Firm Profiles
Goodwin
Goodwin
A US firm known for private equity, life sciences, and technology
A US firm known for private equity, life sciences, and technology
Year 1 Trainee
£55,000
Year 2 Trainee
£60,000
Newly Qualified
£175,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
14
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
17
Goodwin is a US law firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with 17 offices globally including a significant London presence. The firm focuses on five core industries: private equity, life sciences, real estate, technology, and financial services. In London, the firm recruits a deliberately small intake, ensuring trainees are given significant responsibility from day one. In 2025, Goodwin retained 11 of 14 qualifying trainees.
The training programme operates in three phases (transition, orientation, and integration) across four six-month seat rotations. Available seats include life sciences, private equity, private investment funds, real estate, technology, tax, financial services, antitrust, employment, and complex litigation. The firm pairs each future trainee with a current trainee as a buddy during the pre-contract period.
Goodwin funds PGDL (where applicable) with a £12,000 maintenance grant, and SQE preparation via LLM with an £18,000 maintenance grant. A £1,000 technology allowance is provided during the law school study year.
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
15
Category
International
Goodwin’s London office has secured top-tier recognition across key sectors. The firm was ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2025 for Investment Funds: Real Estate, and Band 2 for Investment Funds: Private Equity. Furthermore, it was named a Leading Secondaries Practice in Secondaries Investor’s 2025 Law Firm Survey, advising on over 100 transactions valued at over $25 billion. Goodwin was also recognised as Law Firm of the Year for Transactions at the 2024 Mergermarket British Private Equity Awards, showcasing its cross-border deal-making leadership.
Top practice areas:
Private equity
Goodwin's dominant practice globally and in London. The firm advises major private equity sponsors on buyouts, portfolio company work, fund formation, and exits. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK for private equity and investment funds.
Life sciences
Goodwin has deep expertise in life sciences transactions, regulatory matters, IP, and disputes for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients. This differentiates it from most other US firms recruiting in London.
Technology
A growing technology practice advising venture-backed and growth-stage technology companies on transactions, IP, employment, and disputes. The firm's industry focus means technology clients receive integrated cross-practice advice rather than siloed specialist work.
Real estate
A strong real estate practice covering acquisitions, development, financing, and funds for institutional investors and private equity real estate clients.
Disputes and litigation
A significant litigation and arbitration practice handling complex commercial disputes for financial services, life sciences, and technology clients.
The application process
Written application
The application form covers academics, work experience, and a series of motivational questions to bring the application to life and allow Goodwin to get to know the candidate. Goodwin advises spending time on answers and tailoring them specifically to the firm. The application form is the first chance to make an impression. The firm welcomes applications from all degree disciplines and all universities internationally, focusing on attributes and motivations rather than university prestige.
Interview Stage
Candidates whose applications are progressed are invited to complete an asynchronous video interview — up to five questions, taking no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Assessment Centre
The next stage is an in-person interview with two members of Goodwin's Early Careers Recruitment Panel. This covers motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a career at Goodwin. Candidates also complete a written exercise and group assessment on the same day.
The written exercise and group assessment test commercial reasoning, written communication, and the ability to contribute constructively to a group task. No legal knowledge is required for either exercise.
The application process
Written application
The application form covers academics, work experience, and a series of motivational questions to bring the application to life and allow Goodwin to get to know the candidate. Goodwin advises spending time on answers and tailoring them specifically to the firm. The application form is the first chance to make an impression. The firm welcomes applications from all degree disciplines and all universities internationally, focusing on attributes and motivations rather than university prestige.
Interview Stage
Candidates whose applications are progressed are invited to complete an asynchronous video interview — up to five questions, taking no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Assessment Centre
The next stage is an in-person interview with two members of Goodwin's Early Careers Recruitment Panel. This covers motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a career at Goodwin. Candidates also complete a written exercise and group assessment on the same day.
The written exercise and group assessment test commercial reasoning, written communication, and the ability to contribute constructively to a group task. No legal knowledge is required for either exercise.
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
Goodwin
A US firm known for private equity, life sciences, and technology
Year 1
Trainee
£55,000
Year 2
Trainee
£60,000
Newly
Qualified
£175,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
15
Category
International
Goodwin’s London office has secured top-tier recognition across key sectors. The firm was ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2025 for Investment Funds: Real Estate, and Band 2 for Investment Funds: Private Equity. Furthermore, it was named a Leading Secondaries Practice in Secondaries Investor’s 2025 Law Firm Survey, advising on over 100 transactions valued at over $25 billion. Goodwin was also recognised as Law Firm of the Year for Transactions at the 2024 Mergermarket British Private Equity Awards, showcasing its cross-border deal-making leadership.
Top practice areas:
Private equity
Goodwin's dominant practice globally and in London. The firm advises major private equity sponsors on buyouts, portfolio company work, fund formation, and exits. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK for private equity and investment funds.
Life sciences
Goodwin has deep expertise in life sciences transactions, regulatory matters, IP, and disputes for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients. This differentiates it from most other US firms recruiting in London.
Technology
A growing technology practice advising venture-backed and growth-stage technology companies on transactions, IP, employment, and disputes. The firm's industry focus means technology clients receive integrated cross-practice advice rather than siloed specialist work.
Real estate
A strong real estate practice covering acquisitions, development, financing, and funds for institutional investors and private equity real estate clients.
Disputes and litigation
A significant litigation and arbitration practice handling complex commercial disputes for financial services, life sciences, and technology clients.
About the firm
TC Number
14
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
17
Goodwin is a US law firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with 17 offices globally including a significant London presence. The firm focuses on five core industries: private equity, life sciences, real estate, technology, and financial services. In London, the firm recruits a deliberately small intake, ensuring trainees are given significant responsibility from day one. In 2025, Goodwin retained 11 of 14 qualifying trainees.
The training programme operates in three phases (transition, orientation, and integration) across four six-month seat rotations. Available seats include life sciences, private equity, private investment funds, real estate, technology, tax, financial services, antitrust, employment, and complex litigation. The firm pairs each future trainee with a current trainee as a buddy during the pre-contract period.
Goodwin funds PGDL (where applicable) with a £12,000 maintenance grant, and SQE preparation via LLM with an £18,000 maintenance grant. A £1,000 technology allowance is provided during the law school study year.
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
AAB
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
2:1
Written application
The application form covers academics, work experience, and a series of motivational questions to bring the application to life and allow Goodwin to get to know the candidate. Goodwin advises spending time on answers and tailoring them specifically to the firm. The application form is the first chance to make an impression. The firm welcomes applications from all degree disciplines and all universities internationally, focusing on attributes and motivations rather than university prestige.
Interview Stage
Candidates whose applications are progressed are invited to complete an asynchronous video interview — up to five questions, taking no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Assessment Centre
The next stage is an in-person interview with two members of Goodwin's Early Careers Recruitment Panel. This covers motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a career at Goodwin. Candidates also complete a written exercise and group assessment on the same day.
The written exercise and group assessment test commercial reasoning, written communication, and the ability to contribute constructively to a group task. No legal knowledge is required for either exercise.
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.