Training contract numbers remain stable, new research reveals
updated on 07 November 2025
Reading time: two minutes
Training contract numbers at UK leading law firms remain above pre-pandemic levels, despite recent dips and broader fears of a so-called “graduate jobpocalypse”, according to new research from Legal Cheek.
The research tracked eight years of data from 67 City law firms and revealed that, while training contract numbers have fluctuated over the years, the past two years have seen a modest correction.
Data shows that training contract numbers have dipped in the current 2026 cycle, falling to 2,093. This marks an 8% drop from the highest point recorded in recent years – a peak of 2,267 in 2024. Despite the decline, figures remain above pre-covid levels. In addition, the fall in training contract numbers seen in 2026 (2.88%) was slightly smaller than the drop seen in 2025 (4.94%).
The 2024 peak followed a sharp increase between 2022 and 2023, where figures rose by nearly 8% (from 2,077 to 2,235). This surge was linked to firms expanding their teams in response to strong deal flow, driven by a buoyant transactional market. Overall, the total number of training contracts rose by 16% between 2019 and 2024.
The report suggested several factors behind the slowdown from the 2024 peak. Economic uncertainty, reduced deal flow and AI were cited as some of the potential reasons – a trend seen across different professional services.
The rise of solicitor apprenticeships is also said to be a potential factor influencing graduate recruitment. Legal Cheek’s Solicitor Apprenticeship Most List indicates that 194 apprenticeship places are on offer across 41 firms, providing an alternative qualification route and potentially reducing training contract intake. In addition, the findings exclude several leading US law firms, such as Paul Weiss, that have launched training contracts in recent years.
Visit LCN’s Apprenticeships hub to find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer.
US firms have generally maintained or expanded their trainee cohorts, with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Ropes & Gray International LLP doubling their training contract numbers since 2019. By contrast, magic circle firms have held steady or slightly reduced intake, with Linklaters LLP averaging around 100 training contracts annually and Clifford Chance ranging between 95 and 110.
