
Business Services Professional
Professional support role.
Location: United Kingdom and Brussels
View official information for Business Services Professional (opens in new tab)
Scottish Trainee Solicitor
Scottish traineeship role.
Location: Edinburgh and Glasgow
View official information for Scottish Trainee Solicitor (opens in new tab)
Paralegal
Legal support role.
Location: United Kingdom
Access and inclusion
EDI
Recruitment adjustments, disability support, disability-specific programmes, mentoring, networks, partnerships and wider inclusion work.
Discover Vacation Placement & Mentoring Programme
Paid one-week placement and mentoring with direct Training Contract progression.
View official source for Discover Vacation Placement & Mentoring Programme (opens in new tab)
RealRating contextual recruitment
Contextual data is used to assess academic achievement more fairly.
View official source for RealRating contextual recruitment (opens in new tab)
GROW Mentoring
Shoosmiths lawyers mentor GROW participants and support an insight afternoon.
Social Mobility Foundation work shadowing
Three-day work shadowing recorded in the 2025 Responsible Business Report.
View official source for Social Mobility Foundation work shadowing (opens in new tab)
Aston Pathways to Law
Office experience, presentations and ongoing guidance.
View official source for Aston Pathways to Law (opens in new tab)
Roo’ve Been Served
Mentoring, paid work experience, bursaries and commercial-law exposure.
View official source for Roo’ve Been Served (opens in new tab)
Recruitment reasonable adjustments
Candidates may request changes or support throughout recruitment.
View official source for Recruitment reasonable adjustments (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident interview commitment
Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy are offered an interview.
View official source for Disability Confident interview commitment (opens in new tab)
Accessible application formats
The application can be supplied by email for completion using the candidate’s own accessibility software.
View official source for Accessible application formats (opens in new tab)
Discover disability and neurodiversity access
Disabled, neurodivergent and long-term-health-condition candidates are expressly included in Discover eligibility.
View official source for Discover disability and neurodiversity access (opens in new tab)
Dedicated disability-only student programme check
No separate disability-only internship, scholarship or mentoring scheme was identified on the approved official pages.
View official source for Dedicated disability-only student programme check (opens in new tab)
Community and legal access
Pro bono
The firm’s published pro bono work, community projects, access-to-justice programmes and official partnerships.
Firm research
Firm highlights
Published awards, sectors, notable work, clients and other information that helps students understand the firm.
Official firm platforms
Links & Socials
Verified official websites, careers and application platforms, office directories and social-media accounts.
Official website
Official Shoosmiths website.
Careers
Official careers hub.
Emerging Talent
Official early-careers hub.
Training Contract
Official Training Contract page.
Discover Placement
Official Discover Vacation Placement and Mentoring page.
Solicitor Apprenticeship
Official apprenticeship page.
Insight Events
Official Emerging Talent events page.
FAQs
Official eligibility, pay, funding and adjustment FAQs.
Application portal
Official firm-linked AllHires portal.
Mailing list
Official application and event updates.
Offices
Official office directory.
Global reach
Official international coverage page.
Careers blog
Official student careers articles.
Official graduate recruitment Instagram account linked by the firm.
