White & Case LLP

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on White & Case LLP

White & Case appeals to trainees for its global reach, high-quality work, and supportive culture. Trainees applaud the “guaranteed international secondment; reputation and prestige,” and “the people, the clients, the training.” The firm’s combination of US-style early responsibility with Magic Circle-level practice areas allows trainees to gain substantive work and exposure across multiple practice areas “it is perfectly placed …you receive a lot of support and training and it’s nice to know that people you work with know who you are.” Training is structured yet offers autonomy, with trainees reporting “longer hours, but more responsibility,” and a “mixture of structured and consistent training combined with learning on the job.” Opportunities for international exposure are a key draw due to the “guaranteed international secondments” and “you can qualify into any seat, including those you did not have the opportunity to experience during your training contract.” The firm’s culture and people are highly praised: “Seems far friendlier and more engaged with trainee experience than direct competitors” and “the culture is genuinely diverse…doesn’t suffer from as much favouritism/bias towards certain backgrounds or unis.” Challenges include hours and work-life balance, as well as some concerns around transparency in the seat allocation processes: “work-life balance – but still better than equivalents” and “some concerns regarding fairness in the allocation of international secondments.” Trainees also note periods of intense work: “four months of consecutive 12–15-hour days with little support” and “weekend work.” Hybrid working is flexible, offering “perfect balance – we are allowed to work from home two days,” “Monday and Friday we have the option to work at home which seems very healthy,” and “very flexible hybrid-working policy.” Pro bono and CSR opportunities are abundant, with trainees noting “there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in pro bono,” and it is “very easy to take on some extremely interesting pro bono tasks.” For trainees seeking high-quality work, early responsibility, and strong support, White & Case fits the bill.

About the firm

The firm: White & Case is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers worldwide. We’ve built an unrivalled network of 43 offices in 29 countries, an investment that is the foundation for our client work in more than 200 countries today.

Our innovative approaches and nuanced local market knowledge create unique solutions to our clients’ most complex domestic and multi-jurisdictional deals and disputes. We anticipate what they want, provide what they need and build lasting relationships. Our culture comes to life through our three core values: pioneering, united and human.

The work: As a White & Case lawyer, you’ll work on fast-paced global projects from the outset of your career. In London, our key areas of work include:

Arbitration, data, privacy and cybersecurity, debt finance, capital markets, competition, construction, corporate M&A, corporate PE, energy, infrastructure, investment funds, project and asset finance (EIPAF), employment, compensation and benefits (ECB), financial restructuring and insolvency (FRI), intellectual property, litigation, real estate, tax, white-collar, environmental social governance (ESG).

Who we’re looking for: There’s no such thing as a typical White & Case lawyer. We seek ambitious trainees who possess an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong desire to gain hands-on practical experience from day one. You should have the ability to take charge of your own career and demonstrate a proactive approach to your development.

We value globally minded individuals who are eager to work across borders and cultures, and who are intrigued by solving complex problems within multiple legal systems.

A curiosity about the international commercial issues that our clients face is essential, as is an enthusiasm for addressing the most cutting-edge and complicated transactions.

We recruit both law and non-law students, and language skills are highly valued due to the nature of our work. Applicants will be welcomed for their individuality, their interest in the innovative work we do, and a proactive mindset that prioritises client needs.

Your interest in working at the forefront of commercial law will be crucial in navigating the complexities and challenges that define our projects.

Potential trainees should have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a solid 2:1, have a positive attitude, be enthusiastic and work well as part of a team.

Our two-year training contract: The training contract consists of four six-month seats, one of which is guaranteed to be spent in one of our overseas offices: Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Geneva, Helsinki, Madrid, New York, Paris, Singapore, Stockholm, Tokyo and Washington, DC. The remaining three seats can be spent in any of the firm’s practice groups in London.

Trainees at White & Case will do high-quality, stimulating and rewarding work from day one, benefiting from extensive partner and associate contact. Our small, focused teams mean you’ll quickly become a trusted member of our team, and you can expect to take on significant responsibilities and deliver impactful results.

