London Careers

How do I apply for a Traditional Vacation scheme or a LevFin Track Training Contract, or just a Traditional Training Contract?

Please complete an online application form here: London Careers

The deadlines for applications are:

• Spring, Summer & LevFin Track: 31 December
• Open Day: 9 December

What are the dates of your vacation schemes?

Spring vacation scheme: Monday 18th to Friday 24th March 2025.

Summer vacation scheme: Monday 23rd June to Friday 4th July 2025.

We offer places on both schemes to penultimate year Law undergraduates, all final year undergraduates (both law and non-law), all graduates, post-graduates and career changers.

How much will I be paid for the vacation scheme?

We pay £550 per week.

What are your academic criteria?

Our recruits have exceptional academic grades. We consider candidates who have graduated with a 2.1 or first. We recognise mitigating circumstances and take a case-by-case basis approach for each candidate.

I have missed the deadline for the vacation scheme. Can I still apply for a Training Contract this year?

We do not consider applications submitted beyond the deadline. Our application link will close and we do not accept direct applications via email. If you are unable to submit an application via our AllHires system please contact the graduate recruitment team prior to the deadline advertised.

I require adjustments due to disability, can you accommodate these?

We will make reasonable adjustments to a candidate’s individual requirements. Please contact us to discuss in confidence.

Can I apply directly for a Training Contract or a LevFin Track Training Contract?

We do not accept direct Training Contract applications. The best way for you to decide if Milbank is the right firm for you is to complete a vacation scheme. All applicants will attend either a spring or summer vacation scheme. Before applying, you will be prompted to specify if you are interested in the traditional vacation scheme, the LevFin Track TC only or both.

I submitted my application form but I have not heard from you. Have I been unsuccessful?

We will contact all applicants with an acknowledgement email and next steps after the deadline. We do not recruit on a rolling basis, but if you have any follow-up questions, please contact our recruitment team.

Will you cover my costs incurred to attend assessment centres?

We reimburse reasonable travel expenses if you are invited to attend the Open Days and Assessment Centres. These are capped at £100.

What do I do if I am unsuccessful during the application process? Can I apply next year?

If you are unsuccessful, you will not be able to reapply during the same application period as we do not hire on a rolling basis and the window will therefore be closed. However you can reapply the following year, if you feel you have considerable additional achievements that might help your application be successful on the second round.

I would like to study for a postgraduate qualification or masters degree such as an LLM or the New York Bar. Will this give me an advantage for my application?

Choosing to study for a postgraduate course is a personal choice and we encourage you to pursue your academic goals and interests. However it does not give you a strategic advantage over other applicants who have not done so. Undertaking a postgraduate course and achieving a high grade will not mitigate for falling below our criteria for Vacation Scheme applications and ultimately for securing a Training Contract.

Do you pay a maintenance grant?

Yes, we will cover your law school tuition fees and we pay future trainees a £20,000 maintenance grant to undertake the SQE full time at our preferred provider University of Law.

Do you provide sponsorship for the SQE?

Yes. In addition to the above maintenance grant you will study for the SQE at The University of Law as part of the future Milbank trainee cohort which includes various connection points both with the law school and the firm during the SQE (mentoring/regular catch-ups with our Recruitment and Professional Development Team).

I have already completed the GDL/LPC/SQE – will you reimburse me for the tuition fees and pay the maintenance grant retrospectively?

We will pay law school fees to future trainees who are offered a Training Contract and accept the offer before commencing the SQE or have commenced the SQE in the same academic year as our hiring year. We do not pay maintenance grant fees retrospectively.

Will I have any contact with the firm between accepting my offer and starting a Training Contract?

You will have regular contact with the firm through one-to-one catch ups, progress updates, firm updates and invitations to social events. We encourage you to contact us anytime if there is something you want to discuss.

How many trainees do you take on?

We aim to hire 12 trainees per year.

How many trainee intakes do you have?

One. Our trainee intakes commence Training Contracts in September every year.

What is the starting salary for trainees?

We pay first-year trainees £65,000 and second-year trainees £70,000.

Can I choose which seats to rotate through during my Training Contract?

You will spend 12-18 months sitting in a LevFin seat, followed by at least one seat in another practice area with your goal to qualify into the LevFin group. 

We operate a four seat, six month, rotational system. We have seats available in many different specialisations across the London office practice groups. We will ask you for your preferences at mid-seat reviews as we plan ahead for seat rotations. We do our best to accommodate your preferences in order to tailor your Training Contract to your overall career goals. The business needs of the firm will take priority during the rotation planning however we collaborate with our Trainees as closely as possible to meet their preferences.

LevFin Track TC:

• You will spend 12-18 months sitting in a LevFin seat, followed by at least one seat in another practice area with your goal to qualify into the LevFin group.

What secondment opportunities are available?

We currently do not offer an international seat however once you have qualified we have an option of secondments available and prior trainees have had the chance to complete secondments post-qualification to New York, Germany and Singapore. Client secondments are based on current business needs of the firm.

Can I get involved in pro bono as a Trainee at Milbank?

Yes! Trainees are encouraged to do pro bono work and we encourage you to commit at least 20 hours a year. Pro bono matters will help to develop and enhance your skills as a trainee solicitor through a broad spectrum of tasks.

Will I be made an offer to qualify after my Training Contract expires?

We aim to hire all trainees upon completion of your Training Contract.

I have heard that Milbank has close relationship with Harvard Law School. How will that impact on my training as lawyer once I have qualified?

Four years after your qualification, you will have the opportunity to join your class peers from around the world and gather in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for our exclusive Milbank@Harvard programme. Our programme offers a comprehensive curriculum across three modules taking place from fourth year through to sixth year Post Qualified Experience (PQE). You will develop your professional skills across an array of legal and business areas including, and not limited to, leadership, negotiations, macroeconomics, corporate strategy, accounting, marketing and finance.

I am interested in the LevFin Track TC pathway, but I am not 100% sure at this early stage if I want to be a LevFin lawyer. Can I still apply?

All vacation scheme applicants will apply for the same vacation scheme. Our schemes take place in spring and summer. For candidates interested in LevFin, we will tailor your vacation scheme experience to provide a deeper insight to the LevFin team in London and its wider practice group across the firm. You will be expected to commit to the LevFin Track TC pathway during the interview process for a Training Contract. This will take place towards the end of your vacation scheme experience.