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Clifford Chance The Challenge 2027

Applications closed 19 October 2026. Based in London.

No published policyThe Challenge

Unconfirmed. Clifford Chance publishes no sponsorship policy for its the challenge, so we cannot state a firm answer. No visa sponsorship or right-to-work statement was found on the firm's own pages for this programme.

Sponsors grads?
Not published
Pay vs threshold
Not published
Opportunity
vacation scheme
Pay
not stated (unpaid, but travel, accommodation, meals and a £100 voucher provided)
2027 cycle
Closed: applications closed on 19 October 2026
Confidence
medium

Clifford Chance The Challenge: at a glance

The Challenge is Clifford Chance's London insight experience in which students step into the role of a trainee and work with others, using AI tools, on legal and business problems for a fictional global client. It runs in three parts: a virtual briefing and skills session, an in-person real-time evening experience, and a final team task presented to a Clifford Chance panel, which is the only assessed element. Standout performers could be fast-tracked to a Training Contract Assessment Day. Applications for this cycle opened on 7 September 2026 and closed on 19 October 2026. Source

Duration
Three parts across 17 to 20 November 2026 (a virtual session, an evening in person and a morning in person)“Part 1: Preparation (Virtual briefing and skills session): Tuesday 17 November 2026 17:00-18:30”Source
Start date
17 November 2026Source
Who can apply
Penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students at a UK or Irish university, studying their first undergraduate degree“an immersive insight experience for penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students”Source
Locations
LondonSource
Recruitment stages
  1. Online application
  2. Clifford Chance Immersive Online Assessment
  3. Watson Glaser Test
“Submit an online application and complete both The Clifford Chance Immersive Online Assessment and the Watson Glaser Test”Source

Every programme and stage at Clifford Chance

The catch: This has replaced the firm's old standalone multi-week London vacation scheme entirely; it is only 3 days, not the 2-3 weeks typical of other firms' schemes, and does not pay a weekly wage.
Clifford Chance early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What Clifford Chance publishes about this programme

Checked against Clifford Chance's own careers pages on 2026-10-24. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: not published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: not published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Clifford Chance

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-18. Application dates last checked 2026-10-24. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Clifford Chance sponsor visas for its the challenge?

Unconfirmed. Clifford Chance publishes no sponsorship policy for its the challenge, so we cannot state a firm answer. The Challenge is a three-day immersive experience for penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students at UK or Irish universities, built around a fictional client problem and use of AI tools. There is no weekly salary; participants get covered travel, accommodation, meals and a £100 voucher instead. No visa sponsorship or right-to-work statement was found on the firm's own pages for this programme.

What is the Clifford Chance the challenge?

The Challenge is Clifford Chance's London insight experience in which students step into the role of a trainee and work with others, using AI tools, on legal and business problems for a fictional global client. It runs in three parts: a virtual briefing and skills session, an in-person real-time evening experience, and a final team task presented to a Clifford Chance panel, which is the only assessed element. Standout performers could be fast-tracked to a Training Contract Assessment Day. Applications for this cycle opened on 7 September 2026 and closed on 19 October 2026.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme is not published clearly enough to judge against the threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with Clifford Chance?

This has replaced the firm's old standalone multi-week London vacation scheme entirely; it is only 3 days, not the 2-3 weeks typical of other firms' schemes, and does not pay a weekly wage.

When do applications open for the Clifford Chance the challenge?

Closed: applications closed on 19 October 2026. Checked on 2026-10-24 against Clifford Chance's own site.

How long is the Clifford Chance the challenge?

Three parts across 17 to 20 November 2026 (a virtual session, an evening in person and a morning in person), according to Clifford Chance's own careers information.

When does the Clifford Chance the challenge start?

17 November 2026, according to Clifford Chance's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Clifford Chance the challenge?

Penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students at a UK or Irish university, studying their first undergraduate degree, according to Clifford Chance's own careers information.

Where is the Clifford Chance the challenge based?

London, according to Clifford Chance's own careers information.

What are the recruitment stages for the Clifford Chance the challenge?

Online application, Clifford Chance Immersive Online Assessment, Watson Glaser Test, according to Clifford Chance's own careers information.

How should I confirm Clifford Chance's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Clifford Chance's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

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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.