Shoosmiths

A UK law firm that lists a placement, training contract and solicitor apprenticeship among its early careers routes.

About Shoosmiths

Shoosmiths is a UK law firm that advises businesses and organisations. Legal Cheek says its work spans corporate deals, employment, real estate and litigation, among other areas, and that trainees must do at least one contentious seat (about disputes) and one non-contentious seat. Clients named in its Milton Keynes office announcement include Mercedes-Benz and Travelodge.

The firm was founded in Northampton in 1845, according to Legal Cheek, and its own news page describes it as founded 175 years ago in Northampton. Legal Cheek says it has 14 offices across three countries, with early-careers recruitment focused on London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a hub in Brussels. It has had a Milton Keynes office since 2000, which has grown by more than 25% in three years and is moving to 100 Avebury Boulevard, near the central station. Its early careers page does not list offices.

The early careers page says client excellence is at the heart of everything the firm does. It says it looks for curiosity, drive and a wish to make a difference for clients, including people with potential beyond exam results. It describes itself as open, ambitious and people-focused, and offers early responsibility and mentoring from the start. Its inclusion strategy rests on three pillars, Accountability, Opportunity and Community, and it says it launched a Race Equity Action Plan in 2024 and has a social mobility pledge. These are the firm's own claims.

The firm offers three early routes: a placement, a training contract and a solicitor apprenticeship. On the apprenticeship page, Shoosmiths says apprentices spend about 80% of their time working with lawyers and 20% studying with BPP University. Over a typical six years they start with the business side of law and then rotate through commercial, corporate, litigation, banking and finance and real estate, with options such as intellectual property, construction and employment. Apprenticeships started in Birmingham in 2024 and Leeds in 2025, with a first London group in 2026.

Insiders quoted by Legal Cheek describe approachable partners, strong peer support and an open-plan office, though hours depend on the seat. It reported 19 training contracts in 2026, London first-year pay of 46,000 pounds and 48,000 pounds in year two, with lower regional rates (36,000 and 38,000 pounds), and a minimum of CCC at A-level. When we read the careers page in October 2026, early talent applications were closed, and the apprenticeship page said the programmes are being redesigned, with the next chapter expected in Autumn 2027. You can join a mailing list to hear when applications reopen.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Short work experience with the firm.', 'title': 'Placement'}
• {'desc': 'Two-year route to qualifying as a solicitor, with contentious and non-contentious seats.', 'title': 'Training contract'}
• {'desc': 'About six years, 80% work and 20% study with BPP University; Birmingham, Leeds and London.', 'title': 'Solicitor apprenticeship'}
• {'desc': 'Corporate, employment, real estate and litigation work for businesses.', 'title': 'Commercial legal advice'}

Key facts

• Founded in Northampton in 1845 (Legal Cheek)
• Apprenticeships: Birmingham 2024, Leeds 2025, London 2026; next phase expected Autumn 2027
• Training contract pay (Legal Cheek): London 46,000 and 48,000 pounds; regional 36,000 and 38,000 pounds
• Applications were closed when read in October 2026
• Race Equity Action Plan launched 2024 (own claim)

Website: www.shoosmiths.com