Which Law Firms Have the Best Vacation Schemes?

If you do anything this month, make it vacation scheme applications. Most law firms set their spring and summer vacation scheme deadlines for the end of December or end of January, so now’s the time to get your applications in. 

With so many firms now recruiting solely through their vacation schemes, taking part in one really is the best route to getting a training contract.  

What is a vacation scheme? 

A vacation scheme is a one or two-week-long work placement at a law firm. During this time, you’ll usually sit in one or two departments and do trainee tasks, some of which might be assessed.   

You might also attend firm presentations, lunches with other vacation schemers and trainees, as well as social events.   

You’ll be assessed throughout, so be sure to be on your best behaviour, even at evening drinks.  

But you should also let your personality shine through. Ultimately, people want to know if they could share an office with you!

Vacation schemes are usually paid, with some law firms also offering to cover some expenses for the duration of the scheme, 

Why should you do a vacation scheme? 

A vacation scheme is a brilliant way for you to find out if the law firm in question is somewhere you’d like to work. 

There aren’t many other opportunities where you can ‘road test’ the work and office environment before committing to a new job. 

Vacation schemes are also a great way for the firm to see how you work, and whether they think you’d be a good fit. 

Different firms suit different people, and vacation schemes are the best way to find the best law firm for you.

Head to our Winners Table to see which firms have the best vacation schemes.  

Trainee feedback on vacation schemes

Here’s what this year’s survey respondents had to say about their firms’ vacation schemes. 

At Cooley, trainees love the ‘hands-on work from the very start, including on the vacation scheme’, which was dubbed an ‘authentic experience’. 

Trainees chose Marriott Harrison because of ‘the friendliness of the people and how much time they took to get to know me on the vacation scheme’. What’s more, ‘from the vacation scheme itself, I could tell that MH peers push you out of your comfort zone and train you to become an associate and not just a good trainee’ 

Several Sullivan & Cromwell trainees had ‘excellent experience on the vacation scheme’ 

For one Farrer & Co trainee, their decision to join the firm was ‘solidified by the enjoyable culture I experienced during the vacation scheme’ 

The White & Case vacation scheme was also applauded, and participants ‘liked the people [we] met at the firm’ so much that their decision was made early on 

‘After attending a vacation scheme in 2021, I was struck by the warmth and friendliness of everyone I met, and I was certain Forsters was the place I wanted to be’, said one respondent of the boutique London firm. 

At Vinson & Elkins ‘my vacation scheme made me want to work with the people here, and I haven’t been disappointed with the results so far. The combination of this culture and the strengths in the industries I was interested in working in solidified V&E as my first choice’