• Our applications are open to all candidates from their penultimate year of a Law degree/Final Year of a non-Law degree onwards.. This includes graduates, career changers and international applicants.
• We require a 2.1 or equivalent in your undergraduate degree.  If you are still studying, we require you to be on track to achieve a 2.1.
• If you did not achieve this due to mitigating circumstances, there is a section on your application form where these can be noted.
• We have no minimum A-Level requirements. 

Please note that we do not have a direct training contract application process. Applications for a training contract with us are made solely through our vacation scheme.

Successful candidates are invited to take our online assessments. This blended assessment includes situational judgement, verbal and numerical reasoning. Our tests are potential based, so we don’t require any prior legal knowledge or work experience. These tests are untimed and include a range of scenarios you might encounter as a Trainee, which you will be asked to select a response to. Candidates, whether successful or not, will receive a feedback report after completing the assessments.

These assessments don’t have to be completed in one sitting, so you can save your progress and return later.

As part of our blended assessments, candidates will be invited to take part in an on-demand video interview. This will be based on the transferable skills required to be a Trainee, as well as your motivations for applying to the firm. 

You will be able to access this interview on your phone, tablet or on laptop or computer.

Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback at this stage, however we suggest you use a variety of sources to ensure you have researched the firm before answering these questions.

To ensure that you show us the best of you on the day, here are some things to think about as you prepare:

• What your strengths and skills are, and examples of times you have shown these.
• What you know about Reed Smith and why you want to work here
• What tasks Trainee Lawyers typically do, and how your transferable skills would help you undertake them.

Successful candidates will then be invited to our assessment centre.

You will be asked to participate in a case study exercise which will help us to understand your ability to comprehend information. This will involve reading through a set of materials within a set time frame, following which you will be asked questions on the materials.

Candidates will also take part in a group exercise.

Disability and long-term health conditions

A key aspect of our diversity and inclusion programme focuses on attracting and recruiting candidates with disabilities. We understand that being a disability-smart organisation is a facilitator for increased productivity and effectiveness. We want to emphasise that jobs for disabled candidates are both available and achievable at the top of the legal profession.

The recruitment process

We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you consider yourself to have a disability or a long-term health condition, please feel able to be open about this at any point during the recruitment process. If you are not sure what adjustments you require, we will work with you to establish the most suitable adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process. Please note that our online application form includes a section which allows you to advise us of any extenuating circumstances that are relevant for us to consider when reviewing your application form.

If you would like to talk to a member of the team in relation to any queries you may have on your disability or long-term health condition and the recruitment process, please contact Rebecca Schrod, who will be more than happy to help, and provide information on the adjustments that we can provide. Any information disclosed on your disability will remain strictly confidential.

• Email Rebecca Schrod to discuss via email, or arrange a time to speak on the phone.

Disability partners

We work closely with a number of disability specialist organisations such as My Plus Consulting.

We welcome comments on how to improve our website and recruitment process in terms of accessibility for candidates with disabilities. Please get in touch with us to let us know your comments.

For more information on our commitment to recruiting diverse talent, visit our Diversity & Inclusion page.

For more information on our commitment to recruiting disabled talent specifically, visit our profile on the My Plus Consulting website.