Law: which graduate schemes sponsor visas?
City firms sponsor the training contract, but rarely the vacation scheme that is the only way in. Regional trainee pay can fall below the threshold.
- 10
- Sponsors international grads
- 5
- Sponsors some tracks only
- 0
- Does not sponsor
- 17
- No published policy
SponsorsSponsors international grads
Clifford Chance
Training Contract
States it will sponsor Skilled Worker visas for training contract trainees
Slaughter and May
Training Contract
States it will provide visa sponsorship where required for trainees
Hogan Lovells
Training Contract
FAQ states the firm accepts applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship
Ashurst
Training Contract
States it will sponsor Skilled Worker visas for those who secure a training contract
DLA Piper
Training Contract
Sponsors the training contract; internship/vacation route requires existing right to work
Simmons & Simmons
Training Contract
Sponsors training contracts explicitly; states it does not sponsor vacation schemes
Latham & Watkins
Training Contract
Sponsors trainee visas; explicitly does not sponsor vacation scheme attendees
Sidley Austin
Training Contract
Sidley explicitly sponsors visas for vacation scheme applicants, the firm's sole route into the Training Contract
Bristows
Training Contract
Understood to sponsor via active licence; year-1 pay is close to the solicitor-specific going rate, not just the general threshold
Travers Smith
Training Contract
Sponsors training contracts; explicitly states vacation schemes cannot be sponsored
Some tracksSponsors some tracks only
CMS
Training Contract
Will endeavour to sponsor, but regional first-year pay sits below the general salary threshold
Pinsent Masons
Training Contract
Sponsors London trainees only; regional office salaries sit below the threshold
Bird & Bird
Training Contract
Offers 'reasonable assistance' with sponsorship rather than a firm guarantee
Mishcon de Reya
Training Contract
Offer is conditional on obtaining work authorisation; vacation scheme is not sponsored
Burges Salmon
Training Contract
Sponsors visas for confirmed Training Contract offers, explicitly does not sponsor vacation scheme or work experience placements
Not publishedNo published policy
Linklaters
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found on the firm's own careers pages
Freshfields
Training Contract
UK FAQ is silent on sponsorship even though the firm publishes visa answers for Hong Kong and Singapore
A&O Shearman
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found on the firm's own careers pages
Herbert Smith Freehills
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found; UK trainee FAQ blocked automated access this session
Norton Rose Fulbright
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found on the firm's own careers/graduates pages
Eversheds Sutherland
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found; site blocked automated access this session
Osborne Clarke
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found on the firm's own careers pages
Taylor Wessing
Training Contract
No published visa-sponsorship statement found; site blocked automated access this session
Kirkland & Ellis
Training Contract
No firm-stated sponsorship policy found; holding a sponsor licence is not the same as a stated policy
White & Case
Training Contract
No firm-stated sponsorship policy found; site blocked automated access this session
Baker McKenzie
Training Contract
No firm-stated UK sponsorship policy found; global careers page has no UK trainee track visible
Gibson Dunn
Training Contract
No firm-stated UK sponsorship policy found; careers page has no London-specific trainee track visible
Weil Gotshal
Training Contract
No firm-stated UK sponsorship policy found
Paul Hastings
Training Contract
No firm-stated UK sponsorship policy found
Macfarlanes
Training Contract
No firm-stated visa-sponsorship policy found on the firm's own careers pages
Addleshaw Goddard
Training Contract
No firm-stated visa-sponsorship policy found on the firm's own careers pages
Fieldfisher
Training Contract
No firm-stated visa-sponsorship policy found; site blocked automated access on every attempt this session
Other sectors
Apply where you can actually be hired
Start from the schemes that sponsor, then scan your CV against UK applicant tracking systems for free before you apply.
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.