A London law firm that recruits trainee solicitors through a paid summer vacation scheme or a direct route.
Travers Smith is a London law firm that advises companies, investment funds and financial businesses. Its work is grouped into transactional, contentious (disputes), regulatory and advisory areas, including corporate deals, finance, funds, employment and tax. Examples reported by Chambers Student include acting for Steve Madden on its agreement to buy Kurt Geiger, for Mitsubishi Estate on its purchase of Patron Capital Advisers, and for Merlin Entertainments on the employment side of a LEGO-related sale. Its trainee page uses the tagline 'Talking. Specifics.' Put simply, when a company is buying or selling another business or has a serious dispute, firms like this do the legal heavy lifting.
Wikipedia says the firm was founded in London in 1810 by Samuel Amory, which makes it one of the oldest firms in the City of London. Joseph Travers Smith joined in 1851 and became senior partner, and Stephen Braithwaite joined in 1873, so the firm was known as Travers Smith Braithwaite until 2004. It became a limited liability partnership in 2008. It has stayed independent rather than merging with big international networks, and has two offices, in London and Paris. Chambers Student puts it at roughly 64 trainees and 423 associates in London, though Wikipedia gives a figure of about 370 lawyers, so numbers vary by source and date. The firm has recently moved to a new London office on Stonecutter Street.
We did not find a mission or values statement on the pages we read. Its trainee page says the firm wants to get to know applicants as individuals and understand why they want to be a lawyer and to train there. Chambers Student, drawing on trainee comments, describes values of independence, real collegiality and supporting junior lawyers, and says trainees feel the stated values are reflected in practice. That is a third-party summary rather than the firm's own words.
Chambers UK ranks the firm highly for corporate mergers and acquisitions and leveraged finance (loans used to fund company purchases) in London, with wider recognition in fund finance, commercial contracts, financial services, investment funds and pensions. In 2023 NatWest Group appointed the firm to review its decision to close an account at Coutts, and it published initial findings that October. Trainees can also take part in pro bono work (free legal help), such as advice clinics and projects on domestic abuse, trafficking and overseas LGBTQ+ rights.
On working life, Chambers Student reports a friendly, low-hierarchy atmosphere where trainees often share a room with partners and senior lawyers, so questions are easy to ask. Trainees do four six-month seats (placements in different departments), including at least one corporate and one contentious seat, and are expected in the office four days a week. Perks mentioned include free food, an on-site GP and fitness classes. These are trainee views, so ask people at open days. Early careers routes, as at 2026: AAB at A Level (or equivalent) and a 2:1 degree, or on track for one, in law or another subject; the firm uses the Rare Recruitment contextual system, which looks at your background alongside your grades. The 2027 summer vacation scheme has three two-week sessions in June and July and pays £750 a week if you complete all three assessments. Applications for September 2028 starts run from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027. Trainees were paid £55,000 in year one and £60,000 in year two. The page does not mention apprenticeships.
Website: www.traverssmith.com
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