Main areas of work

Trainees and apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats to work with experts across our practice areas: banking and finance; competition; corporate; dispute resolution; projects, PRM (people, reward and mobility); real estate; tax; and TMT (technology, media and telecommunications). 

Work is also about more than just work here. It's about the environment too, and the feeling you get from your team, office and beyond. Our teams are focused on inclusion, giving back, and on looking forward with innovation.

Please note not every department is available in all of our offices, but all our teams work closely together. 

Vacation scheme

Deciding where to start your career is a big decision. Balance real work with training and networking on our scheme to see what your career at Dentons could look like. Our two-week scheme will give you, and us, an insight into whether we’re a good match. 

During the scheme you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in our practice areas, working with your supervisor, and collaborating closely with your team.

By attending our vacation scheme, you'll automatically be assessed for our trainee solicitor programme. This could be the start of something much bigger. 

Our schemes run in spring (London and Milton Keynes offices) and summer (Dublin, Scotland, and Middle East offices).  

Experience Dentons

Experience Dentons is our innovative virtual work experience program, designed to give you an insight into life as a commercial solicitor at the world’s largest law firm.

Experience Dentons starts by providing an introduction to law, the commercial world and to Dentons as a firm. Then, as you progress through the program, you will complete work related to each of our key practice areas, honing both your technical and commercial skills. By the end of Experience Dentons you will have completed a range of meaningful activities, gained insight to insider information from Dentons and will receive a certificate to help boost your LinkedIn profile and CV.

There is no application process or deadline, it is an open access programme, but candidates must be above the age of 16 years old to participate.

The programme contains five days' worth of tasks that can be completed at your own pace.

https://challengers.dentons.com/uk-apprentices/the-programme/experience-dentons/

Now to Next Scholarship

The Dentons Now to Next Scholarship is a national student scholarship scheme designed for students of Black, African or Caribbean heritage (including applicants of mixed-race with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage) who are commencing a degree in law.

It is designed to support underrepresented law students financially and provide opportunities to develop their interest in a career in law.

Our Now to Next scholars will be provided with a scholarship of £2,500 per annum during their three-year undergraduate England and Wales qualifying law degree. 

Alongside this financial support, scholars will be guaranteed a place on Dentons open days, gain access to mentoring, and regularly meet with our early careers team and trainees. They will develop their understanding of commercial law through various opportunities to build connections with legal professionals and insight events.

For more information please click here.

Dentons Next Talent

We host regular webinars and workshops through Dentons Next Talent, our talent network for aspiring future lawyers. 

We offer a unique opportunity to gain industry insights and enhance your legal knowledge. From understanding what commercial awareness to mastering the recruitment process, our webinars and workshops are your ticket to a successful application. 

You can register for Dentons Next Talent here and we will share with you regular updates on our events and opportunities. 

Join Dentons Next Talent by registering here.

Trainee solicitor programme

The business of law is changing, and we want you to be right there with it. The lawyers of the future start here.

Our trainee solicitor programme is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future. The business of law is changing, and we want you to be right there with it. To take us from largest to leading, we’re looking for our trainees to think big and see the future of law in a new way. Our two-year, four seat trainee solicitor programme is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future, now. Alongside market leading support and development, you’ll have the chance to put knowledge into action and start building your legal career from day one.

Ireland – our Dublin office 

At Dentons, we’re not just partaking in the legal market; we’re actively shaping it. With our global network spanning 80+ countries, we bring world-class legal expertise right here to Dublin.

Our Dublin office is more than just a workplace – it’s a space where ideas come to life. Since the office launch in 2020, we have introduced a fresh, innovative, and truly international presence to the Irish legal market. Our team is driven by innovation and creativity, always looking for new ways to serve our clients and disrupt traditional law practices. We offer an unrivalled opportunity to work on the most complex and significant domestic and cross-border matters. 

From day one, you’ll be given real responsibilities and opportunities to work with clients, you’ll be encouraged to think creatively, challenge norms and develop innovative solutions for our diverse clientele. At Dentons, ongoing training and development programmes are a staple, attracting some of the industry's most respected names and earning us the award for Dublin 'Law Firm of the Year'.

So, if you’re an ambitious candidate seeking more than just any career opportunity and you want to be part of shaping what’s next in global law, then step into the Dentons Dublin office.

Middle East 

The world’s largest law firm. That’s 12,500+ lawyers working across 200+ locations in over 80 countries. To call our team of challengers diverse would be an understatement. That said, we’re always looking for fresh perspectives and individuals with unique skill sets to contribute to our rich culture. After all, you can’t innovate, progress or shape the future without doing things a little bit differently.

Our size and distinction speaks volumes, especially in the Middle East. We’re the biggest of any international law firm, spanning the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. This means a breadth and depth of coverage, knowledge as well as the means to shape the local legal industry into something we’re all proud to be part of.

Our Middle East practice areas include:

• corporate and commercial
• banking and finance
• energy, transport and infrastructure
• construction and dispute resolution
• telecom, media and technology

Milton Keynes

If you're a challenger seeking a legal career in a city that balances a thriving professional environment with a high quality of life, Milton Keynes is the place for you. Our open-plan office fosters a collaborative atmosphere where innovation and teamwork are at the forefront of everything we do. Here, you'll have the chance to engage in stellar international work, tackling cross-border matters that will advance and expand your legal expertise.

