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Stephenson Harwood Training Contract 2029

Applications close 26 February 2027. Pays £50,000 to £55,000 a year depending on role.

Yes, with conditionsTraining Contract (March and September 2029 commencement)

Yes. Stephenson Harwood sponsors its training contract for eligible international graduates. The firm's FAQ states plainly that it can offer visa sponsorship to successful candidates who require it, with no caveat about location or salary threshold. Its UK training contract runs to a published timetable, with commencement dates in March or September 2029 and a firm application window down to the hour.

Sponsors grads?
Sponsors
Pay vs threshold
Clears the threshold
Opportunity
training contract
Pay
Year one trainee salary £50,000, year two £55,000
2027 cycle
Applications open 5 October 2026 and close 10am 26 February 2027
Confidence
high

Stephenson Harwood Training Contract: at a glance

Stephenson Harwood's UK training contract is a two-year programme that trainees start after completing their degree and the SQE (plus the PGDL for non-law students). Trainees rotate through seats in a range of practice areas, can apply for client secondments and international secondments in Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul and Singapore, and can get involved in pro bono and D&I projects. The firm recruits trainees two years ahead and also recruits some trainees through its vacation schemes. Source

Duration
Two years“trainees complete their undergraduate studies and the SQE first, and then complete a two-year training contract.”Source
Start date
March 2029 and September 2029Source
Who can apply
Students and graduates of any discipline who will have finished their degree and the SQE (and the PGDL for non-law students) before the start date; first-year undergraduates are not eligible“First year undergraduate students of any discipline are not eligible to apply for vacation schemes or training contracts”Source
Starting pay
Year one £50,000 per annum, year two £55,000 per annum“Our year one trainee salary is £50,000 per annum. Our year two trainee salary is £55,000 per annum.”Source
Degree requirement
At least a 2:1 undergraduate degree (achieved or on track) and at least ABB at A Level, excluding the EPQ“Candidates should be on track to receive, or have already received, at least a 2:1 in their undergraduate degree.”Source
“We can offer visa sponsorship to successful candidates who require it.”
Stephenson Harwood, from its own careers pages
The catch: Vacation scheme and training contract applications are treated as the same route (vacation scheme applications are de facto training contract applications), so candidates must choose only one of the two application routes per cycle and cannot apply to more than one office.
Stephenson Harwood early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What Stephenson Harwood publishes about this programme

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

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

More early careers programmes at Stephenson Harwood

Sources

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

Common questions

Does Stephenson Harwood sponsor visas for its training contract?

Yes. Stephenson Harwood sponsors its training contract for eligible international graduates. The firm's FAQ states plainly that it can offer visa sponsorship to successful candidates who require it, with no caveat about location or salary threshold. Its UK training contract runs to a published timetable, with commencement dates in March or September 2029 and a firm application window down to the hour.

What is the Stephenson Harwood training contract?

Stephenson Harwood's UK training contract is a two-year programme that trainees start after completing their degree and the SQE (plus the PGDL for non-law students). Trainees rotate through seats in a range of practice areas, can apply for client secondments and international secondments in Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul and Singapore, and can get involved in pro bono and D&I projects. The firm recruits trainees two years ahead and also recruits some trainees through its vacation schemes.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme clears the Skilled Worker salary threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with Stephenson Harwood?

Vacation scheme and training contract applications are treated as the same route (vacation scheme applications are de facto training contract applications), so candidates must choose only one of the two application routes per cycle and cannot apply to more than one office.

When do applications open for the Stephenson Harwood training contract?

Applications open 5 October 2026 and close 10am 26 February 2027. Checked on 2026-09-23 against Stephenson Harwood's own site.

How long is the Stephenson Harwood training contract?

Two years, according to Stephenson Harwood's own careers information.

When does the Stephenson Harwood training contract start?

March 2029 and September 2029, according to Stephenson Harwood's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Stephenson Harwood training contract?

Students and graduates of any discipline who will have finished their degree and the SQE (and the PGDL for non-law students) before the start date; first-year undergraduates are not eligible, according to Stephenson Harwood's own careers information.

What does the Stephenson Harwood training contract pay?

Year one £50,000 per annum, year two £55,000 per annum, according to Stephenson Harwood's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Stephenson Harwood training contract?

At least a 2:1 undergraduate degree (achieved or on track) and at least ABB at A Level, excluding the EPQ, according to Stephenson Harwood's own careers information.

How should I confirm Stephenson Harwood's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Stephenson Harwood'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.