Addleshaw Goddard

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Addleshaw Goddard

Trainees choose Addleshaw Goddard for its workplace culture and quality of work, a sentiment repeated again and again. “Forward-thinking firm with offices in the regions. Culture of ‘people first’,” said one respondent, while another praised the “combination of good quality work and a supportive atmosphere.” For many, it was the people that sealed the decision: “Following my vacation scheme I felt the culture of the firm and the people I interacted with matched what I wanted from a job. I could genuinely see myself working there.” The firm is also attractive for its regional dominance: “I wanted to be in a regional firm for family reasons. The reputation of the firm is one of the best in the city I am in, meaning it does some of the best work for the best clients.” Training is described as hands-on and responsibility-driven. “You are thrown in the deep end and encouraged to swim or float”, explained one trainee. Others note that AG gives “greater levels of responsibility and more opportunities to get involved in real legal work,” with trainees trusted to lead rather than simply support. There is plenty of training, “both formal and informal,” though some feel the firm “does not seem to have a training culture,” with experiences varying across departments. The best thing about AG is the people: “approachability of partners … fosters a supportive environment,” “the people are a genuine pleasure to work with,” and “the trainees I have met.” Highlights include client secondments, cross-border deals, a Singapore seat, and running transactions with direct client contact. Recognition also matters: “My contributions to a deal being recognised by partners and then giving me an internal award and voucher to say thank you.” On the flip side, trainees point to “occasional long hours,” “pressure,” “poor offices for an international firm,” and frustrations with the seat allocation process, which “is not merit based.” Others note a “general change in culture” and “the growing disparity in pay between the regions and London.” Hybrid working is well received, with the standard three days in the office considered “a really good balance.” Pro bono opportunities are “always available – easy to get involved in so 10/10,” though some say they are “available but not publicised.” Overall, AG is praised as “ambitious, high-quality and international” while retaining a “healthy workplace culture.” For many trainees, it feels like “the best of both worlds.”

A day in the life of... Alyssia Antonen, second-seat trainee, Addleshaw Goddard

Departments to date: Social, sustainable, green finance; Commercial disputes; Client secondment to British American Tobacco (commercial)

University: University of Birmingham

Degree: International Law LLB (1st class)

I’m currently sat in commercial disputes as a second-seat trainee. The team are big on work/life balance, so I tend to come in to the office three or four days a week.

One of my favourite things about being a trainee at Addleshaw Goddard is that no two days are the same, and this is amplified in disputes – your to-do list can change at a moment’s notice depending on what is happening in the matter teams you are on. The quality of the work and size of the clients that we deal with is great, and I find it super exciting to see household names pop into my inbox each morning with urgent issues that we need to advise on.

I usually start the day with a quick cup of tea and catch up with my supervisor around 8.30am. My supervisor is fantastic, and is always happy to chat through my to-do list and help me to prioritise, or talk through how she would go about actioning a task.

By 9.00am I’m usually getting going on a variety of tasks. This can be making bundles, writing emails to clients, or drafting orders, letters, applications and witness statements. Everybody (including the partners!) is super approachable, and always willing to talk through a task, or go through feedback in detail regardless of how busy they are. You sense a genuine desire to invest in your training, and I never feel a hinderance or that I’m stuck and unable to ask for help.

On big matters, we will have regular catch-ups where we discuss strategy and immediate next steps, as the pace in my team can be fast. I love these meetings, as it feels a real privilege to work with such intelligent and strategic lawyers and get an insight as to how they think.

Twice a week, we also have whole team meetings. The themes of these meetings alternate – sometimes, we discuss new matters or initiatives that members of the team are working on. Sometimes, diversity and inclusion themed – a few weeks ago, a partner suggested that we walked down to the David Oluwale memorial during this slot. I also really enjoy the sessions held where members of the team will be allocated a recent High Court/CoA/Supreme Court judgment and will present the important takeaways as practitioners. It is so important to be up-to-date on the law even post-qualification, and there is real emphasis on this at AG. We have regular training sessions – about a month ago, the whole team spent their afternoon doing ‘dawn raid training’.

I try to go for lunch with the other trainees. My cohort is really close, as most of us studied the SQE together in the same class. I’ve made genuine friends for life, and going out for a bite to eat (but never on shawarma Thursdays) or for a walk down the canal is something I look forward to.

I try to do ‘bigger’ tasks in the afternoon. At the moment, one of the main matters that I am working on is in the disclosure phase before trial, and I like to do a couple of hours of disclosure review early afternoon.

