Frequently asked questions

We hire globally, so all students are welcome to apply. Please note that ahead of commencing a Training Contract, anyone who does not have an English and Wales qualifying law degree must complete the PGDL (Post Graduate Diploma in Law) along with the SQE.

Yes. There is no requirement to have studied law to apply for a Training Contract, but you will be required to complete the PGDL and SQE which we fully fund for our future trainees.

We require a minimum of a 2:1 at university. We do not have specific A-Level grade requirements because we use a contextual based recruitment system, although these are considered.

No – the intake you apply for is the intake in which you will join Clifford Chance. However, you can join our waitlist but there is no guarantee that a space on an earlier cohort will become available.

Yes, as a firm we recruit contextually therefore we consider many factors such as the school you attended and the average grades your school achieved on that particular year, (not just the grades you achieved).

You can find the eligibility criteria for each role we recruit for on our website. Please take a look at our Early careers page and click on the role you are interested in.

You can find our more by visiting our How we hire

We receive thousands of applications every year, so it is important to take the time to reflect on what value you can bring and research the firm and role. We not only want to hear about your academic achievements, but your personal achievements and hobbies. What makes you different? And why would this make you a great lawyer at Clifford Chance? We want to see that you have an interest and good understanding of Clifford Chance, the type of work we do, and our clients. Show us that you have done your research and make your application Clifford Chance specific. Ask yourself, why Clifford Chance? And how can you demonstrate the skills we need in our trainees?

Should you have mitigating circumstances, you can declare this on your application form and they will be taken into consideration.

We would like to hear about any relevant work experience, and this does not need to be legal work experience. Focus on examples which showcase your transferrable skills and how your input made a difference. Think carefully about the examples you use – how does your experience align with the skills required to be a great lawyer at Clifford Chance? Whether you worked in a busy coffee shop, or did a volunteering role, we want to hear about your individual experience and what value you added to the role.

Global Virtual Internships: Our lawyers across the global network have put together a series of  Global Virtual Internships section to provide you with skills and knowledge that will help you take the next steps in your career. You don't need to apply for these as they are open access and can be completed at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. They are a brilliant insight into trainee-level tasks and will give you insights into our clients, global network, and practice areas. Once complete you will receive a certificate from the Clifford Chance Academy which you can upload to LinkedIn and mention / discuss during future application processes. If you are in Year 12 or 13, we recommend you start with 'Ready Set Law'.

Online Events Hub:  Over the last few years we have built a great hub of content that you can watch in your own time. Our practice area insight series here is particularly useful if you're looking for more insights into the work we do.

Social Media:  YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram are also great sources of information. We'd particularly recommend watching our 'In Conversation' series and our 'Real Contract' campaign on YouTube as they both give you a great insight into life as a lawyer at Clifford Chance, if that's what you're looking for. Our YouTube channel includes some really useful videos on application tips and techniques and goes into some of the details of what we look out for!

Before you take the Watson Glaser test, it's a good idea to practice as much as you can so you are familiar with the format and the type of thinking involved. You can click below to practice as many times as you need. Your practice attempts do not form part of the assessment and Clifford Chance will not see the results. As well as the practice test, there are lots of other online resources that you may wish to use. Some of them are free, but some require payment.

Please contact megraduaterecruitment@cliffordchance.com for all Middle East related opportunities.

We don't offer bespoke work experience or internships outside of our advertised schemes for undergraduates and graduates. We really believe the fantastic range of open access resources we have available online will be hugely beneficial to future applications or interviews, and online experiences can also be referred to on applications and discussed in an interview.

Although recent changes by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) now allow individuals who have an international law degree or are a foreign qualified lawyer to complete the SQE without having to complete a conversion course, at Clifford Chance, we seek to provide individuals with the foundation knowledge to not only pass the SQE assessments but thrive during their Training Contract. With this in mind, we have continued to adopt the PGDL. Without completing a conversion course to gain an in depth understanding of the foundations of English law, we feel that individuals would be at a significant disadvantage as they begin their SQE and Training Contract. It is for these reasons that despite there being no regulatory requirement, we are continuing to fund the PGDL for all those who do not have an English law degree.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) is a law conversion course that provides a pathway for individuals without law degrees to learn the academic law necessary for a future career as a solicitor. The course covers the fundamentals of law including case law, legal analysis, and oral argument. It also provides an opportunity to focus on key skills and competencies which will be crucial for your future development as a lawyer.

You may study the PGDL at the provider of your choice; however, we would encourage you to consider completing this with University of Law as we may not be able to fully cover all course fees at other training providers. If you are completing or have completed the PGDL, it may be possible for us to contribute to the fees you have already incurred.

Anyone who has previously completed / passed the LPC is still eligible to apply for a Training Contract, however, you will still be required to complete the SQE. We will not be able to offer reimbursement of the LPC. If you have previously completed the LPC and would like to apply for a Training Contract, you will still be required to complete the SQE. The SQE will be funded and organised by Clifford Chance.

No. All students complete the SQE at the University of Law, Moorgate. You will study alongside your Training Contract cohort. We have partnered with the University of Law to deliver our bespoke, innovative and dynamic Clifford Chance LLM Legal Practice SQE1 and SQE2. It has been designed to not only rigorously prepare you for the academic aspects of the SQE but you can be confident that you will emerge with the fundamental skills and technical excellence required to meet the challenges of working as a lawyer at Clifford Chance.

For all successful Clifford Chance training contract applications, we will sponsor the SQE fees. In addition, all students will receive a maintenance grant to help cover the costs of rent, accommodation, relocation etc.

The SQE is the centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is split into 2 sections (SQE1 and SQE2). In SQE1 you will be tested on ‘functioning legal knowledge’ which tests your application of law based on realistic client-based scenarios in multiple choice questions. In SQE2 you will be tested on the practical legal skills required for practice.

The SQE is one year long.

You will be contacted by the Early Talent Development Team along with the guidance document to help you make your application. This is around 6 months before the SQE takes place.

The skilled worker visa can be issued 3 months before commencing your Training Contract.

A guidance document and certificate of sponsorship will be provided by the firm. Following receiving these documents, it is the sole responsibility of the future trainee to apply for the skilled worker visa.

Student visas will be sponsored by the University of Law and you will have an option to reimburse your student visa fees with Clifford Chance.