ACCESS
ACCESS is an award-winning development programme for Year 12 students who meet our social mobility eligibility criteria. Designed to widen access to careers in law, ACCESS helps create opportunities for talented students, regardless of their background.
For many years, access to legal work experience often depended more on who you knew than what you could achieve. We're committed to changing that by providing fair and inclusive access to meaningful work experience and development opportunities.
This pioneering two-year programme is built around ten pillars focused on your personal and professional growth. By the end of ACCESS, you'll be supported to develop a strong application for our SPARK programme, which could ultimately lead to a Training Contract interview with Clifford Chance.
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SPARK
SPARK is an immersive early careers programme that spans nine months, offering a unique insight into life as a trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance. The programme is open to first-year law students (three-year degree), second-year law students (four-year degree), and penultimate-year non-law students interested in a career in commercial law.
Combining in-person and virtual learning, SPARK is built around a series of dynamic development pillars designed to help you build commercial awareness, develop key skills, explore our business and connect with people from across the firm.
Successful completion of the programme may lead to an invitation to interview for a Clifford Chance Training Contract.
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The Challenge
Step into the role of a Clifford Chance trainee through an immersive insight experience designed to test your collaboration, adaptability and problem-solving skills. Work alongside other aspiring commercial lawyers, use AI-powered tools and experience the pace and complexity of global legal work first-hand. The Challenge gives penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students the opportunity to experience a training contract before you even have one, and standout performers could be fast-tracked to a Training Contract Assessment Day.
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Training Contract
A Training Contract at Clifford Chance is your launchpad into a career in commercial law. Over two years, you'll rotate through different global product groups, working alongside some of the world's leading lawyers on complex, high-profile matters for international clients.
As a trainee solicitor, you'll take on real responsibility from day one while developing the legal, commercial and professional skills needed to succeed. It's more than training, it's the opportunity to build your career with the support, experience and opportunities to help you thrive.
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There are specific attributes we look for in our Training Contract candidates, all of which are reflected in The Real Contract campaign. To learn more about these qualities, our assessment process and how we recruit future trainee solicitors, visit our How we hire page.
Events Hub
Our virtual and in-person events cover a wide range of topics, from application guidance and assessment process insights to career development and life at Clifford Chance. Designed to support you at every stage of the recruitment journey, these events provide valuable advice, practical tips and opportunities to learn more about our Early Talent programmes.
Global Virtual Internships
Our award-winning virtual work experience programmes provide in-depth resources to help you explore a career in commercial law. Gain first-hand insight into the work of a lawyer, develop your understanding of the legal profession, and access learning materials created by Clifford Chance experts.
FAQs
Have more questions about eligibility criteria, our recruitment process or what we offer? Make sure you check out our frequently asked questions page.
Middle East Opportunities
We offer Early Careers opportunities across our Middle East offices. Learn more about our Middle East Training Contract opportunities, application process and recruitment timelines below.
Please note that you cannot apply for both a London and a Middle East Training Contract in the same academic year.