Firm Profiles
Ashurst
Ashurst
A global law firm known for energy, infrastructure, and finance
A global law firm known for energy, infrastructure, and finance
Year 1 Trainee
£57,000
Year 2 Trainee
£62,000
Newly Qualified
£140,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
40
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
31
Ashurst is a British multinational law firm headquartered in London, with 30 offices in 18 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Its principal business focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate and structured finance, with additional practices in investment funds, antitrust, energy, transport and infrastructure, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and financial services.
In the financial year ended April 2025, Ashurst surpassed £1 billion in revenue for the first time in its history, marking nine consecutive years of growth at an average of 8% per year. The firm is known in particular for its strength in energy and infrastructure — sectors where it advises on some of the largest and most complex projects globally across the energy transition, from offshore wind to oil and gas to infrastructure financing.
In November 2025, Ashurst and Washington-based Perkins Coie announced their intention to combine into Ashurst Perkins Coie, a top-20 global law firm with approximately 3,000 lawyers and a combined focus on tech, energy and infrastructure, and financial services. The merger is expected to close in late 2026. For students considering a training contract, this is a significant development as the combined firm will have substantially greater US market presence and a significantly expanded technology practice
Ashurst recruits around 40 trainees each year. The training contract consists of four six-month seat rotations. Trainees are required to complete a seat in finance and at least one transactional seat. International secondments are available in offices including Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, Paris, and Brussels. The firm uses University of Law (ULaw) as its SQE preparation provider and funds all SQE and PGDL fees for future trainee
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
48
Category
Silver Circle
Ashurst was named “Most Innovative Law Firm in Asia-Pacific (Headquartered outside Asia-Pacific)” at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024, recognising its commitment to legal innovation across the region. The firm also received the “Innovation in Improving Client Experience” award at the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2024 for tools such as Ashurst Origin and XB Adviser, which support clients in navigating complex regulatory matters.
The application process
Written application
The Ashurst application focuses on academic history, work experience, and motivation for a career in commercial law. Ashurst explicitly considers mitigating circumstances and contextual data in its applications. Each section has a word limit and responses should be clear, concise, and specific. The work experience section is particularly important: every entry should explain what was learned and how it demonstrates skills relevant to legal practice. Part-time work, volunteering, and extracurricular involvement all count.The motivation section requires a genuine answer about why Ashurst specifically (such as the firm's energy and infrastructure practice, its Asia-Pacific strength, its Ashurst Advance legal technology division). Generic answers about "international work" will not stand out.
Psychometric Testing
shurst's online assessment includes three components: Cognify, Emotify, and Values Fit. Cognify uses game-based tasks to assess problem-solving and analytical thinking. Emotify tests emotional intelligence through tasks involving facial expressions and emotional scenarios. Values Fit checks alignment with the firm's core values. The assessment is untimed and designed to give a realistic preview into life at Ashurst and the types of scenarios a trainee might experience. It takes around 60 minutes to complete and candidates receive an individual feedback report outlining their key strengths and development areas.Ashurst provides a dedicated Preparation Hub on its website where candidates can learn about the types of questions they may be asked before sitting the assessment.
Interview Stage
Ashurst’s video interview is a one-way, pre-recorded format where applicants answer a set of timed questions. The interview typically includes around five questions covering motivation, competencies, and situational judgment. Each question allows limited preparation time (about 30 seconds to 1 minute) and a timed response window (usually up to 2 minutes).
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre includes a group exercise to assess teamwork, collaboration, and analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team.
For the first task, candidates are given approximately one hour to review a commercial scenario and produce a written report. The task assesses commercial awareness and the ability to structure and communicate advice clearly. Legal knowledge is not required as the focus is on analysing business information and making reasoned recommendations.
The group exercise assesses how you contribute to a collaborative task and whether you listen, build on others' points, help structure the group's thinking, and communicate clearly. Strong candidates are not necessarily the loudest but the ones who help the group function effectively and move toward a conclusion.
Lastly, there will be an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team. This covers motivation, competency examples, and commercial awareness.
The application process
Written application
The Ashurst application focuses on academic history, work experience, and motivation for a career in commercial law. Ashurst explicitly considers mitigating circumstances and contextual data in its applications. Each section has a word limit and responses should be clear, concise, and specific. The work experience section is particularly important: every entry should explain what was learned and how it demonstrates skills relevant to legal practice. Part-time work, volunteering, and extracurricular involvement all count.The motivation section requires a genuine answer about why Ashurst specifically (such as the firm's energy and infrastructure practice, its Asia-Pacific strength, its Ashurst Advance legal technology division). Generic answers about "international work" will not stand out.
Psychometric Testing
shurst's online assessment includes three components: Cognify, Emotify, and Values Fit. Cognify uses game-based tasks to assess problem-solving and analytical thinking. Emotify tests emotional intelligence through tasks involving facial expressions and emotional scenarios. Values Fit checks alignment with the firm's core values. The assessment is untimed and designed to give a realistic preview into life at Ashurst and the types of scenarios a trainee might experience. It takes around 60 minutes to complete and candidates receive an individual feedback report outlining their key strengths and development areas.Ashurst provides a dedicated Preparation Hub on its website where candidates can learn about the types of questions they may be asked before sitting the assessment.
