United Kingdom

Skadden’s London office advises on M&A, capital markets, private equity, banking and finance, corporate restructuring, investment management, tax, insurance, government enforcement and white collar crime, international litigation and arbitration, EU competition, financial regulatory, employment, and IP, IT, data protection and cybersecurity.

The firm offers a fully integrated U.K., European and U.S. practice operating from our London base and composed of some of London’s top-ranked lawyers.

Learn more about our capabilities in our London office.

Explore Opportunities

At Skadden, you will have the opportunity to carve your path. Our attorneys work on the world’s most complex matters — the types of deals and cases that make headlines, move markets and shape the law. Known for our innovative approach, we work together as a team to deliver the highest-quality advice and best outcomes for our clients.

Our Summer Associate Program — one of the most comprehensive available — is a direct pathway to a career at Skadden. As a summer associate, you will learn firsthand about our extensive range of practices and have access to a wide array of resources to support your professional growth.

The Summer Associate Program — geared towards students in three-year J.D. programs in the United States who will be admitted to practice law in the United States. Students have the opportunity to experience corporate, capital markets, and white collar crime work while undertaking a placement in London. However, we do not offer experience in litigation or international Arbitration to summer associates.

Program Overview

As a summer associate at Skadden, you will gain an inside view of what it is like to practice at the firm. Highlights include:

Substantive, Hands-On Work Experience: Summer associates at Skadden gain experience comparable to that of our junior associates, including attending client meetings, traveling to client locations and assisting senior attorneys on matters. For corporate projects, summer associates can expect exposure to drafting and negotiation sessions. Nearly all of our summer associates also work on pro bono matters.

Personalized Mentorship: To ensure personalized attention and support, summer associates are paired with mentors. You will receive informal feedback on your everyday work, as well as formal feedback during mid-summer and exit meetings. Summer associates also have the opportunity to complete self-assessments.

Extensive Training: From the moment you join Skadden, we are committed to promoting your growth and career advancement. The training received during the summer lays the foundation for Skadden’s professional development efforts.

Opportunities to Build Connections: We hold numerous social events to help you become acquainted with your fellow summer associates and attorneys at the firm. In addition, in some offices, summer associates share office space with practicing lawyers, which offers additional opportunities to meet colleagues and also fosters professional development.

A Global Platform: Our attorneys work across 21 interconnected offices around the world. Given our global platform, we typically accommodate requests for splitting summers between two offices.

Salary: The annual salary for this position is expected to be $225,000. Summer associates are paid on a semi-monthly basis during employment. Visit Associate Salary Information for compensation details.

Our 2027 1L and 2028 2L applications will open Monday, November 2. Please check back at that time for Summer Associate

About Skadden
Skadden London Overview

FAQ

Candidates are required to submit their resume and undergraduate transcript, as well as provide their fall 2026 grades as a supplement once available. To help us learn more about candidates, we ask those applying to our London and U.S. offices to complete a brief online assessment, administered by Suited, to see how your goals and values align with ours.

Our process typically begins with a virtual screening interview, where students meet with one or more attorneys to discuss their experiences, interests and goals. Candidates who advance beyond this stage are invited to participate in full-round interviews with partners and associates from practice areas that align with their interests. Students will have additional opportunities to connect with former summer associates to learn more about the program and the firm experience. Each office has its own hiring committee, which meets regularly to evaluate candidates and make decisions.

We encourage students to share any specific questions or topics of interest before or during their interviews so we can tailor their meetings accordingly. Candidates who receive offers are also welcome to schedule follow-up conversations with additional attorneys to discuss any remaining questions.

Yes. Students may apply to multiple Skadden offices for summer associate positions. Opportunities for 2L students to split their summer between two Skadden offices are considered on a case-by-case basis.

No. We value having a class comprised of law students from across the country and actively recruit from more than 40 law schools.

While Skadden’s new associate class primarily consists of its prior summer associates, we recruit third-year law students and LL.M. students for post-graduate employment for specific practice areas. Students may register to interview through their schools’ career services office if we are participating in one of their interview programs, or online applications may be submitted directly to us.

Contact Us

Contact a recruiter if you have a question about the application process or if you are interested in learning more about a specific opportunity. 

All Recruiting Contacts

London

Mathieu Pinto Cardoso
Senior Manager, Graduate Recruitment and Trainee Solicitor Development
mathieu.pintocardoso@skadden.com
T:44.20.7519.7424

22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ, England

London

Nicola Kerley
Senior Manager, Attorney Recruiting
nicola.kerley@skadden.com
T:44.20.7519.7467

22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ, England