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Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

9 vacancies
18 trainees
27 partners
240 staff

A leading international firm with offices in New York, Washington, San Francisco, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Luxembourg.

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LCNLive virtual partner panel

At our LawCareersNetLIVE Virtual event on 5 and 6 December 2023, the panel of top law firm partners addressed the key issues affecting law firms in 2024. The session helped delegates understand how firms operate as businesses and the role they will play as trainees.

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Remember to cite LawCareers.Net on your application form if you apply to Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

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How to apply

Apply online between 7 September 2023 and midnight on 1 January 2024 for open days in 2024 which will give you the opportunity to secure a space on the firm's spring or summer vacation scheme in 2024. Successful candidates will begin their training contract in August 2026. An online application form will be available on the firm's website during these times. Anyone interested in a training contract with Debevoise should apply for a vacation scheme place.

What we are looking for

Students whose personal qualities, academic record and other achievements demonstrate exceptional ability, motivation and potential. Applicants will make a significant contribution to our firm and thrive in our unique culture. We look for an ability to listen actively, think creatively and interact successfully. We also look for maturity and leadership qualities.

Want to meet Debevoise & Plimpton and find out what it’s like to work at a commercial law firm? Apply now to LawCareersNetLIVE.

How to apply

www.debevoise.com

Applications to

Mr Alex Collyer

Method of application

Online Application Form

Method of assessment

  • Assessment centre
  • Partner interview
  • Presentation
  • Written exercise

Who we are

Debevoise & Plimpton is a leading international law firm with market-leading practices with offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. The London office works on many of the highest profile and most complex transactions in Europe and worldwide. We do this by virtue of our English and New York law expertise and our close integration with our other offices. Our clients look to us to bring a distinctively high degree of quality, intensity and creativity to resolve legal challenges effectively and cost efficiently. The firm’s culture fosters a collaborative approach across disciplines and regions, and, as a result, clients benefit from the dedication, cohesiveness and superior quality that we bring to all of our work worldwide. 

What we do

In developing our practice in London, we have sought to replicate the core strengths of our practice worldwide. Our focus is on private equity, insurance, international disputes and investigations, financial institutions, M&A, finance, capital markets and tax.

We offer three two-week placements throughout the spring and summer months. Candidates are eligible to apply if they are in their penultimate year of a law degree, final year of a non-law degree or beyond. Vacation scheme students will receive £500 per week. We recruit all of our future trainees from the vacation scheme.

One of Debevoise’s basic principles is that each of our associates should become ‘well rounded’ lawyer – an effective counsellor, advisor, and advocate – who can combine specific legal knowledge with the ability to deal with a broad range of situations. We believe that lawyers best develop their skills through a combination of formal training and on-the-job experience, in a respectful and collegial environment. The two years are split into four six-month seats and trainees have the opportunity to gain experience in at least three distinct areas of law with a mandatory seat in litigation/arbitration. Trainees may have the opportunity to spend time in the Hong Kong and Moscow offices. Also, second year trainees complete a three-week business and finance education program (mini-MBA) at Columbia Business School, New York. 

Our 2026 trainee cohort will complete the SQE. 

We partner with The University of Law for the SQE. Full tuition fees are paid, together with a maintenance grant of £15,000 per year.

  • Corporate
  • Litigation
  • Tax
  • Finance
  • Funds
  • Competition
  • Insurance
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Corporate & Commercial
  • General Practice

Practice Areas

Extra info

65 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NQ
Phone: 020 7786 9000
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.debevoise.com
Work placement: Yes
Number of vacation schemes: 45
Minimum qualification: 2:1
Start salary: £55,000
Fees paid for:
  • PGDL/GDL
  • LPC
  • SQE
Has client secondments: Yes
Client secondments:
  • Banks
  • Insurance companies
Has overseas secondments: Yes
Overseas secondments:
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Washington DC
  • San Francisco
  • London
  • Paris
  • Frankfurt
  • Hong Kong
  • Shanghai
  • Tokyo
  • Luxembourg
  • Aspire Foundation
  • Free Representation Unit
  • i-Probono
  • PILnet (Public Interest Law)
  • TrustLaw Connect
  • UnLtd
  • SEO London