CMS UK

A full-service law firm with nine UK offices that recruits trainees mainly through its CMS Academy vacation scheme.

About CMS UK

CMS UK is the UK part of CMS, a big international law firm. Its lawyers advise companies and organisations on banking and finance, corporate deals, disputes, property and tax, and it focuses on sectors such as financial services, technology, energy and life sciences. In plain terms, if a company is raising money, buying another business, building something big or fighting a legal dispute, CMS lawyers help with the legal side.

CMS in the UK was created in 2017 when CMS Cameron McKenna combined with Nabarro and Olswang (Legal Cheek), which is why the firm has roots in several older names. Legal Cheek says Nabarro was originally based in Sheffield, and the Scottish offices trace back to a 2014 takeover of Dundas & Wilson. The firm's UK page says it is based in the City of London and lists nine UK offices: Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Reading and Sheffield. Legal Cheek says CMS has 92 offices across 50 countries.

We did not find a formal mission or values list. The firm says it strives to put clients at the centre of what it does, and its careers page describes a culture of authenticity and inclusivity. Those are the firm's own words.

CMS organises its work by practice area and by sector. The UK page names banking and finance, corporate, disputes, property and tax, and sectors including financial services, technology, energy and life sciences. Trainee reviews on Legal Cheek describe the sectors and teams trainees move through during their seats, and mention that Reading does not take training contracts while Dubai can be an option for some trainees.

For trainees, Legal Cheek describes a non-hierarchical, sociable culture with open-door partners, a supportive trainee group and a strong sports scene, but this is what insiders say, so ask current trainees yourself. It lists 79 training contracts, with trainees based in London and also in Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield, and a trainee retention rate of 69%. A 2024 listing describes a two-year training contract with four six-month seats, a CMS Academy vacation scheme of two weeks at £450 a week, and a six-year solicitor apprenticeship that starts with a law degree at the University of Law. Legal Cheek's pay figures (undated) gave first-year trainees £50,000 in London, £43,000 in Bristol and £33,000 in Manchester, Sheffield and Scotland, with a grant towards law conversion course and SQE costs (the SQE is the exam route to qualify as a solicitor). The firm's UK careers page we read covered patent roles only, so check cms.law for current dates and entry requirements.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Two years in four six-month seats, across UK offices.', 'title': 'Training contract'}
• {'desc': 'Two-week paid placement that feeds into trainee offers.', 'title': 'CMS Academy vacation scheme'}
• {'desc': 'Six-year route with a law degree and the SQE.', 'title': 'Solicitor apprenticeship'}
• {'desc': 'Financial services, technology, energy and life sciences clients.', 'title': 'Sector legal advice'}

Key facts

• Nine UK offices (own site)
• UK firm formed in 2017 from CMS Cameron McKenna, Nabarro and Olswang (Legal Cheek)
• 79 training contracts and 69% retention (Legal Cheek, undated)
• Academy scheme paid £450 a week (listing dated 2024)
• Six-year solicitor apprenticeship listed

Website: cms.law