Rarely a day goes by without client contact, and we are encouraged to get as involved as possible and attend meetings. You definitely are not hidden away at AG – quite the opposite. For example, the partners in the team really encourage us to attend breakfast networking sessions hosted for clients. One of the things that I love is the sense that you can grow and take on more responsibility as you develop, but in the sense that you are pushed outside your comfort zone on your terms and supported in the process. I recently attended my first court hearing which was so exciting, and the team really supported me and was excited for me in attending.

The hours can vary week to week. In all honesty, the longer hours usually mean that something quite interesting is happening, and it’s all hands on deck. I also love the sense of teamwork and comradery that that creates – so I don’t mind.

In the evening, there are lots of post-work activities going on. In the past two months alone, I’ve attended the big charity quiz (hosted for Honeypot, our charity of the year), a South Asian Heritage month event (with fantastic entertainment and food to celebrate the culture), the trainee social planned by our trainee social committee, the Leeds Legal Walk (fundraising for the Access to Justice Foundation), a NextGen networking event (hosted by AG for trainee – 5PQE lawyers) and go weekly to our trainee run club. I also hiked the Yorkshire 3 Peaks on a Friday two weeks ago with AG as a CSR day – but that’s a whole other story!

About the firm

Fresh thinking. Maximum impact. Welcome to Addleshaw Goddard. We are a London headquartered, international, full-service law firm that consistently delivers high-quality outcomes for our clients globally.

We have been advising clients for 250 years, and today we support over 5,000 of the world’s most respected organisations. We help them in over 50 areas of business law, across more than 100 countries. And while the opportunities and challenges they bring us vary, we solve each in a uniquely AG way.

Our clients enjoy working with us, we deliver a high-quality experience across everything we do, and we are known for award-winning innovation – all of which we harness to bring impact to clients.

Our values: From the work we do to the culture we foster and the partnerships we form, every last part of Addleshaw Goddard is driven by three core values: quality, imagination, and impact. We welcome everyone, support people to achieve their full potential, and always seek smart ways to have a positive impact – for our clients, colleagues, and communities around the world.

The smartest route for our clients: We act for clients whatever the scale of their requirements. Last year we acted for over 5,000 clients including over 300 companies listed on the stock market of ten countries. We have also advised over half the FTSE 100 companies in the last three years, including Associated British Foods, SSE, GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC and British Land. Our business is about strong client relationships built on successful delivery across national and international markets.

The range and scale of our work is compelling, and encompasses high-value strategic advice to the everyday. It means we are able to attract talented, like-minded individuals who love what they do, are committed to our clients’ success, and strive to build valued partnerships through our collective energy and expertise.

Who should apply: We require a 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent). But what will really open doors to an outstanding career here is the real you. At Addleshaw Goddard, we’re looking for original minds and collaborative spirits alongside motivation, drive and commercial awareness. We’re constantly delighted by the diverse backgrounds of our best lawyers, and we’re open to law and non-law graduates alike, as well as those looking to change career.

Training programme: Culture shapes how we treat each other, our clients and our communities. At Addleshaw Goddard, we’re driven to consistently deliver the highest quality experiences and outcomes for everyone we support. Our clients and Addleshaw Goddard people past and present tell us that we’re ambitious, supportive, and innovative. And when asked what makes us uniquely Addleshaw Goddard, they tell us we deliver excellence through true collaboration and by doing the right things in the right ways. From day one as a trainee, that is what you’ll experience…

You’ll be entrusted with meaningful and challenging work, gaining exposure to everything from multimillion-pound transactions and high-profile fraud cases to employment disputes and complex technology contracts. Beyond hands-on experience, you’ll have the opportunity to build your network working with different offices or even undertaking secondments with clients, supported by exceptional training, a first seat buddy scheme, and a dedicated mentor who will guide you throughout your training contract, and beyond – your growth is integral to our success.

We’re committed to supporting you every step of the way, helping you unlock your full potential. During each of your four six-month seats, you‘ll receive regular, constructive feedback through two-way performance reviews with your supervising partner or solicitor. These reviews are designed to help you build the skills required to excel in the varied and dynamic work you will encounter.

All of that said, summing up what it is like to work at Addleshaw Goddard in a few paragraphs doesn’t fully capture our essence. Our culture is authentic, living and breathing, written by our people and best told through their personal experiences. So we bring our culture to life through the stories of our people – and if you choose to work with us, the next page of our story and our culture is yours to write.

