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Travers Smith early careers: how to get in

Last checked 2026-10-03 against Travers Smith's own careers pages. Every stage below links to where it was read. GoRizzume is independent and not affiliated with Travers Smith. How we check

At a glance

Training Contract

How Travers Smith recruits

Spring Direct Training Contract process for September 2028 onwards (applications 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027). 5 stages, from Travers Smith's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Travers Smith names them.

  1. Online application and cover letter

    Application form

    Online form with a cover letter, grades and experience. No psychometric tests at any stage.

    “Our application process is refreshingly straightforward: just an online form, including a cover letter and details of your grades and experience - no psychometric tests or unlikely heroics required.”
    Source

  2. First-stage online interview

    Live video interview

    Virtual interview of about one hour with an Early Careers Recruitment Partner or Senior Counsel, on competencies and commercial awareness.

    • about 60 minutes
    • Early Careers Recruitment Partner or Senior Counsel
    “The vacation scheme and first stage training contract interview are with an Early Careers Recruitment Partner and will last about one hour. It is a competency and commercial awareness discussion-based interview.”
    Source

  3. Written assessment

    Written exercise

    Written assessment before the Recruitment Day.

    “Successful candidates will then be asked to undertake a written assessment before being invited to the Recruitment Day.”
    Source

  4. Recruitment Day

    Assessment centre

    One in-office day with a further written assessment and a group assessment.

    “The Recruitment Day will be one day in the office, where you get to experience the Travers Smith culture, as well as undertaking two assessments (one written and one group).”
    Source

  5. Final stage interview

    Partner interview

    In-person final interview with the two co-heads of Early Careers, same format as the first interview but in more depth.

    • two co-heads of Early Careers
    “Successful candidates will then have a final stage, in-person interview with the two co-heads of Early Careers.”
    Source

Vacation Scheme

How Travers Smith recruits

Summer Vacation Schemes June to July 2027 (applications 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027). 4 stages, from Travers Smith's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Travers Smith names them.

  1. Online application and cover letter

    Application form

    Online form with a cover letter, grades and experience. No psychometric tests at any stage.

    “Our application process is refreshingly straightforward: just an online form, including a cover letter and details of your grades and experience - no psychometric tests or unlikely heroics required.”
    Source

  2. First-stage online interview

    Live video interview

    Virtual interview of about one hour with an Early Careers Recruitment Partner or Senior Counsel, on competencies and commercial awareness.

    • about 60 minutes
    • Early Careers Recruitment Partner or Senior Counsel
    “The vacation scheme and first stage training contract interview are with an Early Careers Recruitment Partner and will last about one hour. It is a competency and commercial awareness discussion-based interview.”
    Source

  3. Written assessment

    Written exercise

    Written assessment before a place on the scheme is offered.

    “Successful candidates will then be asked to undertake a written assessment before being invited to the Vacation Scheme.”
    Source

  4. Assessment during the scheme

    Other stage

    On the two-week scheme, candidates complete three assessments (group tasks and written work), including a case study and negotiation exercise.

    “Assessments include a mixture of group tasks and written assessments all of which help us to identify the skills that we look for in a future trainee.”
    Source

Visa sponsorship

  • Training Contract

    Sponsors training contracts; explicitly states vacation schemes cannot be sponsored

    “vacation schemes cannot be sponsored under the firm's licence.”

  • Vacation Scheme

    Travers Smith states plainly that vacation scheme participants are not eligible for sponsorship under the firm's sponsor licence.

    “Candidates taking part in our vacation scheme are not eligible to be sponsored under the firm's sponsor licence”

Travers Smith on the Home Office sponsor register

This is general information, not immigration advice. Check gov.uk and the employer's own FAQ before you apply: rules change.

Common questions

What is the Travers Smith training contract application process?
Travers Smith's own careers pages describe 5 stages: Online application and cover letter, then First-stage online interview, then Written assessment, then Recruitment Day, then Final stage interview.
Does Travers Smith sponsor visas for graduates?
Sponsors training contracts; explicitly states vacation schemes cannot be sponsored

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GoRizzume is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Travers Smith. Names are used only to identify Travers Smith's recruitment process. Practice in GoRizzume is original material written in the style of common assessment formats, not the employer's or provider's actual tests. Processes change, so always check Travers Smith's official careers site before applying.

Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.