Graduate Recruitment FAQs

We want to provide you with as much information as possible to help inform your decision about applying with us, so we've listed the most frequently asked questions here.

Locations

What locations can I apply for?

You can currently apply for a vacation scheme or training contract in our Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Manchester offices. We are also accepting applications for our Belfast office for September 2022.

Can I apply for a vacation scheme in a different location to the training contract?

If you're unsure on which office would be your preference, you can apply for a different vacation scheme location to your training contract application. However, it is encouraged that you apply for a vacation scheme in the same location where you would like to apply for a training contract, as you will get a good feel for the culture of the office.

Are there any opportunities for international training contracts?

Currently we do not recruit for graduate opportunities for our international offices; our international growth started in 2015 and our offices are still growing and embedding into DWF culture.
However, there may be opportunities for international secondments while you complete your training contract (this would be dependent on business need and trainee suitability).

Applicant requirements

When can I start to apply for vacation scheme and training contract opportunities?

If you are a LLB or Scots Law student, you can apply in the penultimate year of your undergraduate degree. For non-law students, we would accept applications from the final year of your undergraduate degree.

If you are studying in Belfast, you must be in your final year of your degree and have a provisional place to study at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS).

For all training contracts, we also accept applications from law and non-law graduates.

I am an international student; can I apply for a training contract or vacation scheme at DWF?

DWF is a licensed sponsor for the Skilled Worker Visa. We accept applications from international students for our training contract opportunities.

If you currently hold a student visa, you will need to check your visa conditions to make sure that you are eligible to attend the vacation scheme on the set dates. The dates of the vacation scheme for your location can be found in the vacation scheme section of the Frequently Asked Questions.

What are the minimum grade requirements to apply for the vacation scheme and training contract?

We look for good A-Levels/Scottish Highers (or equivalent qualifications) and a 2.1 minimum at degree level.

We use Rare's Contextual Recruitment System, which can help us to understand the context of your application and achievements. We also consider mitigating circumstances, so please ensure that you add these to your application if applicable.

You should aim to make your overall application the best that it can be, including your personal statement and work history.

Application process

Do you accept CV or cover letter applications for graduate opportunities?

We do not accept any CVs/cover letters as part of our recruitment process. In order to apply, you must register on Apply4Law and complete an online application form.

Can I make changes to my application once I have submitted it?

You are able to update your personal details on your application form (such as personal information, education etc.), however you are unable to amend the application itself once it has been submitted.

To amend any of your personal details, please visit your Apply4Law account.

Please do not email any changes to the Graduate Recruitment Team, as we are unable to amend your application and we will not consider these changes.

Do you use any psychometric testing at DWF?

We do not currently use any psychometric testing in our recruitment process. If you pass the application stage, you will complete a video interview and subsequently attend an assessment centre (based on successful performance at the video interview).

If I am unsuccessful at the application form stage, can I request feedback to know where to improve?

Unfortunately, due to time constraints and a large volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback at the application stage of the process.

Does DWF assess applications on a rolling basis?

We do not assess applications on a rolling basis for our English and Scottish offices. However, we do assess applications for our Belfast and Dublin offices on a rolling basis, so if you wish to apply for these offices it is important that you apply at the earliest opportunity.

Assessment centres

Do you have confirmed dates for the assessment centres?

We will confirm assessment centre dates in early 2022 for the vacation scheme and in early summer for the direct training contract.

Does DWF support with travel reimbursements for the assessment centres?

We reimburse travel expenses for up to £150 of reasonable travel with evidence of receipts.

Are there any other stages of the recruitment process after the assessment centre?

The final stage of the recruitment process for the training contract is a networking day. This is unique to DWF and you will meet and network with senior leaders from our business. We will confirm the dates for the Meet the Leaders event in due course.

Vacation scheme

What are the exact dates of the vacation scheme placement?

The vacation scheme dates are dependent on location. For provisional dates, please see below:

Scotland: 6 June – 17 June 2022
England: 13 June – 24 June 2022

I am unable to attend the dates of the vacation scheme; is there any other work experience placements I can request outside of the vacation scheme?

Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of the vacation scheme, we do not offer any other informal work experience outside of this.

If I am unsuccessful for the vacation scheme, can I still apply for the training contract?

If you have been assessed for the vacation scheme and your application was not selected for the next stage of the recruitment, unfortunately we will not assess your application again in the same recruitment round. We use our vacation scheme to assess your suitability for the training contract, so we would not review this again in the same recruitment cycle.

You should reapply for the vacation scheme or training contract once applications re-open in September 2022.

Postgraduate studies

Do DWF offer any financial support with the LPC (England) or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)?

DWF will pay for course fees for the Diploma for candidates who have yet to start the qualifications at the point of a training contract offer.

DWF will be transitioning to the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) from 2022. This change means that we will no longer fund the LPC for applicants who are offered a training contract for 2022 and beyond.

DWF will pay for course fees for the SQE preparation course at BPP, which includes our new "Essentials for Practice" course. As this will be an apprenticeship option, candidates undertaking this route will also receive National Living Wage while they study.

For any candidate who has already started or completed either qualification, we do not reimburse these costs.

I have already started the LPC, are there any electives that I should choose if I would like to apply for DWF?

If you are self-funding your post-graduate qualification, we do not ask for any specific electives. However, it may be useful to choose electives that align to the practice groups at DWF, and explore areas that you may be interested to follow on your training contract.

Does DWF have a preferred provider for the LPC or Diploma?

We do not have a preferred provider for the LPC, should you have already commenced or completed the LPC at the point of your application.

For the Diploma, we do not have a preferred provider and sponsored/unsponsored students are able to make the choice for where they study.

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How to apply

The deadline for our 2022 vacation scheme has now passed.

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