Slaughter and May

Overview

Slaughter and May is a leading Magic Circle international law firm with a 130+ year heritage (founded 1889) and a reputation for high‑end, multi‑specialist cross‑border advice. The firm is distinctive for its collaborative, partner‑led approach, its multi‑specialist trainee model (mandatory early seats in Corporate and Financing), and a culture that emphasises excellence, independent thought and collective endeavour. It operates from a small global network of offices (London, Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong) and routinely advises on high‑value, complex transactions, regulatory work and high‑stakes disputes for global corporates and financial institutions.

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

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Competition & Antitrust
• Capital Markets
• Commercial Contracts
• Construction & Engineering
• Corporate & M&A
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Energy & Natural Resources
• ESG & Sustainability
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Intellectual Property
• Pensions
• Real Estate
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Tax
• Technology & Digital

Geographic Focus: Core market is the City of London with an international footprint in Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong. The firm operates a model of close co‑operation with top local 'best friend' firms and deploys multi‑jurisdictional teams for cross‑border M&A, capital markets, regulatory, competition and tech/digital regulatory matters. Key industry sector focuses include TMT, financial institutions, infrastructure/energy and tech.

Training Contract

Two‑year training contract composed of multiple 'seats' (each seat typically six months). All trainees complete two six‑month seats in Corporate & M&A and Financing; remaining time can be split across two or three specialist areas or focused on one practice. HR designs a seating programme with the trainee; partners meet regularly to review progress; trainees have a Continuity Partner who remains with them throughout the contract.

• Starting Salary: First 12 months: £56,000; Second 12 months: £61,000
• NQ Salary: £150,000
• Trainee Intake: 85
• Qualification Rate: 93% (latest trainee retention rate; the firm states retention rates are typically over 90%).
• Academic Requirements: The firm looks for a strong academic record (a good 2:1 in the degree is typically expected) and three good A‑levels are desirable but not strictly required. The firm accepts non‑law graduates (PGDL required) and uses contextual recruitment (Rare Contextual Recruitment System) and widening access programmes.
• Application Deadline: 28 November 2025

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Financing
• Competition & Antitrust
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Pensions
• Employment
• Commercial Contracts
• Real Estate
• Technology & Digital
• Tax
• ESG & Sustainability

Sponsorship

The firm pays the PGDL and CCP course fees and provides maintenance grants: £12,000 for the Law Conversion Course (PGDL) and £20,000 for the CCP. An interest‑free loan of up to £3,000 is available to new trainees one month before the start of the training contract and a further interest‑free financial hardship loan of up to £3,000 is available while at law school.

SQE Support

Slaughter and May collaborates in the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP) with BPP which is a 12‑month integrated SQE1 and SQE2 preparation and Plus Programme. The firm pays CCP and PGDL course fees and runs a bespoke learning programme. They provide study support as part of the CCP and training contract pathway.

International Opportunities

Trainees may apply for international secondments to the firm’s overseas offices (Brussels, Beijing, Hong Kong) and to selected client in‑house teams. Secondments are competitive and optional; trainees on some visa types may be ineligible. LegalCheek data indicates approximately 24% chance of a secondment abroad.

Client Secondments

Client secondments to in‑house legal teams are available by application and are optional; they offer experience working within a client environment. LegalCheek indicates c.17% chance of a client secondment.

Mentorship

Trainees are allocated a Continuity Partner who remains with them throughout the training contract; the firm also operates multiple mentoring programmes, partner meetings for progress reviews, a Trainee Solicitors' Committee and a broad range of employee networks for peer and pastoral support.

Apply on the Slaughter and May website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Slaughter and May Looks For

Key Competencies

• Sharp intellect
• Commercial awareness
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Resilience and ability to perform under pressure
• Independent thought and original thinking
• Drive and motivation for commercial law

