Placement scheme

Our Discover Placement and Mentoring Programme is an exciting new work experience programme aimed at high achieving applicants from under-represented groups in the legal profession.

Discover supports our diversity, equity and inclusion goals, taking a conscious, purpose-led approach. By introducing this placement Shoosmiths is driving  progress in the diversity of our trainee cohorts and helping to address the wider challenge in the profession.

In advance of your placement, you’ll be matched with a professional mentor who will prepare you for your placement. They will act as a mentor throughout the placement, providing your with ongoing support right up to the training contract assessment centre and beyond.

On the one-week placement itself, you’ll experience a week in the life of a trainee solicitor, which will include real responsibility, working on case files, and attending meetings. Your week will be filled with a programme of learning - supported by your whole team, but a trainee solicitor will guide you through the working week and will answer any questions you may have. You’re likely to spend time with one or two teams, in one office, over the duration of your placement.

In addition to this, we will task you with completing a business development project which will help you to develop and showcase your innovative thinking. 

We know you will have lots of questions, so there will be opportunities for you to get to know our people and spend time with them in a social environment too.

Why should I attend a placement?

You will have the opportunity to hear first-hand what current trainees and lawyers think about the firm. It's a fantastic opportunity to network, get to know our people, and ask our trainees about their training contract and their advice on assessment centres. Most importantly, you will be able to introduce yourself to us and make a great first impression, hoping that you will progress to the training contract assessment centre.

Who can apply for this placement?

The Discover Placement & Mentoring Programme is a diversity access scheme which is part of our recruitment for the 2026 training contract.

To apply for the Discover placement & mentoring programme opportunity, you must:

• Be an aspiring solicitor interested in qualifying in England or Scotland.
• Be a penultimate year law undergraduate, or a final year law or non-law undergraduate student. GDL, LPC and SQE students are welcome to apply, as are graduates and career changers.
• Not have accepted a training contract with any law firm or legal team
• Be eligible to work in the UK

You should also be from at least one of our under-represented groups:

• Black, Asian or minority ethnic
• LGBTQ+
• Disabled, neurodivergent or have a long-term health condition
• Socially mobile (given this is not a defined characteristic in the Equalities Act 2010, there are multiple variations of this meaning but we consider this to include (but not limited to) candidates who:

i) attended a non-selective state school comprehensive educated and first generation of their family to attend university
ii) spent time in local authority care
iii) came to this country as a refugee

What opportunities are there for me if I’m not eligible?

If you are not eligible for the placement or there are other things in your life which may mean you cannot make the placement dates, there are also lots of other ways you can learn more about becoming a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths.

Shoosmiths continues to provide a full programme of virtual insight evenings and in-person events throughout the year. ShoosmithsLIVE, the successful live-streamed video series, will also relaunch this year as a new podcast, which is an excellent opportunity for aspiring trainee solicitors to learn more about Shoosmiths.

A placement is not an essential part of our recruitment for training contracts, and you can apply directly for a training contract instead. Information about direct training contract applications can be found on our website here.

What else do I need to know?

Our in-person placements will run for one week, and you will be paid for your time. You can see the current pay rate on our FAQ page.

The recruitment and selection process includes an online application, and an online strengths based assessment. More information about what to expect in the application and assessment stage can be found on our careers blog.

You will be assessed on your placement, and if successful, you’ll be invited to attend an in-person training contract assessment centre. By applying for the placement, you will be considered for the training contract, so you do not need to submit an additional application.

Apply now