Vacation Schemes

United Kingdom Overview

Skadden’s training contracts are offered to students who participate in our vacation placement programme. Our vacation scheme programme provides students with a first-hand experience of working on global transactions with a diverse client base. It also provides insight into the working culture and atmosphere of Skadden. Each student is paired with an associate supervisor and trainee mentor who are tasked with identifying substantive work assignments.

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Program Overview

Our vacation scheme students spend their time in two different practice areas, allowing for greater exposure to our work. Students participate in a series of training workshops and insight sessions focused on current matters, which aids their professional development and provides a first-hand perspective from Skadden lawyers on the broad range of matters we handle.

Students also undertake group-based research task during the scheme based on a hypothetical business plan with an international focus.

Social events provide vacation students the opportunity to get to know fellow vacation students and Skadden attorneys on a less formal level.

Our two-week placements are offered over spring break and the summer months. We remunerate vacation scheme students £500 per week to assist with expenses. Undergraduate candidates need to have at least reached the penultimate year of their law degree or the final year of a non-law degree.

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We look for a record of outstanding academic achievements, including a minimum of a 2:1 at degree level or equivalent and a keen interest in corporate law and/or litigation and international arbitration.

The application window opens on 1 September 2023. The deadline for applications is 10 December 2023.

The dates of our 2024 vacation schemes are:
- 8 April to 19 April
- 17 June to 28 June
- 1 July to 12 July

Click here for an online application.

Please note that most of our correspondence will be via the email address you provide in your application. You should have regular access to this email account or log into your Skadden application form with your username and password to receive any correspondence.

Once you have submitted your application, you will get an acknowledgement that we have received it. Shortly after the closing date for new applications, we will inform you whether you have been selected for a telephone interview. Assessment days will follow the telephone interviews and consist of a panel interview, a case-study exercise and a group exercise.

If you would like to be kept updated with information about the graduate events the London office will be hosting in this autumn, please email graduate.recruitment.uk@skadden.com.

Should you require adjustments with regard to any part of our application process, please contact Mathieu Pinto Cardoso, Graduate Recruitment & Trainee Solicitor Development Manager, via email: mathieu.pintocardoso@skadden.com.