Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the 2026 Vacation Scheme will open on 29 September 2025. Our Spring scheme applications will close on 28 November 2025, and applications for our Summer schemes will close on 19 December 2025 . 

For further details on our application dates, please click here.

We don't 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 year law students and final year non-law students. 

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 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.

Application

This is an opportunity for you to tell us about yourself, your academic information, work experience, and any achievements. Don't worry if you haven't completed any legal work experience, we are looking for any experience where you have gained transferrable skills suitable to being a solicitor. We will ask you about your interest in being a Solicitor, and why Mishcon de Reya is your firm of choice in the following stage.

Chat Based Interview

This year, we’re introducing Bright Apply - a new AI-powered tool that lets you tell us your story. Instead of writing a long application form, restricted by word count, you’ll take part in a short virtual interview where you can expand on your experiences, motivations, and why Mishcon de Reya is the right fit for you. This is also your opportunity to really showcase what makes you a Shaper.

You can find more information on Bright Apply in our FAQs below.

Situational Judgement Test

To ensure we get a well-rounded view of all our candidates, we use this test which consists of a scenario-based, numerical, and verbal questions. The assessment has been designed to look for candidates who are excited to embrace the future of law and apply their intellect and creativity to a variety of work-related situations. The questions will not require any prior knowledge or experience. Whilst the assessment is untimed, it typically takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Assessment Day

The assessment day will be comprised of a number of assessments, including a 'Case Study Assessment' and an Interview.

A Case study assessment is an individual assessment where candidates are required to read a scenario and present their thoughts and recommendations to an assessor.  We are looking to see how candidates are able to assimilate information and demonstrate their commercial awareness. It's important to remember that you're not being assessed on your knowledge of the law, but how to apply business acumen to client needs.

Your interview will be with a senior-fee earner at the firm and a member of our People Team. You will be asked a range of strength based and scenario-based questions. This is your final opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of Mishcon de Reya, and how you can add value to the firm.

Vacation Scheme

As well as being a first-hand insight into Mishcon de Reya, and a chance to expand your knowledge of our firm, our Vacation Scheme is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your skillset and why you would make a great Trainee Solicitor. You will be assessed on your interactions with firm members and then sit a final stage assessment of a group exercise and pre-set tasks.

We want to 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 2025, 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, LPC and SQE grade breakdowns should be added into the post-graduate academic section of the application form.

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 and following your Vacation Scheme. 

If you have completed a case study or Vacation Scheme 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.

No, you can only apply to one Vacation Scheme per recruitment cycle. We would encourage you to plan ahead and apply to the Vacation Scheme dates you are likely able to attend.   

Our preference would be to hold the assessment centres in person as this makes for a better experience, however, in certain circumstances, we may be able to accommodate the assessment centre virtually. Please note, the Vacation Scheme will only be held in-person .

Yes, we provide full funding for the LPC and SQE, and a maintenance grant of £10,000 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 business requires. 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.

Should you be invited to attend one of our Vacation Schemes, it is your responsibility to ensure you obtain a visa that permits you to undertake work in the UK. 

Please note we do not provide sponsorship for applicants to attend our Vacation Schemes, however, sponsorship may be available on a case by case basis, should an offer for a Training Contract be made following a Vacation Scheme.

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.

Due to the changing way in which we interact with applicants before they apply, and to ensure we can reach as many candidates as we can, we will no longer be attending law fairs. Instead, we partner with a number of organisations to connect with students, and will be hosting our own Open Days for you to learn more about the firm.

We have several bespoke days taking place throughout the year in collaboration with our Social Mobility and Race Equity Strands, as well as a virtual open day and an open day specific to those in their first year of undergraduate. They are a great opportunity for you to get a deeper insight into life as a Mishcon de Reya lawyer and how to stand out in your application. Spaces are limited, so register quickly using the link below. You can find out more about our open days by clicking here.

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 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.

