Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Overview

Davis Polk is an elite global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers serving leading companies and financial institutions from strategically located offices in major financial centres and political capitals. The firm is known for premier capital markets, corporate and litigation practices, an emphasis on cross‑jurisdictional teamwork and high‑stakes transactional and regulatory work. Davis Polk combines deep technical legal capability (notably in capital markets, financial institutions and M&A) with a structured, lawyer-driven training culture and a significant pro bono programme, making it a go-to adviser on complex and headline matters worldwide.

• Headquarters: New York, 450 Lexington Avenue
• Lawyers: 1,000+
• Trainees: 6
• Offices: 10

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Capital Markets
• Banking & Finance
• Corporate & M&A
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Tax
• Real Estate
• Investment Funds
• White Collar Crime
• Competition & Antitrust
• Environment & Planning
• Technology & Digital
• Healthcare & Life Sciences

Geographic Focus: The firm has a strong US base (headquartered in New York) and operates from key international financial centres — London (English law practice), Brussels, Madrid, São Paulo (Brazilian law), Hong Kong (English and Hong Kong law), Beijing and Tokyo — providing cross‑border capability for multinational clients. Davis Polk focuses on major financial and political hubs and positions teams to work seamlessly across jurisdictions on capital markets, regulatory and large corporate matters.

Training Contract

The firm’s training experience is lawyer-led and rotational. Trainees undertake multiple seats across corporate and litigation practices, exposed to real assignments and integrated into deal teams. The summer and training allocation system is coordinated by Summer Program Coordinators (associates) who distribute work based on interests. Each trainee is assigned a partner mentor and an associate liaison; performance is reviewed at mid‑point and at exit. The programme emphasises early substantive responsibility, pro bono participation, and opportunities for overseas rotations or splits between US offices.

• Starting Salary: Year 1: £65,000; Year 2: £70,000
• NQ Salary: £180,000
• Trainee Intake: 6
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement: 2:1. Minimum A-level requirement: No minimum.
• Application Deadline: 30 November 2025

Seat Options

• Capital Markets
• Corporate & M&A
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Banking & Finance
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Tax
• Real Estate
• Investment Funds
• White Collar Crime
• Competition & Antitrust
• Technology & Digital
• Healthcare & Life Sciences

Sponsorship

PGDL/GDL grant: Not applicable (reported). SQE grant: £20,000 (reported).

SQE Support

SQE grant: £20,000 (as reported in supplementary data).

International Opportunities

The firm offers overseas rotations and secondments across its global offices; select summer associates and likely trainees may request rotations in non‑US offices (site references four‑week overseas rotations for summer associates). LegalCheek data reports a 90% chance of a secondment abroad (indicative of frequent international opportunities). Offices frequently used for cross‑border work include London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and São Paulo.

Client Secondments

LegalCheek figures indicate approximately a 28% chance of client secondments. The firm’s careers pages reference secondment and rotation opportunities although specific client hosts and durations vary by practice and office.

Mentorship

Each trainee/summer associate is paired with a partner mentor and an associate liaison; the firm additionally appoints Summer Program Coordinators to manage assignments and development. The training programme offers formal midsummer and exit feedback sessions and ongoing professional development sessions.

Apply on the Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Initiative and intellectual curiosity
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Academic excellence (minimum 2:1 degree for many roles)
• Resilience and adaptability
• Commitment to pro bono and public service

