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Training in London

Careers

Our two-year London training programme provides you with a wealth of experiences and excellent training to ensure a successful career as an English law-qualified lawyer. We will recruit our 2027 trainee intake from participants in our 2025 vacation scheme.

What to expect

Our vacation scheme offers a perfect introduction to a career in law and to Davis Polk. In each 2025 vacation scheme, we will host a group of 12 law students for a week. You will work on international transactions for some of our major clients and learn about our practice, culture and distinctive approach to client care. You will receive £750 to cover expenses and be interviewed for our 2027 training programme, for which we look to offer around five places.

If you are selected as one of our trainees, we will provide you with training and full sponsorship to help you through the first and second stages of the SQE in the year after you graduate from university. In the two-year training programme that follows, you will experience our corporate and finance practices, and have the opportunity to work in our New York or Brussels office. First-rate professional development, training tailored and meaningful contact with the firm’s partners are hallmarks of our programme. You will receive a first-year base salary of £65,000, rising to £70,000 in the second year and then £170,000 upon qualification, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

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Find out more

To find out more about Davis Polk and our London Training Programme, students can apply for an Insight Day. Spaces are limited for these sessions, so students are required to submit an application.

20 November 2024
Second-year law students and law postgraduate insight day (applications open from 17 October – 12 November 2024).

3 February 2025
First-year law student insight day (applications open from 3 February 2025 - 7 March 2025).

Apply to attend

How to apply

2025 Vacation Scheme

In 2025 Davis Polk will run a spring vacation scheme and a summer vacation scheme in the London office.

Spring vacation scheme: 7 – 11 April 2025
Summer vacation scheme: 30 June – 4 July 2025

Applications for both sessions will open on 28 October 2024 and close on 19 December 2024.