Jones Day

Overview

Jones Day is a global, full-service law firm renowned for its One Firm Worldwide® approach and longstanding focus on exceptional client service. The firm (more than 2,500 lawyers across 40 offices) is particularly well known for cross-border disputes and multijurisdictional transactional work that frequently relies on English and US law. The London office is a key hub for international M&A, finance and global disputes; the firm emphasises seamless collaboration across offices and a client-first culture.

• Founded: 1893
• Lawyers: 2,500
• Trainees: 15-20
• Offices: 40

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Competition & Antitrust
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Intellectual Property
• Tax
• White Collar Crime
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Investment Funds
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Fraud & Investigations
• ESG & Sustainability

Geographic Focus: A truly global firm operating from major financial centres (notably London and numerous U.S., European, Asian and Australian offices). The firm serves multinational corporates, financial institutions, sponsors, funds and governments on cross-border M&A, complex litigation/arbitration, capital markets and regulatory matters, leveraging integrated teams across offices.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract with a non-rotational (non-seat) model. Trainees are expected to 'walk the floors' and obtain substantive work across practices and partners; there is a comprehensive induction, a Continuum seminar programme, a fast-tracked Professional Skills Course (delivered at University of Law in a Jones Day exclusive class), regular six-monthly competency-based appraisals, partner and trainee mentors, and checklists that must be signed off by partners. The New Lawyer Academy in Washington, D.C. supplements induction for new lawyers.

• Starting Salary: £60,000 (Year 1); £70,000 (Year 2)
• NQ Salary: £170,000
• Trainee Intake: Approximately 15-20 each September (the firm states c.15-20; supplementary data lists 15 training contracts)
• Academic Requirements: Strong 2.1 degree (gained or predicted) required; no minimum A-level requirement. The firm accepts non-law degrees and uses Rare's contextual recruitment system and an application section to explain mitigating circumstances.
• Application Deadline: 7 January 2026

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Real Estate
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Competition & Antitrust
• Employment
• Tax
• Intellectual Property
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Financial Services & Regulation

Sponsorship

PGDL/LLB conversion support: fees covered and maintenance grants published: PGDL maintenance grant £15,000; LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1&2) maintenance grant £20,000. The firm covers the course fees for the ULaw PGDL/LLM courses for future trainees.

SQE Support

University of Law (ULaw) is the preferred law school partner. Jones Day covers LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) fees for future trainees taking the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1&2) and provides SQE Plus preparation. The firm funds fees and provides blended learning (online, face-to-face and coaching).

International Opportunities

Opportunities to travel and short-term placements abroad can arise on specific transactions; the firm indicates there are limited formal overseas trainee placements. Insider data indicates a 0% chance of secondment abroad for trainees (quantified by supplementary data).

Client Secondments

The firm states trainees may travel and be placed on specific transactions; supplementary information indicates approximately 25% chance of client secondment for trainees.

Mentorship

Each trainee has a dedicated partner mentor (professional and pastoral) and a trainee mentor (second-year trainee). Trainees are assigned a trainee buddy before joining and share an office with a fellow first-year trainee. Regular appraisals and partner sign-off on checklists ensure structured guidance.

Apply on the Jones Day website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Jones Day Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Strong intellectual and analytical ability
• Excellent communication skills
• Drive and resourcefulness
• Teamwork and collegiality
• Resilience and time management
• Commitment to a legal career

Evidence Signals

• Substantive commercial work experience or vacation schemes
• Demonstrable international interest or experience for cross-border practice
• Pro bono and community engagement
• Strong academic performance (2.1 degree or equivalent)
• Examples of teamwork, leadership and responsibility

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £60,000
• Trainee salary Year 2: £70,000
• NQ salary on qualification: £170,000
• PGDL (9-month) maintenance grant: £15,000 (fees covered)
• LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1&2) maintenance grant: £20,000 (fees covered)
• Five weeks' holiday per year
• Private healthcare
• Season ticket loan
• Group pension plan
• Salary sacrifice schemes
• Life assurance
• Opportunities to attend New Lawyer Academy in Washington, D.C.
• Comprehensive induction and firm-wide seminar training programme (Continuum)

Wellbeing

Pastoral care and mentoring for trainees (trainee buddy before joining); private healthcare; firm emphasises support and regular appraisals. The firm highlights pro bono and community engagement as part of professional development.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers USA 2025: 55 Band 1 & 2 rankings; 24 Band 1 practice rankings (2025)
• Legal 500 United States 2025: 281 rankings across 51 practice areas (2025)
• Best Law Firms®: 'Law Firm of the Year' in Appellate Practice (2026 edition)
• BTI Client Service A-Team Report: Best of the Best (number 1 spot for multiple client service activities)
• GlobeSt. Women of Influence Awards: recognition for London/real estate partners (2026)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion; focus on recruiting, retaining and advancing lawyers from historically underrepresented backgrounds; partnership with Aspiring Solicitors; use of contextual recruitment.

• Seven Affinity Groups (including groups supporting Women, LGBTQ+, BAME)
• Firmwide Women’s Affinity Group
• Partnership with Aspiring Solicitors
• Integrated Rare contextual recruitment system
• Affinity groups supporting Women, LGBTQ+ and BAME

Pro Bono

Jones Day has a long tradition of pro bono work globally. The Jones Day Foundation's mission includes promoting the rule of law in developing countries, fostering innovation in academics/medicine/arts, improving economic opportunities for impoverished populations (especially children and women), and providing disaster support. The London pro bono practice supports individuals and non-profit organisations in the UK and internationally; pro bono work is given weight in professional development evaluations.

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise fit with Jones Day’s non-rotational training system: explain how you would 'walk the floors', manage competing priorities and seek substantive responsibility rather than passive tasks.
• Reference the firm's global, cross-border work: mention particular transactions or disputes on the firm site (e.g., the Grainger $210m asset acquisition or major real estate joint ventures) to show commercial awareness and why you want to work on multijurisdictional matters.
• Highlight academic strength and contextual resilience: confirm a 2.1 (gained or predicted) and, where applicable, explain mitigating circumstances via the application form's contextual recruitment fields.
• Show evidence of teamwork and approachability: Jones Day values open-door collaboration and partner accessibility — use examples where you worked closely with senior stakeholders, contributed to outcomes and built relationships.
• Use the firm's training and support offerings as talking points: demonstrate interest in the ULaw SQE/LLM support, SQE Plus and the New Lawyer Academy to show you understand and intend to engage fully with the firm's development pathway.