Paul Hastings LLP

Overview

Founded in 1951, Paul Hastings is a large US-headquartered global law firm focused on cross-border transactions and complex regulatory and litigation work. The firm emphasises integrated global practice teams and has grown into a multi-jurisdictional platform serving banks, asset managers, private equity, and corporate clients across finance, restructuring, funds, fintech, real estate and disputes. The London office has expanded rapidly (more than doubled in headcount and revenue over the past five years) and hosts over 100 English- and US-qualified lawyers, underpinning the firm's growing UK and EMEA capabilities.

• Founded: 1951
• Lawyers: 1,500+
• Trainees: 12
• Offices: 24

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Investment Funds
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Technology & Digital
• White Collar Crime
• ESG & Sustainability

Geographic Focus: Paul Hastings operates a globally integrated platform with a particularly strong presence across the U.S., Europe (including a major London team), Asia and Latin America. The firm positions itself to lead cross-border financings, restructurings, fund formation and regulatory matters and continues to grow its UK/EMEA capabilities through strategic partner hires and expanding London headcount.

Training Contract

Trainees spend time in four seats across the two-year training period (four seats in total). Seats include corporate, capital markets, real estate, real estate finance, structured finance, leveraged finance, private funds, technology/cybersecurity, employment, litigation, restructuring and tax. Training combines on-the-job seat experience with professional courses; progress is monitored formally and informally and trainees give feedback on the programme.

• Starting Salary: Year 1: £60,000; Year 2: £68,000
• NQ Salary: £173,000
• Trainee Intake: 12
• Qualification Rate: 90%
• Academic Requirements: The firm looks for distinguished academic credentials; normally an upper second (2:1) or first class degree and a majority of A grades at A Level. LegalCheek data indicates a minimum degree expectation of 2:1 and no minimum A-level requirement.
• Application Deadline: 2026-06-30

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Real Estate
• Real Estate
• Banking & Finance
• Collateralised Loan Obligations / Structured Finance
• Leveraged Finance
• Investment Funds
• Technology & Digital
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Tax

Sponsorship

PGDL/GDL grant reported: £20,000; SQE grant reported: £20,000 (insider data).

SQE Support

SQE grant reported: £20,000 (insider data).

International Opportunities

Chances of secondment abroad: 0% (insider data).

Client Secondments

Approximately 23% of trainees undertake client secondments (insider data).

Mentorship

Trainees are assigned an associate mentor who provides guidance through mentoring sessions and daily supervision; the Talent Management Team also supports trainees. Mentors provide practice information and personal guidance to help trainees navigate firm systems and relationships. Trainees are encouraged to engage with affinity networks and firm programmes for additional support.

Apply on the Paul Hastings LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Paul Hastings LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Intellectual ability
• Commercial awareness
• Analytical ability
• Attention to detail
• Initiative
• Resilience / determination
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Organisation and time management

Evidence Signals

• Distinguished academic credentials (normally 2:1 or above at degree level; strong A-level performance historically expected)
• Commercial work experience or internships in finance, funds or corporate environments
• Experience or interest in cross-border transactions and regulatory matters
• Pro bono / voluntary work demonstrating commitment to public interest issues
• Engagement with firm insight events or placements (PHirst Steps, Insight Day, Summer Workshop)
• Language skills or international experience for cross-border practice groups

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Year 1 trainee salary: £60,000
• Year 2 trainee salary: £68,000
• NQ salary: £173,000
• PGDL/GDL grant: £20,000
• SQE grant: £20,000
• Medical insurance / medical cover
• Fitness and wellbeing allowance
• Life assurance
• Paid PHirst Steps placements
• 25 working days' holiday (annual leave)
• Access to Talent Management and mentoring programme

Wellbeing

Fitness and wellbeing allowance; medical insurance; life assurance; Talent Management support and internal wellbeing/affinity networks (firm-supported programmes).

Awards & Recognition

• Global Corporate Rescue of the Year – Legal Team, Turnaround, Insolvency & Restructuring Awards (2025)
• Restructuring Team of the Year, Legal Business Awards (2025)
• CLO Law Firm of the Year, European Securitisation Awards (2026)
• Band 1 Chambers FinTech rankings (recognition noted 2025/2026)
• Vault 'Overall Best Law Firms to Work For' — Top 10 for nine consecutive years (firm statement)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm makes an explicit statement under the Modern Slavery Act and commits to preventing modern slavery across its business and supply chains, undertaking annual reviews of processes and strengthening supplier due diligence and training. The London office statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

• Affinity networks (promote community, opportunity and inclusion)
• Charity and fundraising events
• Modern Slavery Policy
• Vendor Code of Conduct
• Procurement Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Employee Handbook
• Talent Management programmes and targeted training on human rights/risk assessment

Pro Bono

The firm emphasises pro bono work with a particular emphasis on modern slavery and human rights: a three-pronged approach of (1) research and writing with international bodies, (2) supporting organisations that investigate/advocate against human rights abuses, and (3) providing direct legal support to survivors of human rights violations (including human trafficking victims).

Innovation

The firm invests in communications and integrated global infrastructure to coordinate cross-border teams and client workflows; insight platforms and specialist blogs (eg. PH Privacy, PHIRE) demonstrate subject-matter connectivity. Insider ratings indicate a strong legal tech/perks perception among trainees, with high marks for office facilities and tech-related benefits.

• State-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure linking global offices
• PH Privacy and PHIRE insight platforms (privacy/cybersecurity and international regulatory enforcement insights)
• Firm-wide knowledge-sharing and practice integration across jurisdictions

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise commercial awareness in finance and funds: reference the firm’s high‑profile finance and funds work (CLOs, securitisations and leveraged/structured finance mandates) and, where possible, tie your commercial examples to fund/credit markets.
• Mention restructuring and large-scale cross-border experience: discuss interest or experience relevant to the Enzen Group restructuring or the Diamond Sports Group mandate to show fit with the firm’s restructuring capabilities.
• Highlight collaborative experience and mentorship fit: the firm stresses mentoring and Talent Management support — provide examples of working effectively in teams or where you have learnt under a mentor.
• Use insight programmes to stand out: attend/apply to PHirst Steps placements, Insight Day or the Summer Workshop and reference attendance in applications (these feeding opportunities are explicitly highlighted on the careers pages).
• If you have legal tech or privacy/cyber experience, call it out — the firm publishes PH Privacy/PHIRE insight content and rates highly for legal tech among trainee insiders; practical examples of using tech in legal work will resonate.