Middle East Summer Vacation Scheme 2027

Cooper & Hall Limited; Dubai, Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 45,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentons in Dubai invites aspiring commercial lawyers to join a two‑week vacation scheme, offering real client work and mentorship. You will gain practical experience in a global law firm environment and build your commercial awareness through interactive training sessions and team collaboration.

The programme is designed for penultimate year law students, final year students, and fresh graduates, with emphasis on Arabic‑English bilingual capability and GCC visa eligibility.

Qualifications

• Penultimate year law students, final year students, and recent graduates.
• Applicants must hold a valid residence visa for the country where they wish to apply.
• This opportunity is particularly geared towards GCC Nationals who are fluent in Arabic, though all bi-lingual Arabic & English law students are encouraged to apply.
• We are unable to accept applications from high school students, however, encourage you to undertake our virtual work experience programme; Experience Dentons.

Responsibilities

• Two weeks vacation scheme with real client work.
• Learn from supervisors and teams through interactive training and tasks.
• Develop commercial awareness and legal knowledge during the scheme.
• Participate in firm‑wide networking and social events to understand the culture.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Effective communication

Education

Law student or law graduate

Job description

We're the world's largest global law firm. That's more than 12,500 people across 80+ countries.

The legal profession is evolving fast, and we're at the front of it, delivering consistent, high-quality, innovative solutions as our clients' needs change. We go looking for new solutions, and we hold the same standard of value and quality across everything we do.

Our vision is to be the law firm of the future, today. With a strategy built on growth, integration and reinvention, we're setting out to reshape the legal profession. Join us and you'll have the opportunity to play your part in that future, contributing to the ideas, work and innovation shaping the next generation of legal practice.

Our work is broad, international and tied closely to the way the world is changing. As a trainee, you'll explore that variety seat by seat, building your confidence, commercial awareness and legal skills as you go.

Middle East

Our scale in the Middle East sets us apart. We're the largest international law firm in the region, with a presence spanning the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Jordan and Lebanon. That gives you the opportunity to experience the breadth of an international practice while building your understanding of some of the region's most dynamic markets.

You’ll see how our lawyers help shape businesses, industries and major projects across Corporate & Commercial; Banking & Finance; Energy, Transport & Infrastructure; Construction & Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; and Technology, Media & Telecoms.

Who Should Apply?

If you're an aspiring commercial lawyer looking to make an impact in a global law firm from day one, we can offer you the chance to learn from exceptional people, contribute to work that shapes industries and build a career with real purpose. This is a place where your ambition is supported, your potential is nurtured and what you bring has the opportunity to matter.

We generally look for a strong academic performance but consider every application we receive in context and holistically. We also encourage you to include mitigating circumstances if relevant.

We also use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System to give us additional context when considering each candidate's application.

Vacation scheme

Two weeks. Real experience. The chance to make your next step matter.

Our Vacation Scheme is more than a chance to see what life at Dentons is like. It's an opportunity to get involved, make a genuine contribution and discover what matters to you as you take your next step towards a career in commercial law.

From the start you'll become part of one of our practice areas, working alongside your supervisor and team on real client work and challenging tasks. You'll build your commercial awareness and legal knowledge through interactive training sessions and Lunch & Learns with teams including Responsible Business, Talent Development and Pro Bono. And through firm-wide networking and social events, you'll meet the people who make Dentons what it is.

By the end of the scheme, you'll have built valuable relationships, developed your skills and confidence and gained a real understanding of what a career with us could look like. We'll also be assessing you for our Trainee Solicitor Programme throughout, with your performance over the two weeks and a final reflective interview forming part of the assessment process.

Make your experience matter.

The deadline to apply is 26 February 2027.

Innovation

Here at Dentons, innovation isn’t something that sits in isolation - we believe it comes from everywhere and from everyone, and it is critical to our position as the world’s largest global law firm.

We do this by challenging ourselves to identify and implement innovation across all areas of service delivery to our clients.

Throughout your programme you will be encouraged to enrich your innovation skills and knowledge.

Entry Requirements:

Penultimate year law students, final year students, and recent graduates.

Applicants must hold a valid residence visa for the country where they wish to apply.

This opportunity is particularly geared towards GCC Nationals who are fluent in Arabic, though all bi-lingual Arabic & English law students are encouraged to apply.

We are unable to accept applications from high school students, however, encourage you to undertake our virtual work experience programme; Experience Dentons.

Location:

Candidates will have the option to complete the scheme in one of our Middle East offices including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha, and KSA. Exact office location will be subject to business needs and confirmed with participants prior to start.