Firm Profiles
Clyde & Co
Clyde & Co
A global law firm known for insurance, shipping, energy, and trade
A global law firm known for insurance, shipping, energy, and trade
Year 1 Trainee
£48,500
Year 2 Trainee
£51,000
Newly Qualified
£85,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
±70
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
67
Clyde & Co is a global law firm headquartered in London, founded in 1933 by Scottish lawyer Richard Arthur Clyde. With over 2,600 lawyers across 67 offices, the firm specialises in sectors underpinning global trade — insurance, transport, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources — making it one of the most distinctive large law firms in terms of sector focus. In 2022–23 revenue was £788.6 million.
Clyde & Co recruits approximately 70 trainees per year across its London, Manchester, Bristol, and Scottish offices. The firm recruits trainees almost exclusively through its vacation schemes and internal paralegal population — there is no open direct training contract route for London and Manchester. Bristol operates a practice group-specific direct training contract for insurance, financial and professional disputes (IFPD) candidates.
Trainees complete four six-month seats covering both contentious and non-contentious areas. The vacation scheme is two weeks and deliberately immerses participants in real work from day one, such as observing cases, sitting in on meetings, drafting legal documents, and attending hearings and arbitrations.
Clyde & Co funds SQE preparation in full and provides a grant during the study period.
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
51
Category
International
Clyde & Co achieved 48 practice area rankings in Chambers UK 2026 with particular recognition across insurance, shipping and commodities, aviation, and energy. The firm is consistently ranked among the leading practices globally for insurance and reinsurance — its defining practice area. In 2025, Clyde & Co completed a significant expansion in the Middle East and continued growing its US presence following recent lateral hires.
Top practice areas:
Insurance and reinsurance
Clyde & Co's flagship practice globally. The firm is one of the world's leading insurance law firms, advising insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd's syndicates, and policyholders on complex coverage disputes, policy wording, and large losses. Consistently ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK for insurance across multiple sub-categories.
Shipping and commodities
A leading shipping practice advising on ship finance, sale and purchase, charterparty disputes, collisions, and commodities trading. Clyde & Co's maritime practice has roots in the firm's founding and remains one of its most distinctive capabilities.
Energy and natural resources
A strong energy practice covering upstream and downstream oil and gas, renewables, and energy transition. Works closely with the insurance team on energy-sector disputes and with the corporate team on energy transactions.
Infrastructure and projects
A significant infrastructure practice advising on major construction and infrastructure projects, PPP transactions, and construction disputes. Works closely with the insurance practice on contractor and professional indemnity matters.
Corporate and M&A
A solid corporate practice advising on domestic and cross-border M&A and joint ventures in Clyde & Co's core sectors — particularly insurance, energy, and infrastructure.
The application process
Written application
For all programmes, candidates submit basic personal information via Clyde & Co's online application system. There are no lengthy written tasks at application stage. Once the eligibility criteria are met, candidates are invited to complete the online assessment. The firm's strengths-based recruitment process is designed to help identify what motivates the candidate to work at a City law firm. It focuses on natural strengths over learned experiences and is designed to present the candidate's most authentic self.
Psychometric Testing
Eligible candidates are invited to complete an online assessment including a critical reasoning test and Clyde & Co's strengths-based assessment. The strengths-based section contains a mix of question types including written responses and order ranking. It is designed to present realistic challenges candidates would face at Clyde & Co. No legal knowledge is required. The firm provides a learning hub on its careers website with advice and tips for approaching this stage.
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the online assessment are invited to a video interview assessing how they navigate realistic law firm scenarios. Situational judgment questions test professional judgment, composure, and decision-making in workplace-style scenarios.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is the final stage of the recruitment process and is designed to assess the strengths, behaviours, and skills that are most important for success at the firm. Throughout the day, candidates complete a range of exercises that mirror the types of challenges they may encounter as a trainee solicitor.
Candidates begin with a preparation task, which includes both a written and presentation component. This exercise typically requires candidates to analyse information, identify key issues, and communicate their conclusions clearly in both written and verbal form. Assessors are looking for strong analytical thinking, commercial awareness, organisation, and communication skills.
The assessment centre also includes a group exercise, where candidates work collaboratively with others to discuss a scenario, solve a problem, or reach a recommendation. This is not a competition; assessors are interested in how candidates contribute to discussions, listen to others, build on different viewpoints, and work effectively as part of a team.
Finally, candidates take part in a strengths-based interview. Rather than focusing solely on past experiences, this interview explores what motivates candidates, how they naturally approach different situations, and the strengths they are likely to bring to the role. Interviewers assess alignment with the firm’s values and the qualities needed to thrive as a trainee solicitor.
The application process
Written application
For all programmes, candidates submit basic personal information via Clyde & Co's online application system. There are no lengthy written tasks at application stage. Once the eligibility criteria are met, candidates are invited to complete the online assessment. The firm's strengths-based recruitment process is designed to help identify what motivates the candidate to work at a City law firm. It focuses on natural strengths over learned experiences and is designed to present the candidate's most authentic self.
Psychometric Testing
Eligible candidates are invited to complete an online assessment including a critical reasoning test and Clyde & Co's strengths-based assessment. The strengths-based section contains a mix of question types including written responses and order ranking. It is designed to present realistic challenges candidates would face at Clyde & Co. No legal knowledge is required. The firm provides a learning hub on its careers website with advice and tips for approaching this stage.
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the online assessment are invited to a video interview assessing how they navigate realistic law firm scenarios. Situational judgment questions test professional judgment, composure, and decision-making in workplace-style scenarios.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is the final stage of the recruitment process and is designed to assess the strengths, behaviours, and skills that are most important for success at the firm. Throughout the day, candidates complete a range of exercises that mirror the types of challenges they may encounter as a trainee solicitor.