We are committed to your growth. Our ongoing training and development programmes empower all trainees to reach their full potential and acquire the skills necessary to thrive as global lawyers. With plenty of support and regular feedback, trainees are always clear on how they can continue to grow as lawyers, build their network and seize the exceptional learning opportunities we provide.

White & Case is a ‘high-stretch, high-support’ environment that celebrates individual excellence and team success. We actively encourage trainees to take early responsibility and drive their own careers, emphasising practical training and continuous growth. Beyond your training contract, you’ll have the chance to get involved in our globally renowned pro bono programme, often working directly with clients and managing small matters, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.

We are dedicated to recruiting and developing trainee solicitors with the goal of retaining them upon qualification, ensuring they become strong and successful lawyers.

Discover White & Case through the eyes of our people: Find out about our work, our people and our culture.

How to apply and deadlines: The deadline for applications to start in September 2028/March 2029 is 10 May 2026.

Apply online at whitecasetrainee.com.

Vacation schemes: So you want to be a City lawyer? Taking part in one of our three annual vacation schemes is the best possible way to experience what our lawyers do every day. Try out real client work and see if our firm is the right fit for you.

We recruit the majority of our London trainees (on average 80%) from our vacation schemes, with 25 participants in each intake. There’s no limit on how many training contracts we offer per scheme, so you won’t be in competition with your peers.

Joining our vacation scheme offers unparalleled exposure to our work. You can expect:

• Hands-on experience: Engage in real client work, such as drafting memorandums, writing client alerts, researching legal areas and attending meetings or court hearings.
• Explore practice areas: Gain a comprehensive understanding of what different practice areas do, their significance and why clients seek our expertise in these fields.
• Interactive learning: Take part in sessions like our ‘Carousels’ with associates and formal presentations from partners and senior lawyers.
• Expert guidance: Learn directly from partners about the business of law, gaining valuable insights into navigating the complex legal landscape and building a successful legal career.
• Support network: You’ll have a dedicated supervisor and buddy to guide you daily and assign meaningful work.
• Social events: Enjoy social activities, including lunches with your supervisor and buddy, and fun activities such as visiting the iconic sites of London!
• Networking: Build professional and personal networks that will benefit your career, interacting with people across the firm.
• Feedback: Receive feedback and advice on your work and performance.

Wherever your career takes you, we guarantee you’ll build skills and gain experiences on the vacation scheme that will last a lifetime. Seize this opportunity to kickstart your legal career and see first-hand what makes our firm an exceptional place to work and succeed.

Our vacation schemes run on the following dates:

Winter (for finalists and graduates): Our Winter scheme runs from 1 December – 12 December 2025. The deadline for applications is 26 October 2025.

Spring (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates: Our Spring scheme runs from 13 April – 24 April 2026. The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026.

Summer (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates): Our Winter scheme runs from 29 June – 10 July 2026. The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026.

Open day: If you’re curious about working as a City lawyer, our London office open days are a great way to find out more. You’ll learn more about White & Case, and meet our current trainees, associates and partners.

• Learn about City law: Find out about working in a global law firm.
• Develop your commercial awareness: Find out what it means for our clients around the world.
• Explore practice areas: Understand why clients seek our expertise in these fields.
• Meet our team: Including our Early Careers team, partners, associates and trainees, ask about their day-to-day jobs.
• Boost your applications: Get practical tips on how to do well in your applications and interviews.

Attending an open day in our London office will provide you with valuable insights and experiences that can significantly support your training contract applications. Seize this opportunity to learn, network and take the first step towards a rewarding career in City law.

Our open days run on 12 and 20 November 2025 and the deadline to apply is 30 October 2025.

STEM open day: Are you a STEM student and curious about working as a City lawyer? If so, our London office STEM open day is a great way to find out more. You’ll learn more about White & Case, and meet our current trainees, associates and partners. We’re excited to show you that your skills and background are not only applicable but highly valued in the legal industry. Our firm is at the forefront of numerous matters intersecting with STEM, including life sciences, technology and AI, and we welcome your unique perspective.