No, we don't. Since the introduction of the SQE in September 2021, the SRA have implemented transitional arrangements, which are designed to give candidates who are already on their way to becoming a solicitor, as much choice as possible. This means that some candidates may be eligible to study the LPC rather than the SQE. If you meet the SRA transitional requirements, we are happy to support you through the LPC route, however any other candidates are required to complete the SQE under the new route to qualification. For more information on whether you meet the SRA's Transitional Arrangements, please contact the SRA, or click here to read more.

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.

At Mishcon, we embrace technological advancements, and believe AI is here to enhance our capabilities - not replace them. We accept that candidates will be using AI tools to assist their applications but would caution you not to rely too heavily on it. It's your individual journey that really excites us, so we encourage you to share your unique perspectives and personal experiences in your submission. While AI can be a helpful starting point, we advise you to use it wisely. 

No, for the first time we will be offering a Vacation Scheme in Cambridge – for Mishcon's new offering, a training contract based in our Cambridge office. You can apply for the Cambridge Vacation Scheme here.

Candidates can apply to our Cambridge Training Contract, where they will be predominantly based out of our Cambridge office. We are looking for a distinctive contribution from our Mishcon Cambridge trainees. In addition to the commitment of the natural demands of the Mishcon training contract, we are looking for candidates who are committed to the Cambridge market, with a strong interest in the Innovation Economy, and a desire to be the future shapers of our Cambridge offering.

We will be running four Vacation Schemes in 2027. There will be two held in Spring (12 - 16 April or 26 - 30 April 2027) and two over Summer (21 - 25 June 2027 or 5 - 9 July 2027). You should only apply to either the Spring or Summer scheme.

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 practice groups, as well as sessions around the future of our business.

We will be offering up to 30 training contracts from the 2025 Vacation Schemes.

If on our London Training Contract, you may be placed in a team that predominantly works out of our Oxford or Cambridge offices during your training contract or apprenticeship. In the past, trainees have worked two days a week in either the Oxford or Cambridge office, dependent on team. Ultimately, we expect you to be in whichever office the team requires you to be to do your job well.

If on our Cambridge Training Contract, you can expect to be predominantly based in our Cambridge office. However you will have the opportunity to work across all offices, and potentially choose to do one seat in our London office.

Bright Apply is an AI-powered interviewing platform that we use as part of the first stage of our recruitment process.

Rather than asking you to complete a lengthy written application, Bright Apply gives you the opportunity to tell us more about your experiences, motivations and interest in a career at Mishcon de Reya through a structured interview.

We know that traditional application forms, particularly those with restricted word counts, don't always give candidates the best opportunity to tell us about themselves.

Bright Apply gives you more space to explain your experiences and motivations at an early stage of the process, while allowing us to ask candidates a consistent set of structured interview questions.

We piloted Bright Apply last year and, following that pilot, are continuing to use and evaluate the platform this year.

You'll be asked a series of questions about your experiences, motivations and interest in a career at Mishcon de Reya. You'll answer these verbally, much like you would during a telephone interview.

The main interview is untimed, although we ask that you complete it in one sitting. Your answers will be transcribed and the content of your responses assessed against our assessment framework.

At the end, you'll also be asked to record a video response to one final question about yourself. You'll have one minute to prepare and one minute to record your answer. You'll have an opportunity to practise before completing the final recording.

We recommend preparing as you would for any other interview. Do your research on Mishcon de Reya and spend some time thinking about your experiences, your motivation for pursuing a career in law and why you're interested in joining us.

You'll have an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the platform and test your equipment before you begin.

During the interview, take your time, listen carefully to each question and think about what you'd like to say before answering. Most importantly, answer in your own words. We're interested in understanding your experiences and motivations.

Bright Apply uses AI to conduct the interview, including asking relevant follow-up questions based on your responses. It also transcribes your answers and assesses the evidence in them against Mishcon's assessment framework.

Bright Apply then produces an initial score against each assessed criterion, together with a written explanation for that score.

The scoring process assesses the written transcript of what you've said, rather than your audio.

No. AI does not make final recruitment decisions.

Bright Apply provides an initial score against our assessment framework, but every AI-generated score is subject to human verification.

