Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Overview

Paul, Weiss is a global, full-service law firm known for handling high‑stakes, cross‑border transactional and litigation work for the world’s largest public companies, private equity sponsors, asset managers and financial institutions. Founded in 1875 and headquartered in New York, the firm combines deep trial‑level litigation capabilities with market‑leading corporate practices (notably private equity, public M&A, capital markets, finance, restructuring and white‑collar defence). The firm emphasises an inclusion‑first, collaborative culture, invests heavily in training and career development, and has expanded rapidly in Europe (notably London and Brussels) to support its cross‑border private equity and competition work.

• Headquarters: New York, 1285 Avenue of the Americas
• Founded: 1875
• Lawyers: 1,500+
• Trainees: 10
• Offices: 11
• Revenue: £2.42 billion

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• White Collar Crime
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Competition & Antitrust
• Intellectual Property
• Technology & Digital
• Investment Funds
• Tax
• Employment
• Environment & Planning
• Real Estate
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Pensions
• Media & Entertainment

Geographic Focus: The firm is US‑headquartered with a global platform: a dominant presence in New York and major U.S. offices (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, DC, Wilmington) complemented by an international footprint in London and Brussels (Europe), Hong Kong and Tokyo (Asia) and Toronto (Canada). London is a strategic hub for European private equity, public M&A and finance work, while Brussels is focused on EU antitrust and regulatory matters. The firm pursues cross‑border mandates and multi‑j:

Training Contract

London training contracts run for two years and comprise four distinct practice group rotations of six months each. Trainees are assessed via the firm's Vacation Schemes (automatic assessment for a training contract) and start in the September intake. Rotations are intended to give broad exposure across corporate and litigation disciplines with substantial on‑matter responsibility from day one.

• Starting Salary: £60,000
• NQ Salary: $225,000
• Trainee Intake: 10
• Academic Requirements: Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (gained or predicted).
• Application Deadline: 2025-12-25

Seat Options

• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Corporate & M&A
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Tax
• Competition & Antitrust
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Intellectual Property
• Investment Funds

Sponsorship

Grant of £20,000 for the SQE and PGDL (PGDL grant / SQE grant £20,000).

SQE Support

Firm provides a grant of £20,000 while studying the SQE and the PGDL Law Conversion Course.

Client Secondments

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Mentorship

Formal mentorship pairing (partner mentor and associate mentor) for summer associates and trainees; stipend provided for mentorship lunches and partner engagement. Career Development team provides individualized coaching and skills coaching throughout traineeship.

Apply on the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Analytical rigour and attention to detail
• Entrepreneurial mindset and self‑starter attitude
• Resilience and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development
• Strong writing and oral advocacy skills (for litigation roles)

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial or transactional work experience (internships, paralegal roles)
• Mooting, appellate or trial experience for litigation roles
• Pro bono involvement and public‑service experience
• Demonstrable interest in private equity, M&A, or finance for transactional roles
• International or cross‑border experience for global practice
• Academic record meeting the firm's minimum (2:1) and strong advocacy or writing samples

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First‑year trainee salary: £60,000
• Second‑year trainee salary: £65,000
• Newly qualified salary: $225,000
• PGDL/SQE grant: £20,000 (grant while studying the SQE and PGDL)
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision plans (eligible from first day); plans cover eligible dependents
• Free One Medical membership in key US cities (NYC, LA, SF, DC)
• Life, disability and travel accident insurance options
• LifeCare concierge service membership
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• On‑site and virtual physical therapy appointments at no cost
• Generous caregiver leave and family supports (including infant transition support, backup/emergency childcare, fertility and surrogacy assistance)
• Alternative Work Schedule Program (flexible/reduced hours available with no tenure requirement)
• Wellbeing stipend (annual) for counsel and associates in North America
• Relocation reimbursement and salary advance for incoming associates
• Bar review and bar application fee reimbursement for selected US bars
• Corporate American Express card for counsel and associates
• 401(k) plan participation (US)
• Commuter benefit programme
• Student loan refinancing assistance relationships
• Complimentary snacks/coffee; New York office full-service cafeteria
• Client development budget and mentorship stipend
• Generous technology and home office stipend; assistance with mobile data expenses; standing desks provided
• Paul, Weiss Cares donation matching and supported community outreach programmes
• Annual vacation: four weeks paid (firm stated); target hours policy: No targets

Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme, LifeCare concierge service, Health Management Program, on‑site/virtual physical therapy, annual wellbeing stipend and broad caregiving supports (infant transition, backup childcare, elder care assistance).

Awards & Recognition

• Four Paul, Weiss Practices Named 2025 Law360 Practice Groups of the Year
• Scott Barshay and Ben Goodchild Recognized as 2026 “Dealmakers of the Year” by The American Lawyer
• Paul, Weiss Named Law Firm of the Year (The American Lawyer) (listed on New York office awards)
• Paul, Weiss Receives Robert F. Mullen Pro Bono Award by the Lawyers’ Committee
• Paul, Weiss Named 2024 Pro Bono Innovator by Bloomberg Law
• Law360: Technology Practice Group of the Year (2023 - 2025)
• Chambers USA Band 1 rankings across multiple litigation and transactional categories (2025/2026 listings)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Firm commitment to recruiting, retaining and promoting diverse talent; equal employment statement; participates in E‑Verify (US); longstanding pro bono and public service commitments are core to the firm's mission.

• Firmwide Networks (Europe and global)
• Family Network
• Colleague Connect Circles
• Curriculum (inclusion training programs)
• Pipeline Programs (middle school to pre‑law and beyond)
• Scholarships & Fellowships (partnerships with local law schools and organisations)
• Working parent supports including dedicated liaison and work‑life coach

Pro Bono

Pro bono is central to firm identity: long history of landmark public‑interest matters (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education, United States v. Windsor). Paul, Weiss encourages associates to take pro bono from day one, provides partner mentorship and training on pro bono matters, and publishes frequent pro bono wins (e.g., TRO to protect forced labour victims in Angola; long‑running work for New Yorkers with mental illness). The firm has received pro bono recognition including the Robert F. Mullen Pro Bono Award and Bloomberg Law’s Pro Bono Innovator designation.

Innovation

Paul, Weiss invests in technology to support training, career development and remote/hybrid working (technology stipends, standing desks, mobile data support). The firm uses a Career Development Dashboard that integrates billing and finance data so associates can monitor work experience by client and practice area; training content is available on‑demand, and the firm encourages digital learning and external CLE resources. Insider feedback indicates very strong legal‑tech adoption and resources for associates.

• Career Development Dashboard (tech‑enabled career planning and experience tracking)
• Generous technology and home office stipend; mobile data assistance
• On‑demand recorded training and short practical digital learning resources

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise commercial awareness and reference Paul, Weiss’s recent large M&A work (e.g., multi‑billion transactions such as Chevron/Hess, Amazon/iRobot) to show you understand the firm’s client base and deal complexity.
• For competition/antitrust roles, highlight interest or experience in EU/UK merger control or regulatory work — note the firm’s Brussels office and recent investment in EU competition capability (Henrik Morch, Nicole Kar).
• Mention the firm’s training and mentorship model (partners and associate mentors, early responsibility) and explain how you would thrive in a leanly staffed, high‑responsibility seat — concrete examples of managing live matters are valuable.
• If applying to London, reference the firm’s UK SQE/PGDL support (the £20,000 grant) and the Vacation Scheme Promise (accommodation, travel, £1,500 stipend) to demonstrate you’ve researched practical candidate support.
• Showcase technology or innovation experience — the firm provides technology stipends and highlights strong legal‑tech adoption; referencing practical use of deal‑ or litigation‑related technology will resonate.