Latham & Watkins

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins attracts trainees with its “international aspect,” “top quality work,” and “best in class” private equity and finance practice. Many cite the firm’s “global reach, D&I and pro bono initiatives” as decisive factors, alongside the chance to join “a big trainee intake” with “the largest breadth and depth compared to any other US firm.” The people and culture are consistently praised, with trainees describing colleagues as “genuine – they take the work seriously but not themselves which makes for an enjoyable working life.” The training contract is seen as “intense but the best quality training and client work,” offering both “broader work, more opportunities, more pro bono” and a “higher level of responsibility” than peers at other firms. Trainees note a mix of structured learning and on-the-job exposure: “Training is a very good mix between in-person classroom and also learning on the go,” while others highlight “substantial training at all levels” within larger teams. Responsibility arrives early,” even if this comes with “longer hours and less work-life balance.” The firm’s standout qualities include “extremely clever colleagues,” “entrepreneurial spirit,” and the chance to work on “high-level, sophisticated deals” that are “bound to make waves.” Trainees emphasise the “quality of the work and the quality of the other lawyers,” combined with the global nature of the practice offering daily collaboration with other offices and local counsel. The pro bono programme is another highlight, described as “excellent” and “very much encouraged from day one,” with trainees leading cases and participating in a “broad spectrum of initiatives.” Challenges mainly revolve around “the work-life balance due to the nature of the work.” Long hours and client demands feature prominently in feedback: “The expectation to be available all day, every day… although this is to be expected.” Some note differences in supervision between teams, and a few would like more secondment opportunities. Memorable moments include “working on a domestic abuse case for pro bono,” “being able to draft a memo from scratch on a complex and innovative area of law,” and attending legal awards for a deal contribution. Trainees also highlight secondments and international seats as “the best part of the training contract,” describing them as “eye-opening” and “a great experience.” On the flip side, “working five days straight until 3am over a weekend” and “reviewing corporate approvals at 3am” were low points for some. Hybrid working is described as “flexible,” usually allowing one or two days from home, though expectations to be in the office four days a week are common. The firm is praised for providing “high-quality equipment for work-from-home set up” and balancing flexibility with office presence. For those looking to combine high-level international work, early responsibility, and a rigorous but supportive training environment, Latham & Watkins is a great fit.

About the firm

Introductory paragraph about the firm:  Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms, advising the businesses and institutions that drive the economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers globally. With top-tier teams and a track record of advising on landmark deals and high-profile trials, we help clients seize opportunities, navigate challenges, and stay ahead of market shifts.

Our integrated global platform offers unmatched expertise and resources to build an incredible career. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on our clients and the future underpin our success — and ensure we remain at the forefront of practice. We empower our lawyers to pursue their vision, become market leaders, and engage in community-serving pro bono work.

Our approach supports your growth — we prioritize excellence over ego to encourage input from all levels and foster early responsibility. Success through collaboration and the pursuit of excellence will shape your career here.

Our commitment to excellence means you’ll work on clients’ most complex and challenging matters. We invest in your future through comprehensive training and career development including mentoring, coaching, and our signature academies to help you grow from an intellectually curious self-starter into an exceptional lawyer. If you aspire to be the best, this is where you belong.

Senior partner:  Richard Trobman

Managing partner:  Edward Barnett

Other offices:  Austin, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Riyadh, San Diego, San Francisco, Seoul, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington DC.

Who we are and what we do: Latham & Watkins is a leading global law firm that brings together exceptional legal talent in financial centers around the world to advise on complex transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters. The firm’s deep market and product knowledge, industry experience, vast scale, and commitment to innovation and excellence help clients navigate their most critical challenges and achieve their goals.

What we do: Latham’s London office — nearly 500 lawyers strong — consistently ranks among the City’s elite law firms across practices and industries.

We offer sophisticated counsel and representation to emerging and global companies, financial institutions, and private investors on groundbreaking transactions, disputes, and regulatory matters. Mirroring the City’s status as a nexus for global finance and trade, our London lawyers combine our culture of collaboration and creativity with a pragmatic drive to deliver results and to connect clients with opportunities across the Atlantic, throughout Europe, across Asia, and beyond.Latham is committed to giving back in each of the communities where we live and work. In London, our pro bono causes include anti-human trafficking and human rights matters, asylum, refugee, and immigration cases, improving policies that affect stateless persons in the UK, social enterprise support, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights.

What we’re looking for in a trainee: We seek individuals who are curious, driven, and eager to make an impact from day one. Our collaborative culture means we value team players who bring fresh perspectives, resilience, and a global outlook. Whether through academic achievement, work experience, or extracurricular pursuits, we look for individuals who demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and a genuine enthusiasm for tackling complex challenges.

What you’ll do: A Latham training contract combines real responsibility on global matters with supervision from world-class lawyers who foster professional development. In addition to a sophisticated training programme, our trainees also benefit from a core three-week trainee foundation designed to bridge the gap between law schools and practice, as well as training in each seat. After induction, trainees complete four six-month seats – two of which will be in corporate and finance. Trainees have the opportunity to apply for a secondment on either their third or fourth seat.

Perks: Life assurance, private health and dental insurance, pension scheme, season ticket loan for transport, cycle to work scheme, restaurant on site, discounted gym membership.

Sponsorship

PGDL and SQE fees and a maintenance grant of £20,0000 per year. For future trainees who have already completed the PGDL and/or LPC/SQE, the firm will reimburse those fees in full.

Seat options

Corporate – corporate (ECM/M&A/PE/VC/EC/ PE Real Estate), data and technology transactions, debt capital markets, UK derivatives; entertainment, sport and media; environment, land and resources; emerging companies and growth, FinTech; financial regulatory; investment funds; real estate.

Finance – banking; infrastructure finance; project development and finance; real estate finance; restructuring and special situations; structured finance.

Litigation – competition, litigation and trial.

Tax – executive compensation, employment and benefits, transactional tax.

Tips from the recruiter

1. Structure and formatting:  Keep your application form clear and concise. A well-structured application helps us understand your qualifications and experiences at a glance.
2. Attention to detail:  Proofread your application multiple times to avoid errors. Attention to detail is a fundamental skill for all lawyers, so it is very important that your application is free from mistakes.
3. Take a personal approach:  When crafting your application, it’s essential to personalise your content to stand out from the crowd. It’s easy to tell when an applicant has made an effort to tailor their application – it will be more detailed and will tell their own story.