• Learn about City law: Find out about working in a global law firm.
• Develop your commercial awareness: Find out what it means for our clients around the world.
• Explore practice areas: Understand why clients seek our expertise in these fields.
• Meet our team: Including our Early Careers team, partners, associates and trainees, ask about their day-to-day jobs.
• Boost your applications: Get practical tips on how to do well in your applications and interviews.

This open day is designed to demystify the legal profession and demonstrate how your STEM expertise can contribute to and enhance our work.

• STEM meets law: Discover why your STEM background is not just relevant but highly sought after in the legal world. Learn how your expertise can open doors to a dynamic and impactful legal career.
• Broaden your horizons: Gain insights into our diverse practice areas and see how they connect with STEM fields, from tech to life sciences.

Join us for a day tailored to STEM students and graduates, and see how your background can lead to a fulfilling and successful career in law. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to shape your future with us.

Our STEM open day runs on 8 April 2026 and the deadline for applications is 8 February 2026.

Discover: University Insight Scheme: Are you considering a career in law? Our Discover: University Insight Scheme will introduce you to what a career in law is actually like, familiarise you with our firm’s practice areas and what our lawyers actually do for clients around the world. You’ll learn to think like a lawyer and gain insights that will be invaluable for your future applications.

Discover what White & Case lawyers really do and see if this is a career that matches your interests and ambitions.

• Introduction to law: Get an insider’s view of what working in law entails, from daily responsibilities to long-term career paths. Learn about the diverse practice areas at our firm and how they align with your interests.
• Understand the trainee role: Get a detailed look at the day-to-day responsibilities of a trainee lawyer at White & Case.
• Interactive sessions: Participate in engaging workshops designed to enhance your commercial awareness. These sessions will help you understand how lawyers approach problem-solving and decision-making. This understanding will not only aid your future applications but also shape how you stay informed about market trends and news.
• Demystify commercial awareness: Gain a clearer understanding of what commercial awareness means and why it’s crucial in the legal profession.
• Boost your future applications: Learn how to strengthen your applications for training contracts and other opportunities.

Take the first step to discover where a career in the law could take you. This open day will equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the competitive landscape of future applications.

Launch into Law: Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme: Launch into Law is our solicitor apprenticeship programme. It’s for bright, determined and confident school leavers who want to start their career at a leading global law firm without having to go to university.

• Legal Cheek’s Sixth Formers Firm of Choice 2025 award.
• Six years of work, study, learning and support.
• Starting salary of £32,000, £1,000 set-up bonus, and tuition fees paid.

Launch into Law is a degree apprenticeship (Level 7) that provides a mix of on-the-job learning and formal study. Over six years as a solicitor apprentice, you’ll earn a salary while studying and get all the experience you need to make your mark as a lawyer at our firm.

Setting you up for success: Our apprentices will start their careers with a six-month seat in a legal-adjacent business services team, alongside an extensive induction programme. This is designed to give you a thorough understanding of how law firms operate, and to introduce you to office life before arriving in your first practice group.

Rotating through multiple practice groups, you will get a hands-on understanding of what we do for our clients around the world and how we do it. You’ll be part of our friendly teams from day one, working side-by-side with our lawyers on real client work.

When it comes to your studies, we know that people have different learning styles, and we want our apprentices to excel in their exams. In addition to the standard day release throughout your solicitor apprenticeship, you’ll get an extended period of paid full-time study leave to help you best prepare for SQE1.

Support at every step: We’ll support you at every step to develop the professional and personal skills that will help you succeed. We know that the world of commercial law will be new to you, so we have built you a first-class support system. You’ll have a buddy, supervisor, partner, mentor and coaching opportunities to help you navigate, enjoy and thrive in your new career.