Milton Keynes is not just a city; it's a community. Known for its forward-thinking design and ample green spaces, Milton Keynes offers an exceptional work-life balance. After a day of working on wide array of legal matters, you can unwind by exploring the picturesque countryside, or enjoy the diverse dining and entertainment options that the city has to offer. The office is home to several highly esteemed partners who are leaders in their fields, providing you with invaluable mentorship and the opportunity to learn from the best.

Choosing Milton Keynes means choosing a city that is on the rise – a place where your career can flourish without compromising your quality of life. For challengers looking to stay or relocate to a vibrant, growing city, Milton Keynes offers the perfect blend of professional opportunity and personal satisfaction.

“I chose to join the Dentons MK office as I wanted exposure to City clients without having to live the City lifestyle every day. I love that the MK office is only half an hour by train to London, which makes it easy to go into London when I need or want to. The open-plan office creates such a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Also, there are only two floors, so everyone knows everyone!" – Dentons trainee.

SQE

Dentons trainees in England and Wales will qualify through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route to qualification. This applies to those considering a trainee solicitor programme in London, Milton Keynes and Middle East.

We partner with BPP Law School to prepare our trainees for the SQE. BPP has a wide choice of geographical locations, and you are free to apply to any of these centres. Over 12 months, you will attend the BPP course LLM SQE1 & 2 and sit the centralised SRA SQE assessments. 

The two-year trainee solicitor programme with Dentons equates to the two-years full-time qualifying work experience (QWE) that the Solicitors Regulation Authority requires you to complete. There may be an opportunity to use six months previous relevant QWE to reduce the training solicitor programme to 18 months. This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Everyone on our programme will need to complete 18 months minimum, regardless of how much QWE they have already achieved. The programme will continue to include four seats alongside our bespoke development modules.

If you accept our offer for the London, Milton Keynes or Middle East trainee solicitor programme prior to starting your PGDL or SQE, we will pay your course fees in full and provide you with a maintenance grant to support you whilst your study with BPP. We are unable to reimburse fees for those who have already completed the PGDL, LPC or SQE before receiving an offer from us.

Our trainee journey will look slightly different for law and non-law students:

Qualifying law undergraduates 

Qualifying law degree > SQE1 > SQE2 > two-year trainee solicitor programme > qualification

Non-law undergraduates 

Non-law degree > PGDL > SQE1 > SQE2 > two-year trainee solicitor programme > qualification

Solicitor apprenticeship

University is not the right path for everyone, and that is perfectly fine. Our solicitor apprenticeship allows you to work towards your law degree while gaining practical experience on the job—without accumulating student debt or taking out large loans. It is an excellent opportunity to learn, earn and build your career.

This opportunity is intended for school leavers who have not yet started an undergraduate degree. The six-year programme aimed at school leavers combines eight seats of work-based learning and part-time study with BPP University.

While on our apprenticeship you’ll work four days a week in the office. Throughout the six years you will work in eight different practice areas (departments), so you can develop a wide range of skills and decide what you would like to specialise in.

During the apprenticeship you will also spend one day a week studying. You’ll take part in workshops and seminars and complete various assessments across the six years, all working towards completing your LLB law degree. You will also study for and pass your legal qualification exams, ‘the SQE’ (Solicitors Qualifying Examination). This will take place during the last two years of your solicitor apprenticeship.

Dentons is now in the ninth year of running our solicitor apprenticeship programme. We were pioneers as one of the first firms to introduce a programme, and to see our first solicitor apprentices qualify through the route in 2023. 

We are proud of our leading position, and have received legal sector recognition for our solicitor apprenticeship programme by being shortlisted for multiple awards in 2023/2024 including the Legal 500 ESG Awards, Women Influence and Power in Law Awards, ISE Awards, People in Law awards, and were awarded Excellence in Human Resource Innovation for the Legal Innovation Awards 2024. 

Key Facts

• six years
• one day per week study with BPP university
• No university fees
• four days per week work
• LLB law degree
• qualification as an England and Wales solicitor
• designed for school leavers who have yet to commence an undergraduate degree

Locations: London and Milton Keynes (September 2026 start)

For more information please visit https://challengers.dentons.com/uk-apprentices/the-programme/how-it-works/

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

At Dentons, inclusion, diversity and wellbeing are not just a core values – they are an integral part of our strategy. Building a more inclusive and diverse law firm is core to our strategy because it leads to better business outcomes for our clients, our communities and for Dentons.

We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion and wellbeing that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the firm.

Examples of our inclusion and wellbeing strategy include a focus on access initiatives, mentoring programmes, providing access to support, and a series of events and conversation focussed on wellbeing and inclusion.

Our inclusion networks also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include Accessibility (Disability), BPN (Black Professionals), Fusion (Asian Professionals), GLOW (LGBTQ+), Inspire (Gender Equality), and our Parents and Carers network.

Dentons will cover SQE course and exam fees for our future trainees. A maintenance grant is also paid.

• Banking & finance
• Competition
• Corporate
• Dispute resolution
• Projects
• Real estate
• People reward & mobility
• Technology, media & telecommunications
• Tax

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• Niche

• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• London
• Milton Keynes
• Dublin

• Dublin
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• London
• Milton Keynes

• Amicus
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Help for Heroes
• PILnet (Public Interest Law)
• PopLaw Clinic
• Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre
• The Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau
• Whitechapel Mission

• Black Professionals Network
• Inspire!
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• SEO London
• Stonewall