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.

Vacation scheme

Deciding where to start your career is a big decision. Balance real work with training and networking on our schemes 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. 

In each week of the scheme you will experience a different practice area, working closely with a supervisor, buddy and 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, Central Belt, 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

If you are a student or graduate ready to challenge the conventional then Dentons. Next Talent, our talent network, is designed for ambitious aspiring future lawyers like you, ready to disrupt the legal scene.

As part of our community, you’ll gain exclusive access to events at Dentons. You’ll be the first to know about these exciting events, giving you a competitive edge in your career journey. We host regular webinars and workshops led by the Dentons early careers team and legal professionals across the firm, offering a unique opportunity to gain industry insights and enhance your legal knowledge.

These interactive sessions are designed to challenge your thinking, stimulate your curiosity, and equip you with the skills needed to be a game-changer in the legal field. From understanding what innovation really means to a law firm, to mastering the recruitment process, our webinars and workshops are your ticket to a successful legal career.

By attending these events, you’ll be part of a network of future lawyers, where you can exchange ideas, share insights, and learn from our legal professionals on the perspective and skills that push the boundaries of commercial law and underpin what makes the successful commercial lawyer of the future. 

You’ll also be alerted when we open recruitment for our open days, vacation schemes and trainee solicitor programmes so you won’t miss out when it comes to application season.

Join Dentons Next Talent by registering here.

Training contract

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 trainee solicitor programme is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future. On top of our award-winning development programme, we have included three additional modules that you will be required to complete throughout your time with us: legal project management, innovation and resilience. All designed to help you become the lawyer of the future.

Our modernised programme marks the first stage in your journey from lawyer to leader. The lawyers of the future start here.

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, Lebanon and Egypt. 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

The Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE) is a new route to qualification which replaces the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and the Professional Skills Course (PSC). Anyone wanting to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales will need to complete the SQE. 

This new regime opens new pathways to qualification, which all include completing an undergraduate degree, passing two sets of exams (SQE1 and 2) and completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).

Dentons will cover the SQE course and exam fees for our future trainees. The SQE will apply to all our London, Milton Keynes and Middle East trainees starting from August 2024 onwards. Our Scottish trainees will continue to complete the Diploma, and our Dublin trainees will be required to complete the PPC course.

Our training contract in England will last for two years. There may be an opportunity to use six months previous relevant QWE to reduce the training contract to 18 months. This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.

Everyone on our training contract will need to complete 18 months minimum, regardless of how much QWE they have already achieved. The training contract will continue to include four seats alongside our bespoke development modules. 

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

Skip the burdensome loans and uncertainty that often accompany full-time university degrees. If your dream is to become a solicitor, Dentons offers a clear and financially sound alternative – our solicitor apprenticeship programme.

You won’t accumulate eye-watering debt. Our apprenticeship programme allows you to train for your future career without the financial stress. As a Dentons apprentice, you’ll start working towards your LLB university degree alongside your day job. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and earn simultaneously.

The six-year programme aimed at school leavers combines eight seats of work-based learning and part-time study with BPP University.

Dentons is now in the eighth 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 constant development in this space, 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 & 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 2025 start)

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

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

At Dentons, inclusion and diversity is not just a core value – it is 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 that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the firm.

Examples of our inclusion strategy include a focus on allyship program, access initiatives, mentoring programs, and a series of events and conversation focussed on equity and inclusion.

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

• 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