Vinson & Elkins is a leading US-based international law firm with more than 700 lawyers located in 12 cities across the globe. Five decades ago, we became one of the first US law firms to establish a practice in London. Since then, we have built a dynamic office, undertaking work that has gained the respect of clients around the world. Over the years, V&E has amassed a wealth of experience working on projects for clients in almost every country on the map. We are accustomed to working not only in well-defined markets, but also in less familiar and more challenging environments, under developing local regimes or those with evolving communications and infrastructure. We know how to adapt to local customs, cultures and laws, enabling us to handle matters quickly and effectively. We work in tandem with our clients, travelling wherever and whenever we are needed. We know what it takes to make deals work and to win cases. This knowledge enables us to offer creative solutions for our clients engaged in leading-edge projects around the world.

Our clients are predominantly in the energy, finance and infrastructure sectors and the London office specialises in M&A, private equity, construction, project development and finance, international arbitration and litigation, corporate, capital markets, finance and tax.

Who should apply 

We are looking to recruit ambitious individuals with exceptional academic results, sound commercial awareness and rounded personalities. The ability to think laterally and creatively is essential, as is a need for common sense and a willingness to take the initiative.

We view vacation placements as an important part of our recruitment process. Our paid placements are designed to provide the experience of a ‘week in the life of’ a trainee where you will share an office with an associate and complete real time client work across different practice groups, amongst other projects. 

We have been nominated on multiple occasions in the category ‘Best Work Placement Scheme – City Firm’ and ‘Best Recruiter – US Firm in the City’ as testament to the quality of the experience students gain from completing a placement with us.

Applications for placements in 2022 should be made via our website from 1 October 2021 and preference will be given to those who would be eligible to commence a training contract in 2024. The closing date for applications is 14 January 2022. For students in the first-year of their degree, we currently expect to host an open day at our London office on the Spring of 2022. Applications can be made via our website from 1 November 2021 up to 4 February 2022.

The firm operates a partially non-rotational training system, during their first year trainees work primarily within the departments in which they sit and during their second year trainees work across all practice areas and have more freedom to tailor their training. While being based in London our trainees can expect to undertake overseas secondments and international travel during the course of their two years.

The training is designed to provide variety, flexibility and responsibility from the start and has earned V&E nominations and awards for the 'Best Trainer – US firm in the City' award, 'Best Trainer – Medium City Firm', 'Best Recruiter – US firm in the City' and 'Best Training Principal' over the last 10 years. 

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V&E will fund the preparatory course(s) and examinations for the SQE or, where eligible, the LPC and offers a maintenance grant for courses commenced after the date of a Training Contract offer

• Litigation/arbitration
• Finance
• M&A
• Capital markets
• Tax
• Energy transactions & projects
• Employment

• Corporate & Commercial

• Austin
• Dallas
• Dubai
• Houston
• London
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Richmond
• Riyadh
• San Francisco
• Tokyo
• Washington DC

• Horizon Legal Advice Clinic
• Toynbee Hall Legal Advice Centre
• TrustLaw Connect
• Windrush Justice Clinic
• Working Families

• Aspiring Solicitors
• City Parents
• Working Families