Slaughter and May

Overview

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm with a long heritage and reputation for excellence, advising on high-profile, ground‑breaking and complex transactions and disputes. The firm emphasises integrated, cross‑jurisdictional advice delivered through long‑standing relationships with peer firms worldwide and its own offices in London, Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong. Distinctive features include a lockstep, partner‑led culture that prizes collective endeavour, original thinking and very high standards, a strong focus on innovation and responsible business, and a training model that gives early responsibility to trainees.

• Headquarters: London, One Bunhill Row
• Founded: 1889
• Lawyers: 1,400 (partners and staff worldwide)
• Trainees: 85
• Offices: 4

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Competition & Antitrust
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Commercial Contracts
• Corporate & M&A
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• ESG & Sustainability
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Intellectual Property
• Pensions
• Real Estate
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Tax
• Technology & Digital
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Fraud & Investigations
• White Collar Crime
• Sports Law

Geographic Focus: UK‑headquartered with a global reach driven by long‑standing, hand‑picked relationships with leading law firms worldwide; offices in London, Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong and regular collaboration with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries each year. The firm is strong across Europe and Asia and runs secondment and exchange programmes (including regular Africa‑focused knowledge exchanges) to deliver integrated cross‑border teams.

Training Contract

Two‑year training contract comprising a seating programme designed with HR to match trainees' preferences. All trainees complete at least two six‑month seats in Corporate & M&A and Financing; remaining time can be split across two or three specialist seats or concentrated in one area. Seats include contentious and non‑contentious experience. Trainees receive a full induction, regular partner check‑ins, end‑of‑seat reviews, and a continuity partner who remains their mentoring contact throughout the two years.

• Starting Salary: £56,000
• NQ Salary: £150,000
• Trainee Intake: 85
• Qualification Rate: 93%
• Academic Requirements: A‑levels: AAB (not including EPQ) or equivalent. Undergraduate: Strong 2:1, ideally a minimum of 65% and above in the majority of modules for each academic year completed. The firm uses contextual recruitment (Rare Contextual Recruitment System) and will consider mitigating circumstances.
• Application Deadline: 28 November 2025

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Financing
• Competition & Antitrust
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Pensions
• Employment
• Incentives
• Real Estate
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Technology & Digital
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Tax
• ESG & Sustainability
• Private Equity & Venture Capital

Sponsorship

The firm pays course fees for the Law Conversion Course (PGDL) and the City Consortium CCP. Maintenance grants: £12,000 for the PGDL and £20,000 for the CCP. Interest‑free loan of up to £3,000 is available to new trainees one month before the start of their training contract; an interest‑free financial hardship loan of up to £3,000 is available while at law school.

SQE Support

All future trainee solicitors follow the SQE route; the firm participates in the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP) developed with BPP Law School which prepares candidates for SQE1 and SQE2 and includes a bespoke Plus Programme with four mini‑seats. The firm funds the CCP and provides SQE preparation within that programme; the CCP is delivered in‑person at BPP (London) and is an L℡

International Opportunities

Trainees and associates have opportunities for international secondments in the firm's overseas offices and with relationship firms worldwide; the firm hosts secondees from relationship firms twice yearly. The firm works with over 200 law firms across 100 countries each year and trainees are invited to apply for secondments (not compulsory). Visa restrictions may affect eligibility for some secondments. Reported chance of secondment abroad: c.20%.

Client Secondments

Client secondments to in‑house legal teams are available as an application opportunity for trainees; not compulsory and subject to eligibility/visa constraints. Reported chance of client secondment: c.19%.

Mentorship

Trainees are allocated a Continuity Partner who remains with them throughout the training contract; additional mentoring programmes are available and trainees receive regular supervisor feedback and partner meetings. The Trainee Solicitors' Committee represents trainees and organises social and induction events.

Apply on the Slaughter and May website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Slaughter and May Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Analytical rigour and attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure
• Independent thought and original thinking
• Strong communication (verbal and written)
• Drive and motivation for commercial law
• Professionalism and a sense of humour

Evidence Signals

• Virtual internships or Forage programmes completed (Commercial Law / Explore Law)
• Participation in open days and insight programmes
• Commercial work experience or legal work experience
• Demonstrable commercial awareness and understanding of clients' businesses
• Mentoring, volunteering and pro bono engagement
• Contextual evidence of overcoming barriers (Rare Contextual Recruitment System / PRIME criteria)
• Language skills or international experience for cross‑border work

