Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the 2023 Vacation Scheme are now closed. Applications for the 2024 Vacation Scheme will open in September 2023.

We do recruit on a rolling basis and whilst we do read all vacation scheme applications that have been submitted, we would recommend that you look to apply earlier to give you the best chance of securing an assessment day with us. 

We are recruiting for our trainees solely through our vacation scheme. To be considered you will need to apply for our vacation scheme, after which you will be considered for a training contract interview.

We only accept online applications via our website. Please note that CVs are not accepted as a means of application.

Yes, we welcome applications from undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates or career changers with any degree discipline. For those still at university we accept applications for our Vacation Scheme from penultimate and final year students regardless of degree discipline.

There are a few very important reasons for us only recruiting through our vacation scheme. Firstly, hiring a diverse group of candidates has always been extremely important for us and historically we have always been able to attract and recruit a vacation scheme intake that comprises of many different types of people, including university students, career changers, mature students, those with childcare responsibilities etc. all with varying life experiences and varying levels of legal experience.

Secondly, as a firm, we aren’t looking for students who are able to ‘ace’ an interview or an assessment day, we really want to get to know students, on the job, over a couple of weeks to ensure that they are the right fit for us and equally that we are what they are looking for as well!

Thirdly, over the past few years we, like many other firms have found that we hire almost all of our trainees through the vacation scheme. Meaning that when we reach the direct training contract applications we are faced with a large amount of applications but very few spots to offer.

For all of these reasons as well as others we have felt that the ‘vac scheme only route’ is the best way for us to recruit our Trainees. 

Please direct any further queries on this to early.careers@mishcon.com.

Yes, we encourage applications from mature students and career changers.

Typically our applications will have a 2:1 degree minimum and ABB at A-Level, however we can be flexible with these and ultimately we look for the best candidates. Please don’t be deterred if your grades are lower than this, we are looking for people who have a strong application form across the board. If you would like to discuss any mitigating circumstances, please get in touch with our early careers team. Candidates should enter their GCSE, A-level (or equivalent) and a full breakdown of their degree grades on the application form.

We appreciate that results obtained abroad are not always in the same format as UK qualifications; however you should enter your results into the form in the best way possible. Please enter results equivalent to GCSE, A Levels and Degree (if you studied these). Any explanation of your results should be written in the ‘Additional Information’ section under the academic results part of the form.

1. Application
   This form will require you to complete details about yourself including your academics and personal contact info, your work experience to date, details of any extra-curricular activities and you will complete some free-text questions.

2. Video Interview
   You will receive a link asking you to complete the video interview. This is a one-way recorded interview where you will be shown a number of questions and have a set amount of time to record your response online. 

3. Case Study (virtual)
   Taking place virtually, you will be given all the information materials on the day and given plenty of time to prepare before meeting with your assessor. 

4. Interview
   In this final stage in the process, you will be invited to take part in an interview. This stage is one final opportunity for you to showcase why you would be the perfect candidate for a Vacation Scheme, and find out more about the firm.

Video interviewing allows you, the candidate, to complete the interview at a time and location which is convenient to you. Our previous use of telephone interviews could mean that candidates waited longer to be able to book a slot and that the times available were not always suitable. This way we can move you through our process more quickly without compromising on the quality of our recruitment process. This is the third year we are using video interviews and we received very positive feedback during the last recruitment round about this method.

We want ensure that our recruitment process is accessible to everyone, and that candidates feel comfortable when completing our recruitment process. If you require an adjustment to the recruitment process for any reason (including ongoing health conditions, a disability, or you do not have the technology to complete a video interview or virtual assessment), please email us. We will provide you with an alternative that better suits your needs.

Our Vacation Scheme dates are aligned as best as we can to ensure all candidates to attend. As we are offering three Vacation Schemes in 2023, we are not able to accept applications for candidates who cannot attend these dates. The dates for our scheme can be found by clicking here. 

Yes, we appreciate the time and effort you put into our application process, and we take the time to fully consider and respond to each application. It may take a while for our Early Careers team to get back to you. Please be patient with us, we always endeavour to get back to candidates as soon as we can.

We do not have a direct training contract application process, if you are unsuccessful in gaining a place on the vacation scheme you will need to re-apply again the following year.

Please enter a full breakdown of your academics in your application form. GDL and LPC grade breakdowns should be added into the post-graduate academic section of the application form.

