Reed Smith Direct Training Contract 2028

No published policyDirect Training Contract (March 2028 start)

Unconfirmed. Reed Smith publishes no sponsorship policy for its direct training contract, so we cannot state a firm answer. This route sits alongside the vacation scheme as a separate way into a Reed Smith training contract and is aimed specifically at candidates who have already passed SQE1 and can start in March 2028. The firm's visa sponsorship FAQ answer is not published in the page text.

Sponsors grads?: Not published
Pay vs threshold: Not published
Opportunity: training contract
Pay: not stated on page
2027 cycle: Currently closed; reopens spring 2027 (no exact date published)
Confidence: medium

How Reed Smith recruits

Direct training contracts from March 2028 (window closed; reopens spring 2027, SQE1 passers only). 6 stages, from Reed Smith's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Reed Smith names them.

Online application form
Application form
Online application form with an extenuating circumstances section; eligible candidates move to the online assessment.
“Please note that our online application form includes a section which allows you to advise us of any extenuating circumstances that are relevant for us to consider when reviewing your application form.”
Source
Online assessment
Situational judgement test
Untimed blended assessment (situational judgement, verbal and numerical reasoning), can be saved and resumed; everyone gets a feedback report. The firm's prep page calls it the High Potential Legal test.
“This blended assessment includes situational judgement, and verbal and numerical reasoning. Our tests are potential based, so we don’t require any prior legal knowledge or work experience.”
Source
Written questions
Motivational questions
Written motivational questions on fit with the firm, after the online assessment.
“Successful applicants will be invited to submit their responses to written motivational questions.”
Source
On-demand video interview
Recorded video interview
On-demand (recorded) video interview with strengths-based and motivational questions, usable on phone or computer. Preparation time per question is mentioned on the prep page; timings not given.
“The penultimate stage in the process is an on-demand video interview. This will be based on the transferable skills required to be a trainee, as well as your motivations for applying to the firm.”
Source How to prepare for a one-way video interview
Assessment day
Assessment centre
Assessment centre with a timed case study reading followed by an interview on the materials. Apprenticeship and direct training contract candidates also do a group exercise and written task.
“You will be asked to participate in a case study exercise, which will help us to assess your ability to comprehend information. This will involve reading through a set of materials within a set time frame, following which you will be asked questions on the materials.”
Source
Group exercise and written task
Group exercise
Group exercise and written task, for apprenticeship and direct training contract candidates only.
“Candidates for our apprenticeship and direct training contract roles will also take part in a group exercise and written task.”
Source

Every programme and stage at Reed Smith

“Applications for our direct training contract vacancies are now closed and will open in spring 2027. This route is for candidates who have passed SQE1 and are available to commence a training contract from March 2028 onwards.”

Reed Smith, from its own careers pages

The catch: Only open to candidates who have already passed SQE1, so it is not a route for students still deciding on their SQE preparation.

Reed Smith early careers Verify on gov.uk See the licence record

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What Reed Smith publishes about this programme

Checked against Reed Smith's own careers pages on 2026-09-23. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

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

More early careers programmes at Reed Smith

Vacation Schemevacation scheme, no published policy
Solicitor Apprenticeshipapprenticeship, no

Sources

https://www.reedsmith.com/join-us/united-kingdom/early-careers/

Verdict last checked 2026-09-23. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Reed Smith sponsor visas for its direct training contract?

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 Reed Smith?

Only open to candidates who have already passed SQE1, so it is not a route for students still deciding on their SQE preparation.

When do applications open for the Reed Smith direct training contract?

Currently closed; reopens spring 2027 (no exact date published). Checked on 2026-09-23 against Reed Smith's own site.

How should I confirm Reed Smith's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Reed Smith'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

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other law schemes

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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.