Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

Overview

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is a large global law firm combining the Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader legacies to deliver cross-border, full-service legal advice. The firm emphasises international secondments, high-value cross-border litigation and transactional work, and market-leading pro bono and ESG initiatives. It is distinctive for its scale and global reach, structured trainee development (including a BaSE mini‑MBA style programme and international secondments), and a clear focus on technology and regulatory innovation.

• Headquarters: London, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct
• Trainees: 45
• Offices: 36

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Public Law
• Tax
• Fraud & Investigations
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Corporate & M&A
• International Arbitration
• ESG & Sustainability
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Competition & Antitrust
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Real Estate
• Banking & Finance

Geographic Focus: Global reach with major London practice supported by international offices and frequent secondments to North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm focuses on cross‑border regulatory, transactional and litigation matters and positions itself to service multinational corporates, financial institutions and public bodies.

Training Contract

Two‑year training contract with four six‑month seats. Trainees rotate across practice groups and are immersed in live-client work early. Trainees are expected to complete at least one seat in Finance, one seat in Corporate/Global Regulatory and one seat in Litigation across their qualifying work experience. The Early Careers Development Team and Training Principal facilitate NQ preference briefings, 1‑2‑1s and interview workshops. Trainees can apply for international or client secondments in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th seat (subject to visa restrictions).

• Starting Salary: Year 1 - £56,000
• NQ Salary: £145,000
• Trainee Intake: 45
• Qualification Rate: 67%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum AAB at A Level (or equivalent) and a 2:1 (predicted or achieved) at degree level. Contextual Recruitment System used for apprenticeship applications; mitigating/extenuating circumstances are considered.
• Application Deadline: 2027-07-17

Seat Options

• Banking & Finance
• Corporate & M&A
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Fraud & Investigations
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Employment
• International Arbitration
• Intellectual Property
• Competition & Antitrust
• Real Estate
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Tax

Sponsorship

The firm will pay course fees (PGDL/SQE) and offers maintenance grants. Current maintenance grant for full‑time PGDL study: £10,000 outside London and £12,500 within London. SQE studies maintenance grant: £20,000 in London. Hardship Funding is also available for future trainees with little or no parental support.

SQE Support

The firm funds SQE exams and has partnered with BPP to deliver a market‑leading Plus Programme to prepare trainees for practice. The firm will pay course fees for SQE and provides an SQE-related maintenance grant (published figure: £20,000 in London).

International Opportunities

Trainees may apply for international secondments (typically in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th seat, subject to visa restrictions). Current international secondment destinations highlighted include Washington DC, Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Singapore. LegalCheek supplementary data indicates around a 23% chance of an international secondment.

Client Secondments

Client secondments are available as opportunities to work inside leading businesses and sharpen commercial skills; trainees can apply in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th seat. LegalCheek supplementary data indicates around a 20% chance of client secondment.

Mentorship

Structured induction and ongoing support: one‑week induction, BaSE training, assigned supervisors, trainee mentors and buddy systems. The Early Careers Development Team and Training Principal run briefings, workshops and 1‑2‑1s to support career progression and NQ preference allocation.

Apply on the Hogan Lovells Cadwalader website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Looks For

Key Competencies

• Adaptable
• Ambition
• Collaboration
• Critical Reasoning
• Effective Communication
• Growth
• Initiative
• Innovation
• Motivation for commercial law
• Personal Responsibility
• Resilience
• Technology Focus
• Work Ethic

Evidence Signals

• Commercial internship or vacation scheme experience
• Paralegal work in commercial settings
• Pro bono involvement or social impact work
• Demonstrable commercial awareness (e.g., referencing firm case studies)
• Experience or interest in legal tech / regulatory technology
• International experience or language skills

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Year 1 trainee salary: £56,000
• Year 2 trainee salary: £61,000
• London NQ salary: £145,000
• PGDL maintenance grant: £12,500 (within London) / £10,000 (outside London)
• SQE maintenance grant: £20,000 (London)
• Firm pays course fees and SQE exam fees
• Hardship funding for future trainees
• Paid solicitor apprenticeship salaries with sign-on bonus
• Paid vacation scheme (£500 per week)
• Pro bono opportunities and structured BaSE training
• Employee networks and inclusion programmes

Wellbeing

Employee networks (Pride, Multicultural Network, REIN, Social Mobility, Wellbeing), wellbeing videos and initiatives, membership of Inclusive Employers, Disability Confident (Committed) status, and access to inclusion programming and adjustments during recruitment.

Awards & Recognition

• Silver Certification in the Inclusive Employer Standard (2022)
• Top 75 in Social Mobility Employer Index (since 2017)
• Best Social Mobility Initiative, People in Law Awards (2026)
• Ethnicity Awards – REAHL Network shortlisted Top 15 Network Group (2024)
• Founder sponsor of the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Silver Inclusive Employer accreditation; Disability Confident (Committed) employer; top placement in Social Mobility Employer Index; membership of BITC; founding sponsorship of the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme.

• Pride network
• Multicultural Network
• Race and Ethnicity Inclusion Network (REIN)
• Social Mobility network
• Breaking Barriers
• Wellbeing network
• Business in the Community membership
• Founder sponsor of the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme
• Partnerships with Aspiring Solicitors, City Century, the Law Society, Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation, MyPlus, Prime, Rare Recruitment, Social Mobility Business Partnership and the Sutton Trust

Pro Bono

Contributes 175,000+ pro bono hours every year. Partner‑led international pro bono practice with an International Pro Bono Partner and strategic impact projects; BaSE practice supports social enterprises and mission‑led businesses.

Innovation

The firm invests in technology and regulatory innovation, combining legal expertise with AI tools (example: ELTEMATE regulatory pilot) to help clients interpret and act on regulatory change at scale. Trainees are exposed to innovation through work on technology-enabled client projects, the Plus Programme for SQE readiness, and internal training content.

• ELTEMATE AI regulatory pilot (AI-powered regulatory compliance solution)
• Plus Programme (SQE preparation, partnership with BPP)
• BaSE training (mini‑MBA for trainees linking commercial and social impact skills)
• Defined by Knowledge video/lecture series

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s major case studies (PrivatBank, ELTEMATE AI project, Cirrus/LCOR redevelopment) in applications to show commercial awareness and fit with the firm’s cross‑border work.
• Highlight technology interest or experience — the firm emphasises 'Technology Focus' and has run AI regulatory pilots; mention any relevant projects or coursework.
• If you have commercial / paralegal experience or prior vacation scheme places, make this central to your application — the firm encourages direct training contract applicants with prior commercial experience.
• Mention appetite for international work and secondments (Washington DC, Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Singapore) to align with the firm’s global mobility opportunities.
• Use the HLC Legal Lounge podcast and the Defined by Knowledge videos in interview prep — cite episodes or learnings to demonstrate research and cultural fit.