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First year trainee salary: £56,000
• Second year trainee salary: £61,000
• Newly qualified salary: £150,000
• PGDL maintenance grant: £12,000
• CCP maintenance grant (SQE support): £20,000
• Firm pays PGDL and CCP course fees
• Up to £3,000 interest‑free loan before joining
• Interest‑free financial hardship loan up to £3,000 while at law school
• Interest‑free season ticket loan
• Money purchase pension scheme
• Bonus Sacrifice scheme
• Income protection insurance
• Life assurance
• Critical illness insurance (self‑paid option)
• Private Medical Insurance (including fertility and menopause support)
• Dental Insurance (self‑paid)
• Onsite GP services and digital GP
• Health screenings
• Confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Subsidised health club and class memberships
• 30 days of annual leave
• Enhanced family leave pay and shared parental leave
• Assisted Fertility
• Child and adult back‑up care
• Subsidised restaurant and coffee bar
• Onsite bike racks, lockers and shower rooms
• Cycle to Work and Cycle Hire schemes
• Restaurant discount cards (self‑paid)
• Discounts and savings platform
• A variety of entertainment benefits at London theatres and galleries
• Eleven employee networks
• Annual dinner dance, social events and networking
• Volunteering opportunities
• Qualification leave and qualification interest‑free loan
• Associates with 3 years' PQE may apply for a four‑week paid sabbatical

Wellbeing

Private medical insurance with fertility and menopause support, onsite GP services, digital health and wellbeing support, health screenings, confidential Employee Assistance Programme, subsidised health club memberships, sports teams and wellbeing groups.

Awards & Recognition

• M&A Team of the Year – Financial News Awards 2014
• Legal Innovation in Corporate Law – FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2011 (joint winner)
• Innovation in Corporate Law Award – FT Asia‑Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2014
• Employment, Pensions & Benefits Team of the Year – Legal Business Awards 2012
• Law Society Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award 2017
• Ranked 5th in the Top 75 Social Mobility Employer Index 2024
• Stonewall Top 100 Employer's List – ranked 16th in 2024 and awarded Gold
• Partners/employees named on Empower Top 100 Leading Ethnic Minority Executives and Future Leaders lists

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm has set social mobility targets (first major law firm to do so), publishes pay gap and diversity statistics and participates in multiple cross‑industry pledges and networks to improve inclusion across gender, ethnicity, disability and socio‑economic background.

• Everyday Inclusion programme (developed with Half the Sky)
• Job Design pilot (reduced hours option for associates)
• Black Counsel Forum sponsorship
• Rare Recruitment partnerships (Lead in to Law, Articles/Advocate programmes)
• Law Springboard programme with upReach
• Slaughter and May Scholarship Scheme
• 10,000 Black Interns partnership
• Legal CORE (cross‑firm collective)
• Black Equity Organisation (BEO) funding and pro bono support
• The 93% Club and founding member of 93% Professionals
• Women in the City Afro‑Caribbean Network (Platinum Sponsor)
• Valuable 500 signatory
• NOTICED inter‑law firm diversity network membership
• General Counsel for Diversity and Inclusion membership
• Halo Code adoption
• Sunday Times Open Letter signatory
• Social mobility targets and Social Mobility Employer Index engagement
• Race fairness action plan
• Pay gap report 2025 and London diversity statistics 2025

Pro Bono

A strong pro bono programme focused on reducing inequalities, climate and environment, and access to justice. Key partnerships include Crisis (real‑estate advice for homelessness projects and Skylight centres), Islington Law Centre, legal toolkit and free webinars for charities, and ongoing partnerships with non‑profits to build capacity for the third sector.

Innovation

The firm pursues innovation through a dedicated Innovation Committee and Head of Innovation, combining new technologies, process improvements and agile resourcing to improve client delivery and working lives. Innovation activity includes a Client Innovation Network for in‑house teams, a student competition and joint programmes with relationship firms; the firm emphasises pragmatic adoption of tech to complement its traditional strengths.

• Client Innovation Network
• Innovation Committee (Partner: Sally Wokes) and Head of Innovation (Anthony Vigneron)
• Student Innovation Competition
• Investment in technology, process improvement and agile resourcing models

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s four core values (The highest standards; Independence of thought; Collective endeavour; Respect for all) and give examples of how your experience demonstrates one of those values.
• Highlight commercial awareness using a recent firm matter (for example the OpenAI or Meta matters) — explain the commercial/legal issues and suggest practical next steps or risks the client should consider.
• Mention the firm’s international model (working with 200 law firms across 100 countries) and, if relevant, evidence of cross‑border teamwork or language skills to show you’d add value on international matters.
• Show awareness of their responsible business and social mobility work (Law Springboard, scholarships, social mobility targets) and, where relevant, link your outreach/mentoring experience to their widening‑access priorities.
• Demonstrate commitment to learning and adaptability — note their CCP/SQE route and continuity partner model; cite any formal training or virtual internships you’ve completed (e.g. Forage programmes).