Mishcon remains responsible for our assessment criteria, the thresholds we use to determine progression and, ultimately, which candidates progress through our recruitment process. If the human reviewer disagrees with the AI-generated score, it can be changed and the human assessment will always take precedence.

Fairness is really important to us, which is why we continue to monitor and evaluate Bright Apply as we use it.

This includes comparing AI assessments with human assessments, monitoring candidate outcomes and looking for any adverse impact across different groups.

Human judgement and oversight remains the core part of our process. We will continue to review the platform’s performance and its feedback from candidates throughout this season.

We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best, so please let our Early Careers team know as early as possible if you require a reasonable adjustment.

The main interview is untimed, but we recognise that everyone's circumstances are different. Depending on what you need, adjustments can include using a text-based version of the interview, additional time for the final video question or changes to particular platform prompts.

The scoring process is blind to any adjustments that have been put in place and will not disadvantage your application.

We know that technical issues can happen. If you experience a problem, please use the support options available within Bright Apply or contact our Early Careers team.

We won't allow a genuine technical issue to unfairly disadvantage your application.

Bright Apply needs to process some personal information to deliver and assess your interview. This includes:

• identity and contact information;
• the role you've applied for;
• your application form;
• your interview transcript;
• typed answers if provided
• audio and video recordings;
• snapshot images taken during the interview and biometric data to help confirm that you remain present throughout;
• signals that indicate whether you may have used AI to assist you during the interview;
• summaries, the score against each assessed criterion and a written explanation for that score;
• interview outcomes;
• reasonable adjustment summaries;
• communication records and device information; and
• system logs from your interview session.

You can find more information about how your personal data is used, and your data protection rights, in our candidate privacy information.

You aren't required to provide demographic or sensitive personal information as part of your Bright Apply interview. However, we know that information of this kind can sometimes come up naturally when you're talking about your experiences.

Under UK data protection law, certain information is given additional protection. This includes information about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health and sexual orientation. Information about criminal offences is also subject to additional protection.

Bright Apply is designed to assess only information that is relevant to the assessment criteria for the role. Demographic or sensitive information of this kind isn't relevant to your assessment and will not influence your score.

No. Although your spoken answers are recorded and transcribed, the AI scoring process assesses the written transcript of what you have said rather than your audio.

This means that your accent, pace and tone of voice don't form part of your AI score. We use best in class voice transcription and run checks on every transcript for transcription quality. When we detect transcription quality issues we flag for human review and transcript correction.

A photograph of your face is taken at the beginning of your interview and compared with snapshot images taken during the interview. This helps to confirm that the same person remains present throughout.

This process involves the use of biometric data, which receives additional protection under UK data protection law.

Importantly, this information is not used to score your interview answers. It is an interview integrity measure and is considered separately from your assessment. Biometric data is not collected for the purpose of the video interview question.

The biometric data used for the image-matching process is transient and doesn't persist. 

Bright Apply has integrity measures that can identify signals suggesting that AI may have been used to assist with an interview.

A flag doesn't mean that we've concluded you've used AI, and it won't automatically result in your application being rejected.

Any relevant flag is reviewed by a person and is considered separately from the scoring of your interview answers.

Your Bright Apply interview is delivered by Bright Network Limited on behalf of Mishcon de Reya.

Bright Network uses some third-party providers to support the service, including providers used for speech transcription and the underlying AI models.

Your data is stored and processed primarily within the UK and EU. Some voice-processing providers operate in the US. Where information is transferred internationally, appropriate data protection safeguards are put in place.

Your personal data will be retained by Bright Apply on our behalf for up to 12 months, they do not retain any information for their own purposes.

Any biometric data is only processed in real time, and it is not retained

You can find more information about how candidate information is used and retained in our candidate privacy information.

We do.

Mishcon de Reya remains responsible for all decisions about your application. Bright Apply uses AI to support the initial assessment and scoring process, but every AI-generated score is subject to human verification.

We retain control over our assessment framework, progression thresholds and decisions about who progresses through our recruitment process.

If you have any concerns about the use of AI in your assessment or believe something hasn't been assessed correctly, please contact our Early Careers team.