Reed Smith Vacation Scheme 2027

Applications close 18 December 2026.

No published policyVacation Scheme

Unconfirmed. Reed Smith publishes no sponsorship policy for its vacation scheme, so we cannot state a firm answer. The page carries a dedicated FAQ headed 'I don't have the right to work in the UK. Can you sponsor my visa?' but the answer is not published in the page content; it resolves only to a generic contact prompt, so no sponsorship position can be confirmed from the site.

Sponsors grads?: Not published
Pay vs threshold: Not published
Opportunity: vacation scheme
Pay: not stated on page
2027 cycle: Applications open 7 September 2026 and close 5pm on 18 December 2026
Confidence: high

Reed Smith Vacation Scheme: at a glance

Reed Smith runs winter and spring vacation schemes in which students sit with an experienced supervisor in a practice or industry group of their choice, join a team and work on live projects, with a trainee buddy for support. Alongside the seats there is a group exercise and workshops on networking, professional etiquette, presentation skills and business development. Attendees are paid a weekly wage in line with the London Living Wage, and those based outside London receive a travel accommodation grant. Source

Who can apply: Law students from their penultimate year onwards and non-law students from their final year onwards“Our vacation scheme is the most flexible application route, as it is open to law students from their penultimate year onwards and non-law students from their final year onwards.”Source
Degree requirement: 2:1 or first (or equivalent) expected; without one, the firm looks for exceptional academic ability shown elsewhere“If you did not obtain a 2:1 or a first (or the equivalent), we would expect to see exceptional academic ability demonstrated elsewhere.”Source

How Reed Smith recruits

2027 vacation schemes (applications 7 September to 18 December 2026). 5 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.
“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

Every programme and stage at Reed Smith

“Applications for our 2027 vacation schemes will be open from 7 September to 5pm on 18 December.”

Reed Smith, from its own careers pages

The catch: The firm has a dedicated visa sponsorship FAQ question but does not publish the answer text on the page, so candidates cannot tell the sponsorship policy without contacting the recruitment team directly.

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 2026-10-01. 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: not published
Who can apply: published
Pay: published
Locations: not published
Degree requirement: published
Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Reed Smith

Direct Training Contract (March 2028 start)training contract, no published policy
Solicitor Apprenticeshipapprenticeship, no

Sources

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

Verdict last checked 2026-09-23. Application dates last checked 2026-10-01. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Reed Smith sponsor visas for its vacation scheme?

Unconfirmed. Reed Smith publishes no sponsorship policy for its vacation scheme, so we cannot state a firm answer. The 2027 vacation scheme application window is precisely dated. The page carries a dedicated FAQ headed 'I don't have the right to work in the UK. Can you sponsor my visa?' but the answer is not published in the page content; it resolves only to a generic contact prompt, so no sponsorship position can be confirmed from the site.

What is the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

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?

The firm has a dedicated visa sponsorship FAQ question but does not publish the answer text on the page, so candidates cannot tell the sponsorship policy without contacting the recruitment team directly.

When do applications open for the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

Applications open 7 September 2026 and close 5pm on 18 December 2026. Checked on 2026-10-01 against Reed Smith's own site.

Who can apply for the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

Law students from their penultimate year onwards and non-law students from their final year onwards, according to Reed Smith's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

2:1 or first (or equivalent) expected; without one, the firm looks for exceptional academic ability shown elsewhere, according to Reed Smith's own careers information.

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

Before you apply

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