Read what our trainees have to say about training at AG.

Read stories of our culture.

Work placements: We offer week-long Easter work placements in Edinburgh and London, and two-week summer work placements in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester. And because everyone is an individual, we make sure each placement is a valuable experience for each individual student.

While you are here, you will get to know the everyday life of an Addleshaw Goddard trainee. You will be allocated a department to sit in and, if you are part of the summer scheme, will swap into a new department in your second week. You will be supervised by an experienced solicitor, who will welcome you to the department and allocate work. A trainee buddy will be on hand to help throughout your placement.

This is a scheme as unique as you are. As well as informative sessions, group exercises, assessed work and plenty of time at your desk, you will attend social events with a range of people across the office. It’s a real chance to get to know our people and our culture. We offer training contracts to successful placement scheme students, so we’d encourage you to apply. We recruit for our trainees from our placement schemes and suggest anyone who is interested in a training contract at the firm apply for the placement scheme.

When and how to apply: Vacation scheme applications open: 1 October 2025.
Vacation scheme deadline: 6 January 2026 at 12pm.

Virtual insight day 2026: If you are a first-year law student or first or second year non-law student in England, any first or second year student of any degree discipline in Scotland or a first or second year student of any degree discipline in Ireland, and you are interested in a career with us, you can apply to attend our 2026 virtual insight day to get to know us better. As well as meeting people from across the business, you will get practical advice on what we look for.

The virtual insight day runs on 24 March 2026 and applications close at 12pm on 10 February 2026. For more information please visit https://earlycareers.addleshawgoddard.com/careers/open-day/.

Events: If you would like to be informed about future opportunities and events, please register your interest.

Apprenticeships: At Addleshaw Goddard, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive, recognising that university isn’t the right path for everyone. Our apprenticeship schemes offer an exciting alternative to kick-start your career, combining hands-on experience with tailored development in an award-winning, global law firm. From day one, you’ll earn a salary, build your skills and knowledge alongside experienced professionals, and be supported by dedicated mentors and structured training programmes.

Our culture is built on collaboration, inclusion, and a shared drive to succeed. As an apprentice, you’ll be part of our story, contributing to high-profile projects and shaping the future of the legal industry. Whether you’re pursuing a paralegal or solicitor apprenticeship, or exploring opportunities in business services, you’ll be immersed in a supportive environment that values your growth and celebrates your achievements. At AG, your journey is just the beginning.

For more information visit https://earlycareers.addleshawgoddard.com/careers/apprenticeships/.

Benefits: We provide all trainees with a substantial and competitive range of benefits. These include:

Lifestyle – cycle scheme; gym allowance; CSR days; season ticket loan; railcard (Young Persons); Give as You Earn; buy/sell holiday.

Wealth and protection – life assurance; income protection; pension with matched contribution of 5%; voluntary critical illness; bonus plan; talent spotting; AG Excellence.

Health and wellbeing – dental; private medical insurance; health screening; health and wellbeing subsidy; employee assistance programme; occupational health.

Pro bono initiatives: Pro bono work allows us to live out our firm’s values and support our communities, and all our fee-earners (including trainees) have a 50 hour allowance to engage on our pro bono programme.

Our pro bono programme mirrors our key practice areas across the firm and by delivering free legal advice to individuals, charities and social enterprises we’re able to empower them to thrive while also providing opportunities for our people to give back to the communities in which we operate.

We have a central pro bono steering committee, which is supported by our pro bono partners and the firm’s senior pro bono and inclusion manager who are tasked with identifying new opportunities and innovative approaches to develop new initiatives to deliver our programme across our global business.

AG’s pro bono strategy is built around: the provision of pro bono advice to charities and social enterprises; providing pro bono advice at legal advice centres and/or supervising students at local universities and law schools which provide legal advice centres; the ability to work collaboratively across large-scale pro bono projects; taking on key pro bono clients where we can become their complete legal function; and actively exploring opportunities to work with clients in partnership.

In the last financial year, we delivered nearly 9,500 hours of pro bono legal advice which had a value of over £5m, showing a 17% growth from the previous year.

Sponsorship

Fees paid for SQE and PGDL, plus maintenance of £8,000 in London or £5,000 in other UK locations.

Seat options

A range of seats are available across our four groups of corporate and commercial, finance and projects, disputes, and real estate.

Diversity, equality and inclusion