Travers Smith is a City firm with a major corporate and commercial practice. Although we are less than a quarter of the size of the dozen largest firms, we attract top quality work but still offer a professional yet relaxed working environment providing the best of both worlds. A high proportion of the firm's work has an international dimension - to service this, we have opened an office in France as well as developing close working relationships with independent law firms who share our high standards.

We offer a range of pro bono opportunities within individual departments and on a firm-wide basis. We also carry out commercial work for a number of UK charities.

The main areas of our practice are corporate law (including takeovers and mergers, financial services and regulatory laws), commercial law (which includes commercial contracts and intellectual property), litigation, corporate recovery/insolvency, tax, employment, EU/competition, pensions, banking and real estate.

GDL and LPC paid in full and maintenance grant provided (£7,000 in London and £6,500 outside).

Christmas scheme 2009: 7 - 18 December
Summer scheme 2010: 21 June, 5 July, 19 July
(Duration of all schemes: 2 weeks)

The firm has a comprehensive training programme which ensures that trainees experience a broad range of work. All trainee solicitors sit in rooms with partners and assistants, receive an individual and extensive training from experienced lawyers and enjoy client contact and the responsibility that goes with it from the beginning of their training contract.

During your two years' training you will gain six months' experience in each of the following: corporate, real estate or banking and litigation or employment. The firm tries to offer you a choice for your fourth 'seat' which can be spent in one of the remaining departments. In addition, there is always one trainee in the firm's Paris liaison office, which practises English law. The firm also operates an exchange programme for assistant solicitors with US and European law firms.