Once you revice your invitation to complete the video interview, you will have 7 days to complete your video interview from this date. Please email early.careers@mishcon.com if, in exceptional circumstances, where you are unable to complete the video interview by your specified deadline.

Due to the volume of applications we receive we do not provide individual feedback on the application form or video interview. You will however, receive individual feedback following both the assessment day, final interview and following your vacation scheme. 

If you have completed a case study or Vacation Scheme interview and have been unsuccessful, you may apply for the Vacation Scheme the following year. We encourage you to show you have learnt and developed from your experience and have taken on board the feedback we have provided during the process.

Yes, we provide full funding for the GDL, LPC and SQE, and a maintenance grant of £7,000 payable in including for accelerated courses. Please note that unfortunately we are unable to make payments retrospectively for courses which have already been commenced or completed at the time of a training contract offer.

Due to the high level of demand for work experience, we are unable to accommodate requests outside of our formal programmes. We would encourage you to have a look at the details for our Vacation Schemes to see whether you can apply for one of these. We do also offer open days, and dates of which can be found here.

We recruit paralegals on a rolling basis throughout the year, as and when the need arises. Please visit our current vacancies for more information.

If you do not currently have permission to work in the UK please provide full details of how you intend to qualify for this so that we can consider whether or not it is possible for us to progress your application. We will look at each application on a case by case basis. Any offer will be conditional on your right to work in the UK.

On the application form you will be asked to enter information regarding your working rights for the vacation scheme and the training contract. To provide us with further information, such as which type of visa you are currently on or will be for the training contract, please fill in the in the 'please add any further information regarding your work permit status' section, on the application form.

We have close working relationships with a number of Universities. If you think that the society you are involved with would be a good fit for Mishcon de Reya, please email our graduate team at early.careers@mishcon.com with information about your sponsorship opportunity. 

Please see our Sports Law Academy page for more information on the timetable for this year's programme

In 2023 we plan to attend a number of law fairs. Some of our events will be held in person and some will be virtual.

We will be offering three Open Days during the year. Our Virtual Open Day takes place in November and is open to all penultimate year students along with those studying the GDL/LPC/SQE and who have graduated.

We will also be holding an in-person Open Day in October 2022, which is again aimed at all penultimate year students along with those studying the GDL/LPC/SQE and who have graduated.

Our Spring Open Day will take place in April 2023 is only for those in the first year of their undergraduate degree.

Our Open Days are a chance to get a real insight into the type of work we do, the clients we engage with and life as a lawyer at Mishcon de Reya. It’s your chance to get to know us better and understand what makes us tick but we also want to leave you with an increased level of commercial awareness about how a law firm operates, the current legal landscape and the future of the legal market. We will have some really interesting speakers who will be delivering 'TED' style talks and you'll also take part in an interactive business game. There will also be plenty of time for you to mingle with our Trainees and lawyers as well.

You should apply for the Open Day that you are eligible for e.g. don't apply for the First Year Open Day if you have recently graduated. We typically look for an expected 2:1 degree and ABB at A-level but we are ultimately looking for the best candidates. Please don't be deterred if your grades are lower than this, we are looking for people who have a strong application form across the board! You should enter your GCSE, A-level (or equivalent) and a full breakdown of your degree grades on the application form.

On 28 October 2020 the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) as a new approach to qualification. 

We intend to continue with our two year Training contract for the foreseeable future. Any candidates who are offered a Training contract from one of our 2023 Vacation Schemes, and who have started their LPC course, will be allowed to continue with the traditional qualification route. All other candidates (both law and non-law) will be asked to qualify through the SQE route.

We ask all our future Trainees to complete their studies with University of Law. However we do not specify the electives you should study. We advise you consider your strengths and areas of interest as well as the work Mishcon does.

We will be running three Vacation Schemes in 2023. One in Spring (April) and two over Summer (June and July). See here for the confirmed dates.  

Our Vacation Schemes will be running in-person in our London Office.

As well as a number of group and individual written assessments, there will be opportunities for you to meet existing Trainees, Training Principals and other fee-earners from across the Firm. There will also be a number of talks given by representatives from our new practice areas including MDRxTech, Mishcon Purpose and our Politics & Law Group.

We will be offering up to 25 training contracts from the 2023 Vacation Schemes.