Candidates begin with a preparation task, which includes both a written and presentation component. This exercise typically requires candidates to analyse information, identify key issues, and communicate their conclusions clearly in both written and verbal form. Assessors are looking for strong analytical thinking, commercial awareness, organisation, and communication skills.
The assessment centre also includes a group exercise, where candidates work collaboratively with others to discuss a scenario, solve a problem, or reach a recommendation. This is not a competition; assessors are interested in how candidates contribute to discussions, listen to others, build on different viewpoints, and work effectively as part of a team.
Finally, candidates take part in a strengths-based interview. Rather than focusing solely on past experiences, this interview explores what motivates candidates, how they naturally approach different situations, and the strengths they are likely to bring to the role. Interviewers assess alignment with the firm’s values and the qualities needed to thrive as a trainee solicitor.
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
Clyde & Co
A global law firm known for insurance, shipping, energy, and trade
Year 1
Trainee
£48,500
Year 2
Trainee
£51,000
Newly
Qualified
£85,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
51
Category
International
Clyde & Co achieved 48 practice area rankings in Chambers UK 2026 with particular recognition across insurance, shipping and commodities, aviation, and energy. The firm is consistently ranked among the leading practices globally for insurance and reinsurance — its defining practice area. In 2025, Clyde & Co completed a significant expansion in the Middle East and continued growing its US presence following recent lateral hires.
Top practice areas:
Insurance and reinsurance
Clyde & Co's flagship practice globally. The firm is one of the world's leading insurance law firms, advising insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd's syndicates, and policyholders on complex coverage disputes, policy wording, and large losses. Consistently ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK for insurance across multiple sub-categories.
Shipping and commodities
A leading shipping practice advising on ship finance, sale and purchase, charterparty disputes, collisions, and commodities trading. Clyde & Co's maritime practice has roots in the firm's founding and remains one of its most distinctive capabilities.
Energy and natural resources
A strong energy practice covering upstream and downstream oil and gas, renewables, and energy transition. Works closely with the insurance team on energy-sector disputes and with the corporate team on energy transactions.
Infrastructure and projects
A significant infrastructure practice advising on major construction and infrastructure projects, PPP transactions, and construction disputes. Works closely with the insurance practice on contractor and professional indemnity matters.
Corporate and M&A
A solid corporate practice advising on domestic and cross-border M&A and joint ventures in Clyde & Co's core sectors — particularly insurance, energy, and infrastructure.
About the firm
TC Number
±70
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
67
Clyde & Co is a global law firm headquartered in London, founded in 1933 by Scottish lawyer Richard Arthur Clyde. With over 2,600 lawyers across 67 offices, the firm specialises in sectors underpinning global trade — insurance, transport, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources — making it one of the most distinctive large law firms in terms of sector focus. In 2022–23 revenue was £788.6 million.
Clyde & Co recruits approximately 70 trainees per year across its London, Manchester, Bristol, and Scottish offices. The firm recruits trainees almost exclusively through its vacation schemes and internal paralegal population — there is no open direct training contract route for London and Manchester. Bristol operates a practice group-specific direct training contract for insurance, financial and professional disputes (IFPD) candidates.
Trainees complete four six-month seats covering both contentious and non-contentious areas. The vacation scheme is two weeks and deliberately immerses participants in real work from day one, such as observing cases, sitting in on meetings, drafting legal documents, and attending hearings and arbitrations.
Clyde & Co funds SQE preparation in full and provides a grant during the study period.
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
AAB
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
2:1
Written application
For all programmes, candidates submit basic personal information via Clyde & Co's online application system. There are no lengthy written tasks at application stage. Once the eligibility criteria are met, candidates are invited to complete the online assessment. The firm's strengths-based recruitment process is designed to help identify what motivates the candidate to work at a City law firm. It focuses on natural strengths over learned experiences and is designed to present the candidate's most authentic self.
Psychometric Testing
Eligible candidates are invited to complete an online assessment including a critical reasoning test and Clyde & Co's strengths-based assessment. The strengths-based section contains a mix of question types including written responses and order ranking. It is designed to present realistic challenges candidates would face at Clyde & Co. No legal knowledge is required. The firm provides a learning hub on its careers website with advice and tips for approaching this stage.
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the online assessment are invited to a video interview assessing how they navigate realistic law firm scenarios. Situational judgment questions test professional judgment, composure, and decision-making in workplace-style scenarios.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is the final stage of the recruitment process and is designed to assess the strengths, behaviours, and skills that are most important for success at the firm. Throughout the day, candidates complete a range of exercises that mirror the types of challenges they may encounter as a trainee solicitor.
Candidates begin with a preparation task, which includes both a written and presentation component. This exercise typically requires candidates to analyse information, identify key issues, and communicate their conclusions clearly in both written and verbal form. Assessors are looking for strong analytical thinking, commercial awareness, organisation, and communication skills.
The assessment centre also includes a group exercise, where candidates work collaboratively with others to discuss a scenario, solve a problem, or reach a recommendation. This is not a competition; assessors are interested in how candidates contribute to discussions, listen to others, build on different viewpoints, and work effectively as part of a team.
Finally, candidates take part in a strengths-based interview. Rather than focusing solely on past experiences, this interview explores what motivates candidates, how they naturally approach different situations, and the strengths they are likely to bring to the role. Interviewers assess alignment with the firm’s values and the qualities needed to thrive as a trainee solicitor.
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.