Evidence Signals

• Commercial internships or virtual internships (e.g., Forage modules)
• Demonstrable commercial awareness and examples of business interest
• Pro bono or community engagement (social mobility activities)
• Evidence of sustained extracurricular interests or leadership
• Contextual evidence for applicants from under‑represented backgrounds (use of Rare contextual recruitment)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary: Year 1 £56,000; Year 2 £61,000
• NQ salary: £150,000
• PGDL/CCP course fees paid by the firm
• Maintenance grant: £12,000 for PGDL; £20,000 for CCP
• Up to £3,000 interest‑free loan before joining; further 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
• Assisted fertility and fertility & menopause support (via Private Medical Insurance)
• Enhanced family leave pay and shared parental leave
• Qualification leave and qualification leave interest‑free loan
• Child and adult back‑up care
• Subsidised restaurant and coffee bar; restaurant discount cards
• Onsite bike racks, lockers and shower rooms; Cycle to Work and Cycle Hire schemes
• Subsidised health club and class memberships
• Private medical insurance; onsite GP services; digital GP and wellbeing support; health screenings
• Confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Onsite prayer and contemplation, therapy and parents' rooms
• Eleven employee networks; trainee social events and annual dinner dance
• Volunteering opportunities and matched funds for fundraising
• Discounts and savings platform
• Associates with 3 years’ PQE may apply for a four‑week paid sabbatical

Wellbeing

Private medical insurance (including fertility and menopause support), onsite GP services, digital health and wellbeing support, health screenings, confidential Employee Assistance Programme, subsidised health club memberships, wellbeing networks and sports clubs.

Awards & Recognition

• Employment, Pensions & Benefits Team of the Year — Legal Business Awards 2012
• Legal Innovation in Corporate Law — FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2011 (joint)
• FT Asia‑Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards — Innovation in Corporate Law 2014 (Stand‑out)
• M&A Team of the Year — Financial News Awards 2014
• Law Society Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award 2017
• Ranked 5th in the Top 75 Social Mobility Employer Index 2024
• Stonewall Top 100 Employer List — ranked 16th in 2024 and Gold Award

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm states it was the first major law firm to set social mobility targets and publishes a social mobility report; signatory/member of multiple inclusion pledges including Valuable 500 and 30% Club; has a Race Fairness Action Plan and publishes an annual Pay Gap Report (2025).

• Everyday Inclusion firmwide programme (delivered with Half the Sky)
• Black Counsel Forum sponsorship (since 2022)
• Sponsorship and collaboration with Rare (Articles and Advocate programmes)
• Law Springboard (partnership with upReach)
• Slaughter and May Scholarship Scheme
• Member/founding member of: 30% Club, Valuable 500, The 93% Club / 93% Professionals, Legal CORE, Black Equity Organisation (BEO) supporters, 10,000 Black Interns, NOTICED inter‑firm network, General Counsel for Diversity and Inclusion, Halo Code adoption
• Employee networks: Christian Network; DIVERSE; Family Network; Jewish Network; Muslim Network; PRISM; Thrive; GEN; Empowered; SoMo; One Earth

Pro Bono

Focused on reducing inequalities, climate & environment, and access to justice. Works with Islington Law Centre, James’ Place, The Maya Centre, Imperial College and The Royal Institution on climate initiatives, and provides a free legal toolkit and webinars for charities.

Innovation

Slaughter and May combines traditional partner‑led legal advice with dedicated innovation activity: incubation (Fast Forward), client forums (Client Innovation Network), and collaborative projects (Collaborate). The firm publishes research on blockchain, AI and digital regulation and has dedicated innovation leadership (Head of Innovation; Innovation Committee). Trainees and associates can engage through specialist training, secondments and cross‑practice projects.

• Collaborate (client/industry/entrepreneur forum)
• Client Innovation Network
• Fast Forward (emerging tech incubation programme)
• Thought leadership publications on blockchain, AI and digital regulation

Quick Application Angles

• Highlight an appetite for multi‑specialist training and reference the firm’s mandatory early seats in Corporate & Financing and the City Consortium CCP SQE route.
• Demonstrate genuine commercial awareness and refer to a recent firm matter (e.g., advising 3i on the £750m buyback or Aker BP asset swap) to show understanding of the type and scale of work.
• Reference Slaughter and May’s social mobility and widening access work (Law Springboard, Scholarship Scheme, Rare partnerships) if you have relevant contextual background or outreach participation.
• If applying for tech/digital or regulatory teams, mention the firm’s Digital Regulation and Cyber hubs and their work for major platforms and clients (Google/Meta/large platforms) to show sector alignment.
• Emphasise collaboration and partner accessibility — note the firm’s high insider grades for partner approachability and peer support and provide examples of team working or mentorship experiences.