We’ve developed a training and development programme across the six-year solicitor apprentice journey, so your on-the-job and classroom learning will be complemented with tailored training and skills sessions. Expect to build a fantastic network of friends and colleagues along the way, and to enjoy the social side of working at White & Case too.

You’ll graduate ready to start your career as a newly qualified associate, with unbeatable experience of working as a commercial lawyer in the City of London.

The deadline to apply to our Solicitor Apprenticeship to start in September 2026 is 4 January 2026.

We are also running a Solicitor Apprenticeship Open Day on 18 November 2025 and the deadline for applications is 2 November 2025. Please visit our website for more information.

For more information and to apply please visit our website, Solicitor apprenticeships | White & Case LLP.

GCC English Law Trainee Programme: White & Case consistently ranks as one of the premier law firms operating in the Middle East. We have advised on some of the country’s most significant energy and infrastructure projects, and high-profile capital markets and corporate M&A deals, working alongside leading government-owned enterprises and international clients.

Be part of our growth story in the Middle East. Join us as a trainee in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Riyadh and you’ll work on some of the highest-profile matters for the most prominent clients in the region. Benefit from being part of a supportive and friendly team, with deep local roots, as well as the strength of a top-ranked global law firm.

It’s an exciting time to start your career here. We have been advising clients in the Middle East for almost 40 years, often on their most complex global and local legal challenges. We’re committed to building our business in this exciting part of the world, and you’ll benefit from the chance to take on real responsibility and accelerate your own career.

Build the friendships and personal connections that will last a lifetime, and get the training and experience to become a top lawyer in one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving parts of the world. A lot can happen in two years.

• Law graduates start their SQE in September 2026 or September 2027 (or PGDL for non-law graduates).
• Trainees start in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Riyadh in September 2027, March/September 2028.
• All PGDL/SQE fees covered and a maintenance grant provided.

For more information and to apply please visit our website.

Middle East vacation scheme in Spring 2026: We aim to recruit for our GCC English Law Trainee Programme through our vacation scheme, which is also an opportunity for you to find out if we are the right firm for you. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake meaningful work alongside leading lawyers in their field in one of the three locations offering our GCC English Law Trainee Programme, as well as take part in learning sessions to discover more about the firm.

Vacation scheme participants will be paid a competitive stipend to cover expenses during the programme.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website.

Engagement and development: White & Case has long been committed to creating equal opportunities for all our people. Our steadfast commitment to valuing experiences and perspectives from a variety of backgrounds, fostering mutual respect, and working collaboratively has always been at the core of our firm.

Our commitment to engagement and development reflects the inherently global nature of our firm. By investing in community-building, mentoring, coaching, and skill development, we foster collaboration across geographies, cultures, and professional roles.

The firm’s engagement and development function is led by Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement and Development Officer who reports to the firm’s executive committee.

The engagement and development function consolidates several meaningful initiatives focused on our non-partner lawyers and business services professionals, ensuring they are coordinated, strategic, and accessible to all our people globally.

The firm’s engagement and development programmes include:

• Continuing to foster community through our eight global affinity networks and other platforms open to everyone at White & Case;
• Reimagining the firm’s professional skills curriculum for lawyers and business services professionals;
• Deepening our offerings through the firm’s coaching office and enhancing our mentoring initiatives;
• Expanding opportunities for associate and business services professional participation in committees and firm-wide initiatives; and
• Developing actionable and measurable results, including implementation of recommendations from our firm-wide engagement survey, ‘The People’s Voice’, and other ongoing pulse surveys; and much more.

Sponsorship

We will cover your PGDL and SQE fees.

Seat options

Debt finance, capital markets, competition, construction, corporate M&A, corporate PE, energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance (EIPAF), employment, compensation and benefits, financial restructuring and insolvency (FRI), intellectual property, litigation and arbitration, real estate, tax, white collar, environmental social governance (ESG). Guaranteed overseas seat – locations include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Helsinki, Houston, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Singapore, Stockholm and Tokyo.