Interview Stage
Ashurst’s video interview is a one-way, pre-recorded format where applicants answer a set of timed questions. The interview typically includes around five questions covering motivation, competencies, and situational judgment. Each question allows limited preparation time (about 30 seconds to 1 minute) and a timed response window (usually up to 2 minutes).
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre includes a group exercise to assess teamwork, collaboration, and analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team.
For the first task, candidates are given approximately one hour to review a commercial scenario and produce a written report. The task assesses commercial awareness and the ability to structure and communicate advice clearly. Legal knowledge is not required as the focus is on analysing business information and making reasoned recommendations.
The group exercise assesses how you contribute to a collaborative task and whether you listen, build on others' points, help structure the group's thinking, and communicate clearly. Strong candidates are not necessarily the loudest but the ones who help the group function effectively and move toward a conclusion.
Lastly, there will be an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team. This covers motivation, competency examples, and commercial awareness.
Firm history
Firm History
Ready to Apply?
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.
Firm Profiles
Ashurst
A global law firm known for energy, infrastructure, and finance
Year 1
Trainee
£57,000
Year 2
Trainee
£62,000
Newly
Qualified
£140,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
48
Category
Silver Circle
Ashurst was named “Most Innovative Law Firm in Asia-Pacific (Headquartered outside Asia-Pacific)” at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024, recognising its commitment to legal innovation across the region. The firm also received the “Innovation in Improving Client Experience” award at the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2024 for tools such as Ashurst Origin and XB Adviser, which support clients in navigating complex regulatory matters.
About the firm
TC Number
40
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
31
Ashurst is a British multinational law firm headquartered in London, with 30 offices in 18 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Its principal business focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate and structured finance, with additional practices in investment funds, antitrust, energy, transport and infrastructure, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and financial services.
In the financial year ended April 2025, Ashurst surpassed £1 billion in revenue for the first time in its history, marking nine consecutive years of growth at an average of 8% per year. The firm is known in particular for its strength in energy and infrastructure — sectors where it advises on some of the largest and most complex projects globally across the energy transition, from offshore wind to oil and gas to infrastructure financing.
In November 2025, Ashurst and Washington-based Perkins Coie announced their intention to combine into Ashurst Perkins Coie, a top-20 global law firm with approximately 3,000 lawyers and a combined focus on tech, energy and infrastructure, and financial services. The merger is expected to close in late 2026. For students considering a training contract, this is a significant development as the combined firm will have substantially greater US market presence and a significantly expanded technology practice
Ashurst recruits around 40 trainees each year. The training contract consists of four six-month seat rotations. Trainees are required to complete a seat in finance and at least one transactional seat. International secondments are available in offices including Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, Paris, and Brussels. The firm uses University of Law (ULaw) as its SQE preparation provider and funds all SQE and PGDL fees for future trainee
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
N/A
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
2:!
Written application
The Ashurst application focuses on academic history, work experience, and motivation for a career in commercial law. Ashurst explicitly considers mitigating circumstances and contextual data in its applications. Each section has a word limit and responses should be clear, concise, and specific. The work experience section is particularly important: every entry should explain what was learned and how it demonstrates skills relevant to legal practice. Part-time work, volunteering, and extracurricular involvement all count.The motivation section requires a genuine answer about why Ashurst specifically (such as the firm's energy and infrastructure practice, its Asia-Pacific strength, its Ashurst Advance legal technology division). Generic answers about "international work" will not stand out.
Psychometric Testing
shurst's online assessment includes three components: Cognify, Emotify, and Values Fit. Cognify uses game-based tasks to assess problem-solving and analytical thinking. Emotify tests emotional intelligence through tasks involving facial expressions and emotional scenarios. Values Fit checks alignment with the firm's core values. The assessment is untimed and designed to give a realistic preview into life at Ashurst and the types of scenarios a trainee might experience. It takes around 60 minutes to complete and candidates receive an individual feedback report outlining their key strengths and development areas.Ashurst provides a dedicated Preparation Hub on its website where candidates can learn about the types of questions they may be asked before sitting the assessment.
Interview Stage
Ashurst’s video interview is a one-way, pre-recorded format where applicants answer a set of timed questions. The interview typically includes around five questions covering motivation, competencies, and situational judgment. Each question allows limited preparation time (about 30 seconds to 1 minute) and a timed response window (usually up to 2 minutes).
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre includes a group exercise to assess teamwork, collaboration, and analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team.
For the first task, candidates are given approximately one hour to review a commercial scenario and produce a written report. The task assesses commercial awareness and the ability to structure and communicate advice clearly. Legal knowledge is not required as the focus is on analysing business information and making reasoned recommendations.
The group exercise assesses how you contribute to a collaborative task and whether you listen, build on others' points, help structure the group's thinking, and communicate clearly. Strong candidates are not necessarily the loudest but the ones who help the group function effectively and move toward a conclusion.
Lastly, there will be an interview with an Associate and a member of the Early Careers team. This covers motivation, competency examples, and commercial awareness.
Firm History
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.