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Arnold & Porter
A US firm with a small London trainee intake and particular strengths in life sciences, international arbitration and investigations.
About Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter is a US law firm with roots dating back to 1946 and 16 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. Its current structure followed the 2017 merger of Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer. The London office opened in 1997 and combines regulatory, dispute resolution and transactional work, with a particular focus on life sciences, technology and financial services. Its clients range from sovereign states and multinational businesses to financial institutions, emerging companies and individual executives. London’s strongest Chambers UK 2026 rankings are in life sciences regulatory work and product liability, alongside recognised practices in investor-state arbitration, public international law and financial crime. This gives prospective trainees exposure to work involving the relationship between businesses, governments and regulators, as well as commercial transactions and disputes.
Arnold & Porter offers up to four London training contracts each year. Trainees complete four six-month seats, with options including antitrust and competition, complex litigation, corporate and finance, intellectual property, international arbitration, life sciences and white collar defence. The firm encourages work across specialisms, so trainees may assist other teams during a seat. Allocation takes account of business needs and trainee preferences, with second-year trainees receiving priority. Client secondments depend on business requirements; international secondments are not listed as part of the programme.
Training combines practical work with internal and external sessions linked to a competency framework. Chambers Student reports that trainees share an office with their supervisor, receive mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews and have a mentor from the year above. The firm pays required postgraduate course fees and provides PGDL and SQE maintenance support. Trainees can also participate in pro bono work, including projects involving access to justice and international human rights.
Practice areas & rankings
Arnold & Porter has six ranked departments in Chambers UK 2026. Its UK-wide rankings include Band 1 for Life Sciences: Regulatory and Life Sciences: Product Liability, Band 2 for International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration and Band 4 for Public International Law. In London, it holds Band 4 rankings for Corporate Crime & Investigations and Financial Crime: Individuals.
At the 2025 LMG Life Sciences EMEA Awards, the firm won Regulatory Firm of the Year and Antitrust & Competition Firm of the Year. These awards recognise its work across the life sciences sector, including regulatory and competition matters,
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2026, this practice advises pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device businesses on regulatory requirements and challenges to decisions by regulatory authorities. The work combines scientific subject matter with legal and commercial questions about how products reach and remain on the market. Chambers also highlights collaboration with competition lawyers on matters such as dawn raids and judicial review.
Arnold & Porter is ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2026 for defending pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in product liability disputes. The practice handles sensitive litigation concerning the safety of products and the responsibilities of manufacturers. Its connection with the regulatory team is particularly relevant where disputes require an understanding of both the applicable regulatory framework and the underlying scientific evidence.
Ranked Band 2 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2026, the practice is recognised for representing states in investment treaty disputes, including proceedings under ICSID and UNCITRAL rules. Its work spans Europe, Latin America and Asia, with experience in mining, financial services and construction. These disputes can involve government measures affecting investments and require lawyers to address treaty protections, jurisdiction and substantial damages claims.
The firm holds a Band 4 London ranking in Chambers UK 2026. Its team advises multinational companies on investigations involving the Serious Fraud Office and other prosecuting authorities, alongside internal investigations and compliance matters. The work can involve investigating suspected misconduct, managing engagement with authorities and advising businesses on their response to criminal or regulatory scrutiny.
Ranked Band 4 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2026, this practice advises states, companies and NGOs on issues including investment treaties and international human rights. Chambers identifies experience before institutions including the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and ICSID. Its matters span sectors such as energy, mining and telecommunications, giving the practice an overlap with the firm’s investor-state arbitration work.
The application process
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Candidates apply through the firm’s online application form. Arnold & Porter accepts applications for both its spring vacation scheme and its direct training contract route. The firm recommends the vacation scheme as an opportunity for both sides to assess suitability, while retaining direct applications for candidates who cannot commit to a two-week placement. For the 2027 vacation scheme, candidates must be eligible to start a training contract in 2029. The published eligibility criteria include penultimate-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates. Applicants should have achieved, or expect to achieve, a 2:1; the firm takes mitigating circumstances into account. The scheme deadline is 30 November 2026, while the live portal gives 1 March 2027 as the deadline for the September 2029 training contract. The firm looks for analytical ability, a practical approach, communication skills, teamwork and evidence of responsibility. It also values motivation and achievement outside academic study. Written answers should therefore explain what applicants contributed, the decisions they made and what they learnt from their experiences. A well-supported motivation answer could connect an interest in Arnold & Porter to a particular London practice and explain why its work appeals, rather than simply listing rankings or clients. The firm’s public materials do not provide the current application questions or word limits.
How to answer why youArnold & Porter: quick answers
How much does Arnold & Porter pay trainees?
Arnold & Porter pays first-year trainees £55,660, rising to £59,290 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Arnold & Porter earn £150,000.
When is the Arnold & Porter vacation scheme deadline?
Arnold & Porter's vacation scheme applications close on 30 Nov for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Arnold & Porter take on?
Arnold & Porter takes on around 4 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Arnold & Porter?
To apply to Arnold & Porter you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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