Orrick is a global law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 25 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. We focus on three sectors: technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure and finance. We aim to be a best place to work for the best talent and we are always adapting to the ever-increasing pace of innovation. Financial Times selected Orrick the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America for 2016-2018 and runner-up in 2019 and 2020, and Fortune named us 15th on its 2019 list of the 100 Best Places to Work, the fifth year in a row we’ve been listed.

Orrick has earned a global reputation advising both established and emerging companies, banks and international financial institutions. Our clients include the most disruptive technology companies, 20% of US and UK unicorns, 10 of the world’s largest 25 public tech companies, seven of the top 15 energy companies globally, 14 of the top 20 global financial institutions, two of the three most successful fintech companies and three of the top 10 most active VC investors in European fintech, funds and government entities. We were named a 2019 Technology Group of the Year by Law360, and rank third globally for venture capital and number one in Europe for the past 17 consecutive quarters (PitchBook). Chambers ranks us Band 1 for both renewable energy and infrastructure.

Orrick's pro bono programme offers the firm's resources, both time and money, to those in our communities who would not otherwise be able to afford access to legal services, education or the arts. The firm provides pro-bono support to various social enterprises including Accion International, Policy in Practice and Resurgo Spear. We also deliver pro-bono services with LawWorks and Advocates for International Development, and we support aspiring democracies in the Middle East through our work with the Public International Law and Policy Group.

The primary route to applying for a training contract with us is to apply for a space on our summer vacation scheme which will take place in June or July. Our vacation scheme offers participants an opportunity to London office of a U.S. law firm in action and get an insight into what life as a trainee would be like here.

During the two-week scheme you'll spend time in two of our London practices, working on real work alongside our trainees, associates and partners. There will also be a variety of social opportunities and events that run throughout the scheme, giving you an opportunity to really get to know our team.

To apply for a vacation scheme please submit an application by 31 January 2023. If your application is shortlisted you will be invited to take part in an assessment centre, which includes an interview, a drafting exercise and an opportunity to participate in a business game designed to give an insight into the work of a solicitor. 

If you set your standards high, have a strong work ethic and are a bright, talented graduate of any discipline looking for a firm offering a broad-based training contract, then Orrick could be for you. Applicants should have or be on track to achieve a 2.1 degree (or higher) in any discipline.

Orrick is a firm for those looking for a high level of responsibility from day one. We value team players and reward collaboration over competition. We aim to give individuals the opportunity to flourish in a lively and supportive work environment and encourage interaction among lawyers across international offices at every level of experience within the firm. We support learning through a steadfast focus on training and a mentoring programme that will provide trainees with the right foundation for building their legal career and for working with clients. A genuine open door policy means trainees work closely with partners and of counsel as well as associates to gain practical experience in research, drafting, procedural and client-related skills.

Our two-year training programme is made up of six four-month seats with regular appraisals throughout. Our dedicated trainee partner oversees the supervision and management of our trainees. There are regular training sessions on legal and soft skills to enhance your development as a lawyer. Our extensive training programme is provided by in-house experts, clients and specialist professionals. Trainees undertake the Professional Skills Course during their induction programme.

Inclusiveness is a core value that shapes the way we run our firm. It’s part of our daily conversation about investing in talent, staffing our teams and measuring our success. We are taking concrete steps to make our firm and our profession more inclusive. You’ll see it in our metrics and our lawyer development and coaching programmes – and you’ll feel it in our culture.

Our global DEI programme is run by Angelique Magliulo-Hager, Sheryl Garko, Siobhan Handley and Lorraine McGowen, the latter recognized by Savoy as one of the most influential black lawyers in the United States. We also have a dedicated Women's Initiative which supports women's career development across the firm and promotes diversity within senior management. Orrick also has a long history of promoting LGBTQ+ equality, both inside and outside the firm. In 2020 we were involved in the US Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, strengthening workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees across the US.

Closer to home, we have several DEI initiatives within the London office. Our London DEI committee meets regularly to support and promote a wide range of events and initiatives, with recent activities including supporting the annual Dive/In event, celebrating International Women’s Day and recognising Windrush Day.

We also have a London LGBTQ+ group where LGBTQ+ lawyers and staff are able to meet, network, and collectively share their experience. The group, which also works closely with our global network, constitutes a safe and confidential space to promote the wellness of LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. Additionally, it actively contributes to the creation and improvement of LGBTQ+ related policies in collaboration with our DEI Committee and Stonewall.

Inclusiveness is also key to how we recruit in London. We are proud to partner with Rare Contextual Recruitment, which helps us ensure our trainee recruitment processes are as fair and inclusive as possible. Rare data allows us to contextualise candidates’ academics and experience to ensure we are not missing out on talented individuals who may have had a less privileged start in life. Orrick was also a founding member of the Reignite Academy, an organisation that supports individuals returning to the legal profession following a career break or time spent out of the legal sector.

SQE course fees paid plus £11,000 maintenance grant.

• Antitrust/competition
• Banking & finance
• Cyber & privacy
• Advisory
• Data innovation
• Employment law
• Energy & infrastructure
• Litigation & international arbitration
• M&A
• Private equity
• Restructuring
• Tax & incentives
• Technology companies group

• Corporate & Commercial

• London
• Abidjan
• Austin
• Beijing
• Brussels
• Dusseldorf
• Geneva
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• Milan
• Munich
• New York
• Orange County
• Paris
• Portland
• Rome
• Sacramento
• San Francisco
• Santa Monica
• Seattle
• Shanghai
• Silicon Valley
• Taipei
• Tokyo
• Washington DC
• Wheeling (GOC)

• A4ID
• i-Probono
• LawWorks
• Toynbee Hall Legal Advice Centre
• TrustLaw Connect

• Aspiring Solicitors
• City Solicitors' Educational Trust
• City Solicitors Horizons
• ELBA
• Rare Recruitment