Whether you're exploring your first steps into the legal world or are ready to launch your career, Shoosmiths is a firm where ambition meets opportunity. Our lawyers are leading experts across transactional & advisory, real estate and disputes, risk & compliance, supporting clients with multi-disciplinary solutions for the complexities of an ever-changing world.

Client excellence is at the heart of everything we do. We’re not just looking for academic excellence, we’re looking for people with curiosity, drive, and a desire to make a difference for our amazing clients.

You’ll be seen, heard and supported to thrive. And we don’t just say we invest in talent, we prove it through award-winning training programmes, mentorship from day one, opportunities to work on real client matters, and a culture that values individuality and fresh thinking.

Our culture is open, ambitious, and built around people. We’re bold beyond expectations, challenging the conventions of legal careers by offering real responsibility, real support and real stories of growth from day one.

We don’t just talk about values, we live them. At Shoosmiths, social impact isn’t a side note: it’s built into how we work, who we hire, and what we stand for. From our social mobility pledge to our pro bono initiatives, we’re creating a legal career path that’s more inclusive, more human, and more future-facing.

We’re proud to support diverse talent through apprenticeships, outreach programmes, and mentoring schemes that open doors for individuals traditionally underrepresented in the profession.

And we back it all up with evidence. You’ll find impact reports, real stories, and stats that show change, not just intention. Because at Shoosmiths, we believe the best way to build trust is to show what’s already working, and invite you to be part of what’s next.

Our ambition is to build a diverse workforce that reflects all backgrounds and identities, and a workplace that is genuinely supportive, inclusive and community-driven.

Inclusion starts with people, so we focus on valuing difference, fostering belonging and prioritising wellbeing — because when individuals feel seen and supported, great things happen. Our DEI strategy is shaped around three pillars: Accountability, Opportunity and Community, which guide how we design our policies, support our people and create fair access to careers in law.

From inclusive recruitment and onboarding, to development opportunities, internal networks and transparent reporting, we’re committed to turning our values into action, not just words.

In 2024, we strengthened this commitment by launching our Race Equity Action Plan (REAP), which sets out our anti-racism pledge and practical actions to improve racial diversity and equality across the firm. Developed with input from an external consultancy, our Embrace network and our Shadow Board, REAP focuses on career progression, everyday behaviours, employee voice, leadership and our systems and processes.

Early progress is encouraging, with the attrition gap between minority ethnic and white employees narrowing by 4% year-to-date.

We share our progress openly through our annual impact report, reflecting our belief in transparency, trust and continuous improvement. For aspiring solicitors, apprentices and graduates, this means joining a firm that is serious about fairness, representation and opportunity — and committed to helping you thrive as your authentic self.

Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.