Watson Farley & Williams

United Kingdom - Spring Vacation Scheme

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Programme dates: Next reliable dates not yet published
• Duration: Two weeks
• Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

• Programme: Next reliable dates not yet published

• Who can apply: Penultimate-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates.
• Eligibility: academics: 2:1; ABB or 34 IB; PGDL merit/distinction where applicable study stage: Penultimate-year law, final-year non-law or graduate
• Academic requirements: 2:1 predicted or obtained; PGDL merit or distinction where applicable; ABB, 34 IB points or equivalent, with circumstances considered.
• Application process: Application Video interview Assessment centre Offer Two-week scheme Training Contract interview during the scheme Online application Video interview Assessment centre Offer
• Assessments: Video interview Client-scenario assessment centre Group exercise Drafting and proofreading exercise Training Contract interview during scheme
• Progression: Automatic consideration for a Training Contract, including a Training Contract interview towards the end of the scheme.
• Funding: Paid scheme; current amount not published on the checked official page.
• Disability support: Recruitment adjustments available throughout selection.

United Kingdom - Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Type: Apprenticeship

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Closing date: 2026-02-20
• Application timing: Applications closed on 20 February 2026; the next exact window has not been published.
• Programme dates: September 2026 intake; exact start day not published.
• Duration: Six years
• Places: Typically two apprentices each year
• Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

• Applications closed on 20 February 2026; the next exact window has not been published.
• Programme: September 2026 intake; exact start day not published.

• Who can apply: School leavers who meet the academic, residence and immigration requirements.
• Eligibility: alevels: ABB or equivalent degree limit: Not eligible after completing more than one year of a degree gcses: Seven grades 5-9 including Maths and grade 6 English Language immigration: Settled status or visa covering the full six years residence: At least three years UK residence
• Academic requirements: ABB at A level or equivalent; at least seven GCSEs at grades 5–9 including Maths and grade 6 English Language.
• Application process: Online application Video interview Assessment day Offer Online application form including education, experience and reasons for applying Recorded four-question video interview including scenario questions London assessment day
• Assessments: Four recorded video questions Partner interview Group exercise Written exercise
• Progression: LLB (Hons), SQE and solicitor qualification.
• Funding: WFW covers all tuition fees and pays a £500 joining payment. transition payment gbp: 500 tuition fees: Entire tuition fees covered
• Right to work: Applicants need at least three years UK residence and settled status or a visa covering the full apprenticeship; WFW does not publish apprenticeship sponsorship. sponsorship: false
• Disability support: Recruitment adjustments are available at every stage.

United Kingdom - Training Contract

Type: Training Contract

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Closing date: 2026-05-24
• Application timing: Applications closed on 24 May 2026; the next exact window has not been published.
• Programme dates: September 2028 start; exact day not published.
• Duration: Two years
• Places: Typically 19 trainees each year
• Status: closed

Published application and programme dates

• Applications closed on 24 May 2026; the next exact window has not been published.
• Programme: September 2028 start; exact day not published.

• Who can apply: Penultimate-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates with time to complete required postgraduate study.
• Eligibility: contextual recruitment: Rare contextual recruitment system degree: 2:1 predicted or obtained international: Equivalent international grades accepted pgdl: Merit or distinction where applicable school: ABB or 34 IB points or equivalent
• Academic requirements: 2:1 predicted or obtained; PGDL merit or distinction where applicable; ABB at A level, 34 IB points or equivalent, with contextual and mitigating circumstances considered.
• Application process: Online application Video interview Assessment centre Final interview Offer Online application with academic, work-experience and extracurricular details and five motivation/skills questions Recorded video interview with four questions Assessment centre Final in-person interview with a partner and Early Careers
• Assessments: Four-question recorded video interview Client-scenario assessment centre Group exercise Drafting and proofreading exercise Partner and Early Careers interview
• Progression: Solicitor qualification; WFW also permits qualification into London or international offices subject to available roles.
• Funding: Non-law future trainees complete a nine-month PGDL followed by the one-year LLM SQE1&2. WFW publishes £10,000 PGDL maintenance and up to £18,000 LLM SQE1&2 maintenance, depending on location and study length. course fees: Firm-supported pathway course provider: BPP llm sqe maintenance up to gbp: 18000 pgdl maintenance gbp: 10000
• Right to work: WFW accepts trainee applications from candidates requiring work permits. trainee work permit applications: true
• Disability support: Recruitment adjustments include extra reading/writing time, different interview formats, extra interview time, guidance and support.

United Kingdom - Open Days

Type: Open Day / Event

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Programme dates: Next reliable dates not yet published
• Duration: Event specific
• Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

• Programme: Next reliable dates not yet published

• Who can apply: Undergraduates and graduates, including eligible first-year students.
• Application process: Short online application; successful applicants receive an invitation.
• Progression: Firm insight and assessment-centre-style group activity.
• Disability support: WFW recruitment and workplace adjustments are available where applicable.

Introduction to Shipping Finance Law

Type: Virtual Experience

• Programme dates: Open self-paced programme
• Duration: Approximately 2–3 hours
• Places: Unlimited online participation
• Status: rolling

Published application and programme dates

• Programme: Open self-paced programme

• Who can apply: Open to anyone; particularly suitable for Year 13 students and first-year undergraduates.
• Eligibility: open to: Anyone recommended: Year 13 and first-year undergraduate
• Application process: Registration Due-diligence and drafting tasks Completion certificate Register on Forage Complete the self-paced shipping-finance modules Receive a completion certificate
• Progression: Completion certificate that may be added to a CV or application.
• Funding: Free virtual programme.
• Right to work: No employment or right-to-work requirement for the online simulation.
• Disability support: Use Forage accessibility and support routes where required.

United Kingdom - Causeway Education partnership

Type: Mentoring

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Programme dates: Next reliable dates not yet published
• Duration: Programme specific
• Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

• Programme: Next reliable dates not yet published

• Who can apply: Students from diverse backgrounds interested in law.
• Application process: Use the relevant Causeway route when available; no WFW deadline is published.
• Progression: Mentoring and access support.
• Disability support: WFW recruitment and workplace adjustments are available where applicable.

United Kingdom - Summer Vacation Scheme

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: London

• Programme dates: Next reliable dates not yet published
• Duration: Two weeks
• Status: unknown

Published application and programme dates

• Programme: Next reliable dates not yet published

• Who can apply: Penultimate-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates.
• Eligibility: academics: 2:1; ABB or 34 IB; PGDL merit/distinction where applicable study stage: Penultimate-year law, final-year non-law or graduate
• Academic requirements: 2:1 predicted or obtained; PGDL merit or distinction where applicable; ABB, 34 IB points or equivalent, with circumstances considered.
• Application process: Application Video interview Assessment centre Offer Two-week scheme Training Contract interview during the scheme Online application Video interview Assessment centre Offer
• Assessments: Video interview Client-scenario assessment centre Group exercise Drafting and proofreading exercise Training Contract interview during scheme
• Progression: Automatic consideration for a Training Contract, including a Training Contract interview towards the end of the scheme.
• Funding: Paid scheme; current amount not published on the checked official page.
• Disability support: Recruitment adjustments available throughout selection.