Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Overview

Addleshaw Goddard is a large full-service international law firm that combines a strong UK presence with a growing global footprint. The firm works for major international brands and a large number of corporate clients — the website notes over 5,000 clients last year, including more than half of the FTSE 100 — and highlights a reputation for innovation and practical problem-solving. The firm emphasises personality, collaboration and early responsibility for junior lawyers and positions itself as a forward-thinking firm that invests in legal technology and social mobility initiatives.

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Technology & Digital
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Commercial Contracts
• Retail & Consumer
• Construction & Engineering
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Public Law

Geographic Focus: Strong UK footprint with major offices in London, Leeds and Manchester and strategic strength across Yorkshire and the North West. The firm positions itself as an international adviser (21 offices across multiple continents) with an emphasis on cross‑office collaboration and secondments — growing presence in the Middle East and wider international network including Paris, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Singapore and Qatar.

Training Contract

Two‑year programme comprising four six‑month seats (24 months total). Seats are completed across the firm’s four groups and departments; trainees receive departmental and personal development training, a buddy and mentor, and support from the Early Careers team. Trainees may apply to spend one seat on secondment to a client or a non‑UK office.

• Starting Salary: Year 1: London £52,000; Leeds and Manchester £33,000; Scotland £29,000
• NQ Salary: £100,000
• Trainee Intake: Approximately 70
• Qualification Rate: 86%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement typically 2:1 (the firm says it will consider 2:2 with mitigating circumstances). Since 2020 there is no minimum A‑Level/Higher requirement for Placement Schemes; the firm uses contextualised recruitment (RARE) and other measures.
• Application Deadline: 2026-01-06

Seat Options

• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Banking & Finance
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Corporate & M&A
• Real Estate
• Employment

Sponsorship

Full course funding for Law Conversion and SQE is provided. The firm will cover Diploma fees up to £14,000. Maintenance grants while studying: £15,000 (London), £8,000 (Leeds and Manchester) and £7,000 (Scotland). (Legal apprenticeships and Irish PPC sponsorship are also provided as set out on the firm pages.)

SQE Support

Addleshaw Goddard has partnered with BPP University to provide SQE preparation courses. Law graduates complete SQE 1 & 2 preparation (and assessments) prior to starting their qualifying work experience; non‑law graduates complete the Law Conversion Course before SQE preparation. The firm covers SQE fees and provides preparation courses.

International Opportunities

Trainees can apply for one seat at a non‑UK office; the firm currently lists secondment opportunities in Dubai, Oman, Singapore and Paris and uses international secondments across its Middle East and European offices. The firm also highlights recent international secondments including Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Client Secondments

Trainees can apply to complete one seat at a client; recent client secondments have been organised in London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh. Chance of client secondment is limited (directory data indicates c.5%).

Mentorship

Each trainee is provided with a buddy and a mentor on joining. The Early Careers team provides regular one‑to‑one meetings, trainee networks and access to trainee talent development and mentoring programmes (external consultants deliver targeted programmes for diverse trainees).

Apply on the Addleshaw Goddard LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Addleshaw Goddard LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Ability, motivation and attitude
• Attention to detail
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Analytical skills
• Decision making
• Career motivation for commercial law
• Resilience and adaptability
• Innovative thinking

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience or demonstrable transferable experience (volunteering, charity, pro bono, retail, hospitality, customer service)
• Participation in university societies or committee roles
• Practical examples of commercial awareness and analytical ability
• Interest or experience in technology/innovation
• Demonstrable commitment to social mobility or inclusion initiatives

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salaries: Year 1 London £52,000; Year 1 Leeds & Manchester £33,000; Year 1 Scotland £29,000. Year 2 London £56,000; Year 2 Leeds & Manchester £36,000; Year 2 Scotland £33,000
• Newly qualified salary: £100,000
• PGDL/Diploma fees covered up to £14,000
• SQE fees and preparation courses covered in full
• Maintenance grants while studying: £15,000 (London); £8,000 (Leeds and Manchester); £7,000 (Scotland)
• Weekly placement scheme pay (2025): London £485; Leeds, Manchester and Scotland £430
• Private medical and dental insurance (UK only)
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Health & Wellbeing subsidy (gym membership or wellness apps such as Strava or Headspace)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Buy and sell holiday scheme (UK only)
• CSR day (volunteering)
• AG Excellence award and internal recognition
• Technology/innovation opportunities and ability to apply for Innovation & Legal Technology team placements
• Annual leave: 25 days
• Annual target hours: undisclosed

Wellbeing

Employee assistance programme; Health & Wellbeing subsidy (gym/wellness apps); Mental Health Champions (over 50 trained MHCs); founding partner of the Mindful Business Charter; dedicated mental health support and internal champions.

Awards & Recognition

• Law Firm of the Year — The Lawyer Awards 2024
• Top 20 firm — FT Innovative Lawyers: 20 Years (2025)
• Ranked a top 10 law firm for innovation in Europe for five consecutive years (FT)
• Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality (Top Employer for Gender Equality)
• All About Law — Best Training Contract (highly commended)
• Legal Cheek — Best law firm for training; Best law firm for legal tech; Best law firm for international secondments

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

By September 2027, 28% of our trainees will be ethnically diverse. The firm uses contextual recruitment and has removed its minimum A‑level requirement to broaden access. It publishes social mobility and inclusion reporting and participates in multiple sector initiatives to expand access to the profession.

• AG Embrace (ethnicity network)
• Open AG (LGBTQ+ network)
• The Ability Forum (disability network)
• Social Mobility Volunteers
• The Vine (gender network)
• Muslim community network
• Jewish community network
• Hindi, Jain and Sikh community network
• Mental Health Champions (MHC) programme
• Contextualised Recruitment (RARE)
• Aspiring Solicitors partnership and BASS programmes
• BPP Legal Access Scheme
• Law Scot Foundation partnership
• MMU First Generation Scholarship Programme
• Uptree partnership
• Social Mobility Business Compact
• City Solicitors Horizons
• Talent Tap
• Regeneration Brainery
• Upskill Me
• PRIME Commitment and The Legal Explorer Programme
• SheCanCode corporate ambassador

Pro Bono

The firm encourages lawyers to dedicate chargeable hours to pro bono work, has a published Pro Bono strategy and expects employees to use an allocated CSR day for volunteering. The CSR strategy focuses on Access to Education, Access to the Profession and Access to Work.

Innovation

The firm positions itself as a leader in legal technology and innovation, applying technology to speed up large data reviews and process work and running a dedicated Innovation & Legal Technology team. Trainees and apprentices can apply for placements in the innovation team and the firm runs insight events targeted at legal tech and innovation career paths.

• Innovation & Legal Technology team (placements available for apprentices and paralegals)
• Innovation & Legal Technology insight evenings
• Use of legal technology in matters (e.g., large‑scale lease review for Primark)
• Named as a Top 20 firm in FT Innovative Lawyers

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm's innovation work — for example the Primark lease review and use of technology — to show commercial and tech awareness (the firm scores highly for legal tech).
• Demonstrate commercial awareness using sector examples the firm highlights (retail, real estate, energy and financial services) and mention any relevant coursework or experience.
• Use contextual evidence and explain mitigating circumstances or social‑mobility context where relevant — the firm runs contextualised recruitment and values diverse backgrounds.
• If applying for apprenticeship routes, highlight practical experience and commitment to a work‑based route (the firm funds BPP and emphasises apprenticeships and alternative qualification routes).
• Show teamwork and attention to detail with concrete examples — the application form and assessment centre strongly test proofreading, group tasks and partner briefing exercises.