Developing lawyers for the future
A Shoosmiths training contract is designed to help you grow into a well-rounded, commercially aware lawyer. Over two years, you'll experience different areas of the business, build relationships across the firm and work on matters that make a real difference to our clients.
From day one, you'll be trusted with meaningful responsibility, supported by experienced colleagues and encouraged to develop your own approach to solving problems, building relationships and delivering excellent client service.
You'll gain:
- responsibility that accelerates your development
- direct exposure to clients and meaningful legal work
- support from experienced lawyers and dedicated supervisors
- opportunities to build commercial, technical and people skills
- a culture that champions collaboration, wellbeing and individuality
Human-led. Future-minded.
We're looking for people who are curious, collaborative and commercially aware. People who care about doing great work and doing it the right way.
We believe the future of law belongs to lawyers who can combine human judgement, creativity and empathy with the opportunities created by technology. That's why we're investing in both our people and the tools that support them.
At Shoosmiths, you'll develop the commercial awareness, communication skills and legal expertise needed to succeed today, while gaining exposure to legal technology and AI-powered tools that are helping to shape the profession of tomorrow.
We welcome applicants from all degree disciplines, universities and backgrounds, including career changers. Because great lawyers don't all follow the same path.
Discover where your strengths can take you
There are no compulsory seats, but your four rotations will include a mix of contentious and non-contentious work, ensuring you develop broad experience while discovering where your strengths and interests lie.
Our training contracts are built around three core divisions that reflect the way we deliver legal services to our clients.
Bring clarity to complexity & shape the future of advisory law
Businesses face complex risks every day, from commercial disputes and regulatory investigations to evolving workplace challenges and the protection of valuable intellectual property. Our Litigation & Risk teams help clients anticipate issues, navigate complexity and find practical solutions when the stakes are high.
You'll work alongside lawyers who combine technical excellence with commercial judgement, helping clients manage risk, resolve disputes and make confident decisions in an ever-changing environment.
Our Litigation & Risk lawyers advise across:
Employment & immigration: guiding businesses through workforce challenges and global mobility.
Dispute resolution: resolving conflicts with strategic, pragmatic solutions.
Regulatory & compliance: helping clients stay ahead of evolving legal obligations.
Intellectual property: protecting brands, ideas, innovation and creative assets in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven world.
Whether preventing issues before they arise or guiding clients through their most challenging moments, our Litigation & Risk teams play a critical role in helping organisations protect their interests, achieve their objectives and move forward with confidence.
If you're drawn to problem-solving, strategic thinking and helping clients navigate complex challenges, this is where you'll thrive.
Shape the deals that define industries
Our transactions team works at the heart of strategic growth and innovation, advising ambitious businesses on complex, high-value transactions. You’ll drive transformational mergers and acquisitions, support investors and entrepreneurs in scaling through private equity and venture capital, deliver banking and finance solutions in a fast-moving market, and guide boards on governance, compliance, and responsible leadership. Every deal is an opportunity to influence the future - combining commercial insight with creativity to help clients achieve bold ambitions. If you’re ready to work where decisions shape markets, this is your stage.
Our transactions lawyers work at the heart of strategic growth and innovation, focusing on:
Commercial contracts: crafting agreements that enable growth and manage risk.
Mergers & acquisitions: driving transformational deals for ambitious clients.
Private equity & venture capital: supporting investors and entrepreneurs in scaling businesses.
Banking & finance: delivering solutions for lenders and borrowers in a fast-moving market.
Corporate governance: guiding boards on compliance, risk, and responsible leadership.
Join a team that advises some of the most exciting businesses on complex, high-value transactions.
Shape the spaces where business happens
Our real estate team combines commercial insight with technical expertise to deliver projects that transform communities and create lasting value. You’ll advise on landmark developments and regeneration schemes, help clients maximise returns on property portfolios, navigate complex planning and environmental regulations, and support the delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects. Every challenge is an opportunity to influence the built environment - bringing vision, precision, and creativity to work that truly makes an impact.
Our real estate specialists combine commercial insight with technical expertise across:
Development & regeneration: dvising on landmark projects that redefine communities.
Investment & asset management: helping clients maximise returns on property portfolios.
Planning & environment: navigating complex regulations to unlock opportunities.
Construction & engineering: supporting delivery of major infrastructure and building projects.
If you're ready to help shape the future of the built environment, this is where you belong.
Get in the driving seat with our clients
Keeping what matters. Building what's next.
Some legal skills never go out of style: Curiosity. Commercial awareness. Collaboration. Sound judgement.
While technology, client expectations and the legal profession continue to evolve, the foundations of a successful legal career remain the same.
We're currently reviewing and redesigning our emerging talent programmes to ensure they continue to reflect the future needs of our clients, our people and the profession.
Importantly, our commitment to developing future lawyers remains unchanged. Throughout this review period, we'll continue to welcome trainee solicitor intakes and celebrate newly qualified solicitors who complete their training with us each year.
We're excited about what's next and look forward to sharing more about the future of our trainee solicitor programme and wider emerging talent opportunities ahead of their launch in Autumn 2027.
To stay up to date with the latest news, events and future opportunities, sign up to our mailing list.
There are plenty of ways to get to know Shoosmiths while our future programmes are being developed.
Throughout the year, we host a range of career events, insight sessions and opportunities to meet our people, hear about their experiences and learn more about life as a trainee solicitor.
Whether you're exploring a future career in law, considering your qualification options or planning your next application, we'd love to stay connected.
We're also attending a variety of careers events across the UK throughout the year. Visit our careers events page to see where we'll be, learn more about our programmes and register to attend.
You can also subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates, invitations to upcoming events and be among the first to hear about future opportunities at Shoosmiths.
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Applications for our emerging talent roles are currently closed, but your journey doesn’t have to wait.
Stay in the loop by being the first to know when applications open.