Evidence Signals

• Substantive transactional or litigation vacation scheme/work experience
• Pro bono or public interest involvement
• Mooting or advocacy experience for litigation roles
• International experience or language skills for cross‑border work
• Strong academic record (2:1 or above)
• Relevant technical or STEM/economics background for certain corporate/paralegal roles
• Judicial clerkships or prior legal internships (valued for laterals and litigation hires)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £65,000
• Trainee salary Year 2: £70,000
• NQ salary: £180,000
• SQE grant: £20,000
• PGDL/GDL grant: Not applicable
• Health, dental and vision coverage (US employees; international benefits vary)
• Concierge medicine (complimentary service in New York)
• On-site Health & Wellness Center (New York)
• Free confidential counselling and coaching services
• Free Calm app subscription
• Parental leave (paid) and family building benefits (fertility, adoption, surrogacy assistance)
• Back-up childcare and back-up care for other family members
• 401(k) retirement savings plan (US) and tax‑advantaged FSAs/HSAs
• Charitable giving platform with matching gifts
• Student‑loan refinancing assistance
• On-site cafeteria (New York)
• Paid vacation days plus sick days
• No annual billable/target hours (reported as 'No targets')

Wellbeing

Davis Polk is a signatory of the American Bar Association Well‑Being Pledge; offers on-site and virtual counselling, an on-site Health & Wellness Center in New York, access to an on-site counsellor, free Calm app subscription, health screenings, flu vaccinations, fitness activities and educational webinars.

Awards & Recognition

• Law360 Firm of the Year (Firm news references, 2023 and 2025 mentionings on site)
• U.S. News - Best Lawyers: 2023 Financial Services Regulation Law Firm of the Year (announced Nov 3, 2022)
• Chambers USA: Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year, 2026 (site news)
• Law360: Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year (2024 and 2025 mentions on site)
• IFLR Americas Awards: Firm of the Year (New York) 2025 (site recognition)
• Numerous pro bono awards including Pro Bono Partner Award (New York County Defender Services, 2024) and recognition from New York State Bar Association and others (multiple years listed)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Equal opportunity employer policy (site text) and a stated commitment to inclusion, professional development and opportunity for all. The firm emphasises individual attention to development and mentoring from the start of one’s time at the firm.

• Cultivating a culture of inclusion (dedicated Inclusion pages and programmes)
• Host or sponsor more than 80 events per year focused on building community and promoting an inclusive work environment
• Chief Inclusion & Engagement Officer role (Kisha Nunez)
• Davis Polk Revisited reentry programme (year‑long reentry support for former Davis Polk lawyers)
• Extensive pro bono programmes with dedicated pro bono counsel and full‑time senior pro bono lawyers

Pro Bono

Davis Polk devotes tens of thousands of hours to pro bono matters and has one of the largest and most diverse dedicated pro bono legal teams in the country, with full‑time senior lawyers focused on key pro bono practice areas. The firm lists named pro bono counsel and numerous pro bono awards and partner organisations; pro bono is integrated into trainee and summer programmes.

Innovation

Davis Polk participates in legal technology and innovation conversations and integrates technology training across international offices. The firm presents speakers on AI and innovation and has applied digital innovations (e.g., an NFT deal toy) in client/deal communication.

• Engagement with AI and legal tech thought leadership (e.g., partner Matt Bacal speaking on AI use cases and ethical obligations at an innovation conference)
• Use of novel deal communications: issued the firm's first ever NFT deal toy to commemorate a transaction
• Intranet and knowledge management initiatives and technology training for staff (information services training roles described on careers pages)

Quick Application Angles

• Highlight capital markets experience and reference recent large deals (e.g., advising on multi‑billion dollar bond/notes offerings or major IPOs) to show fit with Davis Polk’s core work.
• Emphasise cross‑border experience or language skills and link this to the firm’s global offices (London, Hong Kong, Beijing, São Paulo, Tokyo) — the firm values global mobility and international collaborative work.
• Demonstrate concrete pro bono involvement (cases, clinics or leadership) — Davis Polk integrates pro bono into trainee and summer programmes and highlights extensive pro bono achievements.
• Show examples of early responsibility and commercial judgement from previous internships or transactional work — the firm gives junior lawyers substantive assignments early in their careers.
• If relevant, reference interest/experience in legal technology or AI and any practical examples (research, projects, coursework) — the firm engages publicly on AI and innovation topics.