Employer profile
Dentons
We are Dentons. The world’s largest law firm. With more than 20,000 people in 80+ countries around the world, we have unique breadth, depth and diversity. Alongside our award winning global work, we are committed to a culture of innovation, giving back and inclusion.
Dentons is designed to be different. The landscape we work in is changing at an accelerating pace. We embrace this change, and are looking for trainees and apprentices to join us in redefining what is possible and in shaping the future of law.
Your career at Dentons can shape up to be something extraordinary. It’s a place for those who are driven to challenge. To question. To break tradition. To put your career firmly into fast-forward. This could be the start of something big.
Main areas of work
Our 686 award wins in 2020 & 2021 highlight the quality of work our trainees and apprentices get involved in.
Trainees and apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats to work with experts across our practice areas: banking and finance, competition, corporate, dispute resolution, ETI (energy, transport and infrastructure), PRM (people, reward and mobility), real estate, tax and TMT (technology, media and telecommunications).
Work is also about more than just work here. It's about the environment too, and the feeling you get from your team, office and beyond. Our teams are focused on inclusion, giving back, and on looking forward with innovation.
Who should apply?
There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ trainee or apprentice at Dentons and that’s the way we like it. Our expertise within the Firm are as diverse as the needs of our global clients. What we have in common is the ability to contribute to our growing success.
We generally look for a strong performance at A-Level (ABB), but consider every application we receive in context and holistically. If you feel you can submit a strong application even if you do not meet these grades we encourage you to apply.
We also encourage you to include mitigating circumstances if relevant.
We have also implemented the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System, to give us additional context to every candidate’s application.
Training contract
The business of law is changing, and we want you to be right there with it. To take us from largest to leading, we're looking for our trainees to think big and see the future of law in a new way.
Our two year, four seat Training Contract is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future.
On top of our award winning trainee development program, our training contract includes three additional modules: legal project management, innovation and resilience.
Alongside seats in our practice groups, trainees have the opportunity to work in one of our global offices, or directly with one of our clients over a six-month secondment.
Our modernised training contract marks the first stage in your journey from lawyer to leader. The lawyers of the future start here.
Salary and benefits
- First-year salary: £45,000 (London), £31,000 (Milton Keynes), £25,000 (Scotland)
- Second year salary: £50,000 (London), £34,000 (Milton Keynes), £28,000 (Scotland)
- Qualification salary: £92,000 (London), £60,000 (Milton Keynes), £60,000 (Scotland)
Vacation scheme
Deciding where to start your career is a big decision. Balance real work with training and networking on our schemes to see what your career at Dentons could look like. Our two week scheme will give you, and us, an insight into whether we’re a good match.
In each week of the scheme you will experience a different practice area, working closely with a supervisor and buddy.
By attending our Vacation Scheme, you'll automatically be assessed for our Training Contract. This could be the start of something much bigger.
Our schemes run in Spring (London only) and Summer (all UK offices).
University isn’t for everyone. Don’t let anyone tell you it is. If you want to train to become a solicitor, you just need a spot on our Solicitor Apprenticeship scheme. You’ll start working towards your LLB university degree alongside your day job too. No student debt. No eye-watering loans. Just an opportunity to learn and build your career.
- Six years
- One day per week study with BPP university
- No university fees
- Four days per week work
- LLB law degree
- Qualification as an England & Wales solicitor
- London or Milton Keynes based
- Designed for school leavers who have yet to commence an undergraduate degree
The work
While on our apprenticeship you’ll work four days a week in the office.
Throughout the six years you will work in eight different practice areas (departments), so you can develop a wide range of skills and decide what you would like to specialise in after the apprenticeship ends.
You will spend six months to a year in each practice area, and have a different dedicated supervisor in each one. From the start you’ll be a key member of the team, and as the years progress you will take on more responsibility. You’ll also build a portfolio of skills throughout the program, which will play a part in achieving your degree and qualifying as a solicitor.
At the end of the 6 year program all our apprentices will be encouraged to apply to associate (qualified solicitor) positions with Dentons. We hope this will be the start of something big.
The study
You’ll spend one day a week (usually Mondays) studying with BPP University. You’ll take part in workshops and seminars and complete various assessments across the 6 years, all working towards completing your Law degree.
BPP make studying as accessible as possible, providing a large amount of the course as e-learning.
You can read the full curriculum on the BPP Website.
The application process
If you’re currently a year 13 student or a school leaver who isn’t going on to study a full time degree, we want to hear from you.
We’ll be looking out for applicants who demonstrate a global outlook, drive and ambition, commercial awareness, collaboration, innovation and enthusiasm.
The process incudes an online application form, and online assessment and an assessment centre. You can find out more about each step on our website.
Applications open in October 2022 and close 26 February 2023. We recruit on a rolling basis, so recommend you get your applications in as soon as you are ready to.
Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
At Dentons, inclusion and diversity is not just a core value – it is an integral part of our strategy. Building a more inclusive and diverse law firm is core to our strategy because it leads to better business outcomes for our clients, our communities and for Dentons.
We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the Firm.
Examples of our inclusion strategy include a focus on allyship program, access initiatives, mentoring programs, and a series of events and conversation focussed on equity and inclusion.
Our Affinity Groups also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include GLOW (LGBTQ+), Fusion (Asian Professionals), BPN (Black Professionals), Inspire (Gender Equality) and our Parents and Carers network.
Experience Dentons is our innovative virtual work experience program, designed to give you an insight into life as a commercial solicitor at the world’s largest law firm.
Experience Dentons starts by providing an introduction to law, the commercial world and to Dentons as a firm. Then, as you progress through the program, you will complete work related to each of our key practice areas, honing both your technical and commercial skills. By the end of Experience Dentons you will have completed a range of meaningful activities, gained insight to insider information from Dentons and will receive a certificate to help boost your LinkedIn profile and CV.
The Now to Next Scholarship is a national student scholarship scheme for students of Black, African or Caribbean heritage (including applicants of mixed-race with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage).
Each year, students across the UK will be provided with a scholarship of £2,500 per annum during their three year UK undergraduate law degree.
Alongside the financial support, scholars will be guaranteed a place on Dentons insight events, gain access to mentoring and regularly meet with our Early Careers team and trainees.
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