At Winston Taylor, we set the standard, together.

Winston Taylor is a transatlantic law firm built for the businesses, people, and markets driving capital and innovation. Here, you're in the room. In the action. Sleeves rolled up.

You'll work with leading clients. Disruptors. Fast-growth companies. And help them to stay one step ahead of the moment and make critical decisions that shape their future. We're present in the US, UK, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, combining the scale and speed that clients demand. 

You'll be trusted with real responsibility from the outset and build experience through hands-on work. We take your progression personally. We provide the platform. You shape the work around your goals and aspirations.

Step into the moments that matter. Join Winston Taylor.

Early careers

When you start your legal career at Winston Taylor, you’ll be involved in work that matters. We work with the businesses and people driving capital and innovation, so you will too – you’ll be part of their breakthrough moments from day one. You’ll learn from talented lawyers across practices, gaining exposure to complex work, high-performing teams, and the decisions that shape industries and outcomes. 

Whatever the sector or practice area, the work you do will be meaningful and challenging. You’ll contribute to transactions as they move from negotiation to close, disputes as they unfold and the many matters in between. You’ll research complex issues that shape client advice, draft key documents and help prepare teams for critical moments – seeing firsthand how your work contributes to decisions and results. 

​You’ll be in the action and supported at every step by supervisors, mentors and colleagues who are invested in your development. You’ll build relationships with peers and colleagues across the firm who’ll inspire you to dig deeper, go further, and think bigger through valuable feedback, mentoring and training programs.

Vacation schemes

Winston Taylor’s vacation scheme lets you experience what it's like to be a trainee solicitor in a fast-paced law firm.

From your first day, you’ll benefit from comprehensive training, with an induction programme that introduces you to our partners, employees and business strategy. You’ll also be given a buddy among the current trainees who can answer your questions having been in your shoes.

We recruit for our vacation scheme in London and Cambridge.

Regardless of the scheme you apply for, you’ll spend two weeks immersed in two different practice areas, gaining firsthand experience under the supervision of our approachable associates and partners. You'll also be involved in socials, networking opportunities, pro bono work and more, so you'll end the scheme with invaluable experience and a clear sense of career direction.

To be eligible, you'll need to be in the second year of your degree or beyond. We also welcome applications from those who’ve graduated, as well as career changers.

Completing a vacation scheme with Winston Taylor is the only way to be considered for our training contract. Our spring vacation scheme is two weeks in April. Our summer vacation scheme is held across London and Cambridge for two weeks in June.

Applications will open for Winston Taylor’s 2027 summer vacation schemes in September 2026. 

First-year opportunities

In May, Winston Taylor hosts our first-year insight day, where you'll get the chance to learn more about the firm, network and think commercially. This is a great step to ensure you're ready to apply for our vacation scheme opportunities.

To apply for our 2027 first-year insight day, you'll need to be in the first year of your degree (studying any subject) and complete an application form to attend.

Applications will open in March 2027. 

Winston Taylor taster week - open days

As part of Winston Taylor’s taster week, taking place in October each year, we invite you to a series of open days designed to provide you with valuable insights into our firm. During these events, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our senior lawyers and trainee solicitors, who’ll share their experiences and knowledge. You'll need to complete our short application form to secure your place.

Applications open 1 September 2026.

Winston Taylor webinar week

Throughout webinar week, we'll host a series of online events covering the various sectors we focus on and provide guidance from our early talent team. 

During our sector spotlight series, you’ll hear from our senior lawyers about the pivotal role of each of our sectors. You’ll also have opportunities to engage with the early talent team and our lawyers through online sessions designed to offer insight into life at Winston Taylor and the application process.

Applications open 1 September 2026.

Limitless programme (for Year 12 students)

Limitless is our new programme designed to introduce year 12 students to the world of law.

Featuring monthly upskilling workshops, networking opportunities and a two-day work shadowing opportunity, Limitless will let you experience what it's like to work in a law firm. We'll introduce you to the skills you'll need for a career in law and help you kickstart your career as a solicitor.

Applications to Limitless are open to individuals who are in year 12, have a minimum of seven GCSEs grade 7 or above, and are of Black heritage and/or are from a low socioeconomic background. You'll also need to be free to attend all the monthly sessions and the two in-person work shadowing days in October.

Within a small intake of around 20 graduates, you'll find the support you need to flourish throughout your training contract while benefiting from the experience you need to become a brilliant lawyer.

Across our two-year training contract, you’ll move through four, six-month seats in different practice areas. All trainees complete a seat in either corporate or finance, and at least one seat must involve contentious work. On the remaining two seats, you’ll be able to follow your own interests. We offer client secondment opportunities, which provide a real and meaningful insight into the sectors in which we operate. We also offer short relationship-building international secondment opportunities to our international offices.

We offer training contracts each year in London and Cambridge. Wherever you’re based, you’ll benefit from comprehensive training designed for your professional development.

Completing a vacation scheme with us is the only way to be considered for a training contract. Applications will open for our 2027 summer vacation schemes in September 2026.

Before starting your training contract, you’ll undertake the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments. We’ve partnered with The University of Law for this course, which will enable you to gain a breadth of knowledge before commencing these examinations. Additionally, you’ll also undertake an SQE plus course to provide you with further legal knowledge ahead of joining the firm, which includes a master's.

