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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

8 vacancies
13 trainees
49 partners
257 staff

Entrepreneurial spirit. Innovative solutions. Akin Gump provides commercial legal solutions for high-profile cases. Our work is always fast-paced and often precedent-setting.

Remember to cite LawCareers.Net on your application form if you apply to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

More info

Applicants should have a strong and consistent academic record and be on track for, or have obtained, a 2.1 degree at minimum.

You will need to demonstrate that you are solution-driven and interested in business law.

Successful candidates take an online critical thinking assessment to be considered for a further assessment/ interview with our graduate recruitment panel. Our interview style is a conversational and open process that provides insight into the work and culture at the firm.

Our online application form can be found on the UK students page of our website.


Applications to

Miss Amy McCarthy

Method of application

Online Application Form

Method of assessment

  • Panel interview
  • Psychometric testing
  • Written exercise

Akin Gump provides commercial legal solutions for high-profile cases. Our work is always fast-paced and often precedent-setting.

Akin Gump’s London office is the main hub for the firm’s international offices. It is an integrated office practising at the top of its markets. The firm’s strategy in London has been to grow practices that complement core strengths of the firm. The firm has 18 offices worldwide and clients range from corporations and financial institutions to foreign governments and individuals.

The firm's market leading practices include: financial restructuring, corporate and equity capital markets, private equity, debt finance, project finance, energy, litigation and international arbitration, financial services regulatory, investment funds, international trade, EU competition and tax.

An important part of Akin Gump’s culture is its commitment to pro bono. Trainees are encouraged to take part and are represented on local and firm-wide pro bono committees, including a unique scholarship programme. The firm has an inclusive working culture and actively supports a broad diversity strategy for its continued success.

Our teams are supportive, friendly and work collaboratively which allows for multiple opportunities for you to get to know everyone. There is a high level of partner involvement and trainees will learn through first-hand experience working side by side with our lawyers on commercial matters within interesting multi-discipline practice areas and by attaining early responsibility.

Akin Gump’s two-week summer vacation scheme provides an excellent opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of the day-to-day work of trainees in an international law firm. Through training sessions, mentoring and social activities, you will get to know our firm. Through working side by side with partners and associates on live deals, you will get to know our practices and clients.

We welcome applications from law students in their penultimate year of study, non-law students in their final year and graduates looking to commence a training path in two years’ time. Participants are offered a training contract interview at the end of the programme.

By focusing on a smaller intake we maintain flexibility and seek to grow through our junior lawyer retention. You will have the choice of sitting within the financial restructuring, corporate/M&A/energy, finance, financial regulatory, funds/investment management, disputes, international trade/EU competition or tax practice areas. Seats can be tailored to three or six month durations across the two year training programme to provide a breadth of experience.

With the introduction of the SQE, Akin Gump will continue to provide an immersive, hands-on training experience. Our 2024 intake will be the first to have completed the SQE route to undertake two years of qualifying work experience. We have partnered with The University of Law to provide an exceptional legal education and training programme, and will continue to provide financial assistance for these studies to those joining the firm. Applications from an LPC study route can still be given due consideration.

Akin Gump works with The University of Law, which is the firm’s legal education provider, to finalise arrangements for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. Successful applicants will be required to complete a programme of further study as directed by the firm to equip them with essential skills prior to starting our training programme. These studies will be funded by the firm and we will continue to provide a maintenance grant of £15,000 per year of study to our future trainees.

  • Corporate/M&A
  • Disputes
  • International trade
  • EU/UK competition
  • Finance
  • Financial services regulatory
  • Investment management
  • Financial restructuring
  • Energy
  • Tax
  • Corporate & Commercial

Practice Areas

Extra info

Ten Bishops Square, Eighth Floor, London, E1 6EG
Phone: 020 7012 9600
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.akingump.com
Work placement: Yes
Number of work placements: 12
Minimum qualification: 2.1
Start salary: £57,500
Fees paid for:
  • CPE/GDL
  • LPC
  • SQE
Training contract applications: 400 (2022)
Retention rate: 86% (2022)
Partner diversity:
  • 70.2% male (2021)
  • 29.8% female
Lawyer diversity:
  • 46.8% male (2021)
  • 53.2% female
Has client secondments: Yes
Client secondments:
  • Banks
Has overseas secondments: Yes
Overseas secondments:
  • ad-hoc
  • Dubai
  • Hong Kong
  • London
  • City Year
  • Hackney Community Law Centre
  • Inspiring the Future
  • Islington Law Centre
  • Lawyers Without Borders
  • Migrants Resource Centre
  • Reprieve
  • #10000BlackInterns
  • Aspiring Solicitors
  • Bright Network
  • Cityyear
  • Mindful Business Charter
  • Social Mobility Foundation
  • Stonewall