FAQs – Dentons

FAQs — The place to find all the answers.

Do I need a certain degree to apply?

We accept all degree disciplines for our London and Milton Keynes opportunities. For Scotland you need to be studying a Scots Law Degree (LLB) or the Accelerated LLB.

We do not hire from a certain list or type of university, and encourage applications no matter where you are studying.
Do you require minimum A Level grades?

We generally look for a strong performance at A-Level (or equivalent), but consider every application we receive in context and holistically. If you feel you can submit a strong application even if you do not meet these grades we encourage you to apply.

We also encourage you to include mitigating circumstances if relevant.
Am I able to apply if I have not completed A levels but have completed an equivalent qualification?

Yes, you are still able to apply. For those who have not completed A Levels, there is a free text box as part of the application form that you can use to provide your equivalent UCAS points.

To calculate what your results translate to in UCAS points, please use this website: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/entry-requirements/ucas-tariff-points
Can I still apply if I have a 2:2 or my A Levels fall below the minimum requirement?

Yes, we review every form we receive and view your achievements in context and holistically.

If you feel you can submit a strong application we encourage you to apply.
Do you look at applications on a rolling basis?

Yes, we do, and we would recommend and encourage you to apply as soon as you feel ready. However we do review every application we receive up to the deadline.
Will I be sponsored to undertake the PGDL/SQE?

We ask our future London and Milton Keynes trainees to attend BPP to study for the PGDL and SQE prior to joining us. BPP has a wide choice of geographical locations, and you are free to apply to any of these centres.

If you have not studied an England & Wales qualifying law degree, you will need to successfully complete the PGDL and SQE prior to commencing your Trainee Solicitor Programme with us. If you have studied an England & Wales qualifying law degree, you do not need to complete the PGDL.

Please note that alongside completing the SQE 1 and SQE 2 teaching and exams, we also require our future trainees to complete the Essentials for Practice course with BPP.

If you accept our offer for the Milton Keynes or London Trainee Solicitor Programme prior to starting your PGDL or SQE, we will pay the full fees of your future studies with BPP.

If you complete the PGDL or SQE before receiving an offer from us, this can be completed with any legal training provider. We are unable to reimburse fees for those who have already completed the LLB, PGDL, LPC or SQE.

We have now transitioned to the SQE and all future trainees are required to complete and pass the SQE exams prior to starting with us. Further details can be found on our SQE FAQs page.
Will I be sponsored to undertake the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice?

If you accept our offer for the Central Belt Trainee Solicitor Programme prior to starting your Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, we will pay the full fees of your future studies with the institution you will be undertaking the qualification with.

Please note that in order to be eligible to apply for the Central Belt Trainee Solicitor Programme– you would need to be a penultimate year Scots law student, a final year Scots law student, or have successfully completed a Scots law degree.

We are unable to reimburse fees for those who have already completed the Diploma prior to our offer.
Will I receive a maintenance grant for while studying the PGDL or SQE?

If you accept our offer for the Milton Keynes or London Trainee Solicitor Programme prior to starting your PGDL or SQE, we will offer a maintenance grant while you complete your studies with BPP.

For students completing the PGDL with BPP full time, we offer a maintenance grant of £10,000.

For students completing the SQE exams and Essentials for Practice with BPP full time, we offer a maintenance grant of £15,000.
Will I receive a maintenance grant for while studying the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice?

If you accept our offer for the Central Belt Trainee Solicitor Programme prior to starting your Diploma, we will offer a maintenance grant while you complete your studies with the institution of your choice.

For students completing the Diploma full time, we offer a maintenance grant of £8,000.
Are there opportunities to do a seat in your global offices or with a client?

We offer several client secondments in each seat. Client secondments are invaluable for learning about how our clients operate and a great chance to experience at first hand a practical business context. We also offer international secondments.

Please note our secondments are subject to availability, business needs, performance and eligibility.
Do you offer vacation schemes or work experience in your global offices?

Please visit the relevant careers web page for the office that you are interested in to find out more about opportunities in our global offices.
Do you accept applications from candidates who are not eligible to work in the UK and who require sponsorship?

All Vacation Schemes: Due to the nature of the vacation scheme, we are unable to accept applications from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK.

Scotland Trainee Solicitor Programme: We will accept applications from candidates who are eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa. Please review the eligibility criteria before submitting your application. The Graduate Visa gives you permission to stay and work in the UK for at least 2-years after successfully completing a course in the UK, and you must be in the UK to apply. Whilst the Graduate Visa does not require sponsorship from Dentons, we will support you through the visa application process. The Graduate Visa does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and therefore any time spent on the Graduate Visa does not count towards the five years required for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

London and Milton Keynes Trainee Solicitor Programme: We will accept applications from candidates requiring a work permit and support them through the Skilled Worker Visa application process.
Can I submit more than one application to different roles?

No. You can only submit one application per recruitment cycle. For example, if you are thinking of applying to our Vacation Scheme and Trainee Solicitor Programme roles you will have to make a decision between the two, as we will only review one application per candidate per year. Our recruitment cycle refreshes in September of every year.

Please make sure to check our eligibility criteria before applying to a role, you will find this on our website under each of our opportunities.
What jurisdiction will I qualify in after the completion of my Trainee Solicitor Programme??

If you have completed your Trainee Solicitor Programme in London or Milton Keynes, you will be eligible for admission as an England & Wales solicitor.

If you have completed your Trainee Solicitor Programme in Scotland, you will be eligible for admission as a solicitor in Scotland.

If you have completed your Trainee Solicitor Programme in Ireland, you will be eligible for admission as a solicitor in Ireland.
Can I apply for a Vacation Scheme in London but complete a Trainee Solicitor Programme in Ireland or Scotland?

No. We recruit for our Trainee Solicitor Programmes both through our Vacation Schemes and via direct applications. Please note that, at the end of all our two-week Vacation Schemes, all participants will be automatically assessed for our Trainee Solicitor Programme in the location of the Vacation Scheme they applied for. You do not need to make a separate Trainee Solicitor Programme application.
Do you offer ad-hoc student work experience opportunities at the firm?

We only offer our formal work experience opportunities; Open Days, Vacation Schemes, and Trainee Solicitor Programme. For insight into Dentons, commercial law, and the role of a commercial lawyer, you can undertake our award-winning virtual work experience programme: Experience Dentons.
If I am on a four-year undergraduate degree, when am I able to make an application?

You will be able to apply to our Vacation Schemes and Trainee Solicitor Programme from your penultimate year of study onwards.
Am I able to choose which practice areas I would like to sit in during the Vacation Scheme?

For the Vacation Scheme, practice areas are allocated to candidates due to the nature of the scheme. There will be plenty of opportunities and networking during the Vacation Scheme to learn about the practice areas in your chosen location.
Can I apply again if I have already completed an Assessment Centre or Vacation Scheme with the firm?

If you have previously completed a Vacation Scheme with us but did not secure a Trainee Solicitor Programme offer, you may reapply in the future, but only to the direct Trainee Solicitor Programme.

If you have participated in an Assessment Centre with us before or have completed any of our previous stages and did not secure an offer, you may reapply for any of our roles in the following year.
Do you offer any paralegal opportunities?

There are entry roles at Dentons beyond our Early Careers opportunities, including paralegal roles, which may of interest if you are keen to gain substantial experience outside of a vacation scheme. Paralegal roles can vary in terms of required work experience, and some may ask for little or no prior legal experience. These roles can be found here.