Ahead of commencing the course, you’ll meet with the early talent and talent development teams to learn more about the course and our expectations and be provided with support throughout the year-long course.

By completing the course and examinations ahead of your start date, you’ll be able to hit the ground running and gain your two years' qualifying work experience through our training contract.

Solicitor apprenticeship

Winston Taylor doesn’t believe there's a set path in law – university isn't for everyone and we appreciate that. Our six-year solicitor apprenticeship programme offers school leavers with an interest in law an alternative route to qualifying as a solicitor.

As a solicitor apprentice, you’ll join Winston Taylor’s inclusive culture that allows you to be yourself, with support to help you become who you want to be. We want to support talent from the outset, so we’ll also offer you support as you transition from school to joining the firm. 

Our six-year programme has been designed to help you hit the ground running from day one. You'll work towards an LLB (Hons) law degree and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. Each week, you'll spend four days working in a practice area on client cases, with one day studying with our training provider, The University of Law. We'll pay for your apprenticeship tuition fee and during your apprenticeship you'll be eligible for our benefits.

We foster a collaborative culture where individuals of all identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can thrive. By broadening access to opportunity and investing in inclusion, we strengthen our firm and deliver exceptional service to our clients and colleagues. ​

Balance in Business Network​

The Balance in Business Network celebrated International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day with storytelling events involving the themes of "invest in women" and "positive male role models". In response to feedback from the network, they also brought women together to hear from senior women leaders on the power of networking, which created a forum to put their networking skills to the test and develop relationships across teams and practice areas. Building on previous menopause awareness campaigns and events, the network launched the Menopause Cafe, a support group for colleagues impacted. This has proven to be a significant milestone in the firm’s commitment to supporting our people in all life stages.​

Cultural Diversity Network​

The Cultural Diversity Network started the year by revisiting the topic of anti-racism, and they hosted an informative and educational webinar in April in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Network and myGwork. The network also embarked on a storytelling journey with colleagues of different religious and cultural backgrounds as we marked significant occasions. Finally, this year saw the inaugural meeting of the Black Heritage Group in response to feedback from network members, which aims to centre and amplify the voices of Black colleagues. 

LGBTQ+ Network​

The LGBTQ+ Network has continued to engage with colleagues in moments of celebration and education during LGBTQ+ History Month, Pride Month, and other key observances across the year. We heard from MindOut, the national mental health charity for the LGBTQ+ community, on the importance of mental health support and safe spaces. 

Emily Garside also delivered Talking Pride sessions in our London and Liverpool offices, sharing insights on history, flags, labels, and representation. We celebrated Pride across all of our U.K and Ireland offices, including an enlightening discussion with client panelists on authentic Pride support in our London headquarters and some memorable march moments from Cambridge, Dublin, and Liverpool’s local Pride parades. 

Our partnership with myGwork continued to flourish this year. We sponsored WorkPride, took part in WorkFair for the second year, and supported their global inclusion campaigns. We continue to support the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre as a corporate sponsor, ensuring its longevity as a vital hub of services and support for the LGBTQ+ community. We also took part in National Student Pride in early 2025.​

Social Mobility Network​

The Social Mobility Network has continued its robust support for social mobility outreach programs, engaging with schools and building connections with universities to provide insights into legal careers, networking opportunities, and offer practical workshops. The dedication of network members to mentoring Year 12 and 13 students exploring a career in law has proven invaluable once again, with 100% of student mentees reporting they felt motivated to work harder in school, felt more confident about different career pathways, and felt like they can succeed in a professional environment like Winston Taylor. 

The network has also supported the firm’s collaboration with the 93% Club through their flagship Social Mobility Factory event and engagement with 93% Club university societies.

Family Matters Network​

The Family Matters Network has created forums for colleagues to discuss family-related topics, including navigating divorce and separation, neurodiversity, and managing a high-performance career. The network has also developed support groups that have brought together colleagues experiencing similar events or phases within their families, including elder care, single parenting, parenting neurodivergent children, and returning parents. 

Additionally, the network’s committee members were influential in developing the firm’s new family leave policies that increased paternity leave to 12 weeks and introduced neonatal and carer leave for our people.

Winston Taylor will pay your tuition fees for both the PGDL and SQE, to be studied at The University of Law London, our chosen law school provider. During your studies, you’ll also receive a maintenance grant from us.

Before commencing your training contract with Winston Taylor, you must complete the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments. We’ve partnered with The University of Law for this course, which will enable you to gain a breadth of knowledge before commencing these examinations. Additionally, you’ll also undertake an SQE plus course to provide you with further legal knowledge ahead of joining the firm, which includes a master's.

• Real estate, environment & planning
• Construction & engineering
• Banking & finance
• Private equity
• Emerging companies & M&A
• Corporate real estate
• Private client
• Employment, pensions & mobility
• Tax & incentives
• Disputes & investigations
• Restructuring & insolvency
• IP, regulatory & digital
• Patents

• Corporate & Commercial
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• 20 offices
• across UK
• US
• Europe
• Middle East

• Cambridge
• London