Uniquely You at Ashurst Perkins Coie
What better way to experience working life in a global law firm than attending our Summer Vacation Scheme?
You will step into the shoes of a trainee at Ashurst Perkins Coie, while spending time getting to know our practice groups over the course of three weeks. This opportunity allows you to learn more about the work we do, the clients we work with and, most importantly, you get to experience Ashurst Perkins Coie’s culture.
Our scheme will build your skills and knowledge, and you will find no two days will be the same. A core part of our Summer Vacation Scheme is the opportunity to rotate through two different practice groups to build your experience in different areas of law.
What we can offer you
Guaranteed Training Contract interview
We guarantee all Summer Vacation Scheme participants the opportunity to interview for a Training Contract with two of our partners at the end of your scheme.
Supportive environment
You will be allocated work and be supervised by one of qualified lawyers, who will provide you with stimulating on-the-job tasks. We will also match you with a mentor who can support you and offer guidance.
Learning and development
Through our induction sessions, practical workshops, team-building events and networking opportunities, you will develop and hone the key skills needed to be a successful trainee.
Benefits
You will be paid £650 per week.
SMART Commitment
Ashurst Perkins Coie is a partner of the Aspiring Solicitors' Social Mobility and Real Talent (SMART) Commitment initiative. The program provides confidential funding for eligible candidates from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds to cover business attire and accommodation costs during Ashurst Perkins Coie's Summer Vacation Scheme. Participation is confidential and anonymous. Details on applying for support are given to successful Summer Vacation Scheme candidates.
The recruitment process
Applications are open to finalists and graduates of all degree disciplines, as well as penultimate-year law students. To qualify, you should be on track to achieve a 2.1 in your undergraduate degree.
If you haven't met this criterion and there are mitigating circumstances, there will be an opportunity for you to provide us with this information on your application.
Our online application form allows you to showcase your talent, your passion for the industry and your knowledge of our firm. You will have the opportunity to share your insights into the legal industry and more details about yourself.
Note:
You cannot apply for both a vacation scheme and a training contract in the same recruitment window. We would ask that you only apply for one opportunity during the recruitment window. If you complete a vacation scheme with us, you will be interviewed for a training contract at the end of the scheme.
After the application closing date, we will ask you to complete an online assessment. The assessment measures a range of critical reasoning and behavioral strengths that align to a trainee role at Ashurst Perkins Coie. The assessment has been designed to give you a realistic preview into life at Ashurst Perkins Coie and the types of scenarios you might experience as a trainee.
While we recommend completing the online assessment in one sitting, it is untimed so you can complete it at your own pace. It will take around 60 minutes to complete, and you will have seven days to complete the test once from the time you receive the link. Once completed, you’ll be sent an individual feedback report outlining your key strengths and development areas.
You can learn about the types of questions you may be asked in the assessment here.
Please note that if you do not complete the test within the specified time, we will be unable to progress your application.
If you meet the requirements of the online tests and application, you may be invited to book a place at an online assessment center. You will complete a written case study facilitated by a member of the Early Careers team. This exercise is designed to evaluate your analytical and problem-solving skills.
The telephone interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your skills and understanding of a career in commercial law.
If you reach the benchmark at the assessment center, you will be invited to the final stage, which involves attending an in-person assessment day at our office. During this stage, you will meet current trainees for a Q&A session and take part in a guided tour of the office to learn more about Ashurst Perkins Coie. The process includes a group exercise to assess your teamwork, collaboration, and further analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team.
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 that 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 get in touch. Any information disclosed on your disability will remain strictly confidential.
Key dates
Applications for our Summer Vacation Scheme 2026 has now closed. Applications for our Summer Vacation Scheme programme 2027 will open in September 2026.
Events
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Come and meet us!
Read moreCome and meet us!
Legal Cheek | Why non-law students make great Lawyers (Virtual event)
2 June 2026 | 4pm – 6pm | How to RegisterForage - read two of our future trainees' experience of Ashurst Perkins Coie's virtual work experience
Commercial Awareness and Legal Tech - Saba Nasrolahi
"Commercial Awareness needs to be grown organically so that you are able to use it practically and genuinely"
Read more
Trainee Insights by Kelsey Reid-Jones
Kelsey discusses her journey to Ashurst Perkins Coie and life as a member of the Global Loans team.
Read moreTestimonials
"I would encourage every applicant to consider attending the Summer Vacation Scheme. There is no substitute for sitting in the practice areas and working side by side with our lawyers for those with aspirations of becoming a solicitor. There is a wealth of knowledge to be had; from the everyday cultural experience of working at Ashurst Perkins Coie to an appreciation of how our lawyers service clients in each practice area or industry."
Rory, 2022
"The thing that attracted me most was the firm's culture and people. I was also attracted by the importance the firm puts on corporate social responsibility, especially through its pro bono scheme since that was something incredibly meaningful to me in a future employer. Everyone I'd encountered at the firm at that point had been so welcoming, warm, and accommodating and I felt like I wanted a greater insight into what it would be like to work there. There seemed to me to be a culture of uplifting and encouraging other people, and I definitely found that to be true during the vacation scheme."
Dite, 2022
Applicant Resource Hub
For answers to all of your FAQs and information on application and interview tips, the benefits we provide, life at Ashurst Perkins Coie, our L&D programs and our commitments to diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
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Diversity, Inclusion & Opportunity
We have deep and enduring commitments to diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
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If you can’t find answers to your questions on this page or on the Applicant Resource Hub then please contact our Early Careers team.
Agencies
Agency submissions and candidate introductions will only be accepted with prior approval from a member of the Ashurst Perkins Coie Talent Acquisition team. To submit or introduce a candidate, an agency must have valid agreed terms of business in place with Ashurst Perkins Coie. Any agency submissions or candidate introductions made without prior approval or without the agreed terms of business in place will be considered invalid.
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