Graduates - be part of it

Start your legal career with an exceptional, award-winning firm, where you are treated as an individual and part of the team from day one.

Where you'll receive industry leading training and work alongside new and inspiring colleagues from all over the world. And be given every opportunity to achieve all that you want from the start of your legal career.

Whatever you want to achieve, we can help you get there.

The small print....

Based in either Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester or Norwich, you will complete six seats over two years and have the opportunity to move between all of our offices, including London.

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Real responsibility from day one

Deciding you want a training contract has probably been a big decision and involved lots of hard work. Of course, you want all the usual benefits that come with working for a top-rated law firm but you also want to know what will you really be doing?

At Mills & Reeve, we want you to experience what it is like at the deep end. What does it mean to “do client work”, not just assisting, but in some cases, running your own files and creating relationships with clients that will last throughout your career?

You've worked hard to get to this point and we know that you will be chomping at the bit to do some real work.

Our clients demand responsive, attentive lawyers that offer pragmatic and commercial advice. Put simply, we will teach you how to become a lawyer that does that!

We welcome you as an individual and treat you as an integral part of the team from day one.
Not just any old training contract

Some of you may already have an idea about what area you want to specialise in but with our six-seat programme we give you the opportunity to try all types of law. And not just whether you want to work in commercial or private client, but also a chance to work in our specialist sectors too. In one seat, you may be advising a football club on a new transfer and in another advising on a new patent.

We work across 14 specialist sectors, including automotive, health and care and technology. So that means that you get to work alongside genuine experts in their field, that understand not only the law, but also the market they work in. This gives you experience that will turn you from a good lawyer into a great one.
Quality supervision

We have been named UK Law Firm of the Year because our lawyers are some of the best in the business. The quality of our training and supervision means we are able to give you real responsibility from the beginning but also provides a supportive environment where you can learn from real experts.

Our lawyers rank in the top echelons of both Chambers and The Legal 500 and you will get to work alongside them on matters that will expand your experience.

You will get to work with all types of clients both nationally and internationally. You’ll advise high net worth individuals, PLCs and everything in between.
Our culture

Our latest staff survey revealed that 97% of our people think you should work here! What more can we really say? Our culture is renowned and our record 18th consecutive listing in the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For list proves that we don’t just say it, but also live it. Of course, you will be expected to work hard, but you will be surrounded by people who love their work and respect their colleagues.

And as part of our ongoing commitment to be a truly great employer, we monitor diversity levels throughout the firm, making sure we are equal and open in our recruitment and promotions. If we find barriers we can remove, we do. Whether that’s encouraging flexible working, offering a BAME bursary for students interested in the law or supporting Spectrum, our LGBT+ network. Read more here.

We are ambitious for ourselves, but more importantly, for our people. We believe that a happy, motivated and aspirational workforce means happier and more successful client relationships.

We go beyond the law and pro bono work is an everyday part of our culture. You will receive a day of paid leave every year to support local community charities.
I have support requirements – how can I get in touch?

If you have any support requirements, or adjustment, additional or cultural needs please do get in touch at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Click here for some examples of adjustments we can implement. Please contact us at graduate.support@mills-reeve.com or Rachel.Chapman@mills-reeve.com if you would like a confidential chat.

Find out more about becoming a trainee at Mills & Reeve.

Training contracts

Find out what happens during a Mills & Reeve training contract.

Summer placements

An ideal introduction to Mills & Reeve.

What our graduates say

“As a trainee I have been well respected and given challenging work. I have had a lot of client contact."

"The firm really invests its time in you as a person and I have developed and become a better lawyer.”

“No question is a silly question and colleagues are always willing to talk a matter through with you.”

“You get to meet a lot of inspirational, funny, down to earth colleagues.”

“We get the opportunity to move round to six areas in the two-year training contract.”

"The culture is amazing. We are all one team.”

Mills & Reeve Graduates page illustration

Key dates...

Applications open: 1 October 2021

Applications close:

- 4 January 2022 (for summer vacation scheme)

- 31 July 2022 (for direct training contract)

Assessments: February 2022 (for summer vacation scheme)

Summer Vacation Schemes:

- 20 June to 1 July 2022 (Birmingham and Cambridge)

- 27 June to 8 July 2022 (Leeds, Manchester and Norwich)

Apply & FAQs

Follow the link below to apply and go through our online application system. You can also download a copy of some FAQs that we've put together to help you with the application process.

Apply now

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Contact

For all enquiries please email our graduate recruitment team. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

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