Vacation Scheme - Manchester

Allaboutlaw; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Fieldfisher invites applications for its Vacation Scheme, designed to give you authentic insight into life as a trainee solicitor and a pathway to a Training Contract commencing in September 2029. The scheme blends real work, skills development, networking and assessment across multiple practice areas in a leading European law firm.

The programme focuses on potential and curiosity, offering meaningful exposure to commercial law while developing essential skills, confidence and relationships

Qualifications

• Be in your penultimate or final year of university (or have already graduated).
• Have achieved a minimum ABB at A-Level (or equivalent).
• Be on track to achieve, or have achieved, a 2:1 in any degree discipline.
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in commercial law.
• Be motivated to pursue a Training Contract at Fieldfisher.
• Be eligible to work in the UK (visa support is offered for successful Training Contract candidates).

Responsibilities

• Stage 1: Online Application, with open and close dates.
• Stage 2: Online Strength Assessment with no required legal knowledge.
• Stage 3: Video Interview assessing motivation and commercial awareness.
• Stage 4: In-person Assessment Day with team exercise and interviews.
• Stage 5: Vacation Scheme participation in March/April 2027.
• Stage 6: Final Stage Interview for Training Contract consideration.

Job description

Our Vacation Scheme is designed to give you an authentic insight into life as a trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher and is the primary route into a Training Contract commencing in September 2029. The scheme combines real work experience, skills development, networking opportunities and assessment, allowing you to experience first-hand what it is like to work at a leading European law firm. Candidates who perform strongly during the scheme will be invited to attend a Final Partner Interview for a Training Contract offer.

At Fieldfisher, we focus on potential, curiosity and how you learn – not simply what you already know. Our aim is to provide meaningful exposure to commercial law while helping you develop the skills, confidence, and relationships needed for a successful legal career.

Practice areas

• ABL and trade finance
• Advertising and consumer protection
• Alternative legal services
• Compliance
• Construction
• Consumer enforcement
• Corporate Data, privacy and cybersecurity
• Dispute resolution
• Employment
• ESG
• Financial markets and products
• Franchise
• Fraud, financial crime and investigations
• Immigration
• Inquiries, Inquests and Investigations
• Intellectual property
• International trade
• Litigation funding
• Pensions
• Private client
• Public and regulatory
• Real estate
• Restructuring and insolvency
• Risk and compliance
• Sanctions and export control
• Sports law
• Tax
• Technology

Application process

Stage 1: Online Application

Applications open on 14 September 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.

Stage 2: Online Strength Assessment

All eligible applicants will automatically be invited to complete an online strengths assessment. This assessment helps us understand your natural strengths, preferences, and potential. No legal knowledge or preparation is required.

Stage 3: Video Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to complete a video interview exploring motivation, commercial awareness and interest in Fieldfisher.

Stage 4: Assessment Day

Candidates who pass the video interview will attend an in-person Assessment Day, which will include a team exercise, individual assessment and interview.

Stage 5: Vacation Scheme

Successful candidates will be invited to join our Vacation Scheme in March/April 2027.

Stage 6: Final Stage Interview

At the end of the scheme, participants complete an end-of-scheme appraisal and a final stage interview for Training Contract consideration. Training Contracts will commence: London - September 2029, Birmingham and Manchester - September 2028 or 2029.

Assessment Days - January 2027

Vacation Scheme - 22 March to the 2 April 2027

Final Partner Interviews - Following the Vacation Scheme

Training Contract Start Date - London - September 2029 or Birmingham/Manchester - September 2028/29

What we offer you

During the scheme, you will:

Complete real work within a legal practice area.

Gain exposure to clients, transactions and international work.

Attend commercial awareness, skills and development workshops.

Receive feedback and coaching from supervisors and colleagues.

Learn about our culture, values and collaborative way of working.

Build your professional network across lawyers, trainees and business services teams.

Develop key skills including communication, teamwork, analysis, and commercial awareness.

Accessibility

At Fieldfisher, we are committed to delivering an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience. Accessibility adjustments are available throughout the application process. If there is anything we can do to support you, please let us know as early as possible.

We are guided by the social model of disability and are committed to removing barriers so that everyone has the opportunity to perform at their best.

The Vacation Scheme is designed to help you make an informed decision about a career in commercial law while demonstrating your potential to become a future trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher.

If you are ambitious, collaborative, curious, and excited by solving complex challenges for clients, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, you should:

• Be in your penultimate or final year of university (or have already graduated).
• Have achieved a minimum of ABB at A-Level (or equivalent).
• Be on track to achieve, or have achieved a 2:1 in any degree discipline.
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in commercial law.
• Be motivated to pursue a Training Contract at Fieldfisher.
• Be eligible to work in the UK (for the duration of the scheme, we do offer visa support for successful Training Contract candidates).

We recruit individuals with potential and recognise that achievements should be considered within the context of a candidate's personal circumstances. Applications are reviewed holistically, and contextual information is taken into account where appropriate.