Gowling WLG is a sector-focused international law firm. With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 20 cities worldwide, we provide our clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. Our clients have access to in-depth expertise and experience in key global sectors, including advanced manufacturing, energy, financial services, infrastructure, life sciences, natural resources, real estate and tech. We pair this specific industry knowledge with renowned service area expertise to meet each client's unique needs. We see the world through our clients’ eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances. Our culture is, above all, about people and teams, based on our belief in the power of relationships in delivering tangible business results.

Learn more at gowlingwlg.com

A vacation scheme is the perfect opportunity to get to know us and find out whether we're the right firm for you.

We offer a spring vacation scheme in our Birmingham office, for students in their penultimate year of a law degree, final year of a non-law degree, or graduates of any kind.

You’ll experience life at an international law firm first-hand, meet our people and clients, and gain an insight into our work and culture. One of our current trainees will help you settle in and is on hand to answer any queries you may have. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor who will ensure you receive quality work, support and constructive feedback. There will also be plenty of social events to help you network and build up professional relationships (while enjoying yourself too, of course).
 
We're optimistic and excited about the future, so we invest in our business to achieve our ambitions. This applies to our trainees too. We need people with a sharp mind and entrepreneurial spirit, who generate fresh ideas, make new connections and do things that have never been done before.

If you relish the chance to be involved in making change happen, you're who we're looking for.

Please note, candidates who are successful in obtaining a vacation scheme will be assessed for a training contract position at the end of the scheme.

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success.

Treated as a lawyer from day one, you’ll enjoy early responsibility, international opportunities and exposure to big-ticket work as you learn from legal experts across the globe. Our training contracts consist of four six-month seats and we’ll get you started with a full and comprehensive induction, designed to help you settle into life here.

Choosing from our broad-ranging practice areas, your programme will typically include a contentious seat, a non-contentious seat, a real estate seat and an optional seat (which could be an international secondment or working for a client). You’ll get involved in interesting casework for an exceptional scope of clients, enjoying top tier training in a high performing, hugely encouraging culture.

It’ll be a continuous learning journey with one-to-one guidance from a partner mentor, a dedicated supervisor, the graduate recruitment team and, of course, the strong support network of legal experts all around you.

Prior to your training contract, we'll sponsor you to complete the Postgraduate Diploma (law conversion course) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and 2), as applicable at The University of Law. Our grant provision covers your course fees, in addition to a maintenance grant offered per course, which is £7,000 if you study in London and £5,500 if you study in Birmingham.

Gowling WLG is a proud pioneer in the legal apprenticeship space, and whether you are a sixth-form leaver or looking for a different pathway into law, we welcome all individuals from diverse backgrounds with limited legal experience. Our two-year paralegal apprenticeship (Level 4) programme is designed to provide you with an introduction to a legal career and enables you to earn while you learn from market leaders in the field. During your apprenticeship, you'll begin to study your law degree (LLB). After successfully completing the paralegal apprenticeship, you'll have the opportunity to advance to the solicitor apprenticeship. Here, you'll continue your law degree and work towards the Solicitors Qualifying Exam over four and a half years. Upon completion, you'll be able to qualify as an associate. Apprentices work hard for our business and you will be rewarded with exposure to a wealth of development opportunities that ensure you are best prepared to provide solutions for our clients, as well as achieve your personal professional goals.

At Gowling WLG, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) sit at the core of our culture and strategy, embedded in our Inclusion for All (IFA) approach. We know that true innovation and success come from a workforce where everyone belongs, and our policies and practices embody this commitment. Our five-year IFA strategy empowers every team and individual to drive change through annual action plans, ensuring that positive change is woven into the everyday experiences of our people.

Our recent progress reflects this ongoing commitment: the percentage of female partners has grown from 21% in 2020 to 35% in 2025, while ethnic minority partners have increased from 4% to 10% in the same period. Looking ahead, we’ve set new targets for 2030: 40% female partners, 18% ethnic minority partners, and 27% overall ethnic minority representation.

We nurture inclusivity and belonging through six employee networks and four communities that champion difference and support colleagues. Neuroinclusion is a priority, supported by our Neurodiversity Hub and expert partnerships, to ensure accessibility and allow every mind to shine. Through “The Space” podcast, we amplify the journeys and voices of diverse role models across the firm, to showcase different career paths and lived experience.

Our commitment is recognised externally, too. We are three-time Mansfield Rule accredited, recipients of the 2025 Legal 500 ESG award for diversity and inclusion, and listed as a Working Families Top 30 Employer and RNIB Visibly Better Employer. Memberships and signatory status in initiatives such as The Mindful Business Charter, Race at Work Charter, and Employers for Carers further demonstrate that at Gowling WLG, inclusion is far more than a value – it is the way we work, grow and thrive together every day.

To learn more about our activity last year read our Inclusion For All Annual Review 2024/25

We cover your Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) and Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) fees, as well as providing a maintenance grant for each course.

We offer all trainees the following: bonus scheme, gym membership/subsidy, life assurance, pension scheme with company contributions, private healthcare, season ticket loan, subsidised restaurant, income protection insurance, 25 days’ holiday (plus optional unpaid holiday), cycle to work scheme, an active social club, access to corporate rates and discounts, employee assistance programme, budget for staff entertainment, childcare vouchers and an interest free loan.

• Commercial development & investment
• Property litigation
• Specialist real estate services
• Housing development & regeneration
• Planning
• Commercial litigation
• IP
• EU law
• Trade & competition
• Construction & engineering
• Commercial IT & outsourcing
• Pensions
• Employment
• Projects & finance
• Corporate
• Public law & regulation

• Corporate & Commercial

• Abu Dhabi
• Beijing
• Birmingham
• Brussels
• Calgary
• Dubai
• Frankfurt
• Guangzhou
• Hamilton
• Leeds
• London
• Montréal
• Munich
• Ottawa
• Paris
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• Stuttgart
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Waterloo

• Birmingham
• London

• A4ID
• Amicus
• Collaborative Plan
• Kids in Need of Defense
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
• LandAid
• LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group)
• Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts
• Legal Advice Centres
• Pro Bono Connect
• The Death Penalty Project
• The Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau
• Thomson Reuters Foundation
• TrustLaw Connect
• University House Legal Advice Centre
• Working Families

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Black Solicitors Network
• Bright Network
• Business Disability Forum
• Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion
• Halo Code
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Legal CORE
• Mindful Business Charter
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• Stonewall
• Working Families