Register Your Interest - Discover Vacation Scheme

Register Your Interest - Discover Vacation Scheme

Locations: Birmingham · Edinburgh · Leeds · London · Manchester

Date: Spring 2026

Application Opens: December 2025

Overview

The Discover Vacation Placement & Mentoring Programme at Shoosmiths is a paid, in-person week of work experience designed to support high-achieving applicants from under-represented groups in the legal profession. It combines real responsibility, exposure to legal work, mentoring, and insight into what life is like as a trainee solicitor. By applying for Discover, you’ll also be automatically considered for a training contract—no separate application needed.

What you’ll experience

• A professional mentor matched to you before the placement and supporting you throughout, including future assessment stages.
• One week in the shoes of a trainee solicitor: working on case files, attending meetings, being part of teams, and contributing practically.
• A business development project to showcase your creativity and commercial awareness.
• Opportunities to network with lawyers, trainees, and colleagues; learn about the culture and values of Shoosmiths.

Who can apply

• You are an aspiring solicitor in England or Scotland.
• You are in the penultimate year of a law undergraduate degree; or final year law or non-law undergraduate; or you are studying via GDL / LPC / SQE; or you’re a graduate or career-changer.
• You have not yet accepted a training contract with any legal team or firm.
• You are eligible to work in the UK.

You should also belong to at least one under-represented group (for example, being from a minority ethnic background, LGBTQ+, disabled or neurodivergent, socially mobile, etc.).

What happens next

Register your interest now to get early alerts when applications open.