Paul, Weiss

Overview

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a global law firm fronting high‑stakes corporate, private equity, finance and litigation matters for major public and private clients. The firm emphasises collaborative, collegial teams, deep trial and transactional capability and a sustained commitment to pro bono and public‑interest work. In recent years it has expanded materially in London and other international markets, building out private equity, finance and capital markets capability while keeping New York as its primary hub.

• Headquarters: New York, 1285 Avenue of the Americas
• Lawyers: more than 1,500 lawyers
• Trainees: 12
• Offices: 11

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

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

Geographic Focus: Global firm with principal hub in New York and major international platforms in London, Brussels, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Toronto. The firm has been actively expanding its London private equity, finance and capital markets presence and operates cross‑border teams for multinational M&A, private equity, finance, regulatory and disputes work.

Training Contract

• Starting Salary: £60,000 (Year 1); £65,000 (Year 2)
• NQ Salary: £180,000
• Trainee Intake: 12
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement: 2:1. Minimum A‑level requirement: No minimum.
• Application Deadline: 2025-12-25

Sponsorship

PGDL/PGDL grant: £20,000; SQE grant: £20,000

SQE Support

SQE grant: £20,000

International Opportunities

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Client Secondments

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Mentorship

The firm emphasises partner, counsel and associate mentorship in training and provides a stipend for mentorship lunches; the careers and benefits content highlights structured mentoring and partner involvement in junior development.

Apply on the Paul, Weiss website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Paul, Weiss Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Academic excellence (minimum degree standard of 2:1)
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Resilience and stamina for demanding, high‑stakes work
• Strong written and oral communication
• Interest in technology/AI for technology‑facing practices
• Commitment to pro bono and public‑interest work

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial internships or work experience (e.g., private equity, finance, corporate internships)
• Pro bono or community law experience
• Demonstrable interest/experience in technology or AI (courses, projects, or legal tech work)
• International experience or language skills for cross‑border work
• Mooting, debating or litigation experience for disputes roles
• Clear academic record (2:1 or equivalent) and persuasive examples of teamwork and leadership

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary: £60,000 (Year 1) and £65,000 (Year 2)
• NQ salary: £180,000
• PGDL/PGDL grant: £20,000
• SQE grant: £20,000
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision plans (coverage from first day, dependent coverage included)
• Free membership with One Medical Group (select U.S. locations)
• Variety of life, disability and travel accident insurance options
• Free LifeCare concierge membership
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• On‑site and virtual physical therapy appointments at no cost
• Generous caregiver leave and infant transition support (including 12 weeks paid parental leave referenced in working‑parent supports)
• Backup and emergency child care and elder care resources
• Alternative Work Schedule Program (reduced hours/flexible arrangements available)
• Work‑life coaching via on‑retainer consultants
• Relocation cost reimbursement and salary advance for incoming associates
• Bar examination fees and bar review course reimbursement for specified U.S. jurisdictions
• Bar association membership dues covered for selected associations
• Participation in mortgage programmes with Citibank and J.P. Morgan Chase
• American Express corporate card for counsel and associates
• 401(k) savings plan (U.S.)
• Commuter Transit Benefit Program
• Student loan refinancing assistance relationships
• Office amenities (NYC cafeteria; complimentary snacks/beverages in other offices)
• Client development budget and technology/home office stipend; standing desks provided
• Immigration assistance for foreign nationals
• Mentorship stipend for trainee/mentor meetings
• Paul, Weiss Cares matching for employee donations and community outreach funding

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing support including EAP, health management programme, free LifeCare concierge, annual well‑being stipend (North America), on‑site and virtual physical therapy, wellness resources and coaching for working parents.

Awards & Recognition

• Law360 Practice Group of the Year (Technology Practice) — 2024
• Four Law360 Practice Group of the Year recognitions — 2024
• Four Law360 Practice Group of the Year recognitions — 2025
• Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe — shortlisted and winner (Innovative Lawyers in Private Finance) — 2025
• Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe — shortlisted (Unlocking Capital) — 2025
• vLex Fastcase 50 recognition for Kannon Shanmugam — 2025
• Bloomberg Law Pro Bono Innovator — 2024
• Robert F. Mullen Pro Bono Award by the Lawyers’ Committee — 2024
• Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Publico Awards recognition — 2024
• ISO 9001 certification for E‑Discovery services — 2025

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Paul, Weiss is an equal employment opportunity employer and participates in E‑Verify. The firm’s Statement of Firm Principles commits to maintaining, by affirmative efforts, a membership of partners and associates reflecting a wide variety of religious, political, ethnic and social backgrounds and to democratic principles in firm governance.

• Culture of Inclusion programmes
• Family Network
• European Women’s Network
• Paul, Weiss Center to Combat Hate
• Small and Local Supplier Program
• Working Parent and Family Supports (including Alternative Work Schedule Program and dedicated work‑life coach)
• Paul, Weiss Cares (corporate social responsibility matching and community funding)
• Events and observances for Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Women’s History Month

Pro Bono

The firm maintains an unwavering commitment to pro bono assistance to vulnerable populations and public‑interest causes. Recent notable pro bono work includes a TRO to protect men forced to labour in Angola’s “farm line”, long‑running representation of New Yorkers with mental illness, work to preserve New York City’s Right to Shelter and assistance addressing the migrant busing crisis and immigration support. The firm has been recognised repeatedly for pro bono work (Bloomberg Law Pro Bono Innovator, Lawyers’ Committee Robert F. Mullen Pro Bono Award, Legal Aid Society recognition) and runs in

Innovation

Paul, Weiss positions innovation as core to client service: the firm trains lawyers on generative AI, maintains dedicated AI and digital practice leadership and has formalised e‑discovery and project‑management processes (ISO 9001 certification). The firm runs in‑house AI training, develops safety and security frameworks for AI matters, and features senior innovation leadership to embed technology into practice and risk management; trainees and associates are exposed to these initiatives through firm training and practice teams.

• Generative AI training programme for lawyers led by Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer and Director of AI Strategy
• Director of AI Strategy role and Digital Technology Group (AI practice leadership)
• E‑Discovery and Legal Project Management collaboration leading to ISO 9001 certification for discovery services
• Firm‑level legal‑tech training and red‑teaming activities for AI and model risk
• Investment in knowledge/innovation leadership (Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer)

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s recent London private equity and finance hires and deals (e.g., the €3.5bn Innomotics acquisition and IRIS Software private‑credit refinancing) to show commercial awareness of Paul, Weiss’s London growth strategy.
• Highlight any experience or strong interest in AI, data protection or legal tech – the firm runs generative AI training and ranks highly for legal tech, so concrete examples (projects, courses, tools) will resonate.
• Demonstrate commitment to public‑interest work or pro bono – cite specific initiatives (Right to Shelter, migrant assistance, the Paul, Weiss Center to Combat Hate) to align with the firm’s values.
• If applying for transactional roles, emphasise high‑quality finance and private equity exposure (debt finance, high‑yield, fund work) and any cross‑border deal experience.
• Use evidence of teamwork and mentor feedback examples: the firm rates highly for peer support and partner approachability, so concrete examples of working effectively with seniors and learning from mentors are persuasive.